Foundations First

There are a few universal rules when it comes to psychedelics. The kind of fundamentals that form the foundation of a meaningful experience. The non-negotiables of psychedelic advice. For example:

• Test your substance. Know what you’re taking. Purity is peace of mind.

• Trust your source. Don’t buy transformation from someone who doesn’t care about your journey.

• Respect your set and setting. Your mindset and environment are not side notes.

• Consider a trip sitter. Someone grounded. Someone you trust. Someone who stays when things shift.

These are just a few that you’re bound to come across when preparing to travel inward. The ones you’ll hear echoed by researchers, guides, and seasoned travelers alike.

They form the foundation of a meaningful journey — not because someone said so, but because they work. The more familiar you become with psychedelics, the more these principles prove their value.

When you treat the fundamentals like ritual — not routine — everything changes. You create the conditions for depth, for clarity, and for the unexpected to show up with purpose instead of chaos.

Once those pieces are in place, you’re ready for the deeper work.

Think of these tips as refinements — not rules. They don’t replace the fundamentals. They build on them.

As many psychedelic users can tell you, each one can deepen your connection to the experience — helping it unfold with more clarity, more insight, and more purpose.

Subtle shifts that open the door a little wider.

Let’s take a look.

1. Music With No Vocals (Just Try It)

Most people trip with music. That’s great! But the type of music you choose can transform your experience — or limit it. There's a reason why psychedelic guides don’t throw on Pink Floyd and call it a day.

Many therapists and guides prefer using music with no vocals as it opens the psyche more than you might expect.

Vocals, lyrics, and words all anchor your mind in narrative. They tether your thoughts to meaning. Johns Hopkins University refers to this as linguistic interference.

In clinical trials, music is carefully selected to support the inner journey.

Oftentimes, that’s why they use instrumental tracks or ambient compositions. Not because vocals are bad. But because they want the music to support the journey, not direct it.

In fact, they’ve also found that music with vocals in an unfamiliar language may have the same effect as no vocals at all — because it bypasses the thinking mind and lets the experience unfold without interference.

These playlists are crafted to follow the emotional arc of a trip:

• Openness

• Challenge

• Release

• Integration

Your music can be your co-pilot. Plain and simple.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean vocals are off-limits or should be avoided. Not every experience has to involve deep therapeutic intention, and plenty of people have had powerful moments listening to songs they love — a lyric that hits just right, a voice that cracks you open. Music with words can feel familiar and grounding.

It just gives your mind something to hold onto and interpret. And under psychedelics, that can be a leash for some people.

Pro Tip: A great starter playlist would be Johns Hopkins Psilocybin Playlist that was assembled for their clinical trials, and it’s available to stream for free.

2. Spend Time in Silence (And Actually Meditate)

I know - it sounds counterintuitive to recommend silence right after music. But sometimes, the most powerful soundtrack is no soundtrack at all.

Music can guide you. But dedicating some time to silence during your journey gives you an opportunity to listen to what’s already inside. Many people choose to move between the two — letting the music carry them through certain waves, then turning the volume down when it’s time to go inward.

And I know, silence can feel intimidating at first — especially in a world that’s constantly trying to fill it. But with psychedelics, silence isn’t empty. It’s charged. Alive. Every breath, every flicker of thought, every sensation becomes amplified in the stillness.

Terence McKenna — one of the most referenced psychedelic philosophers — often recommended journeying alone, in silent darkness. No distractions. No noise. Just you, the medicine, and the mind. That’s not everyone’s style, but the wisdom behind it still holds.

Silence removes the external scaffolding. It forces you inward. And that’s where the real work happens. That’s where insight lives — not as a flash of color or a profound quote, but as a slow unfolding of truth you already carry.

Meditation helps prepare you for that space. It trains you to sit with the discomfort, the beauty, the boredom, the breakthrough. The more you practice before the journey, the more familiar that stillness feels when it arrives.

A few minutes a day, leading up to the experience, can make all the difference. No technique required.

🌿 Just sit.
🌬️ Breathe.
👁️ Observe.

Because when the volume of the outside world fades, what’s left is something far more interesting: you.

3. Clean Your Space Like You’re Hosting Royalty

Because in many ways — you are.

Whether it’s your living room, a cabin in the woods, or a sacred ceremony space, your environment becomes a mirror. Under psychedelics, everything is amplified — especially your surroundings.

👕 That pile of laundry in the corner? It can morph into a metaphor for all the things you’ve been avoiding.

🌀 That cluttered table? A swirling reminder of unfinished thoughts.

💡 That flickering light? A feedback loop you didn’t ask for.

So don’t wait until the last minute. Clean your space beforehand! Take your time with it. Lighten the energy. Reset the room. Not just for how it looks — but for how it feels.

You’ll be surprised how much peace comes from walking into a space that’s clear, soft, intentional — a space that tells your nervous system, “You’re safe here.”

It also gives you something else: a sense of accomplishment. A clean room. A finished list. An absence of “I should’ve...” floating in the background.

That means:

• Clear your to-do list if you can. Even the little things.

• Answer that one email. Pay that one bill.

• Close the loop. Then leave it closed.

Because the fewer open tabs you’re carrying into the experience, the more space you create for what matters.

When your external world feels intentional, your internal world can finally exhale.

4. Talk to the Mushrooms (Yes, Really)

It might sound strange. But many long-time users — and even respected voices in psychedelic research — describe psilocybin mushrooms not just as a substance, but as a presence. A kind of living intelligence, maybe operating within an aspect of consciousness we don’t yet understand.

Bill Richards (Johns Hopkins) has referred to the psilocybin experience as an encounter with the sacred. Gabor Maté describes psychedelics as wise teachers. And in indigenous Mazatec tradition, among many others, psilocybin mushrooms are seen as spirit beings — often called Los Niños Santos, or The Holy Children.

