Shrooms: 10 Key Points about “Set and Setting”


Consumption of magic mushrooms, or so-called “hallucinogenic fungi”, requires knowledge of a series of very practical and concrete instructions. And respecting these instructions is important as it can help you avoid one of the (potentially) worst experiences of your life.

On this subject, some warnings can be found HERE, which clarify a central question so many people have: are “hallucinogenic” mushrooms dangerous?

A “bad trip” on psychedelics is very often described as the absolute worst experience in someone’s life. Just knowing and respecting the few rules you’ll find below can guarantee you that what you step into will be in fact the most beautiful experience of your life – for some, it is the greatest experience by far. The difference between two extremes here is considerable, and so knowing more is always worth the effort.

These aforementioned rules can be summarised under the English phrase “Set & Setting”. In essence this means: how you are, who you are with, and where. In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know to put this into practice. Given that the substance you are using is safe, and psilocybin fungi will be just that if your source is trustworthy, it’s important to know that messing up the dose is fine, but getting things wrong with regards to set & setting must be avoided. You realise how important all of this is pretty quickly after taking the substance, and even before the effects begin to manifest. As little as one little worry in your psyche can be a significant blow even during the “body load” phase shortly after consumption.

Body load is that phase in which your body begins to “charge up” the substance within it. It begins when you have consumed the mushrooms and finishes when you start noticing the effects. This can last roughly anywhere between 20 to 60 minutes. It is the single stage in which one can feel nauseous and perhaps a sensation of physical discomfort, which one perceives with varying degrees of intensity throughout the body – at times like a sensation of electricity within the muscles, or lethargy (or both at once). Naturally, agitation comes along with the body load as one might start feeling fear and anticipation of the arrival of the coming effects. You never know what is going to happen, and this can induce a lot of fear or very little fear at all. Deep yawns and plenty of tears often accompany this initial phase. I must say here that bodily discomfort can also take place during the psychedelic voyage to follow, but this will likely be of psychological rather than physical origin (as is also the case with body load).

How are you physically?

When you think about it, “how you’re doing” is fundamental. Do you feel well physically? How do you feel about confronting a psychedelic trip that’s already begun if you don’t feel in shape? You don’t need to have a full stomach of course – raw mushrooms are not very digestible and only sit on top of what you’ve already eaten. This is a sure promise of sickness that you’ll absolutely want to avoid because it will only exacerbate the body load and the inevitable anxiety that follows consumption. Every time, remember the importance of an empty stomach.

Being in good physical form puts you in the best condition possible to confront the start of the experience, which is always the most challenging part. Are you taking medication? Suffering from any pain? What state are your intestines in? There is a close correlation between one’s intestines and one’s emotional state. Are you relaxed or are you tired? Is there a high level of refined sugar or carbohydrate in your diet? This predisposes you to a decrease in energy which can be unpleasant to say the least. Was the last meal prior to your voyage light and easy on the stomach? Pay attention to what you eat and avoid eating crustaceans and molluscs before consuming the fungi as these tend to impede one’s ability to relax and ease into the experience, as if journeying with the handbrake on.

Otherwise, there aren’t any particular dietary limitations to consider, as opposed to what happens with ayahuasca with which one should not consume foods containing tyramine.

How are you emotionally?

Your emotional state is another important factor to consider when trying to avoid difficulties in the few minutes after mushroom consumption. Lots of nerves? Upset? What emotions are defining you at that period in time? It is understandable that one would want to use magic mushrooms to confront these very questions, but due to the fact that the mushrooms magnify whatever is within us, we must be cognisant of our state of mind. Rage, for example, is a powerful energy which can bring great clarity of mind but also explosive tension – remember this while making your way into the experience. Fear on the other hand can be a considerable obstacle, impeding us from truly letting go (an essential factor in any psychedelic experience, but above all with mushrooms). If you try at all to resist, control or block off whatever is emerging, you’re sure to only cause yourself suffering. In those moments, trust and let go… or it will overwhelm you. You have consumed the fungi for an internal experience, so why should you ever resist? You wanted it, so enjoy it for after a few hours at the most it will all be finished. That which you start always comes to an end, so relax. That is the best way to ensure yourself a beautiful voyage.

