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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



Registered: 02/15/12
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A guide to getting the most out of a psychedelic experience
#23892319 - 12/03/16 10:29 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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This is something I've only just started to put together, mostly posting for suggestions/additions. I realized I'd never seen any similar write-ups here on the forums, does anybody know of one? Seems with the research MAPS has done combined with the experiences of the community could be distilled down into a decent guide to getting the most out of a psychedelic experience, and helping to avoid "bad trips." Plus guidelines for tripsitting/helping others through difficult experiences.
So heres what I have so far, copied out of my journal. Some
My own notes and some jung quotes:
- Treat a trip like a dream, the lessons learned must be taken seriously. IME the unconscious mind responds favorably to being taken relatively seriously and you putting in effort. You must bring even a single piece of the heavenly world back to earth.
- Strive to understand as many of the symbols you encounter during the experience as possible, select some to draw or work with in some other creative way.
- Keep a trip journal the same way you do a dream journal. See if analyzing fantasies later on yields similar insights to that of dream analysis.
- Jung theorizes that merely passively enduring a vision isn't enough, and that to establish the conscious counter-position one must consciously interact with the vision.
- Maybe take it somewhat seriously, make an offering like fasting prior, being otherwise sober, etc.
Tips/Techniques for avoiding or coping with difficult experiences: 1) Dose in safe/familiar/comfortable environments
2) Do not dose spontaneously/impulsively or just because somebody else wants to without at least taking some time to think it through. Are you forgetting anything you have to do, are you in the right place with the right people, do you have a way to get somewhere else without driving if you need to? These are the questions I ask myself beforehand.
3) If things get hairy, changing your environment can be the difference between things getting worse or totally calming down. Go on a walk, get outside even a small backyard can be amazing, put on some relaxing music, get away from the people you're with if they're the problem.
4) #3 brings up an understanding you should have with anybody you decide to trip with, and that is that sometimes people need to get away from eachother for one reason or another while tripping, sometimes sitting down in another room alone for 10 minutes and doing a little deep breathing is all you need to be around the person/people again, just make sure everybody knows this beforehand so feelings don't get hurt as that kind of thing can be hard to handle well while high. You also might need to simply part ways for the remainder of the experience, I actually have a really good long term friend who I just cannot stand on psychedelics, its okay, you can still be friends 
MAPS Stuff
MAPS LSD Study: Procedure found within
Some main points about their procedure for therapeutic trips: "At the beginning of the session (approx. 11:00 A.M.), the therapists will discuss with the participant his or her intentions for the session, including intentions regarding working with psychological issues related to their episodes of anxiety. After the session begins, participants will recline in a comfortable position, with eyes closed most of the time. They will listen to a program of music designed to support their experimental session by initially promoting relaxation and later evoking and supporting deep emotions and the emergence of unconscious material (Bonny and Savary 1990; Grof 2000: pp.186-191; Grof 1980; Unkefer 1990). The participant may request a specific musical style for his or her session. After the first hour, if the participant has not spoken spontaneously, the investigators will check in with him/her about the nature of the experience. For the rest of the experimental session, as appropriate, the investigators will engage with the participant to support and encourage emotional processing and resolution of whatever psychological material is emerging. The investigators will also encourage periods of time in which the participant remains silent with eyes closed and with attention focused introspectively on his or her sense of self and life-history in order to increase the psychological insights mediated by the LSD treatment."
As a side note I again wonder about the utility of sensory deprivation tanks combined with psychedelic psychotherapy https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/23891859
Really? I thought y'all would be full of suggestions
Edited by Psilosopherr (12/04/16 12:23 PM)
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TheMadHatter420
Trusted Farmer


Registered: 10/12/16
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Re: A guide to getting the most out of a psychedelic experience [Re: Psilosopherr]
#23895612 - 12/05/16 12:03 AM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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There needs to be something similar for noobs. Something laying out how the 1st time can be good instead of bad. I totally agree with setting the mood/ environment and NOT dosing at the wrong time. Chose a bad time once, realized it MAYBE 10 min later. forced myself to puke them back up, was young, and well I still tripped out. Was laying in bed with my mind racing for hours and got no sleep.
As far as input. X-mas lights!!! they are a sweet addition to any trip. My roommate and I had those rope LED lights strung up. We would pop in one of those cheap ass mix DVD's of old school cartoons, the ones with Gumby and black and white cartoons on it. Then pop on some mellow music and have a hell of a good time. Those lights are easy on your eyes while dilated.
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



