“Set and setting” is a concept that is well-known within the psychedelic community, only just now entering mainstream parlance. The phrase was coined by Timothy Leary – American psychologist and psychedelic advocate – in the early 1960s. Recently, the idea is being applied to cannabis in an attempt to maximize therapeutic potential and to understand the nature of memorable experiences – both positive and challenging.

The nature of a psychedelic trip

Psilocybin is the compound in magic mushrooms that creates the remarkable experiences these fungi are known for. It shares a chemical structure that is very similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin. After eating magic mushrooms, the influx of serotonin-like molecules tricks the brain into exciting the pathways related to happiness, well-being, cognition, and learning. The result is a “psychedelic trip” and distortions of perception, time and space.

Like most psychoactive compounds, psychedelics provoke a somewhat consistent set of results. Caffeine and cocaine will speed you up, cannabis and alcohol can slow you down, magic mushrooms and LSD make you trip. Unlike the first two, the latter trip can come in many shapes and forms, often playing out in your mind alone. While it may seem unpredictable – a rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions – there is an approach to psychedelics that helps to guide a trip.

What is set and setting?

Set and setting (S&S) are more of any exercise in mindfulness than anything else. It can equally be applied to any drug or activity. In regards to magic mushrooms, set and setting are arguably more important than the dose when it comes to the psychedelic experience.

It’s an understanding of both the world around you and your mind, before even taking a substance in the first place. Psilocybin may have the power to heal both physically and emotionally; set and setting are the best way to maximize the positive outcomes of a psychedelic experience.

Set: Short for ‘mindset’, this aspect of S&S is the consideration of your current state of mind, and the factors that are influencing it. This allows you the opportunity to predict what the general ‘vibe’ of the trip might be. Set also includes your goals and intentions, even if you’re only planning to have a purely recreational experience. You have the power to guide yourself in any direction you hope to explore, understand, or overcome.

Setting: Your environment. Where you are, what time it is, who you’re with – they all have a huge influence on a psychedelic trip. With experience, you can understand more clearly how these factors might influence you. To accelerate the process, consider keeping notes on your setting, to assist in evaluating the impact of individual factors on your trip.

The prime therapeutic value of psilocybin as a tool is the requirement for only a single session, as opposed to a life-time of pills. So, what is set and setting? Considering the potential impact of a trip, preparation and education are incredibly useful for making the most of what could otherwise just be a fun experience. Understanding what psilocybin can do to your brain can unlock a universe of potential exploration and self-improvement.

The most obvious outcome of eating magic mushrooms is a memorable and mind-expanding trip. However, like anything with that kind of power, a few side effects are inevitable. With some planning and preparation, most of these undesirable outcomes can be managed or eliminated entirely. In some regards, a side effect for some might be desirable for others—uncontrollable giggles is the best example.

What to expect from magic mushrooms

Psilocybin shares a chemical structure that is very similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin. After eating magic mushrooms, the influx of serotonin-like molecules tricks the brain into exciting the pathways related to happiness, well-being, cognition, and learning. The result is a “psychedelic trip” and distortions of perception, time and space.

Writers have been trying to describe the nature of a trip for centuries, with varying degrees of success. The great, late Ram Dass—a father of the ‘60s psychedelic renaissance—tries to explain with a metaphor:

“…picture a guy on the floor, looking at some spilled Coca-Cola…It show(s) the people under drugs became so trivial, and their minds became so caught in nothing…It show(s) this person was seeing that in everything there is everything. That in the spilled drop of Coca-Cola is the entire universe.”

Common physical side effects of magic mushrooms

Setting aside the mystical—and deeply personal—experience of the trip itself, there are some physical effects than can easily be explained. Most are fleeting and temporary, rarely lasting more than an hour or two.

Nausea

Magic mushrooms contain more than just psilocybin. In fact, the active compound usually comprises only 2% of the weight of dried shrooms. While the science is still underway to identify other compounds, something in the mix has the potential to provoke nausea. For those who are sensitive, preparing a mushroom tea is often the best way to reduce this side effect.

Yawning

While tiredness or sluggishness are rare—mushrooms are generally energizing—some people may be afflicted by frequent yawning at some point during a trip. The side effect is rarely more than annoying, but those around you might misinterpret the sign as boredom. Simply being aware of the possibility is enough to ensure no one feels hurt through misinterpretation.

Giggles and laughter

Given the energizing nature of magic mushrooms and the massive influx of serotonin into your brain, happiness and laughter are inevitable. This is rarely considered a side effect, but may cause trouble if discretion is required.

Clumsiness

Distortions of time and space are defining aspects of a psychedelic trip. Preparing a safe setting, avoiding stairs, and ‘babyproofing’ your space are simple measures that you can take to reduce risk.

Tolerance

The only semi-permanent, physical effect on the brain is the creation of tolerance to serotonergic compounds after a psilocybin trip. If a similar dose is taken within 10 to 14 days of the first trip, a significantly reduced experience is to be expected. Further, under certain conditions—like those taking anti-depressants—there might be other factors that give you an underwhelming experience.

Education and preparation aren’t required before taking magic mushrooms. However, they are suggested to make the most of the experience and to limit any potential for discomfort or risk.

Just like at the grocery store, mushrooms of the ‘magic’ variety come in many different shapes, colours, and sizes. The most common is Psilocybe cubensis, also known as “cubes”, “golden tops”, or simply “magic mushrooms.”

