Why the effects of psychedelic mushrooms are different for everyone?

The effects of psychedelic mushrooms or any other psychedelic substance cannot be pinpointed. In fact it really works different for everyone. And that’s so important to understand well, because that makes the use of psychedelics so unpredictable. You somehow have to be prepared for the unknown. But how do you do that?

A thousand ways to journey within

When we eat magic truffles with a group of 30 people, we eat all from the same stuff. For some people it starts to work within 5 minutes, others need to wait an hour or longer before the effects take off. We are all different our digesting system works different, but also our emotional and energetic protection mechanisms are different. After the effects kicked in hard or very slowly and the group enters the inner realms you might think they are all experiencing the same trippy things,.. but that’s not true at all. There are many ways the psychedelic mushrooms can work with someone, for instance:

1. You become very emotional, but you see no colours, no patterns, nothing changes in the room.

2. You start to remember certain past events that you haven’t thought about for ages. But you see no pink elephants or you don’t even feel very emotional.

3. Your sensory world changes major. Sounds, shapes, smells, it all seems to intertwine with each other,.. but you don’t seem to make any sense of it.

4. Your emotions rise high and low, it’s a roller coaster. On top of that the room is changing fast and it is impossible to remember who you are.

5. You become very still inside, but on a sensory or emotional level nothing much seems to happen.

6. You are watching the other people, it seems impossible to tap into your own world even though you try hard. You become judgemental towards others or yourself.

7. You are worried that you’ll act strange, you try to keep the control. The chattering of your monkey-mind becomes overwhelming, it makes you crazy.

8. You feel connected to everyone there, you see the connections between everybody. You see how we all influence each other.

9. You understand the universe, time, space, god..

10. You are confronted with how you treat your children, husband, parents, wife. Grief takes over, you feel like calling them to say you’re sorry.

11. You feel extremely disconnected, not part of the ceremony, not part of the group. Lonely and full of fear.

12. You are getting giggly, you want to make fun with others, involve others in your world. Usually this is followed by a deep cry..

13. You see everyone else going trough the above, except you, you still don’t feel nothing. Your nut is a hard one to crack.

14. You dissolve into nothingness, timelessness, being fluid.

15. You transform into animals, spirits, you morph. You are having the best time of your life.

We can keep on continuing this list of possible outcomes of the effects. If we go back to the group of 30 participants, in the end it was very strong for some, mild for others, wild for some, sensitive for others, they all will report differently although they have been in the same room using the same substances. The point is that the teachings of the mushrooms are personal, it is only about what you need to learn at this point in time. Not about what your neighbour needs to learn, embrace or let go. So many people, so many trips…

Psychedelic expectation management

Therefore expectation management is key. Yes, it is wonderful you have watched all these youtube video’s and podcasts, read books and talked for hours to your friends about it. But most likely, it did not only provide you with useful information, it also created a lot of expectations. Stories from other people’s experiences. Great, but it says nothing about what you need to know. Therefore the person who has the type of experience like nr 13 (I am so sad because I don’t feel what the others feel) has a very challenging experience. For this person it is even harder to find trust and acceptance that he/she gets what he/she needs.

Trust is key

For everybody who goes into a psychedelic journey it takes a lot of courage, but even more trust. Trust that you get what you need, although it maybe not what you wanted or asked for. Trust that the mushrooms mean well, that they help you even when it feel horrible for a while. Trust that the everybody in the group is going through their own process, that you can stick to yours. Trust that your guides are there for you when you ask for it and that their way of guiding is worth following.

We certainly believe a lot of people can really benefit from psychedelics. Yes it can lift the clouds that surround you and yes it can certainly provoke the breakthrough’s you need, but.. the effects of psychedelics cannot be pinpointed.

Potential risks of psychedelics

More and more people are showing interest in psilocybin mushrooms as a tool for healing or improving their life. Although we, as experts from the field, are convinced of the healing potentials of these mushrooms/truffles, we do not offer our retreats as a (substitute for) medical treatment. In this blog we’ll explain further how we look at things like depression and anxiety and the use of prescription medications, medical treatments or medical history in combination in relation to our retreats.

Despite some promising studies on the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, their use as medical treatments is still controversial and heavily regulated. And this is why: Lack of standardized dosages and protocols. Unlike traditional pharmaceutical drugs, psychedelics do not have standardized dosages or protocols for safe use. This makes it difficult for medical professionals to prescribe and monitor their use. Psychedelics can cause unpredictable and intense psychological effects that can be dangerous for some individuals, especially those with pre-existing mental health conditions.

Therefore it is important to note that the use of psychedelics can have potential risks and negative effects, especially for individuals with underlying mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe anxiety. Pregnant women and individuals with a history of heart conditions or high blood pressure should also avoid using psychedelics. It is always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before using any psychedelic substance.

Looking for a psychedelic retreat yourself?

Are you overall healthy and interested to join a psychedelic retreat in a save setting? Check our website: https://magicmushroomceremony.com

FAQ

What can I expect from the effects of magic mushrooms?

