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What is 9/20? A peek into the world of Psychedelic Mushrooms

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Just like cannabis has gained widespread attention on the day of 4/20, Nicholas Reville, a mushroom advocate from Providence, Rhode Island, decided that given the amazing benefits and ongoing psychedelic research, psychedelic mushrooms deserve their own day of attention, conversation, and education. And so the day of 9/20 was born where people all over the world come together to share insights about the potential benefits of magic mushrooms, and even use this day to participate in a magic mushroom ceremony.

 

What are Psychedelic Mushrooms?

Psychedelic mushrooms are special species of fungi that naturally grow in many areas of the world, and are found to contain a compound called psilocybin – the magic ingredient that makes this experience of consuming them so profound, potentially healing, and even mystical.
Many reports of people that have used them in the right set and setting reveal this as one of the most important and life-changing experiences of their life. Psilocybin is certainly a very potent chemical, and it is not to be taken lightly. As any powerful tool, it can be used well and it can also be abused, when used in the wrong set and/or setting.

 

What does a “set and setting” mean, and why is it important?

Put simply, a “set” is a person’s mindset when going into a psychedelic experience, and a “setting” is the environment in which the experience takes place. Let’s break it down even more to understand what factors are extremely important for a fruitful psychedelic trip.

 

When it comes to psilocybin mushrooms, the set and setting is everything. It shapes and builds the experience and helps to put everything into context. In terms of a person’s mindset, it is important to set an intention for this internal “trip” weeks in advance and prepare oneself for at least some idea of the intensity that is to come. Consuming psychedelic mushrooms can bring about strong emotions, insights, and powerful revelations. One must be able to handle this and have the right support around before, during, and after the experience. It is important to be in the right state of mind when consuming magic mushrooms. The best question to ask yourself is “am I feeling good today?”

 

A bit of anxiety and excitement about the unknown is normal, but if you are going through major and overwhelming life changes, like a break-up, health issues, or financial worries, you may want to think about finding a better time in the future to dive into the trip.

 

When it comes to the “setting”, most and foremost, it needs to feel safe to you – the place itself and the people around you. Interestingly enough, a psychedelic experience will be massively shaped by what you can see and hear. Having a clean, well-organized space, and people that you trust and feel safe with is more likely to result in a positive experience. Music can greatly influence what you experience in your journey as well. Psilocybin mushrooms can bring about strong visuals, especially when your eyes are closed, and many people report “seeing” the music they hear in different colors, shapes, and geometric patterns.

 

If possible, it is also best to ensure a safe, warm, and somewhat private space to lie down, have a soft pillow and a blanket available, a source of clean water, and somebody who can help you go to the bathroom when needed. When you become more experienced to navigate the world of psychedelics, these factors may become less important, although still incredibly helpful as you never know what each experience might bring. Many people prefer to do them outside in nature. Psychedelic therapists often offer a combination of nature and a safe inside space, while some cultures do their ceremonies purely outside.

 

Psychedelic Mushroom Research Results

In the last decade, there has been a major increase in psilocybin research, studies, and trials, showing wonderful results and promise for healing treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, helping patients with pre-death anxiety, quitting addictions, and more. A lot of these trials have happened in a controlled setting with an assistance of a psychotherapist, and this has given birth to something called “psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy” which is predicted to become widely used in the next decade.

 

Access has been recently granted to therapists in Canada to administer psilocybin to terminally ill patients. Meanwhile, special centers are being built and prepared in some parts of the world to offer psychedelic-assisted therapy, while many companies are working towards requesting changes in the law that would permit this form of therapy in countries where psilocybin is still illegal. Given the positive research results, many cities in the U.S. have now decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms, which means they are now allowed to be used for recreational purposes.

 

As you can see, psychedelic therapy is slowly but surely becoming a thing of the future, and thanks to ongoing research, we may soon find more about how psilocybin mushrooms can benefit our health and our mind.

 

How to celebrate the day of 9/20?

This day was created with the intention to start a conversation about the benefits of psilocybin mushrooms to raise awareness and gain more attention to the positive research results. So anything you can do to inform your community, hold or attend an event, or even plan a mushroom experience for yourself would greatly benefit the speed at which this potentially life-changing medicine can do for humankind.

 

Please note that psychedelic mushrooms are forbidden in many countries, therefore, instead of taking them, growing them, or sharing them on this day of 9/20, perhaps a better idea is to hold a campfire conversation, an integration circle, or an online workshop, or even go foraging wild mushrooms with your friends! Check the laws within your country of residence and be mindful of where you consume magic mushrooms if you do so.

 

If you do plan a trip, make sure you do it in a safe environment with the right set and setting. Have fun, and stay mindful!