How To Take Shrooms: Enjoying Magic Mushroom Trips

Embark on a magical journey with our guide on "How To Take Shrooms." Learn the art of enjoying magic mushroom trips safely and responsibly. Unveil the wonders of psychedelic experiences with this comprehensive article. Let the adventure begin!

I didn't know what mushrooms were like before trying them. I talk about my first shroom trip when I was 17 and how unprepared I was for the experience. This inspired me to research on how to take shrooms or psilocybin mushrooms safely in a way that reduces harm, increases mindfulness, and maximizes benefits. Taking magic mushrooms is serious, but if you prepare yourself and your surroundings, take a safe dose, and have support, it can be a transformative experience that opens your mind to a new way of being.

What are Shrooms? Understanding the Fungi

Shrooms are a nickname for psilocybin mushrooms, a fungi, which people eat to have a unique and powerful psychedelic experience. The most well-known magic mushroom is Psilocybe cubensis, but there are more than 180 other types of magic shrooms that have psilocybin. Even though psilocybin is found naturally, it is considered a Schedule I substance in the US. With the various reasons to grow shrooms, people actually cultivate magic mushrooms. However, activists in cities all over the country are working hard to make magic mushrooms (and other similar substances) legal, and they are achieving success.

People have been using psilocybin mushrooms in ceremonies for a long time. Some indigenous communities still have special ceremonies for these mushrooms. The Mazatec people in Oaxaca, Mexico, know a lot about using mushrooms in ceremonies. They still use them for healing, divination, and other important reasons. Mushroom cultivation is even popular amongst the city dwellers!

Magic mushrooms have become popular again since 2006 when Johns Hopkins University published a study. This study showed that psilocybin, the compound found in magic mushrooms, can cause powerful mystical experiences that can greatly benefit mental health. This being the reason, psilocybin spores are widely available for people to buy.

Nowadays, psilocybin is being tested in clinical trials for various conditions such as end-of-life anxiety, treatment-resistant depression, addiction, and eating disorders. These trials have been very successful, and psilocybin-assisted therapy has been recognized by the FDA as a breakthrough treatment for depression.

How Does A Shroom Trip Feel Like?

Mushrooms, when taken in moderate to high amounts, can cause a psychedelic experience. This experience can be gentle, fun, and even mystical, but it can also be challenging and bring up feelings of shame or unresolved grief. Several studies, including one published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, have found a connection between the mystical aspects of psilocybin (the active ingredient in mushrooms) and its potential for healing. Psilocybin has shown promise in treating major depressive disorder and depression that does not respond to other treatments. It has also been studied for its potential in helping with nicotine addiction, alcohol dependence, and anxiety and depression in people with terminal illnesses.

Psilocybin doesn't help you escape reality, but it does change your state of mind. Mushrooms can provide new perspectives on life, helping people live more authentic and fulfilled lives.

In my most important mushroom trips, I feel that the small things that stress me out in everyday life are actually not as important as I make them out to be. I realize that there is more to life than my own fears and worries. I have a purpose and I am part of something bigger than just myself. This experience helps me feel refreshed, motivated, and appreciate myself more.

Mushroom trips are unique to each person, even though many others have similar experiences. Your ability to relax and embrace the experience depends on how comfortable you feel in your surroundings and mindset. The mushrooms determine what you need to see and feel at that moment. Because of this, no two mushroom trips are alike. This is why we say that things come to the surface during psychedelic experiences. Regardless of your initial intention, sometimes your trip focuses on a hidden part of yourself that you were not aware of.

You must be willing to let go of control and accept all the experiences that mushrooms may bring, both mentally and physically. There are basic skills you can learn to help you prepare for and navigate your psychedelic experience. It's important to know that shrooms can make you feel your body in a different way. Sometimes, this feeling is similar to nausea or a sense of tiredness or heaviness in your limbs. I may have less coordination when walking on mushrooms, but I can still function reasonably well with moderate doses.

Your sense of touch and sound can also be improved or changed. While it is rare to have auditory hallucinations, you can hear and enjoy music in a completely different and strong manner.

How Long Do Shrooms Last? The After Effects

The experience usually lasts between four and eight hours, with most people experiencing it for about six hours. The duration can vary depending on the dose and the person. Mushrooms typically start taking effect in about 30 to 45 minutes, but it could take anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours depending on how you consumed them. So, don't be impatient or take more if you don't feel the effects as quickly as you'd like. I highly recommend deciding on your dose beforehand and using a scale to weigh your mushrooms. This way, you'll know exactly how much you're taking and can wait to see if you want more.

How To Take Shrooms: Shroom Trip Timeline

The experience typically follows this arch:

• Come up: First two hours.
• Peak: Around three to four hours after ingesting.
• Come down slowly: Usually from hours four to six.

The mushroom experience comes in waves, especially towards the end of your trip. At around hour five, it may seem like your trip is over compared to the peak intensity. However, another wave of the psychedelic experience can occur. So, be kind to yourself at the end and don't hurry to go back to normal. Instead, let the mushrooms naturally fade away.

After taking mushrooms, it is advised to spend the whole day resting and relaxing. This is because you may feel sensitive and have one foot in the mushroom world and one foot in reality. Take this time to think about your trip, write in a journal, go for a walk in nature, or do whatever feels right to you.

