Often sought after for its intense visuals and euphoric feeling, many people would argue that a hippie flip trip is the ultimate drug experience. The effects of consuming psilocybin mushrooms results in what is referred to as a “trip”. The experience of ingesting MDMA is called “rolling”. The combination of the two is well defined as a “flip” for its intense and adventurous pairing of psychedelic substances.
What is Hippie Flipping?
Hippie flipping is a drug consumption method which involves ingesting both MDMA and psychedelic mushrooms. “Flipping” is a broad term used when adding another substance with MDMA. The combination of ketamine and MDMA is known as “kitty flipping”. Other popular combinations include “candy flipping,” which is a mixture of LSD and ecstasy and “nexus flipping” which is MDMA and 2CB. Each combination results in heightened euphoria and physical sensations.
Some sites refer to hippie flipping when talking about the combined use of LSD and MDMA. This is how the Urban Dictionary defines it. However, the majority of psychonauts would know hippie flipping as a combination of MDMA and psilocybin. Another common term for hippie flipping is “flower flipping”.
The Hippie Flip Experience
Hippie flipping is a practice for many psychonauts because of its rolling feeling with a psychedelic mindset. The experience may produce pleasing visuals and empathetic feelings. Some users may find that hippie flipping results in a state of extreme playfulness and excitement. A psychedelic user told us: “The ecstasy kind of makes you dive deep into your senses – feel, smell, taste, sight and sounds – which are all extremely trippy with this hit of bliss to all of it.”
The hippie flip enthusiast also revealed:
“The big one for me is the connection to other people. At festivals, you can make some pretty intense connections with strangers. And although the experience is fleeting, I think moments like that are truly magical. Mushrooms by themselves don’t really allow me to venture off and seek connection with other people than who I’m tripping with. But adding ecstasy makes my extroverted side really comes out.”
How to Hippie Flip
Although it is hard to advise individuals on an exact amount of substance to be used when hippie flipping, it is generally better to start off with a smaller dose. The effect depends on the potency of the product, and the effects may vary from person to person. Open discussion forums such as Reddit and Quora, psychonauts have suggested a magic mushroom dose of under 2g. When it comes to MDMA, it is advised to decrease your regular dosage, and take what you would consider being a light to moderate dose.
While there are community forums where people share their formulas and experience, there seems to be some commonality to the approach. First, start with a dose of mushrooms, somewhere between 1-3 grams. Next, allow the mushrooms 1-2 hours to take full effect, and take a dose of MDMA. The dosage recommendations vary, but 100mg is a common dosage. Some people find that taking another dose of 50mg of MDMA 1-2 hours later will extend the experience. Since the mushroom trip can last 4-6 hours, the come down from the MDMA might be a little uncomfortable, hence the suggested second dose.
What if Feels Like to Flip
The hipping flipping experience depends on various factors specific to the individual. Dosage, mental state, environment, and the user’s unique biology all play a role. Therefore, each trip is a subjective experience, and a range of results can occur. Consequently, it is nearly impossible to predict or give a general account of what it truly feels like to hippie flip. However, many people describe similar effects, and that information can give future hippie flippers a general idea of what they might be able to expect. Remember, it is not an exact science with consistent and repeatable results.
People have reported enhanced euphoria, unprovoked joy, and a strong need for social bonding. Other reports detail strong visual effects. Some of those effects involve objects in the environment morphing, expanding, moving, or even trailing off. Additionally, hippie flippers often reveal experiences involving elevated senses. This can include colors appearing to be brighter or lights having an enhanced luminescence. Also, the sense of touch tends to be captivating, as though everything has an enhanced ‘aliveness’.
On the other hand, other people might feel confused and overwhelmed. An intense trip can make it difficult to understand social cues and gauge the reality of a social situation. Moreover, some people may experience intense emotions that can both be pleasant or challenging to deal with.
