The

Tripper’s Guide
to an
Awesome Ride
A Compilation of Ideas and Best Practices

☯
“Use them with care, and use them with respect as to the trans-
By c{ÉxÇçå
formations they can achieve, and you have an extraordinary re-
search tool. Go banging about with a psychedelic drug for a Sat-
urday night turn-on, and you can get into a really bad place, psy-
chologically. Know what you're using, decide just why you're
using it, and you can have a rich experience. They're not addic-
tive, and they're certainly not escapist, either, but they're excep-
tionally valuable tools for understanding the human mind, and
how it works.”
― Alexander Shulgin, Pihkal: A Chemical Love Story

Version 3.0 3
 Troubleshooting
If you find yourself having a difficult time during the trip, try some of these
suggestions : Contents
REMEMBER: YOU ARE SAFE. THE TRIP WILL END. Disclaimer & How to Use This Guide ································2

Set Intentions····································································3
⇒ Hum, chant, or sing
⇒ Repeat: “It’s Okay. It’s going to be Okay. Everything is Okay.” Logistical Preparation ·······················································4
⇒ Go to the bathroom
⇒ Stretch / do yoga Mental Preparation ··························································6
⇒ Change your scenery; get some fresh air
⇒ Drink some water Physical Preparation ·························································8
⇒ Do some art or play a musical instrument Day-Of Checklist ·····························································10
⇒ Focus on grounding yourself. Try putting your bare feet on
the earth, hugging a tree, or holding a crystal. Trip & Come-Down ·························································11
⇒ Breath deeply, meditatively, or tantrically
⇒ Focus on gratitude. What are you grateful for? Integration ······································································11
⇒ Focus on surrendering to the experience. Let it be. Let it go.
Troubleshooting ·····························································12
⇒ Listen to an Alan Watts lecture on YouTube

“You have to take seriously the notion that

understanding the universe is your responsi-
bility, because the only understanding of the
“You can always pick up your needle and move to another groove.” universe that will be useful to you is your
— Timothy Leary
own understanding.”