How To Take Shrooms: Consumption Methods

When deciding which type of psilocybin mushrooms to take, there are over 180 kinds to choose from. You should also consider how much you want to take and how you want to consume them. While some people prefer to eat the mushrooms whole, others opt for alternative methods such as making shroom tea, using shroom chocolate, or trying the lemon tek technique. These methods are popular because psilocybin mushrooms don't taste good. Shroom tea and lemon tek can also help reduce nausea at the beginning of the trip. In one of my articles, I have already mentioned how to make shroom tea.

Using Mushrooms Safely: First Timer’s Guide

Your first time taking magic mushrooms is a big event, so the first thing you have to do is treat it like one. Meaning, you have to prepare, and with mushrooms, that looks like getting in a relaxed and open mindset and arranging a tranquil and comforting environment. Prepping these two things, known in the psychedelic community as “set and setting,” is the number one way to have a safer and more beneficial psychedelic journey. The best thing you can do is be intentional and never rush into such a powerful experience without giving the details some thought.

Why? Because when we go on a deep inner journey, we want to ensure that everything in our earthly life is accounted for and taken care of. This allows us to relax and let go of control, which is the best way to avoid unnecessary stress during the trip. It also helps us to trust, let go, and be open. This concept was introduced by Bill Richards, a psychologist and experienced researcher in psychedelics. He played a significant role in developing the manual for facilitating psilocybin trips in clinical trials, and I had the opportunity to learn from him while writing Your Psilocybin Mushroom Companion.

• Trust yourself, your environment, and your tripping partners
• Let go and don't try to control the psychedelic experience
• Be open to all experiences, even if they are strange or unpleasant
• Embrace challenging feelings and accept them for potential transcendence or insight.

One important tip for using mushrooms safely is to have a trip sitter. A trip sitter helps reduce risks and makes you feel secure while you explore the effects of mushrooms. They don't need much training, but they keep you physically safe so your mind can freely wander. 

Shroom Dosage: The Right Proportions

It is important to dose shrooms correctly for a safe experience. That's why it is crucial to weigh your mushrooms before taking them using a sensitive scale.

First, decide if you want to start with a small dose (microdosing shrooms) or a larger dose. A small dose is a good choice if you haven't tried psychedelics before or if you're nervous about the effects. It will make you feel slightly different, possibly more open, in-tune, empathetic, productive, and creative. However, it can also make some people emotional, distracted, and nauseous.

For a deeper experience, start with a low dose (two grams or less), also called a museum dose. The Shulgins called it that because it slightly changes perception while staying connected to reality. But I don't suggest going to a museum or public place for your first psychedelic trip, even with a low dose. One to two grams can still be intense and uncomfortable if you're not fully relaxed.

What is a Good Dosage of Shrooms?

• Microdose: 0.1 – 0.5 grams
• Low Dose: 0.5 – 2 grams
• Moderate Dose: 2 – 3.5 grams
• High Dose: 3.5 – 5 grams and above

When deciding how much shrooms to take, remember that these doses are for dried Psilocybe cubensis. If you have fresh mushrooms, multiply the dose by 10 to account for the water weight. If you have a different species of mushroom, the safe doses may be lower, so try to gather more information on their strength. However, the best approach for a new batch of mushrooms is to start with a low dose to understand their effects before trying higher doses.

Here I address a common misconception about dosing. Many people believe that for their first time, they should take a full eighth (3.5 grams) of mushrooms. However, after speaking with over 20 mushroom users during my research, I found that this often leads to overwhelming experiences that they were not ready for. 

Instead, I recommend starting with a lower dose to become familiar with how mushrooms affect you and to practice navigating the effects before trying higher doses. By gradually increasing your dose over a few trips, you will be better prepared and more comfortable for intense experiences. This approach allows you to ground yourself and process the effects afterwards, rather than being overwhelmed by them.

Are Shrooms Safe to Use?

Psilocybin mushrooms are safe for healthy individuals, contrary to what you learned in D.A.R.E. In fact, mushrooms have been ranked as the safest illegal substance in the Global Drug Survey for several years. They are even safer than cannabis because fewer people end up in the hospital after using them. However, the creators of the survey acknowledge that this is partly because mushroom users take special care, prepare properly, and have knowledge of harm reduction.

Psilocybin mushrooms and other psychedelics are not addictive because their effects are too intense for regular use. Unlike alcohol or opioids, mushrooms do not provide an escape but instead offer a deeper understanding of oneself, which can be unsettling. This complexity arises because mushrooms can lead to challenging experiences that shake one's worldview. It is important to be cautious as mushrooms can disorient users and make them less aware of their surroundings, increasing the risk of accidents. However, by following safety measures such as having a sober trip sitter, harm is unlikely for healthy individuals.

If you have ongoing mental or physical health issues, taking mushrooms can be risky. You may need extra help before, during, and after your psychedelic trip. Remember, mushrooms are not suitable for everyone.

Psilocybin mushroom experiences may not be suitable for individuals with certain health conditions or who are taking specific medications. These include heart conditions, psychotic spectrum disorders, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and medications that affect serotonin receptors, like SSRI and SNRI antidepressants. If you fall into any of these categories or have another chronic health condition or take daily medication, it is important to conduct further research or consult a doctor to determine if psilocybin could worsen your condition or interact with your medications.

Final Thoughts

In summary, a mushroom trip should be approached seriously. It is important to prepare and plan before you actually jump into researching how to take shrooms, just like you would for any other trip. Additionally, you need to know how to store shrooms for a longer period. You can customize the dosage, mindset, environment, and method of ingestion to suit your own body.