Magic mushrooms, or mushrooms containing psilocybin, have been used by indigenous cultures for centuries. Now, more than ever before, these hallucinogenic mushrooms are being used in the west for purpose of a spiritual experience, understanding, and there is research into its medicinal purposes too. There is a lot to be learned from the body and mind, and psilocybin can catalyze this learning process. However, not everything is great to experience while other things enhance the experience. If you are new to psychedelic drugs, it can be difficult to determine which activities will give you a positive experience and which ones will give you a negative experience. In this article, we will highlight what to do on shrooms to help enhance your experience.
What are psychedelic mushrooms?
Psychedelic mushrooms, also called magic mushrooms, psilocybin mushrooms, shrooms, or mushies, are fungi that contain the psychedelic drug psilocybin. They can be found growing especially in humid climates, woodlands, and cattle pastures around the world. The typical mushrooms’ look is brown to dark-spored grey and they may grow individually or in clusters. There are several different species and types of mushrooms with Psilocybe cubensis being the most popular type of mushroom.
Psychedelic mushrooms are used for religious, spiritual, and healing purposes and can be eaten fresh or dried, which is the most common form. They can also be brewed into tea or soaked into wine for intoxication. The level of intoxication depends on the amount consumed and their potency or strength. When prepared in food, they may take several hours to reach the peak of their effects, but when they are prepared as tea, their onset of action is much more rapid.
Practical psychedelic dosage for psilocybin mushrooms is reported to be 1-3.5 grams, with 3.5 grams being an eighth of an ounce. They are most often ingested, though they can also be made into a solution or other form. The onset of symptoms typically takes 15 minutes to an hour and the effects can last for 4-6 hours.
What are some of the common effects of mushrooms?
Some of the common effects of shrooms include mild to intense perceptual changes, euphoria, and intensely felt emotions. As an entheogen, it can facilitate a kind of transcendence that people say feels spiritual and otherworldly and users often report extreme clarity and vividness of their thinking or imagination. Below are some of the most common efffects of a magic mushroom psychedelic experience.
Mind
Mushrooms can have psychological effects and influence one’s mind by altering it in different ways. It can enhance one’s creativity or cause the mind to wander about in complex imaginative fantasies that may include strong emotional components like sadness, elation, fear, and pleasure. For some users they may create a state of novelty by causing their thinking to become more fluid. This often leads people to go on mental journeys where they are not anchored to conventional and familiar ways of thinking. Many users report profound insights concerning their life and self after using psychedelic mushrooms.
Physical
Mushrooms can have physical effects too by making your body feel unusual or interesting in certain ways, such as causing heightened sensitivity to touch and changes in the sense of time. Some individuals may find that their coordination is upset while using psychedelic mushrooms while others may feel a deep connection to the natural world.
Mood and perception
Psychoactive mushrooms can change one’s mood by causing feelings of euphoria or bliss, sensations of lightness or heaviness, giddiness, laughter, giggling, crying, and cramps. In a larger dose, it can cause anxiety, fear, depression, and panic attacks. Mushrooms can also change an individual’s vision by creating patterns with eyes open or closed that are non-distinct visuals that appear in intricate geometric shapes or forms that seem to warp, move, drift apart and come back together again.
Mental health benefits
Even though there is no scientific evidence that psychedelic mushrooms can benefit one’s mental health, many people have reported positive changes in their mood and mindset after using psilocybin mushrooms. They report feeling a greater sense of meaning or connection with nature or the universe, reduced anxiety and fear, more creativity, less depression, and better focus.
Possible negative effects
Individuals who use psychedelic mushrooms may experience adverse effects that include anxiety, confusion, paranoia, agitation, and panic. All of these things can cause negative experiences that which puts you at risk of having a bad trip. Using large amounts of psilocybin mushrooms can lead to long-term effects such as flashbacks days or weeks after using them. Some people may have memories of feelings they experienced while intoxicated which are hard to distinguish from reality. These flashbacks can cause intense distress in the person experiencing them and can lead them to believe that they are going crazy. In some cases, these psychoactive effects have been linked with a psychiatric disorder known as hallucinogen-induced persistent perceptive disorder or HPPD, which is a condition in which sensory disturbances continue after the effects of the drug have worn off. If you have a history of mental illness, it is recommended that you not take psychedelic drugs unless prescribed by a doctor.
What are 10 cool things to do while tripping on mushrooms?