There are over 180 different species of mushrooms that contain psilocybin, the compound that makes these fungi magic. Psilocybin can comprise up to 2% of the overall weight of a dried mushroom and is named after the largest group of psychedelic mushrooms, the Psilocybe genus. The compounds were originally researched, synthesized and named by Albert Hofmann, better known as the ‘inventor’ of LSD or “acid.”

Species of magic mushrooms

The original chemistry conducted by Albert Hofmann used samples of Ps. mexicana, a magic mushroom bought from the Amazon rainforest. This particular species has a history spanning millennia, used as a sacred tool by the Nahuatl people — better known as the Aztecs. To them, it was called teonanacatl, or “flesh of the Gods.” They were consumed fresh or dried, sometimes mixed into honey or chocolate for ceremonies or feasts.

With magic mushrooms growing wild on nearly every continent, histories like these are suspected and evidenced around the world. Druidic peoples from Ireland are said to have used the “liberty cap”, or Ps. semilanceata — a species common throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They also consumed an entirely different type of magic mushroom, the iconic red and white-speckled “fly agaric” or Amanita muscaria, that shares the same northern range.

The latter — enshrined in pop-culture as the mushroom from the Mario series — can cause hallucinations and stupor but does not contain psilocybin. It contains an unrelated, psychoactive chemical that may be neurotoxic under certain conditions; these “magic mushrooms” should be avoided at all costs, except under the watchful eye of trained guides.

The many strains of Psilocybe cubensis

It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that Ps. cubensis began to amass its enduring fame. Before this time, most of the mushrooms that helped to power the counter-culture movement of the 1960s were harvested from the wild. Species like Ps. cyanescens and Ps. allenii grew readily from the wood-chips that covered flower-beds and paths within the parks of San Fransisco. 

The publication of Psilocybin: Magic Mushroom Grower’s Guide by the McKenna brothers in 1976 brought magic mushrooms — Ps. cubensis, specifically — indoors and readily cultivated in bulk. Much like cannabis, this move provoked selective breeding and the creation of unique strains and cultivars of cubensis. While the evidence isn’t yet there to support it, many claim that strains have their own distinct personality that can influence your psychedelic trip.

Strains or species, they’re all magic mushrooms

It’s relatively easy to tell species from strains: species will have “binomial” (two-part) names of Greek or Latin origin (Psilocybe cubensis, for example), while strains often have light-hearted or descriptive names like ‘Golden Teacher’ or ‘Penis Envy’. In most cases, “shrooms are shrooms” and contain psilocybin nonetheless, in relatively consistent quantities. 

As always, proceed with caution and moderate doses whenever you’re trying a new batch, strain, or species.

There aren’t very many psychedelic compounds that can be simply harvested from nature and eaten, with no further preparation. However, this usually requires months of study in the identification of mushrooms and may come with an increased risk of nausea and discomfort.

Most people encounter magic mushrooms in a bag, dried and ready to munch. While this method will definitely get you to where you want to go, there are some alternative ways to prepare mushrooms, which may change certain aspects of your psilocybin experience.

How to prepare magic mushrooms

One big thing to keep in mind is that your stomach has a massive influence over your trip, no matter how you prepare your magic mushrooms. An empty stomach (no solid food for 4-8 hours) can result in a very fast onset and intense experience, compared to eating a large meal just before the mushrooms. Some snacks or a light meal is usually suggested in the hours before eating magic mushrooms, but not required. Be sure to have some calories on-hand for “trip food” in case you get hungry.

Eat ‘em

The obvious first choice when it comes to magic mushrooms is to simply eat them. The downside is that they’re not very palatable, especially for someone who doesn’t like the flavour. The actual mushroom mass – other than the roughly 2% psilocybin by weight – may also contain some compounds that could contribute to nausea at the beginning of your psilocybin experience.

Make a mushroom tea

Psilocybin is incredibly soluble in water, unlike the oil-based and resinous extracts of cannabis. This means that the active ingredients can easily be removed from magic mushrooms with water alone. Conveniently, psilocybin also seems to be relatively stable below 100°C – the maximum temperature of boiling water.

To maximize potency, mushrooms should only be in boiling/simmering water for up to 15 minutes. This is more than enough time to complete a near-total extraction of psilocybin. The process is faster if the pieces are smaller – grinding or breaking up your mushrooms helps. Just ensure that you have a strainer that’s capable of removing the small chunks, unless you don’t mind them in your tea.

Once the psilocybin is extracted into a tea, you can add any flavourings you find appealing to make the brew most palatable. Savoury stocks like chicken or beef can almost completely mask the mushroom flavour, and ginger is helpful if you’re prone to nausea. Your favourite tea can also contribute to the start of your psilocybin experience, by promoting a calm and relaxed state of mind.

Note: Be careful mixing any other substances with psilocybin; including caffeine, cannabis, alcohol, and even lemon juice.

The “Lemon Tek”

Adding lemon – or other acidic substances like citrus or tomato – can significantly change your experience with psilocybin. While the mechanism is uncertain, it is suspected that psilocybin may be broken into psilocin under acidic conditions. For whatever reason, this produces a very intense trip that often also has a shorter duration. This method should only be considered by those with prior experience with psychedelics.