A Trippy Introduction to Psychedelics

The world of psychedelics is like a black hole. Mysterious, powerful, dauntingly deep, and magical. For anyone new to the subject, you may be starting with one simple questions, ‘what are psychedelics?’. Essentially, psychedelics are a hallucinogenic category of psychoactive compounds. There are many different types of psychedelics, some of which you may already be familiar with, such as LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and ayahuasca. Although these psychedelic substances all come from the same category (hallucinogens), they all offer completely different effects/benefits, and require different dosages. Although they all have an abundant amount of benefits, most psychedelics are classified as ‘illegal drugs’. This makes it very difficult to learn more about them and what they have to offer humanity.

Despite the long history of psychedelic experiences that we humans have behind us, we still know very little about how these substances affect the brain. There is so much wonder surrounding psychedelics and what they can do for humans. We have been using them for many years. However, at Sacred Spores, we feel as though it is only the beginning! There are so many sides to the various applications revolving around psychedelics. We could write pages and pages and pages regarding the subject. Instead, we are going to simply go over a few basics of psychedelics. What are psychedelics? What is the history of psychedelics? What are the different applications and benefits that follow? We are going to dive into all of these things! Let’s not waste any time and get into it, shall we?

A brief history of psychedelics: one long strange trip

Going over the history of specific psychedelics substances is a lot easier than going over the history of psychedelics as a whole. That being said, this section will be very brief as each psychedelic compound has its own unique timeline of events. The use of psychedelics goes back to ancient times. Although they may not be as common in ancient cultures as we may have thought, they still played an important role in human history.

We know that shamans have been using psychedelics for thousands and thousands of years. More specifically, primarily psilocybin found in fungi, ayahuasca, and other psychedelic plants and roots. Many native tribes and Amazonian people have been using ayahuasca for centuries. We know this by investigating ancient recordings, markings/art, stories, and by speaking to aboriginal peoples who proudly pass on the stories of their ancient ancestors from the past.

Thanks to archaeologist findings, we know that magic mushrooms have been used since prehistoric times. We have learned so much about the history of psychedelics from dedicated archaeologists. For example, evidence shows that humans have been chewing the psychedelic leaves of a plant called ‘the betel’ from at least 2660BC. Remarkable discoveries such as these really show the sacred history of these powerful compounds.

After humans began synthesizing different plants, leaves, fungus, we have expanded the line of psychedelics massively. The world of psychedelics really took a turn when we discovered how to take specific plant matter and turn it into potent psychedelic compounds through the process of synthesis. For example, Mr Albert Hofmann, a Swiss chemist during the Cold War, invented one of the worlds most well-known psychedelics; LSD, also known as LSD-25 and lysergic acid diethylamide. In 1938, Hofmann successfully synthesized LSD which is essentially a chemical derived from ergot, which is a fungus that grows on rye and other types of grains.

Looking back in time, we can see that the history of psychedelics has taken many turns throughout time. We can look forward and estimate a bright future for psychedelics and humanity. As with many things, only time will tell.

The psychedelics experience: what to expect

When it comes to the psychedelic experience, it is hard to predict with accuracy when considering it is nearly impossible to articulate the effects. The psychedelic experience feels so alien and foreign, making it one of those things that you kind of ‘have to try for yourself to understand’. Each psychedelic substance offers different kinds of high and every trip is unique. You can do the same dose of the same substance multiple times and you will always experience something new and liberating. No two trips are exactly alike, making these compounds extra mysterious and magical.

While every trip is different, a few commonly reported effects can be noted across substances such as LSD, psilocybin, and other similar compounds. A trip can either go good or bad, and it is very hard to tell how to determine which way it will go. Always make sure to follow the steps to prevent a bad trip which includes but are not limited to:

Always having a sober trip sitter present
Always dose yourself mindfully
Only trip with those who have your wellbeing in mind
Create a comfortable and safe environment to trip in
Always trip with food in your belly and stay hydrated during your trip
Do not use psychedelics as a ‘party drug’ as their power may be too much for a party environment

A bad trip can always happen, which is why it is so important to take the responsible steps to ensure your trip will go as smoothly as possible. You cannot prevent a bad trip completely, but you sure can reduce the chances of one. But what about a good trip? What does that look like?

A good trip can look like many things. You may feel giggly and overwhelmed with feelings of joy and bliss! Speaking will become difficult and your 5 senses will be affected as well. All of your senses will be amplified like crazy! You may also experience what we like to call sensory confusion. This is when your experience of 2 senses get mixed up. For example, you may be able to smell a colour or taste a sound. Intensive visual and auditorial distortion will also occur. Colours will become extremely saturated! Lights and colours may bleed, pulse, move, melt, or breathe. You may also find films of geometric patterns floating in the air or resting on a wall that was once blank… So many insanely alien things will occur in your mind and body and you will do your best to make sense of it all in the midst of the beautiful chaos… All of these things are just scratching the surface, really. There is so much to the psychedelic experience that it would take years to figure out how to write it all out completely accurately.