How are you mentally?

If you have any psychological or psychiatric illnesses, you should not take magic mushrooms without first consulting with a medical professional. In the absence of mental ailments, thoughts are the third – and perhaps the least important – aspect you must consider with regards to set & setting. Remember that our brains are bound to be “reset” by the experience in any case. In the meantime, while observing any effects as they come up, it is easier in these moments to see the connection between them and any emotions present, almost as if there is a reciprocal exchange between emotion and effect. Any attempt to “control” them is bound by the same rules of ordinary states of consciousness: you cannot suppress them, and so it is better to simply pay attention elsewhere rather than to fixate on that which you don’t want to think about. Follow the breath, take deep and slow inhales (focusing on your abdomen rather than your upper chest) and keep your attention on your breathing as one does during meditation. If you find yourself distracted, return to the breath and your mind will feel quieter in no time.

Your brain’s Default Mode Network

At a neurophysiological level, psilocin has an inhibitory effect on the brain’s Default Mode Network (reducing the level of oxygen that part can receive), the part which organises other parts of the brain which lead to standardisation of thought much like the ego (with which, scientists have hypothesised, the DMN corresponds) does with the subconscious.

In fact, the psilocin allows that which has been stored away to emerge: this is where visions and memories you weren’t aware of suddenly come from. In a nutshell, psilocin rapidly disorganises the usual function of the brain. With a little patience, the initial sensation, however disorientating, swiftly passes.

Context

We’ve seen to the physical, the emotional and the mental. The process of reviewing who we are and how we are is almost complete. Now to touch on the world around us, i.e. people and place. The importance of these elements is so often overlooked, and yet in the more intense phases of the psychedelic experience we realise just how essential they can be in interrupting a bad trip or (better still) avoid one altogether. Therefore, the chosen environment must satisfy some general criteria. Let’s take a look at what those are.

Comfort

Comfort is a very important factor here, largely because anything uncomfortable becomes amplified during a psychedelic trip. From the more obvious things – finding a comfortable position in which to sit or lie down – to the room temperature, our subjective sensory experience is very sensitive. I can go from feeling warm to freezing in an instant, and because of this a comfortable, controlled temperature is necessary. Dress yourself in layers that are easy to put on and take off. Nothing constricting, like belts, and discard your shoes. Having some kind of eye-covering available during the more intense stages is especially desirable.

Tranquility

Another key element, considering that any stimulus is emphasised, is calm and tranquility. Specifically, think about things like background noise and any demands that could come from people around you who aren’t tripping. Avoid contact with people in normal states of consciousness unless they’re qualified or you have asked them to be there (a sitter, for example). Even if either of these things are true, you don’t always have to be next to each other unless you have asked or are having difficulty. If you’re living with someone who you want to hide your psychedelic use from, or who will judge you if they find out, make sure to do it when you’re sure that there won’t be any unwanted “intrusions”. This is paramount, as simply knowing there’s a chance you’ll be interrupted can trigger paranoid thoughts. These thoughts would of course become amplified, and I’d strongly advise you to take great care to avoid a situation of the kind.

Safety

Furthermore, the space around you must be safe. Be aware of any stairs or other dangerous elements present. Also, make sure you can make it to the bathroom easily. Speaking of the bathroom, many say that looking in the mirror while tripping is something to be avoided: essentially, it is not an easy experience, and for many it can even be disturbing. If you feel troubled during your trip, you must avoid mirrors as they can induce visions and difficult emotions. If you feel good however, go ahead. But if I can give a piece of general advice, avoid mirrors and keep them out of sight in the main area where you’ll be tripping.

