Mushroom Medicine: Care Sheet

Mushroom Care Sheet

Greetings!

Hello, joyful spirit. I am so elated that you are taking time to explore alternative methods of healing. I know from plenty of personal experience that taking these “magic” mushrooms can help release stagnant pain, fear, and insecurity, as well as bring us closer to our loved ones. Psilocybin has even been used with success in clinical settings to help terminally ill patients come to terms with their limited mortality. It has also been used in studies on those with suicidal depression, with significantly positive results.  These effects sound immense, and perhaps even unbelievable, but the power of plant medicine has been acknowledged by shamans and scholars alike for many centuries.

It is difficult to say how mushrooms will come to your aid. Perhaps a rush of clarity will awaken and enlighten you, opening your heart and flooding you with a warm, golden sense of ease. On the other hand, you may remember a buried trauma that you’ve tried all your life to forget and run away from. The changes in your attitude may be tremendous, or quite subtle. Being as complex as we are, we all have very different mindsets and, of course, different wounds and belief systems that hold us back from our pure selves.

My Experience

If it helps, here is my personal experience with using this potent medicine: I was placed on antidepressants at 14 years old. My behaviors were so destructive, my pain so unmanageable, and my trauma so deep-seated that I believed I would never feel better. Killing myself was always a thought looming on the periphery of my mind. After years of using several cocktails of expensive and chemical-laden antidepressants, I finally decided to wean off medication at 18. The medication never seemed to help. Untreated, my depression, anxiety, self-loathing, and strained relationships with others escalated until I hit bottom - I no longer could look in the mirror and recognize the person looking back at me. In my heart, I knew that all people, deep down, are the same as they were as children. This is how we were back before the world had a chance to break our spirits; abuse us, belittle us, tell us we are erroneous in the way that we give love, etc...

I wanted to be that open and loving child again. I also wanted to harness my innate spiritual powers that we are all blessed with and able to access if we tap into them. I remembered that before he quit the practice, the spunky and worldly psychiatrist of my teen years had suggested I stop taking antidepressant and microdose on magic mushrooms bi-weekly. So, I divided some up that I got from a trusted, ethical, organic source and made raw vegan chocolates with them in measured out doses.

After my first dose, I felt exuberant. Old thought patterns that I was holding on to made themselves clear to me, so I was able to let them go gracefully. The heightened empathy and personal awareness made handling situations with others a lot easier. Conflict with myself and my loved ones faded as my self-confidence and inner light grew and grew. After four weeks and dosing two times, my perspective on the world was completely different. Each morning for me is a sweet and glorious blessing. My gratitude for my life helps me vibrate on a higher level than I ever have before. Dark thoughts seem minuscule and conquerable. Difficult situations are easier to look at objectively and with positivity.

It is important to note that along with the measured doses, I am also exercising regularly, meditating daily, and eating a balanced, whole-foods, plant-based diet. After I dose, I set aside about two hours in the evening to journal, cry, draw, or do whatever I need in order to learn all that I can from that day’s experience. I have now been using medicinal mushrooms bi-weekly for twelve weeks and have had no negative side effects. In fact, I feel more in touch with my emotions and the world around me than ever before.

Here’s what to look for in the coming weeks:

• An open heart that lets love in and out gracefully
• A heightening of empathy
• An appreciation for new experiences
• A deeper understanding of negative thought patterns and self-destructive behaviors
• A greater sense of self-worth and affection for yourself
• Easier conflict resolution
• An urgent  need to release toxic people from your life

Dose Instructions

Each chocolate disk contains one to four doses, depending on the experience that you are being called to. I have tested each dose twice and recorded their effects. Note, again, that we are all very different and your results are not guaranteed to be the same as mine.

I suggest eating only whole foods, mostly plants, for three days leading up to your dose. Phase out refined sugar and caffeine is possible, as well. This way your body will be able to process the medicine more easily.

You might feel a hot/acidic/uncomfortable sensation in your upper stomach for about half an hour to 45 minutes, but this goes away.

1/4 disk: A quarter to a half the chocolate is perfect if you don’t have a lot of time to take off in order to hike, walk, or do other relaxing outdoor activities. Higher doses require higher activity levels in order to let the medicine flow through your blood and work in conjunction with the effects of pleasure signals released by exercise and sunshine. A small dose is perfect for relaxing at home with tea and a journal, meditating, or attending a gentle yoga class. I still recommend going for at least a short walk to enjoy some of the side effects of the medicine, such as increased color perception and physical euphoria.