One man said of his experience with hippie flipping:
“I felt enveloped in the most amazing feeling. It was like connecting with everything I touched, and, of course, any body aches I had were completely gone. Most of what I remember after that is just rolling around in bed feeling so wonderful, like the universe was giving me a bearhug for a couple of hours, before drifting off to sleep.”
How Long the Trip Lasts
The length of a hippie flip trip depends on how the timing and doses. Magic mushrooms are known to last an average of 4-6 hours after consumption. The effects of MDMA are known to last from 3-6 hours.
Most commonly, MDMA is consumed approximately 1-2 hours after consuming psilocybin. Thus, signaling the beginning of the hippie flip. Therefore, the hippie flip experience could last anywhere from 6-12 hours, dependent on dosage and how far apart you consume each substance. Additionally, you may wish to consume more mushrooms to lengthen the overall trip as well.
MDMA and Mushrooms – Safety and Side Effects
Both psilocybin and MDMA are powerful psychedelics. Mixing them isn’t recommended for the first-time user and should, as a general rule, be combined with great caution. As a psychonaut has told us: “You definitely want to make sure you are testing your drugs so you know what you’re putting in your body. Especially combining two powerful substances.” DanceSafe, an organization invested in the safety of drug use in the electronic music community, sells drug purity tests on their website.
In order to be safe, it is always good practice to start off with a lower dose of your chosen substance. Only then, may you increase your dosage after getting an impression of the effects of the initial dose. This way, uncomfortable physical and mental effects might be avoided; especially challenging trips that could occur from a dosage that your body simply cannot handle. DanceSafe programs and communications coordinator, Rachel Clark reported,“Psychedelics and MDMA are very synergistic generally speaking and there’s a reason people combine them, but a major mistake people make is doing their regular dose of both drugs at the same time.”
It is important to practice harm reduction and understand all potential drug interactions, especially if you are on medication.
Understanding the Side Effects
Hippie flipping may result in a longer trip than either counterpart on its own. That being said, the effects often taper off in half of a day. However, it is possible to have lingering side effects for up to two days. One such effect, known as “serotonin syndrome”, can cause some uncomfortable physical and emotional conditions. Your body makes serotonin to help your brain cells and nervous system cells communicate with each other. When hippie flipping, your brain releases excess amounts of serotonin, creating feelings of intense joy and enhanced physical sensations. Serotonin syndrome may occur as serotonin levels begin to regulate after the psychedelic substances begin to leave your body.
Serotonin syndrome may cause excessive sweating, headaches, confusion, agitation, and dilated pupils. Other undesired effects from a hippie flip trip include weakness, nausea, rapid eye movement, clenching of the jaw, dry mouth, extreme thirst, dizziness, insomnia, and more. These side effects can be mitigated by testing the potency and purity of your substance. Additionally, prioritize a low dosage to help ensure an easier bounce back.
Finally, it is important to be surrounded by trustworthy people and trip in a safe environment. That might be in your own private house or in a nearby park with your best friend. Most importantly, take your own health into consideration, and avoid trying this technique if you have any underlining medical conditions.
Disclaimer: Psilocybin and MDMA are potentially categorized as illegal drugs. Reality Sandwich is not encouraging the use of these drugs where prohibited. However, we believe that providing information is imperative for the safety of those who choose to explore these substances. This guide is intended to give educational content and should in no way be viewed as medical recommendations.
CONTRIBUTING RS AUTHOR: ANDRÉA OLDEREIDE
Andréa is a London-based journalist who loves to write and cover anything out of the ordinary. You can probably find me her reviewing a drag show or walking her dog if she isn’t sitting by her computer and a cup of coffee writing something. Andréa has written for an LGBTQ-based website as well as a fatherhood themed publication and more. Andréa definitely never limits her writings to one specific area. Most importantly, she has always been fascinated by the mind and how our brains function, so you can expect a lot of research-based article from her. Feel free to follow her on Insta @drewithanaccent and Twitter @Dre_Oldereide
