How To Have A “Good” Shroom Trip

With magic mushrooms being decriminalized across the country, it’s good to know how to have a good shroom trip before you embark on this psychedelic journey for the first time!

Magic mushrooms are naturally growing mushrooms that contain psilocybin. Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic compound that is present in more than 180 species of mushrooms. When your body digests it, the psilocybin converts to psilocin. The psilocin then creates the hallucinogenic effects of the psychedelic trip you experience when you ingest shrooms. About 30 to 40 minutes after you ingest this fun fungi, your trip will start to kick in, and it will last around 4 to 6 hours. 

Now, the type of trip you’ll have will depend on what size dose you take, which we will dive into in this simple guide!

A “Good” Trip Vs. A “Bad” Trip

Chances are you’ve heard the terms “good trip” and “bad trip” before. Now you must ask yourself, what constitutes a good or bad trip?

Characteristics of A “Good” Trip

A good shroom trip is filled with positive emotions. Many users report feeling a strong sense of euphoria while in a state of wonderment for the world around them. Giggle fits often come about as visual and audible hallucinations alter the world around you, providing enhanced, vibrant, and sparkling colors mixed with amplified sounds. This becomes a beautiful and unique experience for those trying shrooms for the first time. Stagnant objects may appear to move and become animated, leaving you staring at one spot for hours in fascination.

The best way to set yourself up for a good trip is to understand the do’s and don’ts before you ingest!

Characteristics of A “Bad” Trip

Bad trips are filled with negative and stressful emotions. During a bad trip, people are often fearful, paranoid, and insecure. Their hallucinations turn on them, making them feel anxious, worried, and overwhelmed instead of filling them with a sense of wonder and awe.

Bad trips can occur based on your mental state before taking shrooms. For example, those emotions become heightened and often unbearable if you’re stressed, angry, or upset.

Shrooms can also have adverse physical effects caused by ingesting shrooms, such as vomiting, increased heart rate, nausea, headaches, or chills. 

While having a bad trip may not be the most enjoyable psilocybin experience, it is best to look at that journey as a growth opportunity. Many people who have taken psychedelics claimed that even their “terrible” experiences had been helpful, providing them with profound existential and life-changing.

The Typical Stages of A Shroom Trip

Whether you find a sense of self in the midst of a good trip or a bad trip, the typical stages of a shroom trip are all the same. 

Taking The Shrooms

First, you’ll want to decide how you want to consume your magical mushrooms. 

If you want a quick and easy way to consume your psychedelic mushrooms, pop them in your mouth and eat them straight! Magic mushrooms don’t have the most desirable of tastes, so many avoid this route if they are able to. Mixing your shrooms with another food is an excellent option to help mask the taste. Try adding them to your favorite sandwich, pizza, smoothie, cookie, or pasta for a delicious delivery of these psychedelic shrooms. 

When you are eating your shrooms, you’ll want to chew them up nicely and well. This will help the psilocybin to release more effectively into your bloodstream, giving you the most efficient delivery of the psychedelic effects of your shrooms when you eat them.  

Making magic mushroom tea is a psychonaut favorite. Brewing your shrooms down to a lovely tea makes ingesting these fun fungi a much more delightful experience. The tea is the most effective way to mask the natural flavor of magic mushrooms. It also makes the ingestion much easier on your digestive system (as eating shrooms whole could make you feel nauseous or upset you during your mushroom trip).

Another advantage of drinking shroom tea is that the effects of the psilocybin hit faster when ingested in tea versus when eaten whole. You can also get creative when you make your shroom tea by mixing in some spices, lemon, and a drizzle of honey. This will help improve the flavor and allow you to set the tone for your trip! Brewing shroom tea is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is break up your shrooms and place them in a bowl, pour some boiling water over them, add any extra spices or flavors you like, then let them steep for 15 minutes. And just like that, your tea is ready!

Once you ingest your set dose of shrooms, stay patient. A common mistake made by shroom takers (especially first-timers) is to take more shrooms before the initial dose kicks in. 