The people with you

Now, who with? This is the final important aspect to take into consideration. Divide the world into two categories: people you know, and people you don’t know. Eliminate the second half. Between what is left (the people you know), consider only your real friends, or people who have a lot of experience with psychedelic substances. And if your good friends have experience, there you have it. Try not to have psychedelic experiences with people you haven’t seen before – especially if they aren’t experienced with mushrooms. Discovering that someone is problematic in the middle of an intense trip, can easily turn a bad trip into a nightmare, and that can be ugly.

The music

Lastly, something you’ll find in the best examples of set & setting is music. If you have certainly zero experience, I’d highly suggest music as its presence can help guide you and break any eventual difficulties when one track ends and another begins. Choosing suitable music isn’t exactly simple, as you’ll surely learn, but I’d generally advise you to steer towards songs with lyrics in a language you can understand, avoiding inopportune mental stimulation in whatever moment of the trip you are living at that moment. Instrumental music is best, but if for you the human voice itself is an instrument, that could be ideal for you. Either way, select your soundtrack beforehand, because you probably won’t be able to do so while tripping.

To conclude: the best set & setting for the experience must also include two stages other than the experience itself, i.e. the preparation and the following process of integration. The psychedelic voyage really begins at the moment of consumption, as the mind and emotions begin to prepare themselves in anticipation of the valuable inner journey to come. Any inevitable fears or intentions upon which the mind wants to focus on will emerge. Then the stage of integration secures what you have experienced, bringing a multitude of uses in your quotidian life post-trip.

If you enjoyed the post and found it useful, please buy me a coffee!
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/DMTripson

DM Tripson

DM Tripson published his first short stories at the age of 15, sure that he would soon become a writer, but after a few decades spent doing something else he had given up. One day he discovered magic mushrooms, an extraordinary encounter of the kind that changes your life, in fact it is only with their help that he was able to write three books and dozens of posts on this blog!

32 thoughts on “Shrooms: 10 Key Points about “Set and Setting”

  1. Thanks alot this helped forsure.Ive experienced some of this and now I know more why and what not to do next time.

  2. Thanks for this exquisite collection of thoughts. Could you share some of your music playlists? I couldn’t find any on here nor in your book.

    1. Hi Achill, thanks for the appreciation!
      In the book there are two hidden pages after the bibliography, write me to the email address you find there. I wait for you!

  3. Hi DM 🙂 I just came back from first mushroom ceremony of my life at the age of 36, and I feel reborn… It was facilitated by a team of experienced sitters, beautiful human beings. I have an immense amount of gratitude for them. Everything you have listed here was perfectly taken care of, and I can understand retrospectively how important these all are and how spot on your article is. Thank you so much for sharing these helpful knowledge.
    After a while, I will want to journey again. In fact, I want to journey regularly as I believe it is important to check in every now and then. I probably won’t be able to find the same setting again – it was a one off retreat. I feel no risk at all but I have so much love and respect for the beauty of that experience that I resist the idea of doing it in my bedroom on my own. I would love to hear your thoughts.

    1. Dear Dylan, you cannot imagine my pleasure in reading what you have written. Thank you for sharing, you were able to communicate the sense of the profound blessing you experience directly in a real ceremony with sacred mushrooms. You have been lucky to find a team that has led you into the experience safely, but you can also do it alone. I must recommend you to read my book, if there is one person who will appreciate it, it is you. Also on the last page there is a surprise, a gift that I will be happy to give you. All the best!

  4. Hello:)
    Thank you so much for this insane information. I’m about to go on my very first heroic journey in this upcoming weekend (been tripping on lsd a few years ago) and I just wanted to make sure since English is not my native language.

    Let’s say I’m about taking 5 g, I think it enough for the first time. Should I eat the mushrooms buy itself or can I put it in a tea glass and just drink it?

    Second, I’m kinda nervous with the idea I’ll wil be spending 6-8 hours in my room, by my self, in the dark – is it fine to go out let’s say, to the living room sometime?
    You see, I have a cat, and I can’t really control his behaviour or mood, any tip on this one?

