Word on the street is we’re living through a psychedelic renaissance. The stigma around psychedelic drugs is beginning to lift, decades after researchers first discovered the mind-expanding—and possibly healing—the potential of LSD, ketamine, and psilocybin mushrooms. (Although indigenous cultures knew about the power of psychedelic mushrooms long before.) Decriminalization initiatives increasingly permit us to explore them through clinical research and therapeutic settings.
Of course, most people still use psychedelics on their own or with friends, owing to preferences and necessity. These drugs are still widely illegal, and most of us don’t have access to exclusive trials or expensive new therapies. The psychedelic renaissance is changing popular perceptions and expanding awareness. Still, when it comes to experiencing the wonder and breakthroughs promised by acid, shrooms, and more, we’re still doing it the old-fashioned way—in our bedrooms, backyards, and in the natural world. However, that doesn’t mean we’re on our own.
Fun Things to Do While Tripping
Psychonauts have a long tradition of sharing tips and tricks on maximizing the potential of a psychedelic trip and avoiding common pitfalls (“don’t look in the mirror,” according to one common urban legend). Below, you will find a few ideas of things to do while tripping. Don’t try any of these that are outside the bounds of what you can normally do safely: You should not drive anywhere while tripping.
Most psychonauts follow the motto: “start low, go slow.” Your “set” and “setting” strongly influence how your trip unfolds. Your “set” is your mindset: your inner emotions, beliefs, and perceptions. Your “setting” describes your physical surroundings. Only trip in a comfortable environment. You can always look up more fun things to do on while tripping on Reddit and Quora. Finally, always know the laws in your region before obtaining psychedelics, as many of them remain illegal in most places.
1. Soak Up the Sun
Tripping in the daytime is often recommended to those new to psychedelics. There is more to see, and with natural medicines like shrooms, you’re likely to feel outside is the place to be. If it’s seasonable, try laying the sun—your heightened senses will thank you. You can practically feel yourself photosynthesizing, turning sunlight into energy. Laying down on psychedelics is also a great way to let go and allow your internal process to unfold. Just don’t forget the sunscreen—and stay hydrated!
2. Do Gentle Yoga
One of the most beautiful things about psychedelics is how they reveal the unity of mind and body: What happens to one may seem to affect the other instantly. A great way to explore the calming and healing possibilities of this connection is to lay out the yoga mat and move through some postures. By focusing on your breathing while you stretch, you are sure to learn things about the world inside your head while also getting in touch with your muscles, tendons, and joints. If you’re new to yoga or want some instruction, try doing a class on a free YouTube channel like the globally popular Yoga With Adrienne.
3. Go to a Museum
We only recommend this one for tripping on low doses, often dubbed “museum doses.” For many people, psychedelics don’t mesh well with being around strangers, and traveling there could pose safety risks. That said, a museum can be a great place to expand your consciousness while on psychedelics—as long as you have safe transportation at your beck and call. Whether you dive into the fine details of works of art (as Aldous Huxley did on mescaline in The Doors of Perception) or learn about crystals at a natural history museum, this field trip (pun intended) is sure to give you plenty of fresh stimuli. It’s wise to bring a sitter along for this one.
4. Make Some Tea
When tripping on acid or shrooms, food might feel strangely unappetizing, so it’s best to eat before. Yet staying hydrated is key, and the properties and fragrances of a nice light tea might hit the spot. Ginger tea can help with the tummy troubles associated with coming up on shrooms, while chamomile or lavender might balance out the edginess that some people experience on acid. Beyond these uses, tea has celebrated history as a sensory experience—so let your nostrils and taste buds delight!
5. Connect with Your Artistic Side
Psychedelics are well-known for their ability to spur and unlock creativity. Your mind is simply working in a way that it normally wouldn’t, so grab some paper and a pen or markers and be ready to capture inspiration when it strikes. Let your hand doodle and see what shapes or figures emerge; try putting your thoughts into words so you later revisit and sort them into “genius,” “funny,” and “this doesn’t actually make sense.” Some will prefer coloring books or drawing what they see. After all, you’re going on a trip—why not send yourself a postcard?
