How to do psychedelics?

[Awani]

"The first place you go, when you're going to take a new drug, is the library."
- Terence McKenna, "Tryptamine Hallucinogens and Consciousness", 1982

I take no liability for any advice tried in this post... what you do is your responsibility.

Psychonautics 101

There are no rules, only paths. If you drop acid and go to a party then that is one possible path, or if you sit in the dark and meditate with your stomach full of Shrooms that is another... and guess which one has the biggest chance of giving you wisdom?

This is only my own suggestions, but in regards to healing, safety and sanity it is also probably the best way to go about it. Although nothing is written in stone.


1. What psychedelics are available?

My personal rule is that it has to be natural so LSD is out the window. Below are some of the most common.

Cannabis
Eat a large chunk of cannabis and you will experience the true way of partaking of this plant. Smoking it is a waste of weed. Can be strong, but in comparison to the rest fairly weak. Risk of paranoia depending on your state of mind. I personally don't like it, but I felt it needed to be included in this list.

Magic Mushrooms/Truffles AKA Psilocybin
Lightweight. These are good for beginners, but beware that doesn't mean they cannot be strong. Also fairly easy to get hold of as they grow (or can be grown) almost anywhere.

Amanita Muscaria is not something I recommend unless you know EXACTLY what you are doing! It can be very dangerous.

Salvia Divinorum
A bit like Psilocybin although it doesn't last that long.

Ayahuasca
Very strong and nothing that should be done alone. If you are inexperienced then make sure you take ayahuasca with an experienced healer/shaman or psychonaut. If you have the possibility to go to the Amazon and do it in its natural setting this is preferable, but make sure you find good people... where there is money there are charlatans. Avoid Ayahuasca mixed with Datura as this can be dangerous.

Iboga
Extremely strong and potent. For the real experience go to Gabon. I have also heard fairly good things about Costa Rica and even England, but I think it is only in Gabon you can get pure Wood (Iboga) instead of the ibogaine extract (if I understand it correctly). In either case just as with Ayahuasca you really need to do this with experienced people and never on your own. Especially with Iboga you need to be watched for up to a week afterwards as the effects can last for a very long time.

Pure DMT
The strongest of the all! This one I have no direct experience with myself so I cannot give any advice based on direct experience, but from what I understand it it very potent. Although it doesn't last very long; a few minutes.


2. Which psychedelic should I try?

If you are inexperienced I would suggest you try Psilocybin. If you cannot handle that you will be pretty screwed doing the rest. If you are experienced you really don't need my advice.

Spiritual insight / wisdom / fun
Psilocybin, Cannabis

Healing, insight about the self, new path for your life, guidance
Ayahuasca, Iboga

You can be healed from all of them in a sense, but I think (based on my own experiences) that Ayahuasca is the King of the Cure, as well as the Philosopher's Stone in a Cup... it is the best path to go down if you want spiritual enlightenment, self help and healing. IMO.


3. How to do it?
Well the first thing you need to do before you take any psychedelics is research. Check out:

www.erowid.org
www.shroomery.org

Regardless of which psychedelics you want to try there are a few important guidelines I strongly suggest you follow:

1. Never be alone. Always have someone that keeps a silent watch over you, help you to the toilet, get you a glass of water, give you a bucket to puke in or just be close by if you feel scared or alone. It is also advisable that this Sitter/Helper does not give advice or touch you while you are in a psychedelic state (unless this person is a Shaman or very experienced).

2. Create a safe and comfortable environment. Make sure you have no commitments the following day. With Iboga make sure you are free for at least 10 days to be on the safe side.

3. Clean yourself and fast for at least half a day before you do the psychedelics. In some cases like with Ayahuasca you also need to follow a certain diet.

4. Do it in the dark, as dark as you can make your environment. This is the biggest mistake most people do I think... turn the light of folks!

5. If you are not doing it in nature then have nature sounds (forest, thunder, rain, waves) playing on your stereo. If you use music I suggest shamanic songs or very soft piano music that you like.

6. Have an intention that you think about before you take the psychedelics, like "show me the way in life", "help me with..." etc.

7. Don't have any expectations.

8. Don't resist, surrender.

9. Always use a positive posture. For instance don't sit with your head in your hands as this is a 'depressed' posture

10. If you are doing it with other people try not to disturb them. Show respect. You don't know what they are going through.

Here are some additional tips from a Magic Truffle Ceremony we did in 2014...

Safety = Knowledge

Educate yourself!!!

[Kiorionis]

Nice!

What's your thoughts on dosage? Is there a standard based on body weight?

I've heard that a first-timer, especially with heavier psychedelics, should start small to get a feel for it.

[Ghislain]

In the temple of Peru with the Shipibo everyone, no matter their experience, has a small dose to see their reaction.
After this it is up to the individual to decide. Having said this, on my last ceremony at the temple they asked me to
take a smaller dose, which was a bummer at the time really as I had just found a method to control it better, but I
still had an amazing journey.

I'm not sure if this is the same for everyone, but the more I do it the more sensitive I seem to become.

With mushrooms you cannot overdose, although you may make yourself sick.

The headshops in Amsterdam will advise first timers to use about 10g, but that is just a safety precaution to cover themselves;
and possibly good advice as they don't know what environment the first timer is going to be in.

As for body weight, I'm not sure that is important as I am really sensitive to psychedelics and thus only need a little whereas
others I have been with take huge doses and do not see any visions, all I could say is to each there own.

Ghislain

[Awani]

What's your thoughts on dosage?

You can't really overdose* and if my guidelines are followed then that means you have a safe environment so any dose should be fine. Normally what I find is that it is better to take too much rather than too little. If it becomes too strong you will have the Sitter/Helper there to keep you safe or even better a Shaman.

Ghislain is correct also in that sometimes a small cup of Ayahuasca can be stronger than two large cups. It is as if the brew decides what to do with you.

I've heard that a first-timer, especially with heavier psychedelics, should start small to get a feel for it.

I guess this is true and very sound advice. Although the first time I did any psychedelics I drank a cup of Ayahuasca and had an extremely strong experience. I was not ready for anything really other than interested and spiritually seeking something. So it is individual. Do what feels right not what others tell you to do. If the set and setting is good then just go for it!

If you can't swim try splashing around by the beach and then later go out into deeper water... or just jump into deep water straight away - then you got to learn to swim fast or drown. Both tactics work fine, it all depends on your type of personality. I am in the latter category where I just jump into the deep straight away. No need to waste time...





* Do not mix any psychedelic with alcohol or other drugs or pharmaceuticals... it can be lethal!!! And avoid it if you are pregnant.

[Dendritic Xylem]

For beginners it might be best to avoid indoor settings for your first experience.

Leave the city, choose a beautiful outdoor area, and connect with Nature. But unfortunately this isn't possible for everyone.

After you become more experienced, then it is time for isolation chambers.

But be careful, you may come out a little different...




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[Awani]

For beginners it might be best to avoid indoor settings for your first experience.

Yes and No in my opinion. Indoor setting can easily be controlled. You have all the things you need easily available. This can be good for rookies.

Also: only do it if you feel ready... never from peer pressure!!!

[Dendritic Xylem]

Yes and No in my opinion. Indoor setting can easily be controlled. You have all the things you need easily available. This can be good for rookies.

I don't like that most indoor settings force you to bathe in artificial electromagnetic pollution.
Microwaves from cell phone towers and internet routers...current carrying wires surrounding you in every wall...not so good for connecting with the Universal One, imho.
It could be argued that these radiations can be phased out and ignored by those who know how, but newbies often don't have that ability yet.

Not sure exactly how many experiences I've had...but definitely well over 100.
ALL of my not-so-great experiences have been indoors in the city.
I have NEVER had a bad experience outdoors, grounded to Earth.
Several of my experienced friends feel the same way.


A house might be a good safe zone to keep out of trouble....but it just seems to put me in a more unnatural state.
Indoors I tend to develop more obsessive/compulsive thought processes, whereas outdoors I become relaxed and content.
Maybe it's just psychosomatic, but like I said, numerous friends have had similar experiences.

[Ghislain]

It would be interesting to see how you find the experience of a ceremony in the Alchemy Congress environment DX.

Ghislain

[Andro]

It could be argued that these radiations can be phased out and ignored by those who know how, but newbies often don't have that ability yet.

I don't know about other settings and I personally don't use Psychedelics, but at our Gathering in Amsterdam in 2014, I did put my shamanic training to use in creating an 'energy shield' to protect the participants from potentially disturbing influences. Dev also mentioned that it might be preferable to (at least at first) have such experiences with shamanic 'supervision'. I am not Psychedelics trained, but it may have been the 'next best thing' available, of sorts...

[Awani]

I don't like that most indoor settings force you to bathe in artificial electromagnetic pollution.

Yes I agree. Outdoor if possible. But it has to be warm... doesn't work if it is in snow for example.

Turn of all tech and make it as dark as possible, but if it is in a city there will always be light/tech pollution and sound pollution. That is why forest sounds on the stereo is important, to drown out the city as much as possible.

In the end the best thing is going to the rainforest (South America or Africa).