So if both science and tradition treat the medicine as something sacred and sentient — why not talk to it that way?

🗣️ Say your intention out loud
🙏 Whisper a thank-you when you feel held
❓ Ask the experience what it’s here to show you
😌 Ask it to slow down if things start feeling too intense

Even something as simple as “Please guide me gently” can open a different kind of relationship — one based not on control, but trust.

Write a short phrase or request before you begin. Something like:

“Show me what I need to see, not just what I want.”
“Help me let go.”
“Thank you for this opportunity.”

It doesn’t require belief. Just respect. And sometimes, respect changes everything.

5. Prep Your Aftercare — Before You Dose

Most people spend time planning for the trip itself — the dose, the playlist, the setting, etc. But not planning your aftercare before the experience? That’s a missed opportunity.

Lining up your aftercare ahead of time does more than support integration. It helps you avoid distractions, protect the calm, and carry your intention beyond the trip itself. It also lets you plan for the simple things — like having nourishing food ready when you’ll want it most.

(Pro tip: Fruit tastes otherworldly during and after a trip. Keep it clean and light. Your body will thank you.)

But here’s the deeper reason this matters:

According to research out of Johns Hopkins by Gül Dölen, M.D., Ph.D., psychedelics may reopen a “critical period” in the brain — a temporary state where you're more receptive to your environment and more open to learning from it.

That open window doesn’t close when the visuals fade.

🧠 Ketamine — 48 hours
🍄 Psilocybin Mushrooms — 2 weeks
💊 MDMA — 2 weeks
🧪 LSD — 3 weeks
🌿 Ibogaine — 4 weeks

That means your environment — not just during, but many days after the trip — still shapes how the experience lands. The people. The energy. The quiet. The stress — or lack of it. All of it matters and should be taken into consideration when planning a journey.

This makes integration more than reflection. It becomes a time of active imprinting — where your mindset, surroundings, and habits have a better chance of sticking.

So don’t wait until you’re coming down to figure it out. Start now.

Here’s how to set yourself up:

🗓️ Clear your calendar the day after — or longer, if you can

📓 Set aside time to reflect while the memory is fresh

🧘 Limit social media — protect the quiet space you just created

🗣️ Talk to someone you trust — sometimes just being heard is enough

🚶 Move slowly — walks, stretching, rest, nature

🍊 Have healthy food prepped — fruit, tea, something gentle on the system

↩️ Return to one theme from the trip and ask: “How do I want this to show up in my life?”

Some lessons will turn into small actions: go to bed earlier. Call your dad. Start painting again. Others might be deeper, slower — like finally speaking your truth, or changing how you show up in relationships.

Not all insights need to be solved. But they do need to be carried. Gently. Consistently.

Integration isn’t a follow-up. It’s part of the experience.

And when you prepare for it ahead of time — mentally, emotionally, and environmentally — you give the medicine room to keep working… long after it’s over.

The Conditions for Depth

When the foundation is solid, the rest of the journey can rise.

That’s what these tips are really about — not control, but conditions. The kind that allows insight to emerge. The kind that invites presence, reflection, and even transformation.

Because every experience is different — but the patterns around meaningful ones are surprisingly consistent. Clear intention. Careful environment. Respect for the medicine. And space to let it land.

What you do before, during, and after shapes the arc.

These are the moves that experienced psychonauts, researchers, and guides keep returning to.

Subtle, powerful shifts that deepen the work and extend its reach.

Now we want to hear about your experiences!

🧭 What do you always do to make your experience deeper or smoother?

Hit reply and tell us! We read every response.

Exploring the Mind & Psychedelics

The more we explore altered states, the more responsibility we carry in preparing for them. These resources offer practical support — from navigating challenging moments to learning directly from trained volunteers and guides. Whether you're new to psychedelics or deep in the work, these are worth a visit:

🧠 10 Tips for a Safe, Positive Psychedelic Experience – A solid checklist to complement the tips in this issue. These basics are the groundwork for depth, insight, and safety.

🧭 Navigating Challenging Psychedelic Experiences – Preparation is power. But if the trip gets challenging, this guide can help you stay grounded, remember your tools, and move through it with intention.

📞 Fireside Project – A free, confidential psychedelic peer support line. Save this now, not when you need it. Sometimes just knowing it’s there brings peace of mind.

🍄 A Guide to Magic Mushrooms & Psilocybin Therapy – Looking to understand the medicine itself? This is a great starting point, with insights on dosage, duration, and what to expect from a psilocybin experience.

Turn Your Experience Into Data

Our friends at The Microdosing Collective have launched a new research survey aimed at a specific — and often overlooked — group:

People using psychedelics to manage chronic headaches.

This includes migraines, cluster headaches, tension headaches, and other types of recurring pain that disrupt daily life.

Traditional medications don’t always work. But many individuals have turned to psychedelics — and now researchers want to understand what’s really happening.

The study is open to those who:

✅ Are 18 or older
✅ Experience 15+ headache days per month for 3+ months
✅ Have used psychedelics while experiencing those headaches

The goal is simple:

To bridge the gap between anecdote and evidence — and learn whether psychedelics might actually help reduce the frequency, severity, and symptoms of chronic headaches.

Whether it’s psilocybin, LSD, or another psychedelic, your experience could help shape the future of treatment options for millions suffering from debilitating headaches.

📊 Take the survey or learn more here.

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You’re already subscribed - congratulations!

You beat the algorithm 😉 

Thank you for joining us as we continue to navigate this ever-changing landscape.

P.S. Explore what they don’t want you to see - check us out on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and dive deeper into all things psychedelic on our website. 🌐✨