Taking magic mushrooms with your partner can be an incredible bonding experience with the ability to profoundly deepen your connection. Inevitably, the question of sex will arise (hopefully!), especially with a nickname like “herbal ecstasy” that some give to shrooms. Unfortunately, most people will have trouble with at least once aspect of sex on magic mushrooms, but it’s definitely worth trying if the circumstances align.

The connection between magic mushrooms and sex

“Sex, like everything else on psychedelics, is amplified,” says Neal Goldsmith, a New York-based psychologist and author of Psychedelic Healing. “Psychedelics enhance what’s already there, they put you in touch with reality with greater clarity and intensity than you generally experience. That’s part of tripping in general—surrendering, being open, having an accepting, philosophical attitude toward the events that might come your way.”

Sex with your partner while tripping doesn’t even need to happen for your sex life to improve from a magic mushroom experience. Even a solo trip can have significant effects on your sexuality and connection with others. Tripping with a partner can facilitate a deeper connection and intimacy, diminish barriers that might distance you, and allow a whole new level of communication to grow.

“I feel like if you trip with someone it can be like six months of dating in one day because you get to know them on this new level,” says Michelle Janikian, the author of Your Psilocybin Mushroom Companion: An Informative, Easy-to-Use Guide to Understanding Magic Mushrooms. “If you’re at a higher dose [around 3 grams and above] you might feel overwhelmed or very vulnerable. With so much sensation the thought of having sex on top [of tripping hard] can be too intense.”

Tips for sex on magic mushrooms

First and foremost, consent is best sorted before you’re under the influence. As with tripping in general—let alone sex—it’s safer and more enjoyable with someone you are able to trust. In a way, nothing is truly ‘casual’ on psychedelics; communication is more important than ever, especially if prone to anxiety.

If you’re lucky enough to have your stars align, the best moment to take the dive is sometime after the peak. While there’s no real harm in trying before this—given the stipulations above—the intensity might be overwhelming. Time will dilate, sensations of sight and touch will be distorted, and interactions may feel anywhere from alien to complete unity.

Regardless of the outcomes of your trippy sexual experience, it will no doubt be a memorable excursion in your coital repertoire. Anecdotes often end in laughter, fiddling bits, in-depth exploration, acrobatic cuddling, or open discussion. As long as the rules of respect, understanding, communication, and patience are observed, you’re likely to have one of the most exciting sessions you’ve ever had.

Remember to keep in mind that even after sex, you will likely still be tripping—depending on when you began in the first place. Such physical activity may ground you during the act, with your mind ready to float away again once you’re calm again.

