Tips for Having a Safe Psychedelic Experience
Using Hallucinogens Safely [Psychedelic Experience Tips]
Mind altering drugs can be a powerful, life-changing, euphoric experience; but they can also lead to travesty with the wrong circumstances. Many amateur psychedelic users, as well as psychonauts alike, are always looking for ways to have a pleasant psychedelic experience and eliminate any potential problems. Through generations of psychedelic drug exploration and collections of individual experiences, one can learn how to make better use of the psychedelic trip.
A lot of the tips surrounding having a safer, more pleasant psychedelic experience, revolve around the art of planning in advance. A lot of the psychedelic trips which happen to go bad are typically split the moment, or those experiences which take place in volatile settings. Using hallucinogens safely is almost like a catch 22, as it is absolutely impossible to 100% guarantee someone is not going to have a negative reaction; however, there are most certainly precautions and procedures which can be chosen ahead of time in order to reduce the likelihood of a bad trip.
How to Have a Good Psychedelic Trip
Planning is a lot of what makes for a good psychedelic trip, as well as a safe one. There are many things that a psychonaut or amateur psychedelic user can do ahead of time in order to help secure a more pleasant psychedelic experience.
Reviewing the History of the Drug
Many people who have tried psychedelic drugs (hallucinogens included), have admitted that the decision to do so was rather quick and with little research ahead of administering the drug. Even those who take the time to understand a little about the drug, rely very heavily on the users experience whom has suggested the drug’s use. Very few people take the time to investigate the full history of a drug before diving into a psychedelic experience with the drug. Many of the plants, synthetic chemicals, and hallucinogens in general which are used today have history worth reviewing.
Sometimes history could reveal preparation mistakes which have poisoned people in the past. Other times history reveals secrets which make the preparation effective (otherwise leading to a bunk substance). The history of a product can reveal how it was traditionally used, or even supplemental psychoactives which can intensify an experience. Some plants have quite intricate history that dates back thousands of years, while other chemicals are rather new and history would reveal relevant information about their precursor(s).
Anticipating Common Fears, Understanding the Body
Fear is an interesting factor when ingesting or otherwise administering a hallucinogen. If an user of a hallucinogen has limited experience with the drug, they are more likely to fear its effects. This natural fear of the unknown can induce panic attacks, anxiety, and a variety of other scary manifestations during a psychedelic experience. The newer a psychonaut is to psychedelic drug use, the wiser they are to employ the use of a guide or babysitter for their trip. Having a guide who is able to understand the effects of the drug and help with navigation during the experience itself, has made a significant difference in almost every psychedelic experience that has reported using a guide.
Some drugs are more likely to induce certain fears than others. Drugs which are capable of fabricating entire dream-like worlds which seem completely real, are able to create a variety of psychosis and psychological fears. Hallucinogens such as Salvia divinorum and Synthetic Cannabinoids (Spice) are great examples of drugs capable of producing fake realities that are hard to distinguish from actual reality. Understanding that drugs alter the mind and can manifest hallucinations of all types, can help an amateur psychonaut differentiate between falsehood and reality.
Range of Effects
Depending upon the drug, the range of effects to expect will be different. Some drugs offer a wide array of effects, such as having visions or dreams, experiencing euphoria or mood enhancing feelings, becoming paranoia or over dramatic, getting depression or anxiety, having intense spiritual epiphanies, a desire to be intimate, severe terror, and quick changes of emotions. Some drugs amplify these effects more than others. It is possible for one drug to put user to sleep, where they will experience lucid dreaming, while another user would remain fully conscious and begin to understand how the entire universe works.
A person’s personality, body weight, metabolism, intelligence, experience, nutrition, other substances in the body, mental state, and circumstance, all make an impact on the effectiveness of a psychedelic drug on a particular person. A true psychonaut takes the time to understand the dosages of a plant (especially a psychedelic, such as a hallucinogen) that are most appropriate for their individual situation. It is also possible with gradual experimentation, to work up to the desired dosage, without ever incurring negative effects. Obviously, the higher the dose, the stronger the effects. Usually, when it comes to psychedelics, overdosing is much more serious and can lead to a variety of undesirable consequences, sometimes which can even include death. Taking the time to understand the correct dosage for the desired effects, and also taking the time to properly measure the dose, can make a significant impact and having a pleasant psychedelic experience.
Choose the Right Setting
Setting makes a really big difference in psychedelic experience. Setting is usually defined as the environment of which the psychedelic experience takes place. Unfortunately, many amateur and recreational psychedelic users tend to select unfit or otherwise unsuitable environments as their settings. Sometimes this is out of convenience, such as the hallucinogen being offered at a party, making it a convenient option. Other times, it is because it was a gift, and had been consumed or otherwise administered on the spot where it was procured. Many people choose to go clubbing, go to raves, or otherwise go partying on psychedelics. Partying is not always a bad choice, provided there are trusted people accompanying the psychonaut, and the location is somewhat safe for hallucinogenic mindset (a poor choice would be deep in the woods with many dangerous ledges [where one could fall or jump] or by a lake [where one could drown]).
