Thinking about tripping this weekend? Before you dive into the depths of your consciousness, it's essential to craft the perfect atmosphere to ensure your trip is as safe, comfortable, and enjoyable as possible. Let's talk about how to set the stage for an unforgettable experience.
Set and Setting: The Golden Rule of Tripping
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's give a nod to Timothy Leary, the psychologist turned psychedelic pioneer who coined the phrase "Set and Setting." These two little words carry a whole lot of weight when it comes to having a positive psychedelic experience.
Set refers to your mindset—your emotions, thoughts, and expectations before the trip. It’s important to go into a trip with a positive and open-minded attitude so you’re better equipped to handle whatever the trip throws at you. Going in with a negative mindset may make for a much harder trip.
Setting is your physical environment, including where you are, who you're with, and the vibes of the space around you. A good setting feels safe, comfortable, and just the right amount of stimulating.
Research has shown that both set and setting are crucial in determining whether a trip will be a blissful journey or a bumpy ride. Studies highlight how a positive mindset and a comfortable environment can significantly reduce the chances of a bad trip. So, let’s dive into how to get both just right.
Cultivating a Good Set
Your mindset going into a trip is everything. If you’re feeling good, your trip is likely to follow suit. But if you’re down, stressed, or anxious, it might be best to hold off until you’re in a better headspace. You should consider your set before you consider your setting. Before diving in, you can do a few things to help get your head on straight:
Exercise: A little physical activity can work wonders. Whether it's a morning jog, yoga, or a dance session in your living room, moving your body helps release endorphins and set a positive tone for the day. It doesn’t have to be anything crazy, but going outside and getting moving can do wonders for your natural chemistry.
Tidy Up: A clean space equals a clear mind. Take some time to tidy up your apartment or room before you trip. Not only will it make your environment more inviting, but the act of cleaning can be a meditative way to clear your thoughts.
Eat a Healthy Meal: Nothing is worse than eating a bunch of garbage and having a case of the runs as soon as your trip kicks in. Nourish your body with a light meal rich in vitamins and minerals. A light meal, like a salad with nuts or other protein, helps your body feel its best, which in turn, helps your mind feel its best. A smoothie, fruit juice, or anything else rich in vitamins will help, but it definitely pays to have something in your stomach before you eat a bunch of dried mushrooms. Eating something light as opposed to something greasy can make digesting your shrooms a bit easier as well, potentially reducing nausea.
Do What Feels Good: Engage in activities that boost your mood. Whether it’s listening to your favorite music, cooking a delicious meal, or spending time with loved ones, doing things that make you feel good helps set a positive foundation for your journey.
If you’re feeling a good headspace before your journey, go ahead and get your setting in order and get going! But if you’re feeling off, remember—don’t force it. A bad mood or negative energy can easily bleed into your trip, turning what could be a magical experience into something less enjoyable. It’s okay to reschedule—your mindset matters more than anything.
Mastering Your Setting
Location, location, location! Choosing the right place to trip can make or break your experience. Whether you're indoors or outdoors, the key is to find a spot that feels safe and inviting.
If you want to chill out indoors, create a cozy, zen-like space at home. Think soft lighting, comfy pillows, and blankets. Or you can always go for colorful lights and loud music. It’s whatever you find to be the most comfortable. Consider a room with some natural light and a good mix of open space and cozy corners.
On the other hand, if nature is calling, answer it! Parks, forests, or even your backyard can be amazing settings. Just make sure it’s a place where you feel secure and won’t be interrupted by curious onlookers or unexpected surprises. Safety first, people. If you’re tripping outside, use the buddy system and have a trip sitter there to keep an eye on you.
In both situations, make sure you’re prepared to face the elements. Mushrooms affect your body and tend to make people cold but also sweaty, which can be dangerous. Dress warmly and have plenty of comfy blankets around. Dressing in layers is a great way to easily adjust your body temperature based on how warm or cold you might feel during the trip.
