Have a good trip, see you next fall.

October 1, 2024 1:29 AM

We'll be enjoying some psilocybin chocolates in the near future. Care to help with the setting?

For my partner's birthday, we've gotten some psilocybin chocolates. I've tripped a couple times before, but it's been about 15 years. He's never tried hallucinogens before. I want to prep some ideas for activities to suggest during the trip. I'm looking for movies, music, tv shows, or other activities that might be fun. The goal is to have some options prepped in case the vibes need adjustment. Any media should avoid heavy themes.

Note: I'm not looking for input on whether or not to partake, or how much, etc. We've got those bases covered. We will be enjoying them at our home, and will likely spend lots of time in nature. Other suggestions for a fun trip are appreciated!

posted by anonymous to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (14 answers total)

Lots of time in the most natural nature you can find is approximately eleventy squillion times better than movies, music, tv shows or anything else that's been designed to elicit a response from the human brain.

In my experience, a warm night on an ocean beach in a sheltered bay with gentle waves, phosphorescence, full moon, small driftwood fire, and nobody there but the two of you plus a longstanding friend with prior tripping experience to be the designated straight person is optimal. Make sure to take about twice as much cold, clean drinking water as you think you'll need. Huge scratchy towels for after in case you feel moved to swim naked. Sharing a small block of good dark chocolate with nuts in it is wonderful in the come-down.

Have the best time!
posted by flabdablet at 1:56 AM on October 1 [11 favorites]

This sounds like a joke but I promise it isn’t: get a cloth and wipe the dust off all of your plants.
posted by third word on a random page at 3:20 AM on October 1 [10 favorites]

I have never partaken (partooketh?) but the highest fever I ever had was massively improved with a viewing of Speed Racer (2008), the Wachoski sisters’ most colorful and frothy work. I would certainly describe it as a trip, so it seems appropriate.

Less intense ideas inspired by the vibes of friends who have shared their experiences with me: those sequin pillows that change color depending on how you rub them; edible flowers like pansies, marigolds, and different flowering herbs like chives or dill; ice cubes for holding and crunching; natural light and fire if at all possible though have someone sober involved for that.

Have fun!
posted by Mizu at 3:37 AM on October 1

Have plenty of tactile things around. A slinky, play-dough, silly putty, fidget spinner, a bucket of sand, Rubik's cube, a few nice bits of string or chain, squishy or bouncy balls, newton's cradle, anything in that vein.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:13 AM on October 1 [1 favorite]

Find a forest.
posted by whatevernot at 5:50 AM on October 1 [2 favorites]

I know you're not looking for negative advice, but since your bf is completely new to hallucinogens, do you have a trip sitter arranged for the both of you? Not trying to dissuade or cast judgement, it's just a big enough deal when dealing with a first-timer that it stood out to me.

If the vibes need adjustment, the best stuff will be things your BF already has a positive connection to, "comfort food" as it were.
posted by The Master and Margarita Mix at 5:55 AM on October 1 [2 favorites]

I'd suggest not watching any media like movies unless you really need a distraction. Some music can be good but the experience itself is much better than getting sucked into a movie or mundane narrative. Appreciate being away from that stuff. Put the phone away too.

It also depends on how much you're taking. Above about 3 grams and you'll both probably want to just lie around and bask in it for a while at a certain point, so make sure you've got a space for that. Less than that and you'll probably like walking around or talking or whatever other mellow activity.

Keep some water and light vegetarian food available. But remember food can ground you and make you come down somewhat so don't eat much. But keeping your blood sugar up can really help, especially if anything becomes uncomfortable in the trip. Have a little dark chocolate or peanuts or something.

Also, if things get uncomfortable humming or deep breathing can help stabilize you.

For this reason you should eat anything for at least a few hours before you start, which you probably know.

