Psilocybe Cubensis: A Beginners Guide

Curious about psilocybe cubensis, or as they are commonly known: magic mushrooms? They’ve exploded onto the mainstream media scene recently thanks to their potential therapeutic applications, but for the most part, they’re still known as a recreational drug. Chances are you’ve already heard about some amazing trips people have had, not to mention some nightmare-ish bad trips. If you’re a newby curious about psilocybe cubensis for either recreation or for mental health/performance, this article can serve as an intro to the multifaceted wonders of magic mushrooms can offer. Buckle up and enjoy!

Psilocybe Cubensis, One Species, Many Strains

There are many species of psilocybin mushrooms, but out of these the Psilocybe cubensis mushroom species is easily the most popular, as it is widespread and is the easiest to grow. Psilocybe cubensis grows naturally in some areas of the U.S., throughout Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Australia. 

The B+ and Amazonian cubensis strains are among the favorite picks for beginners. The most popular Cubensis strain however, is the Golden Teacher strain.

Golden Teacher – Great For Beginners

Golden Teacher mushrooms have a very unique appearance and are easy to identify. They have winding stems and wide caps and are very easy to maintain and cultivate. 

Golden Teachers are perfect for beginners because they have a gentle potency and various pleasant effects. Some of the effects of Golden Teachers include visual distortions, enhanced colors, intense emotions, lightness, euphoria, spiritual enlightenment, epiphanies, and a feeling of connection to nature.

Golden Teacher trips can be very revelatory and give you a glimpse into parts of your self you were not aware of. Sometimes the golden teacher leaves the user with lessons that follow them for the rest of their lives.

What’s a Good Dosage to Start With?

A psilocybe cubensis dosage, like most other psilocybin mushrooms, should ideally start between one and two grams of dried shrooms. For most people, this quantity would be enough for to feel the effects, while not completely leaving reality. If you’re more experienced, or are tripping with people who have done greater quantities, doses of three or more grams, can be a good time and take you far out of the realm of normalcy. Epic, or “heroic” doses of five grams and more can transport you almost completely out of reality, with stronger hallucinations, distortions, visualizations and a sense of total detachment from the ego.

Before Tripping on Cubensis

Regardless of what happens on your first trip, whether you have a bad trip or a wonderful, life-changing experience, your first trip will likely be fairly intense. The feeling of inebriation from shrooms is stronger and more variegated than what you’d experience with alcohol or marijuana, for example.

This is why you should be armed with as much knowledge about what to expect as possible, before you set out on a mushroom trip. Understanding what psilocybin is, how it works, and how it could affect you will help you be better prepared for the experience, reducing the potential for a bad trip. Prior to tripping, you should make a deliberate choice regarding the environment you want to trip in (this is extremely important), the company you’ll be enjoying, and what to in the case of a bad trip. With a little planning, you can trip on shrooms in a perfectly safe manner, whether you’re having the best trip or a bad one. 

Important: Evaluate your mental health before doing shrooms. If you’ve been depressed or in dark place lately, shrooms could end up magnifying your fears and insecurities. Bad trips are more likely when you are in a bad head space.

Warning: Do not take psychedelic mushrooms if:

• you are pre-psychotic, are dealing with another psychiatric disorder, or suffer from a psychotic disorder;
• you have been prescribed Lithium, Ritonavir, Indinavir or Tricyclics, as they may interact with shrooms dangerously.

Be aware: Certain prescription drugs reduce the psychoactive effects of magic mushrooms. SSRIs (like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Desyrel) or MAOIs (like Nardil, Parnate, Marplan, Eldepryl, Aurorix, Manerix) can diminish the effects and render them more unpredictable. Do not mix prescription drugs with psilocybin.

Choosing the Right Environment 

Choosing the right environment is very important. Your environment can very well determine how your trip goes. Make sure your trip takes place somewhere you feel safe and comfortable. Unless you’re with someone you absolutely trust, try to avoid having your first trip in a socially unfamiliar environment. If possible, have your first trip outdoors. This could be in your backyard or some beautiful outdoor venue somewhere, anywhere you feel comfortable. Outdoor mushroom trips tend to be easier to enjoy. There are more natural textures and colors to embellish your hallucinations, you’ll likely develop a deep sense of wonderment and connection with nature, and there’s plenty of room to make noise and express yourself, while still maintaining privacy and a judgement-free atmosphere.

The Company You Keep

This factor is just as important as choosing the right environment. It’s best to trip with close friends and people you trust. If you are in the wrong company, or with people that make you feel uncomfortable, there’s a higher chance you’ll have a bad trip. Your emotions can be powerful and fluid when you’re on psilocybe cubensis. So, if you start feeling anxious, there’s a chance you’ll slide into a bad trip, as shrooms can sometimes intensify negative emotions.  Much better to be with someone to remind you there’s nothing to worry about and can take care of you if you start to feel anxious or scared.  

How Do I Take Psilocybe Cubensis for the First Time?

For best results, take Cubensis on an empty stomach or 6 hours after your last meal. Shrooms don’t taste so good (to most people), so you can also mix them with something tasty, like chocolate, to mask the flavor. Make sure you’re taking an appropriate dose. Start with a gram or two, don’t shoot for the moon on the first try! Also, avoid mixing shrooms with other psychoactive substances, at least for the first time. Although cannabis can be a welcome addition to the shrooms experience, it’s good to familiarize yourself with the effects of shrooms first, so you understand how it affects you, before mixing them with anything else. 

How Long Do Magic Mushroom Trips Usually Last? 

A mushroom trip can last anywhere from 4-12 hours. The trip starts to gently kick in within 20-30 minutes, and you should feel the full affects in about an hour.  Your high will peak in hours 2-4, and then gradually begin to weaken until you are sober. 

What Do I Do in the Case of a Bad Trip?

Bad trips happen at least once to almost everyone who tries them. This is why it is so important for you to be with people you love and trust when you trip. If you have a bad trip, your friends can help you deal with bad thoughts, provide reassurance, help you get comfortable, help you feel safe, and provide you with food or water if you need it. Sweet treats are often helpful in these moments, as can be funny movies or interesting books or art. 

In a Nutshell

A magic mushroom trip can be a life-changing experience, but you’ll have a better trip the first time if you follow the advice above. Psilocybe cubensis can really humble you if you do not respect it. But, with the right dosage, right setting and right company, and a little knowledge about what to expect, it’s more likely you’ll have an amazing time full of funny moments, epiphanies and hallucinations. With just a little preparation, you can have the time of your life!