Your first psychedelic experience happens only once, and it has the potential to be thought-provoking, mind-opening, and therapeutically beneficial to your well-being. Taking the steps to prepare for this journey has the power to make this happen at a much larger and more intentional scale. Proper preparation for a psychedelic experience is equally as important as the experience itself, so careful planning is advised.
Throughout this article, I’ll explain high-level some important aspects to consider when exploring psychedelics for the first time in any capacity and modality.
Please note, at this time, psychedelic substances such as psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD are not legal, if you do participate in such recreational activities (outside of clinical settings) be sure to know the risks and practice harm reduction.
Understanding Psychedelic Substances
It’s certainly wise to know what you’re getting yourself into ahead of a psychedelic experience by understanding what a psychedelic substance is, how it affects the brain, and how to respect its teachings. Psychedelic education is important both as a participant and as an advocate to these powerful substances.
Without getting too deep into the science, a psychedelic, or hallucinogen, temporarily alters one’s mood, thoughts, and perceptions cognitively. For some, they catalyze feelings to be experienced in very intense and physical ways.
There are several different types of hallucinogens and dissociative substances that act as hallucinogens. The classic psychedelic substances, LSD, DMT, ayahuasca, and psilocybin are categorized by how they interact with the 5HT2A receptors in the brain which are believed to be plasticity-promoting and antidepressant-like. Dissociatives such as ketamine acts as an antagonist for a different kind of brain receptor known as NMDARs and other downstream processes that stimulate neuroplasticity and neuronal growth (ncbi).
The common thread among psychedelics is their ability to help rewire the brain for a more desirable outcome.
Combining these mystical, out-of-body, euphoric, thought-provoking, elevated experiences with increased neuroplasticity allows for the unique opportunity to change your mind in a new way. When you pair this novel idea with intentional preparation and integration, you can start to see incredible results that the data is consistently showing again and again.
As you’re ready to embark on a psychedelic experience, remember that much of the magic of these substances lies in this cognitive opportunity to change your brain to support the thoughts you desire.
How to Legally Trip
The extreme buzz around psychedelics and the breakthrough science therapeutically across the world makes it hard to remember that for the most part, these substances still remain illegal in the US.
Legal therapy for psychedelics is on the horizon, with states like Oregon and Colorado leading the charge. But aside from that, I’m sure you’re curious to know how are people accessing these medicines and using them in such large numbers.
Here’s a few ways you can legally and safely trip as of right now.
Ketamine Therapy
Ketamine treatment centers are popping up left and right as a large body of research continues to support ketamine therapy as an alternative treatment for depression and anxiety. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has psychedelic properties and promotes neuroplasticity similar to its traditional psychedelic counterparts. It is perfectly legal so long as it is prescribed by a clinician.
There are a few ways you can work with ketamine:
- Research a treatment center nearby and receive ketamine via IV or IM in a clinical setting under the care of a physician.
- For a more personal approach to this treatment, companies like Mindbloom, prescribes at-home ketamine treatment that ships directly to your house under the care of a clinician and guide.
- You can also ask your psychiatrist about Spravato, a ketamine nasal spray.
Participate in a Clinical Trial
In the height of the psychedelic revolution, clinical trials are taking place all across the globe, monitoring the psychological and physiological effects of psychedelics on the brain, all of which are eager for volunteers. If you’re looking to experience psychedelics in a safe and clinical environment, check to see if there are any clinical trials near you that you might qualify for.
Sit with Ayahuasca at an approved church
Certain churches and congregations have obtained the lawful right to consume hallucinogenic ayahuasca for religious purposes. This makes participating in an ayahuasca ceremony completely legal.
A few notes: When doing ayahuasca, it is important to be respectful of the culture and the traditions. Be wary of doing these ceremonies outside of the Peruvian and Amazonian descent and research churches and their leading shamans vigorously before making your decision.
Participate in a psychedelic retreat
Psychedelic rituals, retreats, and ceremonies can be accessed across the world. Places like Costa Rica, Mexico, Amsterdam, and Portugal to name a few are meccas for psychedelic retreats that pose less legal threats. These retreats are available across the US as well via approved churches, but similarly to aforementioned, be sure to be respectful of the tradition and practice before embarking on a ceremony.
Practice Holotropic Breathwork
Holotropic breathwork is a type of accelerated breathing pattern that can elicit psychedelic effects through increased oxygenation. The fast-paced breathing of repetitive inhales and exhales changes neural activity and, as it heightens, can bring someone into a trance state where people commonly report feelings of ecstasy.
This breathwork is also a great way to tap back into the psychedelic state post-trip, without the use of substances as a means of integration.
Just because there’s no substance use in this option, doesn’t mean it’s not powerful, so be sure to practice safely and understand that past trauma can arise.
