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Welcome to Tricycle Day. We’re the psychedelics newsletter that gets those creative juices flowing. And we’re not just talking about lemon squeezed over mushrooms. (IYKYK.) 🍋

If life is art, then we're all creatives. But somewhere between paying taxes and attending back-to-back Zoom meetings, many of us forget that. Life then becomes a colorless cycle of tasks, routines, and to-do lists. No play, no wonder, no self-expression.

Which explains why increasing creativity is one of the most common reasons people start microdosing.

So we asked our network of psychedelic practitioners how to approach microdosing when creativity is the primary goal. They share their best tips below.

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Set intentions and establish structure

Many practitioners recommended coming to microdosing with specific goals around creativity. Wallace Murray shared some practical advice: "Begin with a concrete target. Instead of the vague wish to 'be more creative,' articulate something measurable, such as 'draft three novel logo concepts this week.'" This level of specificity helps focus and direct the enhanced pattern recognition that microdosing can unlock.

Structure also matters when it comes to dosing protocols. Oxana Kirsanova recommends "the Fadiman Protocol: one day on, two days off. This allows for subtle integration without building tolerance."

Beyond dosing schedules, practitioners emphasize the importance of consistent creative habits. Cari Oneal emphasizes having a "daily practice of imagining what is possible, playing in non-related spaces, and allowing ideas to flow without judgment." Oxana adds that keeping "a journal to track insights and shifts in creative thinking" helps monitor progress and refine your approach over time.

Create the conditions for flow

Microdosing can foster creativity, but only when you create the proper environment. Louis Belleau explains that microdosing "only enhances imagination, pattern recognition, and openness if you create the conditions for that to happen. The most important things for creativity are boredom and flow."

Chi Psilocybin offers a deeper perspective: "Creativity flourishes when we relax. Creativity is innate, so notice whatever is keeping us worried, rushing, or sad." These words dovetail nicely into Wallace’s logistical advice. He suggests preparing “the night before by creating a tidy workspace and laying out all your materials” and dosing "first thing in the morning, so that the activated window overlaps with studio time.”

Monica Lebsock reminds us that "creativity cannot be forced, but allowed. Our creative flow comes and goes in cycles, and we must create space for it to unravel." James Lavakras suggests "making a ritual out of creativity" and "inviting our creative spirit into the stillness” so we can see what’s “really tugging at our inspiration.”

Practice creating

Maybe the most important insight from our practitioners is that microdosing for creativity works best when paired with deliberate creative practice. (Imagine that.) John Moos emphasizes that "if your goal is to enhance creativity, it would be important to engage in creating activities while microdosing. Microdosing is not the creativity."

Sara Call suggests treating it as "a sacred collaboration" where you "create the conditions that help creativity move through you: go for a walk, dance to music that makes you feel alive, sit with a notebook or instrument." The key is to actively participate in the creative process rather than passively waiting for inspiration.

Renee Piazza offers a useful technique: "One of my favorite creative practices is called image streaming, where you close your eyes and visualize something—anything—and speak it aloud as it unfolds in your awareness for 5-10 minutes a day." Mary Decker endorses the active approach: "Curate your set and setting around your creative outlet. Have your camera ready, sketchbook open, or playlist queued."

Our take

What strikes us most about these responses—and we’d agree—is how they all point to microdosing as an amplifier rather than a source of creativity.

Here's something we'd add: creativity loves constraints. Give yourself arbitrary rules. Design something using just three colors. Or write a poem where every line rhymes with “Tricycle Day.” (Just kidding… but seriously.) Boundaries force your brain to find novel solutions.

And if the opposite of creativity is consumption, maybe take a break from your usual info/content diet before dosing. Put down the phone, close the browser tabs, and create some actual space for your own ideas to emerge. If you give your mind a break from all the noise, it’ll be much easier to pick up and pass on the signal.

Thanks to Kami G. from Salt Lake City, UT for submitting this week’s question. 🫠

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UNTIL NEXT TIME

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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.