Consumption of psychedelic medicines such as LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide), DMT (N, N-Dimethyltryptamine), or Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybin Cubensis) requires some practical knowledge and respect before consuming. If inexperienced, some foundational information is important as it can help you benefit from the medicines while also avoiding having an unpleasant experience.
A “bad trip” on psychedelics can often be described as a terrible experience in someone’s life. However, simply knowing and respecting a few rules can help guide you into what may be one of the most beautiful experiences of your life – for some, the greatest experience of all. The difference between these two extreme results is significant, so a bit of knowledge is worth the effort.
The aforementioned rules are simple, and can be summarised as “Set & Setting”. In essence, this refers to how you are, who you are with, and where. Those of you who have taken a psychedelic before have likely realized how important all of this is and it’s become second nature to be prepared before consumption and effects begin to manifest. As little as one little worry in your psyche can be a significant blow even during the “body load” phase shortly after consumption.
Your Set
How are you emotionally?
Are you feeling nervous? Are you upset? What emotions are coursing through you before your journey? While journeying to confront these very questions is a primary benefit, psychedelics also tend to magnify whatever is within you. Whatever your state of mind, it’s important to be cognizant of it and have some set intention before consumption. Anger, for example, is a powerful energy that may bring clarity of mind but also tumultuous tension. Fear however can be a large obstacle, impeding us from truly letting go. If you try too hard to control, resist, or block whatever is emerging on your journey, you may cause yourself added grief.
If uncomfortable moments arise, trust the process and give in to the flow of the journey . . . or it may overwhelm you. Consuming a psychedelic may expand you, but it’s also for an internal experience, so why resist if you’re only resisting yourself? You started the journey, so enjoy it while it lasts remembering to adjust your dosage in the future for more or less of what arises.
How are you mentally?
If you have any psychological or psychiatric illnesses, you should not take psychedelics without first consulting a medical professional. At the very least it’s recommended to start with microdoses while observing any effects as they arise. It is much easier to navigate your journey with ease on fractions of a regular dose. You may more gracefully see the connections between your thoughts and any emotions present as if there is a mutual exchange between emotion and affect.
How are you physically?
“How you’re doing” is a fundamental first question to ask yourself. Do you feel well physically? Are you taking any medications that may affect your trip? Are you suffering from any pain? Are you relaxed or tired? Knowing mushrooms for example works best on an empty stomach, was the last meal prior to your journey light and easy on the stomach? Avoid eating crustaceans and mollusks before consuming psychedelics as these may impede your ability to ease into the experience as if journeying with a flat tire. Otherwise, there aren’t any specific dietary limitations as compared to what happens with ayahuasca where you should avoid foods containing tyramine.
The Setting
We’ve very briefly touched on the emotional, mental and physical set. Now, what of the world around us? i.e. people and place. The importance of these should never be overlooked as you will quickly discover just how essential they can be in ending a bad trip or avoiding one altogether. The chosen environment must satisfy some general criteria that work in harmony with your intentions.
Comfort
Comfort is a very important factor since anything uncomfortable becomes heightened during a psychedelic trip. One may go from feeling warm to ice cold in a moment, so controlled temperature may be necessary. Dressing in layers that are easy to put on and take off is recommended, but nothing constricting, like belts or ties. Having some kind of eye-covering available during the more intense stages may be particularly desirable as well. Comfort entirely depends on you and those journeying with you. A loud concert venue may be no problem for some as psychedelics will meet you where you are and heighten any experience. Other’s though may prefer a more tranquil setting on a hike, in a museum, or simply at home.
Safety
Wherever your journey, the space around you must be safe. Make sure you can make it to the bathroom easily. If you feel unsettled during your journey, you may want to avoid mirrors as they can cause visions and difficult emotions. If you feel good, however, your surroundings can become your playground.
Company
The person or persons you’re with is an important aspect to take into consideration. Divide everyone into two categories: people you know, and people you don’t know. Depending on your experience level and intended dosage, you may want to eradicate the second half. For the people you know, consider only those who have your best interest in mind, or people who have a lot of experience with psychedelics who can stay calm even during a bad trip. Discovering that someone is problematic in the epicenter of an intense trip, can easily turn a bad trip into misery.
The best set & setting for your experience can also include two additional stages. i.e. the preparation as well as the process of integration afterward. The psychedelic voyage really begins before consumption, but the moment you decide to consume. As the mind and emotions begin to ready themselves in expectation of the valuable inner journey or extroverted events to come. Any inescapable anxieties or intentions upon which the mind wants to focus on may emerge. The stage of integration then confirms what you have experienced, bringing a multitude of uses and understandings into your life post-trip thus leaving you a bit more consciously expanded.
Explore our visionary medicines with true intentions and a mindful set and setting.