Preparing to Trip
When preparing to trip, research specifically each type of psychedelic that you’re considering. This is not a one-size-fits-all process, so working with someone who is trained to help match you with a protocol is highly encouraged.
When researching on your own, you’ll want to assess if you’re a good fit for the protocol, what to expect specifically from the medicine, and how you can best prepare to embark on the journey.
Being prepared to journey into your mind will make your experience more enjoyable and effective overall, but this also means preparing the mind and body for the experience. In the days leading up to your journey, follow these helpful tips to prime your mind for new thoughts and perspectives:
- Make sure that leading up to your psychedelic trip you start to be more intentional about your day-to-day habits.
- Clean up your diet to prioritize fruits and vegetables over processed foods. Stay hydrated, get adequate exercise each day, and plenty of sleep (at least 8 hours a night).
- Be mindful of your emotional and mental well-being. Minimize your media consumption, especially negative media like the news, violent video games, etc. Consider building meditation into your routine in the days leading up to your ceremony if you don’t already have a meditation practice. Journal your thoughts daily and start to practice gratitude before you journey.
- It might sound silly, but these practices can make a massive difference in the experience you have during your trip. Having a clear mind free of distractions, mental blocks, and other non-supportive thoughts gives you the space to open up to what the medicine wants to show you with less resistance.
Preparing your set and setting
‘Set’ and ‘setting’ are very common terms you’ll hear in the psychedelic realm, and this breaks down to your physical and emotional environment going into a psychedelic experience. Depending on what substance you’ll be journeying with, the set may be already established.
If you are looking to cultivate your own set for your journey, you’ll want to make sure you have a trusted ally available for safety reasons. This person doesn’t need to be present physically while you are in the experience, but close-by and available should you need support.
Make sure your space is comfortable and set up to support you in a way that is unique to you. Some people prefer to experience psychedelics in nature, so if that’s the case, it’s encouraged to do so in a place that is free of any obvious risks or potential stressors. Choosing a place you’re familiar with is highly encouraged. Others prefer a more cozy, indoor setting to trip in with things that bring them comfort and joy. Both ways, as long as they are thoughtfully curated, can be extremely supportive of what is to come.
Preparing your ‘set,’ or your mindset takes a bit more practice. Above all, when embarking on a psychedelic journey, it’s so important to set an intention. This is different from an expectation in that an intention is meant to be more of a guide that you can return back to throughout your experience. Intentions are meant to be grounding, personal, and flexible, and not meant to be restrictive.
When intention setting, think about themes in your life that you wish to understand more. Perhaps your intention is just a simple word or mantra. Again, much like the setting, there’s no wrong way to approach this, so long as you allow it to be a guide-post rather than a barrier.
Know what to expect during a psychedelic trip
Knowing the duration and what to expect during your trip can help you prepare for it. For example, some psychedelic substances can cause stomach upset, nausea, and dizziness. Knowing this ahead of time can help you be ready should this arise.
Surrender and trust the process
Once you’re in the ceremony, remember to surrender and trust the process as it’s unfolding for you. There may be some challenges that arise and uncomfortable feelings that you’ll want to shy away from. If you can remember to surrender during these moments, your experience has the potential to be richer in insights and perspectives.
Know that you are safe and that you have you throughout the entirety of the experience. Continue to revisit your intention and trust that the trip you’re having is exactly the one that you’re meant to be having.
What to do after your psychedelic experience
After your trip has completed and you return back to your normal state of being, you are quickly going to be thrusted into the integration phase of the experience. This is where the real magic happens.
Integration is the process of taking your insights from your psychedelic experience and applying them to tangible and actionable ways to support the outcome you desire.
If you remember that psychedelics evoke neuroplasticity, or the ability for your brain to rewire itself, then you’ll understand that this process has even more impact post-journey. While your brain is in this highly plastic state, it’s much more likely to adopt the new thoughts you feed it in the days following the experience. Meaning you can actually change your mind and grow new neural pathways.
How to integrate your first psychedelic experience
Your insights, perspectives, and emotions that came up during your trip are meant to be reflected on, so begin to write down what you remember without trying to place any meaning to it just yet. Continue to do this in the days that are to come. Soon you will start to have a better understanding of how this can be used to create new outcomes for your life.
Integration is a skill and depending on the outcome you’re looking for might be better done with the help of a trained integration practitioner or coach. This person will be able to help you make sense of your journey in ways that you’re going to use to move forward more intentionally. They will help you come up with a plan to implement what you discovered and what you seek to achieve. It helps to work with someone you trust and who understands what you experienced so you can get the most from your journey.
Have a good trip
Working with psychedelics is a beautiful way to uncover more about yourself and your relationship with the external world. As you prepare for your first journey, remember to look inside and remind yourself why you’re choosing to journey in the first place. Get excited about what might come up, even the scary parts are going to help free you from the confines of your mind.
Above all else, enjoy the trip and safe travels.
