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Welcome to Tricycle Day. We're the psychedelics newsletter with a micro slice of your attention and macro opinions. We’ll be quick. ☝️

Microdosing. So hot right now.

Taking subperceptual doses of mushrooms is more popular than ever. It’s probably the most common way people consume psychedelics today.

So if you want to work with psilocybin, you have a decision to make. Big shroom or smol shroom.

For today’s newsletter, we asked our network of licensed psilocybin facilitators: How do I decide whether to microdose or do a full journey?

They share their advice after the jump.

Of all the plant medicines, ayahuasca might be the most sensationalized in pop culture.

Everything you hear is either a miracle healing story or a horror show, which isn’t all that helpful.

That’s why we’d recommend this free 9-video course to anyone considering working with ayahuasca. It covers realistic expectations for the ceremony itself, legitimate risks to be aware of, and optimal integration techniques for your specific archetype.

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First, let’s put in perspective just how different micro and macrodoses are. Kate Schroeder explains, “Microdosing and full journeys are different tools, not smaller and bigger versions of the same thing.” A microdose is subtle, steady, and designed to work alongside your daily life. A full journey is immersive and often disruptive by design.

That doesn’t make one better than the other, though. Benjamin Dancer keeps both in rotation for different reasons: “I microdose for long-term brain health and to effect change in my life. I do full journeys to move energy and engage specific pieces of work.”

Jim Hoeffler draws a similar line. He adds that “microdoses are best suited for people new to psychedelics” and useful “for mood improvement and shifting habits or thought patterns.” Full journeys, he says, are more appropriate for processing trauma, navigating major life transitions, or sitting with existential questions.

Once you know the difference, the next logical question is, what are you ready for? Kate offers a few reflections: “Do I need disruption or stability right now? Do I have real support in place? Am I resourced for what might come forward?” The right entry point, she argues, is the one your system can handle.

Adam O'Neil lays out the options in meditators' terms. In his analogy, a journey is similar to “a 10-day silent retreat; smaller doses are akin to 3-day retreats; and microdoses are like your daily, at-home, relatively brief meditation practices.” Even if the timelines are tighter, “a full journey is a commitment.”

Char McKendrick keeps it simple: “It's less about intensity and more about timing. What feels realistic to open, process, and integrate in this phase of your life matters more than choosing one approach over the other.”

While microdosing might seem like the obvious starting point, that wasn’t the universal consensus. A few facilitators made a compelling case for going full-dose first.

Amy Charlesworth typically recommends beginning with a full journey because “a macro experience can help establish a meaningful foundation by creating a clear shift in perspective and insight.” Microdosing then becomes a tool to reinforce and integrate those changes over time.

Clayton Ickes was more direct: “According to the latest research, microdosing appears to be placebo. That doesn't mean that there's no benefit; just that there might not be as much benefit as people think.” Full dose journeys, he says, are “generally a better use of time if you're going to spend the money to hire a facilitator.”

Look, we’re suckers for data. And Clayton's right that the jury is still out on microdosing efficacy.

At the same time, a RAND study last year showed that millions of Americans are microdosing. So there’s gotta be something there.

Besides, there’s a practical reason to start with microdosing, even if you eventually want to go bigger. A sense of safety is maybe the most important factor in whether a full journey actually delivers the goods. Feeling safe is 99% of the “set” in “set and setting.”

Microdosing lets you build a relationship with the medicine, learn how your body responds, and develop trust before it’s surrender time.

Then, when you take the training wheels off your tricycle, you’ll be ready to fly.

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.