Be patient and wait until you feel the onset’s full effects, then decide whether you want to increase your dose. 

Onset

About 30 to 40 minutes after you’ve ingested your shrooms, you’ll start to feel their effects taking hold. This is commonly known as the “onset” (you may also hear it referred to as the “come up”). The onset starts your journey, lasting anywhere from one to two hours. You’ll start to notice changes taking place around and within you. Colors may start to appear more vibrant, or you may find yourself enthralled in the tiniest details of your surroundings. 

Sounds will also become more defined and distinct as the shrooms take hold. Feelings of euphoria will start to set in, possibly mixed with bouts of laughter. Your body will start to feel the effects of the shrooms, maybe even giving you the feeling that you are floating or being pulled down by gravity. Some people become more verbal in this stage, while others retreat into their thoughts.

Peak

After you pass through the onset of your psychedelic journey, you’ll reach the “peak” of your mushroom trip when the effects of the shrooms are in full swing. This is where you will experience the most potent hallucinations of your trip, and the impacts will last for two to four hours. 

During the peak, many users experience the feeling of moving through a wide range of intense emotions. In contrast, others slip into a complete sense of dissociation, leading to a state of feeling completely disconnected from the world around them. You will start to see psychedelic visuals of objects becoming visually distorted right before your eyes, and sounds will start to blend into your senses. The world around you may even begin to pulsate or move in ripples. 

Physically, your body will feel amplifications of your senses as they react to the real world around you. You may notice a tingling feeling sweeping across your body or like you are melting into a pool of water. Some adverse physical effects at this stage include the possibility of feeling nauseous, having an upset stomach, or getting the shakes. When riding out the wave of your peak, your distorted reality could overwhelm you. This is the stage of your mushroom trip where it is easiest to swing from an excellent trip to a bad trip. It is also the stage people experience ego death and other emotional breakthroughs. 

Therefore, riding the wave and going with the flow is best. Allow yourself to surrender to the shrooms and stay grounded with your intention. You could try leaving the room or adjusting something in your environment, like the music or lighting, to help shift away from a bad trip into a positive energy. Observe the sensations and emotions that sweep over you and stay present at the moment. If you find yourself on a bad trip, remember that it will soon pass, and you’ll be on your way through the comedown. 

Comedown

Your shroom trip’s last hour or two is considered the “comedown.” During this stage, you’ll start to feel the psychedelic effects of your magic mushrooms wear off. Distorted visual and audible effects will begin to normalize, and colors will lose their vibrant luster as they return to their traditional hues. A sense of peaceful euphoria will continue to sweep over you as you process and reflect on the emotional and spiritual journey you just embarked on. You’ll begin to feel re-grounded in your space as the effects of the mushrooms continue to wear off. As your body finishes digesting your psilocybin shrooms, you’ll feel tired and potentially mentally exhausted as you return from your psychedelic journey. 

Preparing For The Psychedelic Trip (Most Important Steps For A Good Trip)

While everyone’s psychedelic trip will be different, there is a crucial step that we can all take before we start our shroom voyage: preparing for the journey!

Tripping Alone or With Others?

Whether you decide to trip alone or with others, it will impact the type of experience you have. You are solely responsible for your journey and the energies you’ll experience when tripping alone. You’ll leave some notes and reminders to keep you grounded, and on the path toward a good trip, just in case you find yourself tipping into a downward spiral.

Having a trip sitter is also something to think about. The trip sitter will guide this psychedelic journey, providing a good environment and energy if your trip tilts incorrectly. Trip sitters are great for bringing you out of a bad trip and ensuring you’re happy. Having a loved one be your trusty trip sitter for a solo shroom session is also a wise choice, but they are also great for group trips! 

 If you decide to trip with others, choosing a set of people you trust and are comfortable around is essential. And beware – another person’s trip can creep into yours, either for good or bad. 

