Intention: To provide a thoughtful guide for those considering a solo mushroom trip, emphasizing safety, preparation, and the potential for deep personal insight.
Embarking on a solo psilocybin mushroom journey can be one of the most profound, transformative experiences a psychonaut could have. Without the influence of others’ energies, you’re free to dive deep within your consciousness, exploring the infinite depths of your mind unfettered. But treading these mystical waters alone requires pragmatism and wisdom.
Read this guide before you set out on your journey doing shrooms alone. A little preparation goes a long way in terms of having a safe, positive experience.
Is Tripping Alone Right for You?
If you’ve never ingested psilocybin mushrooms before, do not attempt to go solo your first time out. Having an experienced trip sitter can provide much-needed reassurance and guidance as you acclimate to the intensity of this domain. But for veteran psychonauts who have pleasantly drifted among the fungal fractals many times before, a well-prepared solo voyage can offer unparalleled self-inquiry and expansion.
The benefits are being able to completely surrender to the experience without any outside influences. You’re in full control of creating the set and setting tailored exactly to your needs. There’s no social pressure or distractions from companions. If you’re willing to sit in sacred silence and turn completely inward, some of life’s deepest questions may reveal themselves to you.
At the same time, tripping alone inherently has risks. It’s just you and the infinite abyss of consciousness. Without a sitter, negative thought loops and challenging psychedelic experiences could potentially become overwhelming and unsafe if you’re not adequately prepared. Proceed with honesty, caution, and care.
Proper Preparation for Your Solo Journey
Before walking the solitary path into the mystical realms, mindful preparation is crucial. From calculating an appropriate dose to meticulously sculpting your set and setting, laying the proper groundwork can ensure a safe and rewarding solo voyage. Let’s dive into the finer details of preparing for your solo mushroom trip.
Psilocybin Dosage Guidelines
When determining your dosage, take careful stock of your previous psychedelic experience. If you’re relatively new to psilocybin, start with a lower dose around 1-2 grams. This should provide a profound yet manageable glimpse into the mushroom cosmos. As you become more seasoned, work your way up to heroic doses of 3.5 grams or higher for a full-immersion interstellar plunge.
Not all psilocybin mushrooms are created equal—there can be significant variance in alkaloid strength between different strains and growing conditions. Do your research on the particular varieties you’ll be ingesting and their potency estimations. A 3.5-gram dose of Psilocybe cyanescens will rattle your reality far more intensely than the same amount of a mellower Psilocybe cubensis or Psilocybe mexicana. Err on the side of caution until you’ve acclimated to each strain.
Setting Up a Comfortable Set and Setting
Arguably the most important aspect of the solo mushroom experience is cultivating the ideal set and setting aligned with your intentions. Tripping in an environment where you feel secure and centered is paramount. For many, this means creating a safe, cozy, private indoor space like a living room or bedroom. Think about having soft, comfortable places to melt for a while, mood lighting, and maybe an essential oil diffuser. Tidy up and prepare a space that feels really comfortable and mellow.
Beyond the physical space, you’ll want to create an aesthetic ambiance to support your mindset. Curate playlists, artwork, and any other sensory accompaniments that will immerse your consciousness in the ideal headspace and mood. If you’re seeking a deeply introspective journey, warm low lighting, and transcendent ambient albums will serve you well. For a more energetically charged experience, build a psychill or psytrance soundtrack surrounded by vibrant visual art.
The Reality Sandwich Sound Lab is the perfect place to find your new favorite medicine music and curated playlists.
If you’ll be embarking outdoors, read more about forest bathing below.
Clearing Your Calendar
One of the beautiful aspects of solo mushroom exploration is having complete freedom to fully submerge in the experience without distractions or obligations. Don’t underestimate psilocybin’s ability to radically distort your perception of time—what feels like a couple of hours can end up being most of a day. Clear your schedule completely so there are no looming appointments or responsibilities to slice through the veil.
While mushroom trips typically last 6-8 hours after ingestion, factor in extra time for the come-up, peak, and integration afterward. Many solo journeyers appreciate having at least 12 hours of uncompromised free time after consuming the mushrooms. This removes any pressure to prematurely try and “snap back” to normal consciousness before you’re fully ready. Ride each wave of the experience until it gently dissipates.
