Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Ph.D., anthropologist, and Executive Director of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines
Free microdosing class when you subscribe to my newsletter!
If you've ever found yourself wondering, “What to do on mushrooms?" you're certainly not alone.
Whether you are microdosing to boost your creativity or diving into a full-on journey, the magic of mushrooms can lead you to exhilarating and transformative experiences.
Setting the right intentions and crafting a conducive environment is key to ensuring a safe and enlightening journey—one that fosters creativity, self-healing, and spiritual expansion.
Let’s explore together some meaningful activities that can enrich your magic mushroom experience from a healing perspective.
Toward the activities that feel most natural and beneficial.
Take a moment to rest your awareness around your heart space.
Take a few deep breaths...the biggest breaths you've taken all day.
What are you drawn to in the moment?
If it feels right, go with what you come up with.
Psychedelics are illegal not because a loving government is concerned that you may jump out of a third-story window. Psychedelics are illegal because they dissolve opinion structures and culturally laid down models of behavior and information processing. They open you up to the possibility that everything you know is wrong.
Terence McKenna, ethnobotanist, mystic, and advocate for the responsible use of psychedelic plants
For your question "What to do on mushrooms?"...
First and foremost, create a secure, undisturbed space.
Inform someone of your plans and whereabouts if you don't have a trip sitter.
Give yourself plenty of time, so you are not rushed.
For a big journey, give yourself a full day for the experience.
Ideally, you give yourself a few days or longer afterwards a large journey to integrate and turn your experience into a transformative one instead of just a meaningful one you will never forget.
There is a difference....
A study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology indicated that 88% of participants who had a guided setup (including a safe environment and a guide or sitter) reported a beneficial experience during their first time using magic mushrooms, compared to 69% who didn't have a guided setup.
Make sure you are:
Ideally, you are fasting, so make sure you have plenty of foods you will be hungry for after the journey or once you are well into your journey.
Keep your snacks plant based and comforting.
Animal protein interferes with the sacrament and will absolutely impact your body's ability to fully absorb the medicine.
Microdosing mushrooms can be incorporated into daily activities including going to work.
Mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally prepare for a large dose journey…don’t just decide to do it on a whim.
If you are swamped with stress, overwhelm and toxicity, you will be taking that on your journey and you don’t want that.
You want to have put some time into preparing, ideally a month, for a large journey, and at least a few days for a mid-dose journey.
For a large journey, avoid:
for ideally a month.
Cleanse your body, cleanse your mind.
Be mindful of what data you allow into your psyche before a large journey.
Limit:
A large journey dose is usually 3 grams and up.
Avoid coffee before your journey.
Cordyceps and cacao are great sources of heart-opening energy.
There's a sacredness in this journey, no matter the dose, and feeling safe allows you to explore freely.
Under the gentle influence of mushrooms, each movement and stretch can feel like a revelation.
Curate a serene space with candles, incense, and soothing music to amplify the sense of connection between your mind and body.
In this state, yoga is transformed into a cosmic dance, each pose a step closer to inner peace.
According to a survey conducted by the Global Drug Survey in 2021, about 74% of first-time users of magic mushrooms reported having a positive experience, with effects like increased feelings of well-being, emotional insight, and euphoria.
Pick up a paintbrush and let the colors on your canvas flow, reflecting the visions of your subconscious.
The heightened creativity mushrooms provide can lead to uninhibited, joyful creations, even if you've never painted before.
Your artwork becomes not just a visual spectacle but a manifestation of deeper truths.
The rhythmic beats and harmonious vibrations can guide you to serene happiness.
Whether you're dancing freely, playing an instrument, or simply listening to a playlist, let the music envelop you.
Resonating through your whole being and binding you to the present moment.
Meditation offers another gateway to profound insight.
The grounding sensation of feeling the earth beneath you and the sky above can stabilize your thoughts and emotions.
Outdoor meditation, perhaps in a lush forest or a quiet garden, can heighten your connection to the universe, making each breath feel charged with meaning.
I think psychedelic medicine has the potential to help heal the wounds of those suffering from racial trauma and bring healing to the consciousness of those who perpetrate and perpetuate racial violence.
Monnica T. Williams, Ph.D., certified psychedelic therapist
Like mindful eating or culinary exploration.
Relish the burst of flavors as you savor each bite, turning the act of eating into a meditative experience.
Cooking can also become a grounding activity, providing a sensory bridge back to reality during a trip.
Research shows that around 60% of beginners report significant therapeutic benefits from their first magic mushroom experience, such as reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to a study by Johns Hopkins Medicine. This has led to an increased interest in the potential of psilocybin for mental health treatments.
Be it knitting, pottery, or woodworking, the act of creating something with your hands can be deeply satisfying and grounding.
The mesmerizing patterns and vibrant colors that emerge can feel almost sacred, channeling your energy into tangible beauty.
Each step on a forest trail reveals nature's intricate details that you might usually overlook.
Feel the living energy of the earth with every stride, solidifying your connection to the planet.
This can be one of the most enriching ways to ground yourself while embracing the vast beauty of life.
Is the final, yet crucial, step to integrate your experience.
Write about your thoughts, feelings, and visions—document the journey in a stream-of-consciousness style.
It can be therapeutic, providing a framework to process and reflect upon the insights you've gained.
Be the example of how we can heal ourselves and each other by not deferring to our government institutions/medical industrial complex and other 3 letter agencies.
Be others oriented.
We were healers.
We were aware.
We were fathers.
We were mothers.
We were teachers.
We were farmers.
We were hunters.
We were strong.
We were fearless.
We prayed not for rain but feeling as though the rain was already upon us.
We prayed not for food, rather, we prayed as if our belly’s were full.
Donovan Wood, Shroom Mystic contributor and friend
So, in answering your original question, "What to do on mushrooms?"
From ecstatic dance and outdoor meditation to crafting and mindful eating, there's an abundance of activities to choose from.
Whether it’s:
These pursuits can help you navigate your mushroom journey with grace and curiosity.
After the journey, notice what patterns, threads, repeating themes, synchronicities you notice and get curious about them.
This is how the mushrooms transform and heal.
They speak subtle yet profound messages to you but you must put in the work of integration to give yourself space to listen.
Steer clear of low-vibrational activities such as:
Avoid:
Steering clear of technology and low vibrational activities can help maintain the sanctity of your experience.
Ultimately, the best activities for your mushroom journey are those that resonate with you on a deep, intuitive level.
Whether it’s yoga, painting, or simply lying in bed under the covers, choose what feels right for you.
Embrace the journey.
Heal yourself:
Equipped with these ideas, step boldly into this enchanting experience, ready to learn, grow, and heal in ways you never thought possible.