6. Play a Game
Board games, video games, improv games, puzzles… There are many kinds of games that would be great fun while tripping—if you can commit your attention. Playing pretend with a friend might delight your inner child, while video games can immerse you in gorgeous alternate worlds. On this thread, Facebook users suggest a bounty of video games to try while tripping. Fan favorites include Flower (in which you play as a group of flower petals), Journey (soar above ruins as you explore a lost civilization), and Minecraft on “Peaceful” mode (so you can make your “happy little house” without enemies sneaking up on you). Make sure you have analog options, too. The thread commenters warn that using a controller might be next to impossible.
7. Look for Patterns
You’ll likely see patterns on psychedelics, whether you plan to or not. These drugs have a dazzling tendency to reveal beauty and complexity in everything we see. Perhaps try exploring that intentionally: What figures are hiding in your boring wallpaper? Are shapes tessellating in the pebbles below your feet? Stars in the night reveal unexpected symmetries, but it wouldn’t take an artist to find art even in a bowl of trail mix. Just remember: the most interesting sights may be behind your eyelids.
8. Call Fireside Project
If you are tripping alone or find yourself or a friend needing additional support, call or text the Fireside Project at 62-FIRESIDE (623-473-7433). Fireside offers peer support volunteers that can help during challenging psychedelic trips—or if you just have some questions. Peer volunteers are well-equipped to talk you through any aspect of the psychedelic journey, whether you’re having a dark moment or you just want to share your joy. You can also call Fireside after your trip ends. Peer volunteers can help you integrate, process, and learn from a psychedelic experience after it is over.
How to Grow Shrooms Bundle
Take Both of Our Courses and Save $90!
What to Do While Tripping on Shrooms
Tripping is tripping—you know the feeling when it hits—but different psychedelics certainly have their own “flavors” of experience. Shrooms tend to involve a more organic and bodily experience that leads us to deepen our connection to the earth while seeing looser, more swirly visuals. Check out the full list of best things to do on shrooms here.
9. Ponder The Unknown
Like seeing patterns, you’re likely to find yourself doing this regardless of your intentions. Psychedelics are sometimes called entheogens (that is, “creating the divine within”), meaning that under their influence, your brain—that thing normally preoccupied with money or deadlines—switches gears entirely. While most trips do not involve all-consuming “hallucinations,” they can beget thoughts and realizations that change your view of death, God, and life itself. Know and respect the power of these drugs to lead you there!
10. Sit By A Fire
Most psychedelics heighten our senses and under the right conditions, can renew our connection to the natural world. The sound of running water calms; a gentle breeze of air cools; the feeling of the earth beneath your feet grounds—but nothing dances with magic quite like fire. If you’re camping or in a backyard, you may have access to a pit where you can safely make a fire and enjoy psychedelic visuals as it climbs, licks, and devours what you feed it. Psychedelics strip away our assumptions and reveal the beauty in things we normally take for granted, bringing us closer to the purest joys of life.
What to Do While Tripping on Acid
Compared to shrooms, acid is a longer and often more visceral experience. The mind jumps rapidly from one reality to another, which can be both fun and challenging. To help structure an acid trip, we’ve created a list of the 12 Best Things To Do On Acid, including ideas like listening to a DJ mix or simply eating fruit. Remember: Being mentally prepared, in a safe place, and having support to turn to if needed build the foundation of a good trip.
11. Crack-Up With Your Friends
We all know laughter is infectious, and with the joy and open-mindedness brought on by tripping, it can be even more so. While there are many advantages to tripping solo, having trusted friends around can help you stay out of your head and open new possibilities for your experience. You may find yourself playing recurring characters, trying on accents, or accidentally inventing new puns. When words get hard, you and your trip-mates might find yourself amused by all kinds of crazy visuals… but we recommend not laughing at your friends, as that might make them feel anxious or left out.
12. Watch Visuals On YouTube
A fire, the shining sun, the twinkling night sky are all great, but we don’t always have access to them. When tripping inside, the magic of the Internet can show you all this and more. Reddit user aciddoeme suggests turning to a free YouTube channel of ultra-high-definition videos shot from trains as they cross countries and landscapes, like the mountains of Switzerland or cherry blossoms blooming in Japan. You might also try watching music videos, nature documentaries, or simply typing in “psychedelic visuals” and seeing what you find.
This article is intended for educational, entertainment, and harm reduction purposes. It is not intended to promote illicit activity. Always review laws in your region before engaging with psychedelics.
Interested in having a psychedelic experience, but don't know where to start? Get our definitive guide on trusted legal retreat centers, clinical trials, therapists, and more.