On an empty stomach the truffles will usually start to work within half an hour. Initially your body can feel a bit restless, this is when the medicine, which is what we call the little mushrooms, are scanning your body. This feeling generally fades as soon as you have surrendered to the experience. The intensity of the experience comes and goes in waves and continues to do so for about 4 to 6 hours. Some people can experience some nausea in which case deep belly breathing, movement or relaxing tend to ease the feeling of nausea. Further you can experience visions, emotions and insights. Don’t be surprised if radical shifts start occurring in your life.

The psychedelic experience can make you feel all ‘four seasons in one day’, with moments of pure consciousness, intense sadness or fear, gratefulness and absolute bliss. From personal experience we know that it can become quite challenging for a person as fears may arise, but often this is where the self-healing takes off. Our team encourages people to surrender to, or work with the energy that moves through you. We will be there for meeting your needs, before, after and during the ceremony.

Why do people generally attend a magic mushroom retreat?

To liberate themselves from past issues, anxiety, gilt or sorrow. To live their full potential, attract guidance, clarity and vision. To reconnect with their inner spirit from where creativity is born. To improve self-care and gain understanding about their relationships and the interconnectedness of all things. To reconnect with other people, to lay down the masks, to be open and honest, to feel save and supported. To release and reload or to mark an important personal moment.

Are you using truffles or mushrooms in the retreat?

We use truffles. Truffles are sclerotica (mycelium thickenings) which grow underground and are a part of the fungi, just like the fruit bodies (called mushrooms) that grow above the ground. The part that grows underground consists of the same active compounds as the ones that grow above the ground. We use truffles instead of mushrooms because truffles are legal in the Netherlands and mushrooms are not. In our texts we mainly speak about mushrooms and less about truffles, because people outside of the Netherlands are not so familiar with the name truffles.

Can you compare magic mushrooms with ayahuasca?

At our centre we only use the mushrooms, we never use ayahuasca or other plant medicines. Because ayahuasca has gotten a lot of media attention in the last 10 years, many people ask us what is the difference or similarity with mushrooms. Well, the DMT (in ayahuasca) and psilocin (in truffles) are similar molecules. Both are closely related to our bodies own serotonin and function similarly. There are a lot of similarities, but every mind expanding substance has its own character. mushrooms/truffles are, in contrast to ayahuasca, very mild for the body, the physical detox (vomiting/diarrhea) is lesser with mushrooms than with ayahuasca. The mushrooms generally have a more playful and extravert nature, as for ayahuasca you can expect a more introvert journey.

How can I prepare for a magic mushroom retreat?

To get most out of the experience a good personal preparation is necessary. If you are not in the possibility to prepare yourself with care, please do not book a ceremony or retreat at our centre. Make sure you’ve had enough rest, feel relaxed and have a clear mind. Just go with what works for you, also when it comes down to food. It is recommended a week before attending the ceremony to avoid alcohol, drugs, (red) meat, very sweet or fat foods and sexual interaction.

Take time to feel and explore attentively where you stand and wonder what this ceremony can mean for you. Your own attention is what creates the experience. So basically the ceremony has already started the moment you signed up. If you make a reservation and you’ve passed the intake procedure we will send you detailed information on how to prepare best.

What are the contra-indications for joining a mushroom retreat?

Our ceremonies and retreats are meant for people in good mental and physical health. It is not offered as a substitute for medical or psycho-therapeutic care.

Magic mushrooms cannot be taken in combination with anti-depressive or anti-psychotic medication. If you are under these or other kind of medication or doctor treatments you are required to consult your doctor to ask if you can participate in ceremonies where psilocybin is used.

You always need to inform us about your medical or psychological treatment.

Although a life does not always feel perfect and nobody’s life is without challenges, we draw a line where it comes to people who are heavy traumatized, have a tendency to be suicidal or psychotic.

It is important you answer our intake questionnaire with honesty. Sometimes it is best not to use psychedelics, for your own and others safety. If we have questions or doubts about your participation for further questions or ask you to speak to a doctor first.

In general, Contraindications:

– Pregnancy – Schizophrenia – Borderline – Psychosis sensitivity – Severe Blood Pressure/Heart Problems – Brain haemorrhages

Furthermore, the following drugs cannot be combined with psychedelics:

– SSRI, SNRI, TCA and MAO inhibitors (serotonergic drugs) – Lithium – Benzodiazepines (Valium, Oxazepam, XANAX, etc.) – Heart and blood pressure medication – Opoids (tramadol, morphine and codeine)

How can I integrate the experience best?

A psychedelic experience takes time to integrate, therefore we highly recommend to continue to avoid alcohol, drugs, (red) meat and sexual interaction for a while after the ceremony has taken place. Make sure that you don´t have much planned till even a few days after the ceremony, keep life as relaxed as possible. Connect to nature and take good care of yourself. The effects of the ceremony can last for another few days or even weeks. To process the whole experience even can take years. Know, that if you booked a ceremony or retreat, you will receive a detailed info mail about a good integration. If you have doubts concerning your health or well-being afterward, always feel free to contact us.

Our ceremonial facilitator Judith Sudholter has written a blog about the integration process. She organizes online integration circles as well. How to integrate a magic mushroom cermony in your daily life? (magicmushroomceremony.com)