-- Terence McKenna
“The most exquisite paradox…as soon as you give it all up, you can have it all.
As long as you want power, you can’t have it. The minute you don’t want
power, you’ll have more than you ever dreamed possible.”
– Ram Dass
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 Day-Of Checklist
Test substance & verify dosage
Clean and de-clutter your space
Take a shower
Set out blankets & pillows; create comfortable lounging areas
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
If you’ll be somewhere other than home, pack clean underwear,
socks, and layers to keep warm
Eat a small, healthy meal / snack or fast
Hydrate and have plenty of water available - any time that you re-
member to drink water, do so
Stretch / yoga
Review / meditate on intentions
Set up recording devices – paper, voice recorder, writing/drawing
utensils
Turn off phone ringers
Turn on music, if desired
Prepare some ginger tea or have other ginger snacks available to
ease nausea on the come-up
Have a barf bucket nearby
Set out calming tea and/or high-CBD cannabis for the come-down
Remember the mantras: SURRENDER, YOU ARE SAFE, THE TRIP WILL
END (Put them somewhere you will see them.)
“After having personally conducted over the last
fifty years more than four thousand psychedelic
sessions, I have developed great awe and respect
for these compounds and their enormous potential,
both positive and negative. They are powerful tools
and, like any tool, they can be used skillfully, ineptly,
or destructively. The result will be critically depend-
ent on the set and setting.”
— Stanislav Grof
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STEP 1: Set Intentions
You may have different intentions for different trips, but for every trip, setting
intentions beforehand is very important. Intentions may be very simple like:
“Fun,” “Beauty,” and “Love;” or, they may be as deep as understanding the
purpose of your existence or the nature of reality.
At the very least, intentions can act as helpful guideposts to journey toward
during periods of overwhelm or disorientation. At best, with focused inten-
tion, you can answer deep and meaningful questions, solve complex prob-
lems, and develop amazing new creative ideas.
Intentions are like a polite request to the substance, but keep an open mind
regarding how it might deliver… One can only expect the unexpected. It helps
to write down your intentions, meditate on them, and review them to rein-
force them in your mind as much as possible before the trip.
If you’re tripping with a companion or a sitter, speak your intentions aloud so
that they may remind you of them, if necessary.
“For some people, it is helpful to identify your goals. Your
goals may be spiritual: to have direct experience with as-
pects of your tradition or another tradition, to transcend
prior beliefs, even to transcend belief itself. You may hope
to have what is called a “unity experience,” in which there
is no separation between your identity and all else. Your
goals may be social: to improve relationships with your
spouse, children, siblings, parents, colleagues, friends, and
spiritual and secular institutions. Your goals may be psy-
chological: to find insight into neurotic patterns, phobias,
or unresolved anger or grief.”
— Dr. James Fadiman
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 PHYSICAL PREPARATION
STEP 10: Prepare Your Body
In the days leading up to the trip, eat things that nourish and won’t upset
your body. Avoid alcohol. Eat more organic vegetables and minimize proc-
essed food. Consider fasting for 5-8 hours beforehand. Don’t take trips when
you’re sick. Also drink lots of water and be sure you’re well-hydrated. Avoid
tripping while sleep deprived. Stretching your muscles just before will limber
you up in case you find yourself contorting in weird ways during trip. Many
recommend showering before your trip. If you’re using any other kinds of
drugs (prescription or otherwise), be sure to research any potential contrain-
dications for combining them with the substance you intend to trip with.
STEP 11: Prepare Your Setting
This may be the most important part of preparing for a trip: creating a safe
space. First, decide if you want to be inside or outside. There are pros and
cons to both. A familiar indoor space often allows for greater introspection;
when outdoors, one is often overwhelmed by the beauty and intricacies of
nature. It’s not uncommon to want to take your clothes off, but be sure to
have sufficient clothes or blankets to stay warm if you’re not in a warm in-
door space. Whether indoors or outdoors, be sure you have somewhere com-
fortable to lay down and relax and easy access to a bathroom or an accept-
able outdoor area to relieve yourself.
Minimize clutter, things that you might trip over, or things that might give
you bad feelings (like a pile of dirty dishes). The cleaner your space is, the
better, because you might be inclined to put your face on the floor, for exam-
ple. Soft pillows and blankets are usually a good idea. Be attentive to any
physical hazards in your space. Avoid strangers, and take appropriate meas-
ures to not get lost. For very introspective trips, insulate yourself from out-
side sights and sounds like pets or phones.
If you feel at all unsafe in your setting, don’t trip there, or see Step 5 (p.5).
Note: Psychoactive substances can impair judgment, so it is very dangerous
8 to drive or operate machinery while under the influence.
STEP 5: Consider Sitters, Guides, and/or Trip
Companions
It’s generally recommended to not be around strangers during your trip, but
having someone with you that you trust can add comfort and interest to the
experience, especially if that person has experience with the substance you’re
using. If that person is sober during your trip, they are referred to as a “sitter.”
If you have a travel companion that will be tripping with you, be conscious of
the fact that you will each be on your own journeys, and seeking certain types
support from one another may be difficult. Don’t be surprised if you want to
separate and come back together during the trip. Don’t be surprised if you
experience totally different things. Your trips are as unique as your brains.
If you are concerned about confidentiality, take time to make agreements
about what will be acceptable to share with others about the trip.
Tips for Sitters
∗ The sitter should be prepared to physically assist and mentally guide the
tripper during periods of discomfort, but bear in mind that interference
can sway the experience in an extreme way sometimes.
∗ Holding space or a “safe container” for a tripper involves:
∗ Expressing unconditional acceptance of any thoughts, words,
realizations that may come up; reiterate that “It’s Okay.”
∗ No judgment / ego / “should” projections / shaming
∗ Always remaining calm, centered, grounded, and confident
∗ Offering suggestions to consider rather than making statements
∗ Encourage the tripper to stay hydrated
∗ During periods of discomfort, suggest:
∗ Deep meditative and/or tantric breathing (i.e. count each breath,
or breath in tranquility, exhale discord, etc.)
∗ Grounding with crystals, trees, earth, or an idea
∗ Focusing on gratitude
∗ Also, see Troubleshooting section on p. 12
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