Activities and Entertainment for Solo Tripping
While solo mushroom journeys are often viewed as purely inward-facing endeavors, lining up some activities and entertainment can provide helpful anchors during the ineffable experience. From immersing in transcendent films to getting out in nature or creative expression, having a few options ready can add richness and container your journey.
Movies and Shows to Watch Alone on Mushrooms
Curate a selection of mind-expanding films and shows that could pair well with the psilocybin experience. Visually sumptuous and conceptually provocative pieces like Waking Life, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Fountain, and The Midnight Gospel can act as thoughtful jump-off points for journeying further into the mystic. Animated films like Fantastic Planet and The Congress offer transporting aesthetics.
Optimize your space for comfortable viewing by ensuring you have quality headphones or speaker setup, and a distraction-free area to get cozy. Dim lighting, candles, soft blankets, and optionally a yoga mat in case you want to stretch out and get body-conscious. Make your space as soothing and purposeful as possible.
Getting Out in Nature
Immersing oneself in nature while riding the psilocybin wave can be a profoundly healing, awakening experience. Away from human-made stimuli and distortions, you may find yourself attuned to the inherent perfection and wisdom of the natural world in a radically new way. The rhythms of the forest, the energy of the landscape, and the validation of your existence as a part of the grander cosmic ecology can all become luminously apparent.
If you opt for an outdoor mushroom journey, make sure to pack the proper supplies and outfit for spending an extended period grounded. Bring plenty of water and snacks, as well as layers for temperature variations. A hiking pack with the essentials like a first aid kit, knife, map, etc. is highly recommended. Don’t forget a suitable sitting or meditation surface like a blanket or poncho, and protection from the elements as needed.
Creative Outlets
For many, psilocybin catalyzes an unbridled creative flow state, where profound ideas and novel visions emerge unhindered. Help capture this sacred creative energy by gathering art supplies like journals, drawing pads, paints, modeling clay, or musical instruments. Go wherever inspiration takes you, without judging or limiting its expression. Birth something new!
Having supplies ready can help spark inspiration.
Rather than scrambling to find the right materials mid-journey, set up your creative zone ahead of time so it’s ready to receive you. Clear a dedicated space with all the supplies you may want easily accessible. Check that any software, instruments, or other tools are fully operable so you can effortlessly ride the wave when it strikes. Mix and combine different mediums if you feel called to explore.
Integration and Aftercare
The hours and days after doing shrooms alone (or with others) are a sacred time for integration. While the most intense peak effects may have subsided, the insights, emotions, and revelations are still rippling through your consciousness. Providing space for thoughtful processing can help metabolize the journey and cultivate lasting growth.
Journaling Insights and Processing the Experience
Whether it’s free-form writing, drawing mandalas, or recording voice memos—capture the echoes of your experience while they’re still vivid. Note any wisdom, lessons, or perspectives that want to be remembered and integrated. Describe meaningful visions, emotional arcs, and personal epiphanies. This record can serve as a touchstone when the veil of dry default reality tries to cloud the magic.
Grounding Routines and Self-care Practices
After plunging into the cosmic depths of your consciousness, it’s important to gently return to embodied presence. Engage in grounding practices like breathwork, light yoga, walking barefoot, or simply spending time in nature to reintegrate your energies. Be kind to your overstimulated neurons by eating nourishing foods, staying hydrated, resting, and avoiding taxing activities. You may feel blissfully open and sensitized, so extend that care inwardly.
While the freedom and radical openness of tripping alone can be invaluable, it is not without potential perils for the ill-prepared. If you struggle with metaphysical anxieties, difficult terrain in your psyche, or persistent negative thought loops, it may be wise to have an experienced sitter for your next journey. Having a compassionate guide to reassure you can make all the difference in a challenging situation.
Debrief your experience with fellow psychonauts who can empathize and share perspectives. Normalize the challenges and use them to refine your practices. With deepened solo skill, each subsequent journey can peel away another layer of illusion.
Safety First for When Doing Shrooms Alone
The psilocybin mushroom is a powerful sacrament that demands the utmost respect, especially when journeying without a guide. Spiritual and therapeutic benefits abound for the prepared and prudent, but carelessness can quickly lead to traumatic or endangering situations. Prioritize harm reduction at every step.
Stay safe, plan ahead, and don’t be afraid to phone a friend if you find yourself in a difficult space. Godspeed and enjoy the journey.
