Many smart people I know try to work in a trip on mushrooms once a year or so. Many of them are folks who don't generally even smoke weed or drink regularly, which surprised me.

I think it is a good idea, and I try to do it, too.

But, I have a healthy respect for the potential downside of a psilocybin experience, too. Many years ago, I ate some shrooms before a concert at the L.A. Coliseum. There were some thuggish types and an air of violence in the parking lot, and that was enough to set my trip down a bad road. An hour later, I experienced a dark stadium full of bloody froth-mouthed humans, along with some other lizardish creatures, killing and eating each other, to the ear-splitting sound of huge metal sawblades grinding against each other, while I huddled in my seat unable to move. It seemed to go on forever, but after it was over I realized it was only 3-4 hours.

That experience was only in my mind, but it still had a lasting impact on me, something like what I imagine being caught up in a murderous orgy of cannibalism really would. For weeks afterwards, while glad to be back in the real world, I was still nervous and averse to sudden noises, had many nightmares, and was generally less happy. Eventually those effects diminished, and I don't think I suffer from any kind of permanent damage (although, how can you really know).

But I now make sure to prepare a calm stress-free environment before doing psilocybin.