You’ll want to take your dose during the day. This dose is small enough that if you need to interact with loved ones during this time (children, parents, friends), you will be able to do so without heightened sensitivity affecting your interactions. This dose is subtle in effect and is ideal for a long session with your diary. I think it’s nice to set up a coffee date with a friend or a therapy session the following day to talk through whatever came up during the dose. This amount for me, however, usually only influences me in positive ways; I enjoy greater mental clarity, as well as a shift in perception.

The medicine’s effect is technically permanent, but the more intense effects begin half an hour after consumption and last about four hours. You will be able to return to school or work the day after your dose unaffected by mental exhaustion or over-sensitivity.

1/2 disk: A half disk is a more intense emotional experience. It would be ideal to go on a long walk at the park or around a quiet neighborhood, as sitting at home with whatever thoughts come up may induce anxiety or dread. This is not to say the medicine in higher doses is dangerous or produces negative effects, but the surfacing of highly emotional events from our past may trigger a number of feelings that are best experienced outdoors. This way, we can release them to the sky and to the ground, fully supported by the unconditional love the earth gives us.

A half dose is perfect for working through painful situations, current or past, that one needs to come to peace with. Often, what we set out to heal is not what the medicine finds and conquers. I will often intend to work through a certain trauma and end up finding calm regarding another area of my life that needed attention. Either way, this dose will help you feel brighter, more serene, and remove obstacles that block you from feeling gratitude. The residual energy felt after this dose is one of pure appreciation for one’s life.

Personally, I would set time aside so that I can experience the height of the dose’s effects (3 hours, beginning after 35 minutes) in complete solitude. Seeing another person at the park is fine, but interacting with others on a deeper level may sway or distract you from the feelings you are experiencing, requiring you to push them down deeper again. You will also probably need some quiet time in the evening after dinner to grab your journal or head to your blog to sort out your thoughts. It is likely that the following day you will also experience powerful revelations and deep insights that you’ll want to get down in writing!

You may feel a little tired the following day, and it’s ideal to have one day for recovery, but I can return to school the day after a half dose and work efficiently.

1 full disk: Prepare for a beautiful, otherworldly experience! With one disk I highly recommend giving yourself two days to process your experience and rest. It is crucial that you get out and exercise when taking a full disk. I suggest bringing a journal, a “safety” charm (I wear a protective crystal necklace), and lots of water, along with fruits and vegetables (refined wheat, meat, or dairy will cut the dose short).

This dose may make you hypersensitive to the energies of other people and you will want to be completely alone for about four hours. Make sure you don’t have any responsibilities or obligations the day of your dose and that you will have at least one extra hour to sleep in the next day. A dream journal or notepad is essential on the night following your dose: your dreams may help clarify your experience, and the pineal gland opening that accompanies the medicine may allow you to see future events or answer pressing questions.

I will often end up with poetry, prose, or beautiful drawings after a full dose. I revisit these creations often, as I typically forget about or become too busy to think about revelations I have on mushroom days.

A full dose is good for, and has the same effects as, a half dose, but more amplified. Remember not to judge yourself no matter what kind of experience you have; whether it induces joy or the release of pain, the medicine you’ve taken will be active and at work in your psyche for the next few months!

I tested a disk on a willing participant who I have never been very close to, but whose presence am beginning to trust and enjoy more and more. After they took the dose they came to me, hugged me, smiled at me with sparkling eyes and said: “I loved eating it - but I didn't feel anything!”. She grinned as she told me about her week and even shared some insecurities that sometimes creep up and bother her. Before I left, she gave me another big hug. This person has never hugged me before! She was so ecstatic, vulnerable, and had donned a golden, serene glow. Although not consciously aware of it, the medicine was at work inside of her heart, healing her and instigating rebirth.

Are there any negative side effects?

There are no recorded instances of overdoses, induced psychoses, or permanent physical or mental damage due to the ingestion of psilocybin. However, the pain of past memories that surface may be difficult to handle. I recommend having a good friend or even a therapist who knows about your microdosing and can support you during this time of increased self-awareness.

Heightened awareness can, unfortunately, lead to existential dread (Why do I stress out over money when it is a made-up concept? Why am I working this job that I don’t like? What comes after this life, and am I living this life correctly? Nobody cares about the planet and it is dying! Nobody understands me for who I truly am! Etc…) Try not to let your thoughts spin out of control. If you suffer from overthinking, increase your meditation practice to twice or three times a day. Writing out these thoughts can also help make them feel smaller and less daunting.

Have fun on your journey. Be gentle with yourself, and be patient. The light inside of you is burning bright, even if you can’t feel it right now. Hopefully, this medicine can help you access that light and surround yourself with its protective, healing glow. If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to email me at hrboelcke@aol.com.