Experience psychonauts typically prefer a setting that is quiet, relaxed, controlled, and comfortable; However, safety is the most important item to consider about from the start. The setting should be free of dangerous objects, unruly partygoers, and other catastrophes. Usually it is not wise to consume food during a psychedelic trip (to prevent from choking, over eating, or accidentally consuming items which are not for consumption).
Ambiance Music
One important part of the setting, which a psychedelic drug user usually has control over, is the background music. Background music can completely alter a psychedelic experience for better or worse. There are some evil, sinister, or violent selections which would almost guarantee a negative experience. And then, there are also choices which could be too emotional, and provoke another type of bad experience. Many guides and experienced psychonauts suggest using multiple types of music in one psychedelic experience. It has been suggested that this technique of “staging the music” alongside the stage development of the psychedelic trip, provides the best experience. This means that a psychonaut would select a song to begin with, songs for their peak, and songs for the come down.
Some experienced guides insist on using their own music, choices they feel stimulate the best psychedelic responses. Typically, classical is considered a fantastic choice, as it seems to make most people feel appropriate…especially in the beginning of the trip. Some people prefer jazz, or other easy listening. Whether or not there are vocals in the music can make a significant difference. Depending upon the psychedelic drug, the user may interpret the music (lyrics, tone, tempo, be, rhythm, etc.) very differently. There are some drugs which are able to visually narrate the lyrics of a song. Selecting a mystical, spiritual, or otherwise relaxing song (with vocals or not), is one of the keys to securing a pleasurable experience.
Get a Guide or Babysitter
Everyone feels differently about their psychedelic experiences. Many people have thought long and hard about an experience after having one. Many people wonder what the psychedelic trip meant, what certain imagery meant, why they fell a certain way afterwards, or even find themselves terrified from what they saw. For amateur psychedelic drug users, having an experienced guide present can help answer a lot of questions. Psychedelic guides are able to monitor the psychonaut during the experience, which can help provide insight in the future, but also make a psychonaut feel safer in the present. Sometimes, simply having a babysitter present is enough to diver what little anxiety could have sent a trip on a downward spiral. A babysitter could be any sort of person, from a spiritual leader, to a friend, or maybe a lover, or even a fellow psychonaut. It is important for a psychedelic drug user to select a babysitter or guide who is both comfortable with the drug use, the psychonaut themselves, and dedicating their time solely to the experience (being willing to pay attention).
Guides should be able to understand the difference between a little paranoia and a seizure. They should be educated on basic first aid, and have a phone accessible in case they must call for help. Some guides help administer the drug, depending upon the method of intake. Some guides record the experience while it is taking place. A guide should be responsible, mature, and be fully aware of the psychedelic trip. While it is not required that the guide have experience with the particular drug being used in the psychedelic trip, it is most certainly a plus and advised!
Trust Your Gut
Always trust the gut! A psychonaut should be able to feel when adequate research has been conducted regarding any particular psychoactive or psychedelic plant. A psychonaut should be able to feel when a setting (environment) is unsuitable for ingesting or otherwise administering a psychedelic drug. A psychonaut should be able to detect potential problems which could make an experience undesirable. If a psychonaut is unable to satisfy personal comfort levels and feel confident in having a safe psychedelic trip, the psychedelic drug should not be ingested.
Remember the number one psychonaut rule is: if something feels uneasy, or there is any reason not to do a psychedelic drug, do not do the drug! Almost any psychedelic experience can be planned, or it should not be done at all. Likewise, any psychedelic experience that is planned, can almost always be postponed if necessary. If a psychedelic trip cannot be postponed, there is too much pressure and too little control; and thus the psychonaut would be wise to skip the experience.
Final Tips for Preventing Bad Psychedelic Trips
Over the years, a psychonaut is almost certain to have a few bad experiences. This is especially true if they are a regular explorer of psychedelic drugs. It can be hard sometimes to determine the appropriate dose for a particular person and psychedelic drug use is not always exact (as nice as that would be). A good tip for avoiding bad trips would include researching other experiences before hand, and trying to get an understanding of the indicators other people may have had when their trip began to go bad. A lot of people, while not having exactly the same experience, have reported similarities within their negative experiences. Sometimes, simply understanding how a drug creates a bad experience, is enough to circumvent the negative effects altogether. No amount of research is ever too much, and sometimes a small tidbit of information can be enough to improve a psychedelic experience. Doing the research, reading past experiences, and taking the time to procure the right setting and guide/babysitter, vastly increases the chances of a positive psychedelic trip.
Disclaimer: This article is purely for educational purposes only. BotanicalShaman.com is not condoning the use of illegal drugs, but only providing some information!
