Other resources: How to Change Your Mind, (annotated summary); How to Find a Psychedelic Guide

What It’s Like to Take Psychedelic Mushrooms

Everyone's experience is a little different, but most people report distinct phases of a psychedelic mushroom trip. 

The following phases are gathered from our group's collective experiences, are entirely subjective, but may be a helpful guide to a newer user.  At a minimum they help explain the terminology we use in our trip reports. These stages vary somewhat depending upon the dose taken, and unlike LSD, it is hard to quantify dose by weight, because the concentration of the active compound in mushrooms varies substantially from mushroom to mushroom, even in a single strain.

I.  Early Stages

1. Pre-Ingestion, Mental Preparation.  We often find ourselves to be anxious or nervous before a trip, if for no other reason, we tend to be busy preparing food and crafting the environment for the best experience.  During this time we are careful to not be irritated at or moody with our fellow-travelers and remind ourselves about what a fun experience lies ahead.

2.  Ingestion.  We prefer to all begin at the same time, and we enjoy making this a happy communal process.  The prep is over and now it's time to enjoy.  We prefer either making a mushroom tea, and drinking in a tea ceremony, or ingesting in the Mexican spiritual tradition: slowly nibbling the mushrooms with one’s front teeth, only swallowing after a prolonged period, which allows the active ingredient to be absorbed quickly and efficiently through the mouth. Many also report the process helps focus the mind for the coming journey.

It's natural for people to have anxiety waiting for the psychedelics to manifest themselves, so we try to take this time to relax and reassure newer travellers.  We also counsel newer travellers to be patient; that their experience may begin earlier or later than others, and not to be concerned.  We remind new users they may feel nausea, especially early on, and this often passes. And we reassure them that if they feel like laughing or crying, they should not feel embarrassed to do so, as it's entirely natural. And we request that they hold space for others to experience welcomed emotional swings.

3.  Onset.  We tend to first notice the overt effects mushrooms fifteen to forty minutes after ingestion (closer to 20 minutes using a tea or the nibbling method described above).  Visually, sometimes our first clue of onset is finding ourselves staring at small details around us.... a blowing leaf, a rock on the ground, a point in the distance.  We then notice our vision becoming clearer, as though we turned on a TV with a higher resolution than we are used to viewing.  Sometimes things in the background seemed to be in soft focus compare to the very crisp images in our immediate focus. 

We sometimes have feelings of mild nausea to moderate nausea. We have found that using a tea, or the nibbling method of ingestion significantly relieves nausea. Having some ginger pre-ingestion may also help.

4. Body High and Body Load. Mushroom experiences often have a strong body high and often a head high, similar to THC. For many, this is a pleasant, euphoric feelings. People often also describe a “body load”, a feeling of physical heaviness, as though gravity slightly increased. Some experience this as relaxation, but others feel uncomfortable with this experience. Some become talkative, laughing and smiling, while others will begin to feel more introspective.ds

5.  First Hallucinations.  The first hallucinations are subtle.  Colors begin to become more intense, and subtle color variations become exaggerated, especially in natural settings.  A "breathing effect" is common, where the entire environment pluses gradually and rhythmically, as though the world was breathing.  

6.  Intensifying Hallucinations.  Depending on the dose, more intense hallucinations will begin to kick in.  For some this happens within an hour of ingestion, for others it may occur two to three hours after ingestion. A shift toward magenta is very common, and green tones may also appear.

Objects may begin to move significantly, floating around with fluctating intense colors. Things may look cartoonish, especially things in the distance.  Images may start to ghost or appear out of focus (imagine looking a light shinging through a tree, and the Obscured by Clouds album cover by Pink Floyd suddenly mades sense (see inset image).

Music may become envoloping, and subtle acoutic effects may become noticable, such as precise microphone placement, fingers sliding on guitars or previously unnoticed vocal intonations appear. Many of these will remain noticable once heard after the trip, making this journey an excellent time to re-listen to favortite songs with a new ear.

Music and light may significantly impact emotional state.  Even a passing cloud obscuring the sun may have an impact, with skin feeling noticeably cooler and our mood less upbeat.  

II. The Peak

By the second or third hour of a mushroom journey, one will feel the most intense sensations, which may include significant hallucinations and lost of traditional rationality.

1.  Psychedelic Phase.  Colors have gone from being intense to stereotypically psychedelic. All those 60's posters make perfect sense, as that color palette is now dominating our vision.  Looking at a white cell phone screen may be surprising, with rapidly changes colors.  

While mushrooms and LSD have many overlapping features, during this phase many people find distinct differences, albeit the distinctions vary greatly from person to person.

While many find LSD to be playful, fun and childlike, mushrooms at ther peak often feel sacred. On LSD many feel deeply connected and even cared for by nature (or mother nature), while on mushrooms people often desribe a reverance or awe for nature. However, some people report LSD feeling more weighty and sacred and mushrooms to be a means to deeply connect with nature.

Things may feel overwhelming, and walking from one room to another may help regulate emotions and intensity.  Talking intelligently may be difficult.  Words may not suffice.  Music continues envelops the senses.  Food flavors may be intense and the sensation of eating may be unpleasant or simply odd.

2.  Fractal Phase.  Sometimes before or after the psychedelic phase, some experience a fractal phase, where geometric patterns begin to appear and seem very beautiful.  “Form constants” may become obvious, featuring fractals, checkerboards,  cobwebs, tunnels, and spiral patterns. One may notice the weave of cotton sheets, the pattern of rattan furniture, or roofing tiles.  If there is anything with Arabic designs around, one may see surprising classic psychedelic patterns.   A sense of harmony and intensity may seem pervasive.  Colors will be distorted and intense, but not flashing in the way that occurs in the psychedelic phase.

3.  Loss of Sense of Self; Spirituality.  During intense high dosage trips, one may experience a loss of self, where the boundaries between who one is as a person and the rest of the universe dissolves and a sense of profound connection occurs.  One study has suggested this may be related to the way various parts of the brain communicate on psychedelics.  Some have reported a similar experience during very deep meditation.  Some feel moments of profound personal or spiritual insight during these phases.   One may feel a deep sense of acceptance of oneself and others.  Or feelings of profound loss, over the death of parents or loved ones. Or the feeling of loss over faded friendships or similar emotions.  During this phase, experienced practitioners may be able examine and discuss previous trauma, and find acceptance of the past. 

III.  The Comedown

1.  Post peak.  As the peak phases end, taste sensations are intensified.  (Some foods taste amazing, especially strong flavors - here are our favorite foods on psychedelics.  This is true throughout the trip, but during the peak period, eating may be challenging.  We crave sweet, sour and salty flavors initially.  Juicy fruit is amazing, sour candy is too.  Then we move toward more earthy flavors of tobacco, red wine, strong cheese, and nuts.  A single nut may fill the senses.  Sometimes we experience heightened perception of the emotional state of others and sometimes a distorted sense of other's emotional state.  It's a time to be careful with personal interactions.  

During this period people also may experience emotional challenges. Anxiety or self-doubt, lack of connection to others, loneliness, and other challenging emotions may arise. Often a change in conversation, music or location will alieviate unwanted emotions.

2.  Almost sober.  Any remaining visual effects are subtle, such as minor color intensity or minor distortions while watching TV.  Food and drink continue to taste wonderful, but are less intense.  A sense of well-being and emotional peace often follows, along with a sense of connection with those close to us.  Some mental exhaustion may be felt.  Some may feel sad or empty that the intensity of the experience has ended.

3.  Fully sober.  No noticeable impact on any sense.   A sense of happiness and emotional stability sets is present. Sometimes hungry or tired, depending on the time of day.