🍄 Shroom Safety Guide for Beginners - Reduce Harm and Risk
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This is for educational purposes only, and these guidelines help to reduce harm, reduce risk, and keep you safe.
I’ve done a lot of things in a lot of places.
Many mistakes were made.
There’s a lot of terrible information and random charts on the internet, reddit, etc.
Now that I’m wiser, here is what’s ACTUALLY important:
your physical safety
your psychological safety
having a life-changing experience
To be clear, I’m not talking about microdosing.
That’s cute… but I’m talking about having a mind-bending life-altering experience with sacred medicine.
It should feel like “…hanging on to a rocketship for dear life!”
Very few people I know have gone there.
Most people dabble because it’s trendy right now.
Proceed with caution.
Reading
If you’re an anxious overthinker, it can help to read a book before your trip.
There are lots of popsci mainstream books.
The most well-known is How to Change Your Mind.
Dosage
I’ll reiterate that this is for educational purposes only, and these guidelines help to reduce harm and reduce risk.
If you’re new, stay away from strong strains like Penis Envy. With strong strains like these, you always want to take a conservative amount to test the waters, then work your way up. This is how you reduce risk and stay safe.
Assuming you have a NORMAL strain, the book How to Change Your Mind researched that 1/8 ounce (3.5 grams) is the starting point for a “traditional” psychedelic experience.
Environment
Many people think they need a “sitter”, i.e. someone to watch over them. I personally don’t think it’s necessary for most people.
Keep in mind, most people don’t know how to be a proper sitter, so they may actually be annoying/intrusive during your experience.
However, it’s a good idea to inform someone you TRUST about what you’re doing, so they can check in on you when your experience is winding down.
Do I think you need a “retreat”? Not really, but if you can afford it and you want it, retreats can add an extra layer of safety.
This is the environment I strongly suggest, again to maximize your physical and psychological safety:
you alone
in the morning
in your bedroom
listening to music
closed eyes + sleeping mask
Really simple. Don’t try to hike, bike, kayak, etc. Don’t do it with your spouse or friend (because you don’t know what they’ll do or how you’ll react to them).
Essentials
Be clean, don’t be on any other substances, consult a doctor or ask google/chat if you’re currently on any medications, eat clean for several days beforehand, don’t do alcohol/smoke for several days beforehand, etc.
These are the essentials:
Clean your bedroom
Sleeping mask
Water bottle
Tissue box
Headphones
Comfortable pillow
Comfortable blanket
Comfortable clothes
This Spotify playlist (5.5 hours long)
Take a full day off from work - no afternoon/evening plans!
Put all the items on your bed or next to your bed, easy to reach.
The day before, don’t binge during dinner, just eat clean.
Here are things you do NOT want near you:
Pencil/pen (trust me, you won’t be “journaling” lol)
No sharp or pointy objects
No glass (use a plastic water bottle)
No eyedrops/glasses (don’t touch your eyes)
These guidelines help reduce risk of physical harm by keeping only what is essential and removing all other objects (especially sharp/pointy/breakable objects).
The Big Day
Here’s a sample schedule that helps reduce sleep disruption and reduce psychological harm by starting in the morning when you’re fully awake & alert:
wake up
poop (important! okay to drink a little coffee to get it done)
eat it
look at something pretty (i.e. nature/photo) for 15-30 minutes, then go to your bedroom
turn off bedroom lights
put on headphones
start spotify playlist
put phone on airplane mode so you don’t get distracting texts
put on sleeping mask
lay down in bed, with pillows so that your head has support
close your eyes
focus on the music
The music IS your guide.
The music substantially helps reduce risk of psychological harm.
Close your eyes and listen to the full 5.5 hour Spotify playlist, which was curated based on scientific research (i.e. people rated which music helped them most).
INTENSE
If things get really intense, there are 3 things I want you to remember…
2 words and 1 “emergency exit”.
REMEMBER THESE 2 WORDS:
BREATHE
SURRENDER
When it feels like a lot, think these 2 words to yourself.
Just THINK these 2 words, and your body will know what to do.
It helps a lot.
BUT if it still feels like too much:
TAKE OFF your sleeping mask and OPEN YOUR EYES!!
Seeing your familiar surroundings will instantly reorient you and calm down the intensity.
These 3 tips will help reduce the risk of psychological harm.
Post Trip
After ~5 hours, you can usually safely walk around your house.
BUT DO NOT DRIVE!
Drink water to hydrate.
Drink hot tea to settle your stomach.
Eat something clean because you’ll probably be hungry.
I recommend staying off your phone/computer/TV for the rest of the day, if possible. It may be more productive to let the insights settle than to immediately return to your technology addiction.