Godspeed!
posted by Liquidwolf at 6:44 AM on October 1 [1 favorite]

Advice from my father, a narcotics expert: Whatever you're taking, be in a safe place and in a good mood.
This seems especially important when taking hallucinogens. So while a forest or a beach would be lovely, be sure you have a safe way to get home when you need to.
posted by tangosnail at 9:21 AM on October 1

For mushrooms specifically, have a couple of apples (of a variety you like) around. If things get overwhelming, apples really help metabolize. Kale does too, but apples are tastier.
posted by ApathyGirl at 11:24 AM on October 1 [1 favorite]

we each made a playlist beforehand "soundtrack to your life" where you picked songs that represent some typical movie scenes (ie: opening credits, average day scene, driving scene, first time meeting each other scene, etc - you can probably google the template or send me a dm if you want and I can send you my template) and then we laid around really listening to the songs and talking about them and it was great.
posted by euphoria066 at 2:16 PM on October 1

I recently did this with some girlfriends in a similar situation. Several of us had tripped before but it had been many, many years ago. Plenty of good advice here. Here are my suggestions/notes from our trip:
~Make a playlist of upbeat music and chill music. We used both.
~A cheap bottle of bubbles was enjoyable for what seemed like hours!
~The trip lasted longer than I wanted it to- over 8 hrs. That was the only negative part for me. We were all tired and ready to sleep but my brain did not cooperate. It would have been nice to have something to help me sleep or come down when I was ready.
Happy travels!
posted by Ochre,Hugh at 7:38 PM on October 1 [1 favorite]

In the event anxiety sets in I recommend calling the Fireside psychedelic support line. I had a bad trip and the person on the phone helped get me grounded by doing breathing exercises. For me, anxiety during the come up is pretty strong but fades away to a calmer experience after about a half hour. It’s good to have someone to talk to if needed. Also, if you have access to Benzodiazepines consider taking one if the trip is too much or too long.
posted by waving at 8:29 AM on October 2

I have thoughts:

- Conscious intention setting before. Intent doesn't have to be a serious thing. "I want to have fun and see pretty colors" is great. So is "I want to feel one with nature" or "I want to go deep inside my own mind" etc etc. But it can be helpful to at least be aware of what each other are hoping for/expecting.
- Not necessarily possible for everyone, but the night before I find it really nice to have some MDMA with the people I'll be tripping with the next day/night. Just some good bonding time.
- Music is essential for me but like others I'd stay away from other media. Get a few playlists ready or at least albums and charge some speakers. (Though I did watch Monsters University once on acid and that was fun.)
- A comfortable place to lie down and stare at trees/clouds is about as good as it gets.
- Time your dosing to peak at sunset; try to have a nice view to the west if at all possible. Psychedelic sunsets are maybe my favorite thing in life.
- Glowy things are really fun at night. You can get a 100 pack of glow stick bracelets on Amazon for ~$8 and it's money well spent. Diffraction glasses can be stupid fun as well while it's still light out. I have some light up juggling balls that are great. LED light strips can make any room a party. I've had a friend stare into a salt lamp for hours. Fire is fun; magical flames color changing packets are more dumb fun. A bubble machine is amazing - it's like you can watch all of them at once. If you have access to a VR headset there are some powerful experiences to be had there - I'd still stick to nature primarily as VR can be fiddly/overwhelming, but have had some very memorable times in VR.
- I like to drink alcohol especially in the second half of a trip. I like the transition from tripping to drunk, and it helps me sleep.

For first timers there can be a lot of uncertainty, especially with all the anti-drug propaganda they've likely encountered in life. I know you're not asking for dosage recs, but I always start new people low so they can have a mellow first trip without worrying (too much) if they're going insane. Plenty of time to explore the nature of reality on subsequent trips.

Lastly: please ensure your source is trustworthy, ideally someone you know has tried this particular formulation/brand whatever and is vouching for dosage and effects.
posted by booooooze at 8:33 AM on October 2 [2 favorites]

I'd stay away from movies and TV shows until maybe you're on the way down, but then I always had a really hard time with "artificiality" on shrooms... a single scene or image can be really jarring. Maybe go for a comfort watch, or cartoons. I personally really prefer natural things and natural settings on mushrooms. Having your favorite soothing or uplifting music is really helpful, but also little musical things to play with like bells, small drums, or an ocarina can be fun and/or distracting. Bubbles is a great suggestion. Modelling clay is really good, these sorts of wire head massagers, a hot water bottle in a cuddly wrap (even when it's not particularly cold out), interestingly flavored drinks on hand (we used to drink a lot of cold pressed carrot juice and cold peppermint tea when tripping), coloring books, other nice books to flip through. Also silky, soft, fuzzy, and velvety clothing. Big fan of easy comfort food too, which for me was Pop-Tarts.

We used to have a few chewable vitamin C on hand for bad trips- not the whole bottle because it can be easy to get carried away when one is high. Placebo or no, it has worked wonders in the past.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:54 PM on October 3