Life’s been a whirlwind lately, and I decided to hit pause the other night by attending a breathing and sound bath session. But, as I often do, I added a twist: I brought along two grams of magic mushrooms to see how they’d deepen the experience. In today’s post, I’ll walk you through exactly what happened during those two hours. Spoiler: It wasn’t what I expected.
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Setting the Scene
I arrived at the session early, parking safely before consuming about 1.5 grams of mushroom chocolate. The plan was simple: relax, breathe, and immerse myself in the sound bath. The session was split into two parts: the first hour focused on breathing exercises, while the second was a sound bath featuring instruments like singing bowls and gongs. Jenny, who runs these sessions, always creates a comforting atmosphere, and I was excited to see where this journey would take me.
As I rolled out my yoga mat and laid down, two people plopped their stuff right behind me. Now, I’m all for sharing spaces, but in a session like this, I need my bubble. Hearing others shuffle or breathe can be distracting, so I quietly moved closer to the wall to carve out a bit more solitude. My wife, who came with me, stayed nearby—she’s my anchor in these settings, and she’s always a calming presence.
The Breathing Begins
Jenny explained the plan: holotropic breathing for the first hour, followed by the sound bath. As the breathing exercises started, I focused on relaxing. My intent wasn’t to dive deep into the breathing but to find a steady rhythm and let the mushrooms take me where they might. However, as the minutes ticked by, I didn’t feel much from the chocolate.
So, naturally, I ate a bit more—another chunk, about half a gram. That brought my total to two grams. This dosage felt like the sweet spot: enough to enhance the experience but not so much that I’d lose functionality in a group setting. I settled in, waiting for the mushrooms to work their magic.
The Sound Bath
When we transitioned into the sound bath, Jenny brought out her arsenal of instruments. The room filled with the soothing resonance of singing bowls, gongs, and other percussion. At one point, she offered to provide energy healing through touch, which was grounding and lovely. The sound bath was beautiful, but something was missing. I didn’t feel the deep connection or profound effects I’d hoped for.
Instead, I found myself glancing at my watch, counting down the minutes. Why wasn’t I feeling more? Two grams should have been plenty to guide me into a deeper state. Was my brain holding me back because I was in a public setting? Was it some kind of mental block? I didn’t have the answers, but it was frustrating.
Post-Session Reflections
After the session, my wife drove us home, and I settled onto the couch. By this time, about 2.5 to 3 hours had passed since my first dose. And guess what? The mushrooms finally started to kick in. It wasn’t overwhelming or particularly psychedelic, but I felt a stronger sense of relaxation—something I’d been chasing all evening.
This delayed onset left me wondering: why couldn’t I have experienced this during the session? Timing is everything with psychedelics, and this time, the timing just didn’t align with the event.
Lessons Learned
Here are a few takeaways from the experience:
- Everyone’s Different Psychedelics affect everyone differently. While two grams might send someone else on a deep journey, for me, it felt more like a strong microdose. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and that’s part of the beauty and challenge of this practice.
- Set and Setting Matter Even with a comfortable setting, I may have subconsciously held back because of the group dynamic. Perhaps my mind wasn’t ready to fully let go in a shared space.
- Timing is Tricky The delay in effects was a reminder that psychedelics don’t always work on our schedule. Next time, I’ll consider adjusting my timing to better sync with the event.
- Experimentation is Key Should I have taken three grams? Maybe. Or perhaps a combination of mushrooms and cannabis would have provided the depth I was seeking. There’s always room for experimentation, and each experience teaches us something new.
Moving Forward
Next time I attend a session like this, I’ll try a different approach. Maybe a slightly higher dose or the tried-and-true combination of mushrooms and cannabis. While I wanted to keep this experience purely about the mushrooms, it’s clear that mixing modalities might yield a more profound journey. The goal is to find what works best for me, and that means being open to adjustments.
Final Thoughts
This experience wasn’t what I’d hoped for, but it wasn’t a failure either. Even when things don’t go as planned, there’s value in reflecting on the process. Psychedelics are unpredictable, and that unpredictability is part of what makes them so fascinating.
If you’re on your own journey with psychedelics, I encourage you to keep experimenting—safely, of course—and to learn from each experience. Titration, mindfulness, and patience are your best friends in this process.
A Note of Caution
As always, this is not medical advice. Psychedelics are powerful tools, and it’s essential to approach them with respect and caution. Know your body, do your research, and create a safe environment for exploration.
Stay Connected
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Until next time, I’m Dr. Dave. Remember: even when things don’t go as planned, every experience has something to teach us. Stay curious, stay safe, and stay kind to yourself. I’ll see you in the next episode
