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I heard you had a bad trip and now you’ve sworn off psychedelics altogether? Let me guess, was it at a party? A rave? Did you get a couple of hits of blotter acid from your buddy at school? Were you drinking and taking other stimulants too?
This may sound crazy, but your poor preparation in an unfamiliar location is likely enhanced by other conflicting stimulation that led to this unfortunate situation.
In this episode, I will discuss the importance of Set, Setting and Sitting in a Hero’s Dose Journey. With these simple tips, you’ll drastically reduce your potential for a bad trip. I will also explain that there’s no such thing as bad trips, just challenging journeys.
A hero’s dose Journey refers to the dosage required for an individual to achieve a complete psychedelic experience. The amount is subjective to the person taking the substance and the strength of the medicine itself.
The set represents you: It is the emotional and physical state that you are in when you take your journey. So let’s look at ways you can prepare your Set.
Did you have a stressful day? Do you feel agitated? If so, take your time to return to a calmer state before you go on your journey. Set a time when you can give your full attention to the experience. You don’t need to be in a great mood to journey; a good mood is good enough.
Journal before your journey to set your intention. It doesn’t mean that there will be a magic Jesture on the other side ready to answer your question. Your intention sets the context of your journey so don’t skip this step. Also, pay attention to sudden moments of “A-ha” days after your experience. Often, in the most mundane places, inspiration hits you days later. Journal and record these moments right away.
If you are pregnant, taking SSRI or suffering from mental health issues that may become negatively triggered by psychedelics, refrain from taking any. You may find what you are looking for in the form of meditation or a breathwork program.
Diet: Some psychedelics such as ayahuasca and magic mushrooms may require fasting or elimination of certain foods days before your journey. Others such as smokable NN-DMT or LSD don’t require any dietary changes beforehand.
Take a relaxing bath or shower before your journey. Your body is the temple that holds your psychedelic experience. Respect it like any other sacred space and wear comfortable clothing.
Schedule a time when you won’t be interrupted by visitors or obligations. Turn off all devices that could go bing, ding and ring during your session. Find the most comfortable place to sit or lie down. I prefer the nice queen-sized bed with lots of pillows and blankets in my DMT room. Your body temperature may fluctuate radically from cold chills to hot and sweaty. So some may feel the need to shed their clothing while others may want to curl up in a warm blanket. Having curtains around your setting can give you the privacy you require. Having soft lighting close by can enhance your visuals even if your eyes are closed. They also aid in bringing you back to base level if you find your journey overwhelming. Simply opening your eyes to take a break with a sip of reality, can effectively reduce this overwhelming sensation.
Here are some items you’ll want to include in your setting.
A sitter is a sober companion that watches over you during your psychedelic experience. Even if you can’t find an experienced sitter in your area, having a friend hold space for you will do just fine. If you are new to hero dose journeys or you have any apprehension about doing it by yourself, I highly recommend waiting until you have someone to hold space for you. Knowing that someone is there allows you to completely surrender to the experience.
Well, that concludes this episode so let me leave you with some final advice.
There is no such thing as bad trips, just challenging journeys. If you find yourself on a difficult journey, just remember that you will return to reality shortly. This is also an opportunity to confront the uncomfortable. You may find the most difficult journeys reveal the greatest insights.