The Call
So, you got the “Call”...
What is the “Call”?
It’s the curious voice within that wants to know more about mushrooms. That curiosity marks the beginning of a self-discovery journey. Stepping onto the path may simply mean opening your mind enough to do some research—or your fascination may take you to the edge of wanting to know what this experience could awaken within you.
Why do you feel called to explore psilocybin?
Take a moment to close your eyes and scan through your body for the answer.
Maybe right now you’re just researching and gathering information so that, in the future, you’ll have your mind wrapped around the benefits, effects, and precautions of working with psilocybin mushrooms. If, in that moment of tuning into yourself, you decide that you feel ready to begin your mushroom journey, please consider the following suggestions so that you can get the most out of your experience.
Dosage
Our suggestion is to start small—especially if this is your first time experimenting with mushrooms, or if it’s been a while.
Starting with the lowest dose is the best way to ensure a safe and beneficial experience. Your dosage will depend on your intention for working with mushrooms as well as your body–mind composition. If you are tall or heavier, you may need more to feel the desired effects, compared to someone who is thinner or more sensitive. You know your body best, so take that into consideration when choosing your starting dose. It’s always better to start small and increase gradually than to begin with too much and be unprepared to navigate what arises.
We don't recommend dosing yourself for a deeper journey. Our caution is due to the potential for further nervous system dysregulation if you are lacking the inner and outer resource to navigate the terrain that may arise. We highly recommend the support of a professional for more therapeutic doses of psilocybin.
For microdosing, 0.1-0.2-gram dose is sustainable and for most people's regimen. A 0.3–0.4-gram dose can be nice for enhancing a particular experience when you’d like to feel a bit more of the euphoric effects. 0.4 grams is considered a higher microdose; for most people, it isn’t necessary for a regular microdosing regimen. Again, this is entirely individual.
Mindset and Intention
The experience one has under the influence of psilocybin varies greatly and depends not only on dosage, as described above, but also on the mindset going into the experience.
Mindset refers to the internalized characteristics unique to each individual—cultural and social conditioning, personality, past traumas, beliefs, expectations, and one’s current mental and emotional state. “Psychedelic” literally means mind manifesting; therefore, whatever is going on within you has the potential to surface into greater awareness.
That’s why setting an intention is essential before taking psilocybin. It helps you consciously bring into focus what you’d like to explore. We cannot overstate the importance of intention and how powerful it truly is.
Setting
This leads to the next key consideration when working with mushrooms: the setting or environment.
Especially when you’re just beginning and getting a feel for what microdosing is like, it’s essential to choose an environment that feels safe for you.
What is a safe environment? It’s a setting where you feel you can express yourself authentically and experience a sense of belonging. As you become more comfortable with microdosing and build your own relationship with the mushroom, more spaces may feel accessible for you to inhabit under its influence.
You’ll begin to recognize how a certain dosage affects your ability to react, function, and socialize. In general, when taking an appropriate microdose, it often feels quite natural to move through the world as usual. In fact, it may even enhance your sense of grounding and connection with others.
Support
Another important consideration is who you are with when taking psilocybin.
Especially when first beginning your work with mushrooms, make sure you are in control of who shares your energetic space. Ideally, you’ll be with people who feel safe, supportive, and compassionate. When taking mushrooms, it’s common to become more sensitive to your environment—including the people around you.
That’s why it’s so important to know yourself, your dosage, and your relationship with the mushroom before entering unknown settings such as concerts or large gatherings. Once you have more experience and awareness, it becomes safer to explore new situations or meet new people while under its influence.
This may all feel like common sense, but these are the conditions that will allow you to receive the most from what mushrooms have to offer. Think of it as building a relationship—take it slow and stay receptive to your own boundaries.
Whether you are walking the mushroom path or just dipping your toes in, meet the mushroom with humility, reverence, an open mind, and an open heart—and recognize that the consciousness it awakens is ultimately a reflection of something already within yourself.