Choosing the Right People
The people you surround yourself with during a mushroom trip can are part of your setting and can deeply influence the experience— for better or worse. You don’t want to trip around people who are freaking out or acting weird or disrespectful. Choose companions who are not only trustworthy but also bring good energy to the table.
If you're a newbie, having a sober trip sitter around is a smart move. They can help guide you if things get too intense and provide a grounding presence. A good trip sitter is someone you know well and trust deeply. They’re usually a calming presence that you trust to guide you through altered perceptions, whatever that means to you. Your trip sitter might be watching over you but allowing you to have the experience on your own, or they might be engaged with you by sitting and talking with you or showing you stuff they think you’ll like.
On the other hand, be mindful of who you trip at the same time with. Whether it's one close friend or a small group of people, make sure you're only tripping with people who make you feel comfortable, safe, and free to express yourself. If someone in your friend group makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, it’s going to be amplified under the influence. So if there are going to be people doing mushrooms that you don’t exactly trust being vulnerable around, your setting is off, and it’ll mess with your set, which can ultimately screw up your trip in some cases. Avoid anyone who might bring negative vibes or make you feel uneasy.
Have Activities and Snacks Handy
While some trips are all about introspection and chill music, others are enhanced by engaging in creative or relaxing activities. Before you go into your trip, it helps to make activities easily accessible in your setting. Nobody likes fiddling with HDMI cables while they’re tripping ass.
You might consider creating a playlist that matches your desired vibe—whether that’s soothing, psychedelic, or something in between. Music can guide the flow of your experience and elevate your mood. You can also set it up to play through speakers before you get into the trip so you don’t have to worry about setting it up during.
If you get crafty, set some art supplies out. Drawing, painting, or even just doodling can be a fantastic way to express the visuals and emotions that come up during your trip. Making sure your game consoles and TV remotes are easy to access so you can go wherever the trip takes you.
Oh, and one more thing— keep water handy. It feels a little weird to eat and drink when you’re tripping, but you should definitely remember to take a couple sips of water during. You wouldn’t go 4-6 hours without a sip of water sober, so don’t forget it when you’re tripping! Having water or fresh juice handy is a great way to remind yourself to drink some fluids. You can also set out some light snacks, like fresh fruits, nuts, pretzels, and granola bars for a quick snack whenever the mood strikes you.
What to Avoid
While setting up the perfect trip is key, knowing what to avoid can make all the difference in how your experience unfolds.
For starters, it might seem like a good idea to smoke weed or drink beer when you're coming down from mushrooms, but be cautious. Your inhibitions aren’t all there at that point, and you may end up inadvertently overdoing it. A beer will go down like water, and suddenly you’ve had five, and you’re wicked sick the next day.
On the other hand, smoking weed feels great for some since it tends to re-amplify the trip as you’re coming down. However, it may affect you in unexpected ways that might make you feel super uncomfortable. While it's great for some people, it isn't great for everyone. If you're unsure how your body will react, it might be best to skip it and just enjoy the trip cleanly.
Also, things are gonna happen while you trip. Maybe a friend starts feeling sick, or something in the environment starts to bug you. If your set (mindset) begins to take a dark turn, remember you can rely on your setting to help you recover. Move to a different room, step outside, find an activity, or find a cozy spot to relax and reset. Don't hesitate to talk to your trip sitter—they're there to help.
Your setting might also mess with you sometimes, too—like the power going out, a TV that won’t work, or music that suddenly feels too intense. Don't let it drag you down. Take a deep breath, shift your focus, and change the setting. Sometimes, just moving to another space or adjusting the lighting can help bring you back to a positive place. And again, your trip sitter can help you figure things out. You’ve got this!
Final Thoughts: Trust the Process
Remember, the most important part of any mushroom trip is to trust the process and go with the flow. Set your intentions, create a safe and comfortable environment, and surround yourself with good people. The rest will unfold naturally. Ready to explore mushrooms? Get yours at Flower Ave.
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