🫠 Ask a Guide Anything

Welcome to Tricycle Day. We're the psychedelics newsletter that wrote this all by ourselves. Wait, sorry. Just remembered the discrete self is an illusion. ♾️

We’ll sing the praises of great psychedelic facilitation all day.

But we’re not so delusional as to think no one’s eating mushrooms at home. Or even that doing so is necessarily a bad call.

Look, if you’re set on rawdogging the fifth dimension, we won’t look down our noses and wag our fingers. We’d much rather set you up for success.

So for today’s newsletter, we asked our network of licensed psilocybin facilitators: For those who can't access a facilitator, what guidance do you have for journeying safely on your own? 

They share their best practices below.

This experience is for people who've spent years in therapy or personal growth work and still feel like they're operating in survival mode. It's a one-on-one psilocybin journey in Portland or Eugene, OR with a trauma-informed facilitator who brings lived experience with CPTSD and neurodivergence to the work.

Without a facilitator, its on you to build the container. Clayton Ickes says to start with safety: “Check your own psychological and medical history against the screening criteria.” Lithium, in particular, is one to watch. He also recommends having “somebody safe and understanding” in the space with you, even if they’re not credentialed.

Then there’s your set and setting. Char McKendrick runs through the logistical checklist: “Keep the day before and after relatively free from obligations, and minimize distractions like social media or other substances. Prepare a comfortable, private space with water, simple snacks, music, and anything that helps you feel grounded.”

Monica Ramunda suggests a little self-care before you dive in: “Simple practices such as breathwork, gentle yoga, journaling, or a 10–20 minute guided meditation can help you feel more grounded and familiar with settling your nervous system before the journey.”

Now that the container is set, the next thing to handle is the medicine itself. Kate Schroeder has thoughts on dosage and intensity: “Be honest with yourself about your emotional regulation capacity and whether this is a season of stability or a season of crisis.” A more powerful experience isn’t always a more therapeutic one.

Adam O'Neil stresses the importance of the high-quality mushrooms: “Are they coming from a trusted source? You can find out how they were grown, who grew them and when, and what other people have experienced with mushrooms grown from your source.” Most people skip this step, but it’s worth being diligent.

Once you know what you’re taking, you can select your dose. Scott Burd warns against the more-more-more impulse: “Let go of the idea that bigger is automatically better.” Some of the most meaningful experiences, he says, come from smaller doses “approached with intention and respect.”

Without a facilitator checking in on you, integration is (sadly) the step most likely to get dropped. Don’t skip it! Denise Vargas recommends journaling what you felt, what you learned, what protective strategy came up, and what you need next. But she cautions against trying to “figure it out or making major decisions immediately after the session. The goal is to convert insight into stable, embodied change.”

For what it’s worth, you can journey solo and still call in support for integration. Melissa Grossman presents the middle way: “Even when you cannot access a licensed facilitator, there are often certified or licensed harm reduction therapists who can provide guidance on preparation, journeying safely, and integration.”

Bottom line, a safe self-guided journey is definitely doable for many people. For those who forgo the facilitator and those who hire support, Sophia Catalano has the same wish: “My hope is that everyone approaches these experiences with humility, education, and respect.”

Real quick, if the only thing standing between you and a facilitator is cost, we’d be remiss not to shout out Althea’s Pick. The whole reason it exists is to make this modality more accessible.

*ahem* ok, with that shameless plug out of the way…

It’s all about who’s in your corner, y’all.

Even if a facilitator isn’t in the picture, we all need community to help us carry what we bring back, whether that's hard-won insight or a fresh batch of confusion.

(Rugged individualism be damned.)

So yes, definitely have someone physically present while you journey. They don't need a certification to keep you from walking into a glass door.

Beyond that, though, find your people and lean on them, whether that’s a few good friends, a church congregation, or a yoga studio.

Just promise not to trip and fall into a cult.

Thanks to Tonn P. from Jacksonville, FL for submitting this week’s question. 🫠

Reply to this email to shoot your shot. If it’s a juicy one, we may select it for a future issue.

That’s all for today, Cyclists! Whenever you’re ready, here’s how we can help.

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DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. The use, possession, and distribution of psychedelic drugs are illegal in most countries and may result in criminal prosecution.