En route to a DNB event last Friday, I received a voice note from a fellow Broker (shoutout to Poppy) telling me she couldn’t make it. That left me with a decision, hop on the overground and head solo raving, or do a 180, tap my way back outta the station and dip home to make the most out of the magic mushrooms stashed in my bedside table. I chose the latter, and 15 minutes later, was sat in bed, ready to embark on a journey into my inner psyche. Before I continue, let me preface this by saying shrooms are not to be fucked with, nor is solo tripping. I’ve developed my own relationship with psilocybin as a medicinal tool for my mental and spiritual health, utilising psychedelics once a year (and a few times for fun during festival season because, let’s be ffr, most of us do). It’s critical to do your own research on the topic, from side effects to dosage, and if you haven’t used the substance before, always enlist a trip sitter or someone you trust to guide you through the experience. This feature is in no way endorsing the use of magic mushrooms, it’s simply designed to help out fellow psychonauts looking to explore altered states of consciousness safely and comfortably…
SATYA INCENSE – POSITIVE VIBES, MEDITATION, FRANKINCENSE
While the impact of incense might seem minimal, removing negative energy, spiritual benefits and creating a positive space and mentality to begin your trip with are just a few benefits these sticks of natural herbs and earthy scents can bring. I’ve tried a ton of brands, and Satya is by far the best, with an organic smell, light smoke and none of that nasty burnt after-aroma. If you plan to meditate while using magic mushrooms like myself, the three fragrances listed below are ideal for tuning into other dimensions during your psychedelic journey.
FHIRST – GINGER & MANDARIN LIVING SODA
I’ve been all over this brand since they emailed asking if the Broke team would like to try a few of their flavours. They’re 100% natural, vegan and non-GMO, packed with prebiotics. For anyone who hasn’t looked into the connection between consuming living cultures and your body, essentially, your brain will feel a billion times better, reducing the likelihood of troubling trips (always be aware of your headspace before taking psychedelics, and if you’re not in a good mindset, we suggest giving them a miss). But why are we gassing up this particular flavour in this feature? It’s all down to ginger, a natural remedy I reached for for when the nausea that came when my macro dose of shrooms kicked in. Drink this for a more enjoyable trip because it helped massively during mine.
EDDY ELSEY – LET HEALING HAPPEN BOOK
If you’re hoping to use shrooms for the purpose of inner work, I suggest building Eddy Elsey’s book on living an authentic and happy life into your trip itinerary. Based on shamanism, earth-centric spirituality and energetic beliefs shared by elders of varying Eastern cultures, if you’re ready to explore your soul and psychic side more deeply, there’s really no better read (especially when connecting with an ancient substance provided by Mother Nature herself).
NETFLIX – (PURELY FOR THE MIDNIGHT GOSPEL)
Don’t get us wrong, we’re in no way endorsing Netflix because, quite frankly, they’re greedy dickheads that are the epitome of capitalism. That being said, if you don’t already have an account and can somehow use your mate’s wifi and password for the purposes of your trip, it’ll be well worth the effort purely for ‘The Midnight Gospel’. For anyone not already familiar with the show, it’s basically built for shrooms with crease-worthy (and sometimes powerful af cartoon animations) complemented by deep conversations about drugs, spirituality, birth, death, meditation and all the bits in between.
SPOTIFY – BROKE MAGAZINE’S MONTHLY PLAYLISTS
We all know magic mushrooms and music go hand in hand, so if you’re looking for a way to lighten up the mood, break a train of thought, or bring yourself back to reality, slap on one of these monthly playlists. Our team have added a bit of everything from floaty house beats to trippy tunes, and not to brag, but they really are the best soundtrack for a night spent tripping.
MARSHALL – MOTIF II A.N.C. HEADPHONES
It’s winter, and doing shrooms in your room isn’t quite the same as being surrounded by trees in the middle of a forest during festival season with the sun shining, and your favourite DJ filling the air with synths, so the closest thing is closed eyes, a pair of headphones and a banging playlist (unless you’re brave enough to venture outside to the nearest park which I most definitely am not in this weather, especially when tripping solo). Marshall’s sound quality is next level, they’re noise cancelling and fit comfortably in your ears, so you can forget where you are for a while and enjoy the sensory experience and mind’s eye visuals that manifest from your favourite tracks.
JELLY CAT – AMUSABLE TOADSTOOL, PINECONE & POTTED BAMBOO
Your mind will wander to a number of places whilst tripping, and keeping it thinking positivley is always desirable, especially if you’re going it solo. Being surrounded by fluffy, smiling friends brings my brain back to reality and provides comfort if you’re having a lil wobbly or are experiencing a more difficult trip overall.