Psilocybe mushrooms can help you experience things in a different way and can help you perceive the world with a whole new outlook. Here are some activities that you can engage in while tripping on mushrooms to make your experience even more interesting:
1. Play with pets and laugh at their antics.
Psychedelics can make animals appear very interesting and you’ll most likely enjoy their presence while tripping. You will likely laugh at their antics and they will probably do things that are quite funny or cute. For animals who enjoy the attention, they will love how interested you are in them for an extended amount of time.
2. Visit a museum, especially one that has interactive exhibits.
Museums are meant to serve as a means of both education and entertainment. Having an open mind is key when trip-testing this activity, especially if you have visited the museum many times before already. Some museums will be better for tripping than others, so look into the options that are available in your area.
3. Draw/paint/write (or all three) what you’re feeling and thinking about.
Psychedelics have the unique ability to help users tap into their inner creativity. Whether you want to express your thoughts in words, paint them or create a collage out of magazine clippings, all are great ways to communicate whatever is going on inside your mind. This activity is best done with others who can act as an artistic sounding board.
4. Watch an old or new favorite movie.
Even though it’s called a “trip,” the experience won’t be something that you’ll want to forget anytime soon. Trip-test some of your favorite movies while you’re under the influence and reminisce about the glory days when they first came out in theaters. It can be nostalgic, fun, and even hilarious; just make sure that you’re in a safe place where you won’t hurt yourself or others.
5. Visit a live music concert.
Music is one of the best ways to get in touch with your emotions, so take advantage of an opportunity to hear some tunes that you love while you’re tripping. You’ll likely feel chills up and down your spine during songs that are particularly moving or exciting. Even if you don’t enjoy concerts, there are plenty of other places where you can enjoy your trip while listening to music, such as a record store or an art exhibit.
6. Listen to or play music and enjoy it as if you’ve never heard it before.
To piggyback off the above suggestion, we recommend listening to music in your home or wherever you are tripping or playing it yourself. Psychedelics are intense, but they don’t last forever. Tripping is sometimes compared to being in a waking dream because you’ll feel different in general while you’re under the influence. Take advantage of this experience by listening to or playing music that you enjoy with all of your heart and soul. Don’t let anything get in the way of you and your newfound appreciation of music, not even the people around you.
7. Go outside for a walk or hike (this is especially great at night with a full moon shining overhead) and enjoy nature.
There’s nothing better than enjoying the world around you while tripping on mushrooms. Make sure that you’re in a safe place when going outside and be prepared to take pictures for later viewing, since taking photos during your trip can be especially fun. Don’t forget to look up once in a while from whatever activity you’re doing and appreciate the full beauty that nature has to offer.
8. Play video games against friends online (or against strangers, depending on your tolerance).
Just like with music, tripping is an opportunity to find out whether or not you really enjoy playing video games. If this activity sounds boring to you under normal circumstances, try it while high and it might spark a sudden interest in modern gaming. This trip-tested suggestion may be particularly fun if you’re playing with people that you don’t know although this will depend on your comfort level with strangers while tripping.
9. Have sex as a lot of people say their sex is much better on mushrooms.
Sex isn’t just for sober people; it can be wonderful when you’re tripping, too. This activity is best done with someone that you know well and trust completely since strangers might detract from the experience. Just like with any sexual experience, psychedelics will only enhance the intimacy of what’s happening between you and your partner(s). Plus, you might be surprised to find out that sex while tripping is especially fun and free-flowing.
10. Stargaze. It will be a night you won’t soon forget.
People who prefer to stay inside during their trip have the option of looking up at the stars and planets instead. Stargazing is great for calming your mind so you can think about all there is in this vast universe, which is something that trippers often do late at night. Even if you live in a big city with too much light pollution to enjoy star-gazing, you can enjoy the night sky by traveling to a new place before your trip begins.
Summary
Shrooming is one of the safest ways to enjoy psychedelic experiences while minimizing the risks involved. It’s relatively easy to control your trip, which makes it even safer than LSD or ketamine since your worst-case scenario is simply having an unpleasant experience that lasts for a few hours, you don’t have much to lose by experimenting with mushrooms. As long as you stay in a safe place and trust the person that you’re planning to trip with, there isn’t any reason why tripping on mushrooms can’t be one of your favorite activities.
Should you be looking for any activities to do during your trip, please take note of the above list. Thank you for reading our article and have a great trip!
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Fact Checked and Editorial Process
The Magical Mushroom is devoted to producing expert and accurate articles and information for our readers by tapping into psychedelic users, experts, journalists, and growing community. We encourage you to read more about our content, editing, and fact checking methods here. This was fact checked by Chris Riley.
Owner, entrepreneur, enthusiast of natural medicine