    Thank you so much for your patience
    Hugs from Israel

    1. Hi Nir, I’m afraid you are about to make a somewhat dangerous choice. 5 grams as a first experience is not good, even if you used LSD long ago.
      In my blog I wrote many articles, more than one for those who try mushrooms for the first time: please read them!
      How to take mushrooms? Here too I wrote a lot, there is a post dedicated to how to prepare tea with mushrooms, it will be useful for you.
      After having had a lot of experience you can think of doing the “heroic dose”, honestly I don’t think now is the right time, your doubts confirm it. If you think you can’t be with yourself all that time, really wait a little while, experiment with caution and then one day you will realize that you are ready.
      The only one who certainly won’t have any problems if you take mushrooms is your cat! Beware of the word “control”, whether it refers to the cat or to yourself, control and psychedelics don’t go well together. Your cat will be a source of surprise during your experience, he is an excellent travel companion, I also have a cat and I know this from direct experience.

  5. Hi DM, I’ve taken mushrooms and acid and all of the above on my much younger years.
    I am 58 yrs of age, got a few health and depression issues that is under control. My thing is with everything that I’ve taken in my live, I have never had a psychedelic or spiritual or synesthesia in my life. I want to experience that. I have. Bought an ounce of penis envy cubansis and I took 4.5 gr. The other day. I did get high, but much to my disappointment didn’t experience what I expected. I was in complete control. I wonder cause I had a high tolerance to substances back then, if it’s me or the shrooms the problem. I want to take more but am a little scared to go higher. I was alone at home in the middle of the day watching TV. One thing I did experience was when I closed my eyes I had some type of faint colors and shape visual. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help

    1. Hi Norman, hard to say what you should do, but watching TV is a bad idea. If you want to step into the experience it is best to follow Terence McKenna’s instructions for the heroic dose. Read another post on this topic on my blog, or if you want to know even more … read my book! Cheers

  6. Perfect reading ahead of my 1st retreat this weekend which was recommended by a friend. Thank you! Am giddy, nervous and excited. Your post has calmed my nerves. I’m a 51 year old female attending alone whilst my fabulous husband and daughter have a bonding weekend. Looking forward to what I’m sure will be an amazing 2 days for the 3 of us.

      1. That was some ride! There was a 1 day workshop the day before the ceremony letting us know exactly what to expect, how to breath, mind mapping ,etc…the beautiful ‘servants’ have it down to a fine art! On the day of the ceremony, I went very deep and it scared the crap out of me to face my fears. I jumped up ran out of the room at one point, after getting caught in a loop, but went back in and succumbed to the mushroom magic. They just know and when you trust and give yourself up to them, anything is possible. Overall, the whole experience was intense and beautiful. I plan on doing the journey again to let go completely next time experience the full magic. In the meantime, things to process. I also bought some home to start micro dosing down the track. See you have a blog about it and sure it’ll be as good as the one above. Thanks again

        1. Thanks Sonia!! With a few words you have given a good idea of the experience you have gone through. Fears, running away from the room, loops, letting go … you have also found the password to go through any experience: trust. Brava, you started very well!
          Yes, the whole blog is dedicated to magic mushrooms, I am sure you will find some interesting ideas, microdosing is a practice that will give you a lot, especially if you put your intention and attention into it; I recommend the daily diary of which I write in the post, to help you become aware of what happens every day and to be more present. Of course, I also wholeheartedly recommend my book on magic mushrooms, look at the reviews and then think about it, it will be useful for you. I wish you all the best, good luck! 🙂

  7. Dear author, I am new too mushrooms and I have been taking only doses of 1grams to 1.5. They have been very nice and all I get is euophoric body high and I can handle it well. I’m scared too go too a higher dose due to the fact I have severe anxiety and that i might trigger something and make my anxiety worse or my psyche in a unstable permanent state. Is this something I should be concerned of I know you said talk too trained professional but I feel as if they would just look at me foolish. Any advice would be great hope this isn’t a stupid question.

