My First Magic Mushroom Experience

Brian is the Most Beautiful by Memo Boy was the song of the trip.

I tried psychedelic mushrooms for the first time on a recent trip to Sedona with a group of friends. I initially had apprehensions due to hearing reports of bad trips and just that taking any mind-altering substance for the first time has this risk of the unknown and potential danger. However, a lot of these trip reports are selected for the most extreme experiences and also are from people who take very high doses for the first time. Not to mention, I had a very bad experience with cannabis edibles. Regardless, I am sure different people have different experiences.

I don't remember the exact amount I consumed, but the first time I started with a very modest amount and then took slightly more the next night. The first experience was very mild while the next night’s experience was much more intense. The main thing that was notable about the first experience was that everything had this glow and felt warm and fuzzy.

Also, looking back at the memories felt like they could have been a scene in a movie. Basically, it gave heightened meaning to the specific time sequence. In the 2nd experience, I had this very intense euphoria and things appeared much more intense and in motion. For instance, the palm tree above me looked illuminated and just seemed full of life and energy, dancing in the wind. I also could see these beautiful, intense colorful patterns when I closed my eyes.

The spiritual interpretation of psychedelic trips is that it stimulates natural spiritual receptors that are normally closed off. While staring into the stars, I felt this oneness with the Universe and a sense of contact with God or divine force. Though I initially felt that marijuana was spiritual, when I was younger and trying it for the first time, I consider it to be on a much lower spiritual level yet still accessing the subconscious. While I have heard of people becoming more universalist or converting to religion from atheism, including to Christianity, this experience did not change my philosophy, theology, or moral viewpoints but heightened my existing spiritual sensibilities.

However, this experience was not as pure as a mystical experience I had at June Lake a few years ago, when I was not under the influence of any substances other than benzos. I saw this light from behind a mountain while swimming in the lake and felt something akin to a near death experience with the presence of God.

In contrast with cannabis, I had a sense of mental clarity during and after the experience. As someone who is extremely neurotic, it helped reduce my OCD thinking and anxiety, and just decluttered my mind. I felt much more grounded and for a rare moment lived in the moment rather than overthinking, ending up in a Zen state. I also found it beneficial to creativity. While the experience was overall very positive, I had some mild negative side effects, including a mild headache, mild nausea, and lethargy, after the full effects wore off.

Disclaimer: This is not a promotion of drug use but purely for educational and intellectual purposes.