Phases of Microdosing: What to expect?
If you’re new to the world of fungi- specifically psilocybin mushrooms, you may find yourself more overwhelmed by the process of micro dosing than the psilocybin itself.
This article aims to simplify the key important aspects in micro dosing so that you can feel more at ease as you begin your journey.
What to know before Micro dosing?
There are three main phases to micro dosing which include dosage, setting intention, and integration. We provide a detailed outline of these phases on our website and the next newsletter will provide you with additional information as to how you can properly equip yourself for these phases. It is important to keep in mind that there is a lot of information out there on the internet, some may resonate with you and other advice may not. Try to stay vigilant as you sort through this information, we recommend following the advice of those who you trust. Most importantly, trust your instinct! Although there are guidelines you can follow during this process, it is really a unique experience for each individual so don’t be afraid if you realize something doesn’t work for you, integrate that realization into your practice and trust the process.
Trust your intuition
There is a lot of exciting research emerging that shows the possible benefits of psilocybin. While this is an amazing prospect for mental health, and overall wellbeing, it simply is not for everyone. Try to release any pressure from the outside world as to how this “should” impact your life, or how it “should” feel for you. Remain close to your instincts as you go through this process by asking yourself, “how does this feel?” “Do I feel this is impacting me positively?” additionally, you may need to check in with yourself to make sure that you feel supported. A good question to ask is, “do I feel overwhelmed with this process?” “Is it time for me to seek additional support?”
Always remember, it’s never too late to check in with yourself as some psychedelic journeys take years to fully integrate. If you’ve already experienced a micro dosing journey, to self-evaluate what the results have been for you, if you are happy with how the experience felt or continues to feel, and if there are things you would do differently in your future micro dosing journey.
What are the key phases of microdosing?
There are 3 main phases of the micro dosing experience. It is encouraged to walk through this process with someone who is experienced to help facilitate ease and confidence on the step-by-step process. This can free more space in the mind and soul to help absorb the full effects of the micro dosing process.
Dosing:
Finding the right dose is extremely important and should be done by erring on the side of caution. Be sure not to start on the highest micro dose scale but start small and you can slowly inch your way up if needed. The standard recommend dose for beginners is 0.1 grams or less of psilocybin. Keep in mind that the right dose can be influenced by factors such as body weight, level of experience and tolerance. Micro-dosing is intended to be sub-perceptual meaning you should be able to carry on with your daily tasks as usual.
Intention Setting:
It is important to have an intention around your micro dosing journey as the Psilocybin helps to create an environment of neuroplasticity in the Brain, that means that whatever impact there will be on your brain during this time will make a greater imprint than if you had not taken the micro dose to begin with. Setting an intention helps to ensure that you have a direction and goal in mind, whether that is mental, emotional, creative, physical or spiritual, setting an intention will help put your goal into motion before you take your first dose.
Setting an intention also allows space to identify your unique needs before you begin the journey. This time is designed to create space for self-reflection, in doing so you may discover some unaddressed traumas, blocks or difficult situations that might arise during your journey. If this is the case, it would be an idea time to find someone you can trust (therapist, friend, counsellor, coach) who can help you throughout your journey. Having a guide during your journey can be beneficial even if you don’t have anything difficult to work through. A coach can also serve as a Cheerleader, helping to hold you accountable to your intentions as you strive toward achieving your goals!
Set & Setting:
The environment you create for yourself during the micro dosing experience can influence the extent to which you achieve the results that you desire. This is not to say that you should be afraid of going to new places, or hyper analyze any environment that you’re in, but it is a matter of awareness as to the people, places, and objects you allow into your environment and how they may shape your subconscious mind during this sensitive period.
For instance, you may find that your senses are heightened during your micro dosing journey, in which case it may be important to create a calm and restorative environment every morning or evening to help you tune into those sensitivities and connect to yourself.
Set and setting starts from the beginning of the intention setting phase and should extend into your integration, and beyond! It is a way to assess what you value most and to make an intention to create the environment that helps support that best.
Integration:
Integration is arguably the most important phase of the micro dosing journey, as this determines what you can integrate into your daily life and to which extent all the changes that took place during your micro dosing month impact you on a deeper energetic level. Integration also plays a role in ensuring that you have the toolkit necessary for coping with any personal or life changes you may wish to take as a result of your micro dosing journey. It is recommended to do this with a guide by your side especially if you are new to this process, however we provide you with some step-by-step instructions to help identify key steps to take while ensuring a smooth integration process.
Article written by: Elise Renn