Safe environment & Good Mental State

Ensuring you’re in a familiar setting can be essential for first-timers and even those who regularly take shroom trips. You want to ensure that your body is at ease and that nothing will bring on anxiety or make you feel unsafe. When you are in an unknown location, your mind may be racing around, attempting to understand your feelings, making your journey unpleasant.

Remember that your mental condition before using psychedelics might affect your experience. Make sure your head and heart are clear and psychologically prepared for changes. You don’t want any existing emotions, such as heartbreak, worry, or rage, to become exaggerated and ruin your trip.

Choosing The Species of Magic Mushroom

With over 180 species of magic mushrooms, how do you choose the right shroom?

The most common species of psilocybin mushrooms is Psilocybe cubensis, or “cubes” for short. This shroom species has various popular strains that deliver varying potencies and experiences. 

Psychonaut favorites 

• Psilocybe cubensis (cubes). Cubes are the most common and most well-studied species of psilocybin mushrooms. Among this species, a variety of popular strains range in potency and trip effect. Since this strain elicits both solid physical and mental aspects of the trip, it’s recommended for more experienced users. 

Other well-known strains, such as Golden Teacher and Hultua, are reportedly well-known for their ability to induce spiritual or mystical experiences.

Reports suggest that the psychoactive properties of Knobby Tops produce a higher-than-average intensity of colors, making this an ideal strain for the bravest, most thrill-seeking psychonauts.

Different Types of Magic Shrooms To Try 

While we’re still months away from the new year, learning about the different types of magic shrooms is still a while to help prepare you for your mystical journey. It’s still being determined what variations will be available in Portland, but here are some of these psychedelic treasures’ most popular species and strains.

Psilocybe Cubensis (cubes)

Cubes are the most common and most well-studied species of psilocybin mushrooms. Among this species, a variety of popular strains range in potency and trip effect. Here are a few fan favorites:

Penis Envy (PE)

Are you looking for a stout shroom with a strong kick? Then PE is the one for you. With a name derived from its physical appearance and rarity, this strain is arguably the most sought-after magic mushroom. The shroom has a thick stem and bulbous cap, creating a phallic resemblance, hence the “penis” part of its name. The strain is hard to find or cultivate because of its slow growth, which is thought to be why it produces high levels of psilocybin. Not only is it a challenge to get your hands on, but it’s also well desired due to its extremely high potency, thus the “envy” portion of its name.  

Golden Teacher (GT)

GT is one of the most commonly used shrooms that packs a moderate potency, making it an excellent choice for beginners (still mind your dosage, of course!). It’s named for its large cap’s yellow or golden center and the profound and insightful trips many users report experiencing with this strain.

Albino Goldies

A high potency, hybrid strain that crosses Golden Teacher and Albino A+, Albino Goldies is best known for creating an immense body high among users. Albino Goldies resemble both of their parents with their golden cap from the Golden Teacher and their slender stalk that bruises blue, like the Albino A+. Since this strain elicits both solid physical and mental aspects of the trip, it’s recommended for more experienced users. 

Flying Saucer Mushrooms

A species of its own, Psilocybe azurescens, was discovered just outside of Portland in the late-1970s near the mouth of the Columbia River. This shroom packs a mean punch and is said to be one of the most potent psilocybin mushrooms. Due to this high potency, Flying Saucers are a favorite among microdoses since so little is needed. Like most magic mushrooms, this beauty gets its name from its cap’s resemblance to a flying saucer. 

Blue Meanies

Though they are from a different genus than the Psilocybe cubensis and Flying Saucers, Panaeolus cyanescens are still psilocybin mushrooms with high potency. Blue Meanies are understood to be two to three times more potent than your standard cube. Like the Flying Saucer, these shrooms are ideal for microdose since a little bit goes a long way. True to form, they get their name from the blue hue they turn after being picked and the mean puch they pack with their super high potency. 

We hope our guidance on how to have a “good trip” is helpful to you as you go on your shroom journey. Now remember, having a trip sitter, being in a secure and welcoming location, and being in a good mental state are all elements that may contribute to a fantastic trip!