Table of Contents
Preface 1
Part 1 What Is Psilocybin and How Does It Work? 7
Chapter 1 What Is Psilocybin and Why Use Mushrooms? 8
What Is Psilocybin? 8
Why Do People Use Mushrooms? 13
Is Psilocybin Safe? 16
Chapter 2 Indigenous Ceremonial Mushroom Use 18
Chapter 3 Psychedelic Therapy 28
A Very Brief History of Psilocybin's Role in Psychedelic Research 28
What Is Psychedelic Therapy? 30
The Psychedelic Renaissance: Current and Future Studies 34
Chapter 4 How Psilocybin Works 41
The Brain on Psilocybin 50
Part 2 How to Trip Safely and Effectively 57
Chapter 5 How to Prepare Your Set and Setting 58
What Is Set and Setting? 58
How to Choose the Right Setting 59
How to Create the Right Set 61
Setting Preparation Tips 63
Mindset Preparation Suggestions 78
Chapter 6 Guided Trips 86
Retreats 86
Guide, Shaman, or Trip Sitter? 89
Clinical Trials 93
Chapter 7 Finding the Correct Dose 95
First Time or Low Dose 97
More Experienced or Moderate Dose? 99
High or "Heroic" Dose 101
Chapter 8 What to Expect 102
What Does Tripping on Mushrooms Feel Like? 102
Chapter 9 How to Navigate the Space 111
Chapter 10 Challenging Trips and Introduction to the Shadow 119
Introduction to the Shadow 122
Ways to Avoid Bad Trips 126
Ways to Deal with Challenging Trips 127
Chapter 11 Integration 131
Integration Techniques 136
Journaling and Other Forms of Self-Express ion and Reflection 136
Community 138
Integration Therapy and Coaching 139
Mindfulness and Meditation 143
Yoga, Embodiment, and Other Bodywork Techniques 144
Inspiring Awe 145
Continue Reading and Researching 146
What a Post-Psychedelic Experience Can Look Like 147
Chapter 12 Holding Space: How to Trip Sit 149
How to Prepare to Trip Sit 150
Trip Day: Trip-Sitting Essentials 153
How to Help Someone Through a Challenging Trip 155
Chapter 13 Microdosing Mushrooms 160
What Is a Microdose? 161
Why Do People Microdose? 161
How to Microdose 166
The Fadiman Protocol 168
Possible Negative Side Effects, or Drug Interactions 169
Chapter 14 The Potential Risks of Psilocybin 172
Who's Disqualified from Participating in Clinical Trials and Why? 173
Hypertension and Other Underlying Heart Conditions 175
Psychotic Spectrum Disorders 176
Bipolar Disorder 177
Other Mental Health Concerns 178
Epilepsy and History of Seizures 179
Possible Drug Interactions 180
Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) 188
Healthy Frequency of Use: How Often Is Too Often to Trip? 189
Conclusion 192
Further Reading, Viewing, and Listening 194
Online Resources 194
Books 197
Viewing 198
Listening 199
Bibliography 200
Index 215
Acknowledgments 222
About the Author 224