    1. Hi John, higher doses are not mandatory, but in addition to the ones you know there are also medium doses. Until you are confident with yourself and with mushrooms I would not think about high doses, but paying close attention to set & setting one of the next times I would increase by half a gram at most.
      To help you cope with anxiety, you may benefit from the presence of a trip sitter, and / or from having an experience in a beautiful place in nature. Find a tree that welcomes you, place yourself under the protection of its branches and contemplate the landscape around you, let your anxiety go into the ground and absorb vital energy, the mushrooms will help you feel this regenerating breath.
      Don’t be in a hurry to increase the quantity, stay at 2 grams for a few times to experience the differences you will feel with the same dose, and if everything goes well for about ten times, then you can still raise half a gram. Remember never to underestimate mushrooms, even two grams are a dose that can give you a lot, both in joy and in pain, only by experiencing you will be able to face your fears without hurting yourself.
      Read my book, read my blog posts, the information will help you know what to do and what not to do, and above all to be less afraid. I wish you all the best!

  8. The first time I took psilocybin was a 9 hour journey of crying in a room by myself (my sitter did keep coming in to check on me) I lost my husband and my son to suicide and the medicine showed me what my grief and fear is doing to me- it’s literally sucking the life out of me . For 9 hours I battled with myself in this room to let it go and I couldn’t, not even the smallest bit of it . I had to admit defeat.
    I took them again last night and again I was consumed by fear it’s like it’s alive inside of me . The psilocybin told me it couldn’t get past my fear that it was too strong. I didn’t trip , I couldn’t let it in, I was too scared. I feel so defeated today, I really want to heal but I don’t know what to do next.

    1. Dear Valerie, the use of mushrooms can work wonders, but for a heartbreaking event like yours you also need careful preparation and loving integration along with a trained and knowledgeable therapist. Perhaps more sessions are needed to rediscover the meaning of living and accepting what has happened. Tell me if I can help you, if you want to write me in private, I’m here

  9. Hi👍
    Thirty + years ago I was introduced to the world of the mushroom (I’m now 58) I had some wonderful and interesting experiences, never doing “heroic doses”, and only using them recreationally. Until one evening I had what I considered a “bad trip”. Well, that was it for me, NO MORE PSYCHODELICS – – – until last season when I decided to see if I could harvest some – – – you know, just for the hell of it. My endeavours took me to some abundant fields in N Yorkshire UK, where over a weekend I picked thousands of the little critters. Since then I’ve been from time to time doing relatively small doses, between 30 – 60 or 70 maybe (never weighed)
    Over the past week I’ve been listening to a lot of Terrance McKenna – – (WOW, what a mind that man had) and I’ve decided I may be ready to take that next step and give the “heroic dose” a go. Believe me, I don’t take this decision lightly, and there is that little voice of uncertainty in the back of my mind questioning if this is right, (memories of 30+ years ago) but I also would like to experience that full on psychodelic experience that McKenna has so eloquently described in his talks, and explore my mind in greater depths. I will be buying some scales, but I’ve worked out roughly that 5 grams is probably somewhere in the region of between 100 and 150 dried (would you agree?)
    Anyway, the advice you have given (if I decide to go ahead) will be of great help to me, so thank you for that.
    ✌️😎

    1. Hi Rick, what an experience walking in the fields and collecting thousands of mushrooms, what an envy 🙂 I understand your appreciation for McKenna, he is among those to whom I have dedicated my book on magic mushrooms, which I recommend if you are thinking about the heroic dose.
      If you take Liberty Caps you do not need the scale, except for curiosity, these mushrooms all of the same size can be counted and not weighed; I also know that the high doses are over 100-120 specimens, but I would like to invite you to get to that quantity progressively, if you are used to lower doses a doubling could be challenging. See the reflections I wrote in my post on the 20 gram dose, I was used to multiple experiences with 12 grams, I thought I was ready, but it wasn’t. I believe that you are in no rush to get to the heroic dose, so you can program different experiences in increasing doses to get closer to McKenna’s, I believe you should listen to the voice in the back of your mind and take a walk instead of a dive.
      Mushrooms can take us to heaven or hell, everything is fine, the real difference is whether you are ready or not, and this is what I invite you to do, prepare yourself. If you need, I’m here. Good luck!

