Initiation







2019 will be forever in my mind as a colorful, life-changing, psychedelic year. I started my psychedelic journey with a massive mushroom dose and quite literally gazed into infinity. Psilocybin Experiment #1 gave me a view of the universe that I am still processing to this day. In summary, I found out that day that nothing mattered in the universe except for love; that there is an interconnectedness between all things at all points in time. I came out of that experiment with a vastly new mindset, and I wanted to figure out how I could keep that mindset going strong without having to delve into the depths of a monstrous mushroom dose. My research brought me into the realm of microdosing, and I was immediately hooked.





Increased Empathy





After I procured my medicine, I decided that .1 grams of cubensis mushroom would suffice, and the results were astounding. One of the immediate changes that I noticed was absolute empathy . Gone were the days of being angry at the most minuscule things, and I noticed that right before I would normally get angry at something random, my mind would automatically put itself in a state of empathy and thoughtfulness, and I would process my emotions 10x over before acting impulsively. Traffic was the worst of the culprits. Living in a large city in the state of California, traffic is a known friend of mine. I found myself not being bothered by traffic more and more as the days went by and even found myself smiling and dancing in my car while sitting on the freeway going 5mph. People would look over at me and their expression would say it all, "What the hell is this guy's problem?" My problem is that everything is going is to be alright my friend, and we are alive. I find that mushrooms have given me a sense of contentedness that applies to every situation, including work. Right before my most challenging periods come storming through the door, instead of my usual anxiety, I'm smiling. This is huge for me.





Increased Love and Kindness





One of the favorite effects that microdosing has had on me, is the increased love I feel for literally everything and everyone, and the subsequent kindness that radiates from a person who has that inner love. Gone are the days when I would go weeks without calling my mother or siblings, I call my mom several times a week now, if only just to say I love you. And on the topic of that statement, I used to always feel a tad awkward saying that comment, but now when I say it, I can feel it resonate with me deep down. I'm always now looking for an opportunity to connect with my family and spend time, help where I can around my mother's house, etc. I find joy in showing my family that I love them, and not just saying it. My mother and sister even mentioned how loving and happy I've become (I'll never tell them my secret), and how I'm like a big loving teddy bear LOL! This new found love I've found also isn't exclusive to humans. Whenever I go on hikes, go fishing, or spend any amount of time in nature, I feel at peace and one with the trees and the animals of our planet earth. I even named several large trees on some of my favorite hikes through old-growth forests and I make sure to sit with them a while every time I go, and just feel their energy; converse with them, so to speak. After all, we are all just stardust: The worms, the trees, us, the fish, everything on this little blue planet.





Increased Productivity





Another effect that microdosing has had on me is an increased productivity rate. Microdosing has strangely made me want to be productive in every aspect of my life: at work, with friends/family, my personal projects, and during my grad work. For example, when I started microdosing last year, I had about a year left to finish my master's degree, and the increase in my desire to be productive saw me finish the degree in 6 months. I just could not be satisfied for the day unless I gave every ounce of effort. I quite literally shocked myself. My relationships with my friends have also blossomed (they all microdose as well). Every weekend we are just looking for the next best adventure to go on, even if it's just for tea and chess. Admittedly, beforehand I would flake here and there just that I could stay home and be a vegetable (which is ok from time to time) but now, I long for the times we can connect and do something fun. Just being around the people that mean a lot to me makes me happy, no matter what we are doing. A select few of my friends and I have become exceptionally close this past year since microdosing. Pretty much all of my relationships have blossomed since microdsing, and I couldn't be happier about it. When it comes to humans, we are social beings after all. Technology, cultural norms, and the schemata we build in our minds from them have blinded a lot of us from our true selves, and it's quite serendipitous that a little fungus found growing in the forest can remind us of our much simpler nature.





A Psychedelic Gift from the Universe







Microdosing has changed my life in so many ways: from increased productivity, to increase love and kindness, to increased empathy. Granted, I did extensive research before starting this journey, and I had all of my intentions (becoming more empathetic, increasing productivity, etc) set before I took my first dose. Setting your intentions is one of the most important parts of microdosing to change your life: You must be mindful of the things you want to change and then actively work to change them. The mushroom is not an end all be all, and it won't magically change you, as much as it seems that it will. The mushroom will increase your desire to change and will increase your thoughtfulness and empathy, but action must be taken on your part to complete the process. Think of the mushroom as a tool; a tool that is very valuable and can work wonders but must be controlled and guided by the sculptor to gain the desired results. How in the world can such a small fungi have such dramatic effects on humans who consume them? It still truly baffles me, but one thing I know for sure: they are a gift from the universe and they can/will show you the oneness in and of everything. They truly are magical if respected and used correctly. For those of you thinking of taking the plunge into the psychedelic realm, I bid you do so thoughtfully. Meditate regularly and set your intentions beforehand, experiment with different doses until you find your sweet spot (GET A SCALE), and while on dose days, actually take action to change the things you want to change even if the progress is slow at the start. This psychedelic gift from the universe can help you become the absolute best version of you possible.