Trying to process these mind-bending effects can lead to a lot of beautiful lessons that you can take with you for the rest of your life. We will explore these benefits further down the page.

Microdosing Psychedelics

Although psychoactive dosages have been used in psychedelics practices for centuries, we have recently discovered a new application for psychedelics; microdosing. Essentially, microdosing is the act of ingesting a micro-amount of a psychedelic substance, often LSD or psilocybin. This micro-amount is so small of provides no psychoactive effects, meaning it does not get you high. You may be wondering, ‘But what is the point if you don’t get high? Aren’t all of the benefits found from the high?’.

Yes, many benefits of psychedelics can be found in the high. However, taking micro-amounts of psychedelics substances can also provide great benefit over time. Microdosing psychedelics is a fairly new practice, however, it is quickly gaining popularity-and for good reason, too! Individuals all over the globe have found a heap of benefits from this practice. Here is a short list of some commonly reported benefits of microdosing:

Boosted creativity
Increased focus and concentration
Stabilized mood
Improved productivity
Better brain function
Open-minded thinking
Increased neuroplasticity

Although there have not been many studies done on microdosing psychedelics, the few that have been conducted are promising. One microdosing study showed that over 80% of microdosers had a remarkable increase in cognitive skills and functions in the brain!

As time goes on and the use of psychedelics is normalized, we can only hope to see more funding going into this brain-boosting practice.

Benefits: psychedelics for depression, anxiety, and PTSD

When going over the benefits of psychedelics, we will be referring to both ‘full doses’ and microdoses. Since every psychedelic experience is unique and at least one life-changing lesson can be found in each trip, there is a lot that psychedelics can teach you. In recent studies, research has shown that psychedelics can offer mood-boosting effects that can linger long after your psychedelic experience is over. Using psychedelics for depression is already being tested in some medical fields and has had very successful results, as well! Not only has it helped patients with depression, but it has also worked as an effective aid to help those suffering from anxiety and PTSD as well. Using psychedelics for depression may be part of the future of psychedelic therapy.

Outside of treating mental disorders such as the above, it is also beneficial for the mentally stable as psychedelics can add a lot of additional ‘quality’ to any life. Taking psychedelics can open your brain up to new horizons and assist you in gaining fresh perspectives that you were once unaware of. A ‘full’ dose of a psychedelic substance will without a doubt change the way you look at the world, yourself, and existence forever. Many individuals who have tried them have confidently stated that getting high on psychedelics was the ‘single most impactful experience’ of their life. How amazing is that? This statement is a reoccurring one in the world of psychedelics, and it isn’t that surprising either. The amount of lessons awaiting for you that lay in the psychedelic experience are countless. Psychedelics can:

Boost your creativity
Heal past wounds and PTSD
Aid depression and anxiety
Make you more open-minded
Improve your brain function
Deepening the connection between the mind & body
Exercise your imagination
Give you hope when you feel hopeless
Make you feel free
Overflow your heart with love
Assist in spiritual advancements
Help you understand your connection to nature
Teach you about yourself
Expand your complicity for empathy
Help you make decisions and solve problems
Deepen bonds with your loved ones
Help create self-motivation & inspiration
Make you think outside the box

Psychedelics could potentially give you one of the most meaningful and beautiful experiences of your life. When it comes to purchasing psychedelics, it can be pretty tricky. Make sure you are purchasing legal substances as Sacred Spores does not condone the usage of any illegal substances. It may seem hopeless, however, if you are looking to buy psychedelics online, then you are not completely out of luck! There are many ways you can buy psychedelics online without breaking the law. For example, magic truffles are legal across the whole of Europe. If you are in the E.U, then you still have a way of legally getting high on psilocybin! If you are just looking to conduct research with psychedelics and are not looking to consume, you can always find a Research Chemical vendor that will assist you in researching these exciting compounds. If you are looking to microdose, then there are specific areas of the world that allow microdosing.

In extremely recent news, senators in California (USA) have just approved a bill to ‘legalize the possession of psychedelics such as LSD, MDMA, and Psilocybin’! As more time passes, the usage of psychedelics is becoming more normalised. All we can do is push for the various applications of psychedelics so we can move forward as a whole. Psychedelics are not for everyone. Even if you do not plan on ever trying psychedelics or microdosing you can do your part by educating yourself on the subject. If everyone educated themselves and more studies are conducted, the psychedelic movement can thrive and single-handedly change humanity. I will leave you with a beautiful quote from Mr Albert Hofmann, the inventor of LSD.

‘‘LSD is just a tool to turn us into what we are supposed to be’’. -AH

If you choose to dip your toes into the trippy world of psychedelics, then we are sending you ALL the love as you return to your roots.

-Heightened Senses-

-Deeper Connections-

-Endless Reflections-