      1. Cheers buddy, good advice. I think I’d decided not to dive in but increase dosage gradually as you mentioned. I must say, McKenna has whetted my appetite and renewed my fascination in psychodelic experimentation. I’m interested in experiencing the full on “sitting quietly in a dark room” trip, instead of entertaining myself with music, movies and adventures in the countryside. But I won’t be doing this until I feel totally confident with the situation, I expect to be scared, but as McKenna said “if it ain’t scary, it ain’t worth doing” ✌️😎

        1. Whenever you take mushrooms there is always a bit of fear, especially when the doses increase, the challenge is guaranteed! Good continuation, all the best 🙂

  10. Hi, great website. Does anyone here know where we can pick our own shrooms in the Oxfordshire area or neighbouring counties?

  11. I ᥙsed to be suggested this web site through my сousin. I am now not ρositive
    whether this publish iѕ written by hіm as nobody else know such precise approximately my ⅾifficulty.
    You are incredible! Thanks!

  12. Hey tһere! Quick question that’s totally off topic.
    Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?
    My site looқs weіrd when viewing from my iphone4.
    I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to
    resolve this issue. If you have any suggestions, please share.

    Many thanks!

    1. Hi cacti! I only have suggestions on magic mushrooms, sorry I don’t know how to help you. My webmaster says this theme automatically adapts to different devices, I think you should choose such a theme too… and maybe upgrade your “vintage” phone 😀

  13. I am glad you touched on these subjects! Music has been a very large part of calming me down whenever in an experience. I grew into listening to the Black Metal group, Cradle of Filth. Dani’s mind is dark, and the imagery he sets forth is amazing.
    When having an incredible experience with my wife she got frightened by their imagery. Not sure what video we were watching at the time.
    We did more researching which led to a YouTube channel suggesting a music group.
    Listened to them sober and thought, “This is garbage.” Our next experience had them in the loop and I have been Shpongled since.
    Shpongle, led me down a more meditative path, along with a few other EDM/psych groups.

    1. Hi Joshua, music is very useful to support the journeys of those who do not have much experience, but videos I would sincerely avoid! Look at nature, with mushrooms it is amazing.
      Yay you discovered the Shpongle, outstanding musicians, but if you want to discover very special playlists to listen to, read one of my books 😉

  14. I have been reading alot and for the first time I understand the how fears appear dressed for us to understand them in the phisical world.
    I had my first trip, I toom only 1 gram. That was the most unexpected experience of my life.
    My mind is a smart mind. I know it now. But my beatiful mind could not explain to my adult self the meaning of a mothers love.
    My mother died when I was 6 years old. I did not understand anaything. I just felt alone in a world full o dangers. My father almost lost his mind as my mother collapsed in his arms, pregnant with his second child. He become tough and cold. Preparing me for life.
    I was indeed prepared and I guess I still am, ready to confrund any obstacle in site.
    The mushrooms took me by a complete surprize, although my mind tried to control.
    The journey tooked me to the incredible and like no other experience of the loving mother and the a newborn. The baby was me, showered in the most amazing care. It was the most beatiful feeling. The realisation came with the anguish that I always belived that I never exeprienced this love. My discerning brain did not have this experince, it was buried in my body and my subconscious. My self esteem suffered tremedously thinking everyone knows, I am the only one who doesn’t.
    Meanwhile I lost my father too.
    I wish to beggin my journey in descovering and healing myself. I believe I will start with 1 gram, and stay safe for a while.
    Thank you so much for everything you teach us through this writings.

    1. Dear Ramona, I have to say thank you to you for your heartfelt sharing! Wishing you all the best, hope to hear from you again! 🙂

Leave a Reply to DM Tripson Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts