For centuries, people have taken psilocybin, known as “magic mushrooms,” to have deep, meaningful, spiritual experiences. Various cultures used them in religious practices and rites ceremonies.
Today, people use mushrooms in various ways. No matter what type of experience you’re looking for, there are a few things to know before you take mushrooms to ensure you have a safe and pleasurable experience.
1. Take the Precise Dosage
There isn’t simply one experience called “taking mushrooms.” Instead, the amount you take will determine whether you feel merely a sharp tingly mental lift or full-fledged hallucinations. “Micro-dosing” refers to taking a fraction of a gram, just enough to alter how you feel, but well short of the intensity that comes with a shift in consciousness associated with heavier dosages.
It’s easier than ever to get magic mushrooms in Canada, but don’t bite off more than you can chew just because there’s a ready abundance. Decide what type of experience you want and weigh the precise dosage.
If you’re new to magic mushrooms, begin with a low dosage and don’t take more during the same sitting. Sometimes it takes a while to kick in, over an hour, and if you take a second serving before the first has kicked in, you’re liable to take too much.
2. Pills, Tea, and Raw Shrooms
How would you like to consume your shrooms? Eating raw magic mushrooms will make you feel the effects, but not everybody likes the acrid taste.
People boil shrooms into a tea, dissipating the concentrated taste. Plus, you’ll feel the effects sooner, and they’ll also wear off sooner. Breaking the mushrooms up into a fine powder makes the mushrooms act quicker and increases potency because the stomach doesn’t have to work as hard to break them down.
Pills are a popular way to consume shrooms because they’re discreet, and it’s easy to be precise about the dosage, which is already pre-filled in each pill.
3. Have an Experienced Guide
When taking mushrooms, it’s best to do it with someone who has taken them before. If you feel uncomfortable during the experience, they can talk you down and ensure you’re safe.
You may feel a heightened sense of connectivity to the world around you, including to people, so you won’t want to be alone!
4. Safe Indoor and Outdoor Location
Many people take mushrooms and feel a strong urge to explore or quest outside — i.e., go for a walk. Whether you prefer to be in nature or in an urban setting is up to you and may depend on where you live and where you can travel safely.
As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to have an exciting outdoor destination you can get to easily and a safe indoor location you can return to if the weather turns.
Taking mushrooms can be a fun way to tweak how you feel and improve your mental health, or it can be a longer, more intense psychedelic experience. Either way, keep the above principles in mind to ensure you get the experience you’re looking for in a safe and fun environment.