Registered: 02/15/12
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Re: A guide to getting the most out of a psychedelic experience [Re: TheMadHatter420]
#23897688 - 12/05/16 06:08 PM (7 years, 1 month ago) |
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Very much agreed, I've made so many mistakes during my tripster career that could've been easily avoided had I read a guide like this.
Perhaps I'll add a section just for first timers. Its a lot of responsibility to give good advice on this subject so I hope we can pull it off.
christmas lights eh? I could see that, a nice soft glow throughout the room. Thanks for replying btw, really surprised this wasn't a more popular thread
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Nonagon Infinity
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Re: A guide to getting the most out of a psychedelic experience [Re: Psilosopherr]
#26722057 - 06/05/20 02:15 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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I know this is a very old thread, but I find it useful. I especially like point #3 under avoiding or coping with difficult experiences. One time, I ate some golden teachers with a buddy of mine and he invited me to a party where I didn't know a lot of people (he did, though). As I really started feeling the mushrooms, I started to get very uncomfortable. People were talking to me and trying to get to know me, and I'm wrapped up in my head having a full-blown psychedelic experience. I started to feel pretty stressed, but I eventually just told my buddy that I was feeling uncomfortable and I needed to just go out for a walk alone.
As soon as I stepped outside and started walking around, I felt immediately better. The sunset looked beautiful, I heard birds singing, and I had an encounter with a fox that was really cool - not every day you see one of those just running around. It was a nice little personal journey, and by the time I had walked around for about an hour, I felt much better and was confident that I could go back to this party without it being weird. Having the option to just leave without needing to drive anywhere was great and, of course, my friend was completely understanding of my situation when I returned, and was happy to see that I found a way to make myself more comfortable 
Thanks for sharing this, Philosopherr. Bumping because I hope it might help other people!
-------------------- Nonagon Infinity Opens the Door
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



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Re: A guide to getting the most out of a psychedelic experience [Re: Nonagon Infinity]
#26722539 - 06/05/20 06:49 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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So glad you found it helpful. I've had that exact same experience at a party, except mine was in October so it was freezing out
Didn't realize I had 2 versions of this, the one in my sig is a later version if you're interested
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redgreenvines
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Re: A guide to getting the most out of a psychedelic experience [Re: Psilosopherr] 1
#26723578 - 06/06/20 08:20 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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I find if I lie down in a comfortable space with no electronics I can let things get terrific on their own. Eg - yesterday 6 hours after 1/4 tab and 1 hour after a big toke of black hash, I lay down in the dark and did not open phone or computer.
I saw in a series of exquisite changes a series of radiant enthroned druid like faces and bodies changing in the center of a clearing amidst a jeweled forest - the colors and solidity of the opened and closed eye experience was astonishing. I would have thought the acid worn off and the hash too little for such a rich experience, but it could just be the rush of joy at not having to read or watch or listen to media.
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Nonagon Infinity
Mycologist



Registered: 06/02/20
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Re: A guide to getting the most out of a psychedelic experience [Re: redgreenvines]
#26724093 - 06/06/20 12:47 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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I have yet to be brave enough to take a psychedelic journey lying down on my own without any distractions. All of my solo trips have been nature walks. I'm working my way towards those types of experiences, but I'm not rushing to get there! haha
-------------------- Nonagon Infinity Opens the Door
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InnerWisdom



Registered: 08/09/19
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Re: A guide to getting the most out of a psychedelic experience [Re: Nonagon Infinity]
#26724532 - 06/06/20 04:38 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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I think this is a good principle: dose according to intent. Less can be more, depending on what you want. Today I really enjoyed cycling outside at night on a low dose after the peak. Just awesome, like I planned it to be.
Let me add also that I think whatever helps one to relax the mind is good. Tripping doesn't need to be without any external stimulus. I don't think I will ever do that, it just sounds boring. Maybe you can get deeper in your mind somehow, but again do you feel relaxed then? in a state of trance? Maybe the onslaught of visuals, like different images make it hard to relax the mind. By the way, great thing to relax is to use your voice and drumming with hands to make music.
Edited by InnerWisdom (06/06/20 04:42 PM)
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



Registered: 02/15/12
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Re: A guide to getting the most out of a psychedelic experience [Re: InnerWisdom]
#26724687 - 06/06/20 05:55 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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somethin about what you just said totally dissolved my long standing anxiety towards tripping. Maybe only in this moment, but thats never really happened before.
@nonagon infinity: Expectation can play a big role IME.
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