Psychedelics need to be handled with respect and considered one of many modalities to lead a healthy, happy, and balanced life. Please ensure you do your research for all possible harms including legal status to who will be facilitating your psychedelic session. People who find the best results with psychedelics also incorporate healthy life choices like talking about their experience with open non-judgemental friends, seeking therapy/group therapy, daily rituals like meditation, yoga, exercise, a good sleep schedule, getting out in nature, sunshine/vitamin D3, proper diet and nutrition, and psychedelics sparingly and only as needed.

 

Known for taking up to 40 grams of magic mushrooms at one time to explore what's beyond, the late Kilindi Iyi once said "If y'all are hearing music, y'all didn't take enough." 

 

Many songs on these playlists are perfect for meditation and calming background music for any occasion. If you've done your research on safety, legality, mindset, setting, and dose and are journeying with psychedelics - for someone new to psychedelics, or even for a seasoned psychonaut, a thoughtful playlist can provide great comfort. On a therapeutic dose of mushrooms (much lower than 40 grams, more in the 5 gram range) it's still possible to not hear the music and explore your mind, your heart, your soul, and beyond... but if things get challenging and you fall out of this trance like state, the music will catch your fall by gently reminding you that everything is okay and you're still lying in bed on planet earth, with your therapist, friends, or loved ones who are supporting your journey.

 

We've compiled a diverse 300+ songs, 40 hours of music, in 6 curated playlists. Each playlist follows the standard peaks and valleys of a typical mushroom trip but everyone experiences psychedelics uniquely and a playlist shouldn't decide when someone has finished their journey. So, each playlist is followed by about an hour of additional music to welcome you back at a higher vibration. And if you're on LSD or a longer acting psychedelic then you can keep listening as one playlist rolls into the next and see where your trip takes you - choose your own adventure. 

 

The songs vary from gentle and calming to purposefully challenging, all chosen to let your thoughts and feelings bubble to the surface so you can get answers to intentions and questions, and deal with deep pain or trauma. Many songs are powerful enough to invoke a wide range of emotions and each song becomes its own journey. While together in a playlist lasting several hours they guide you through the peaks and valleys of a psychedelic experience and welcome you back with familiarity as your trip comes to an end. 

 

We recommend starting each playlist when the medicine is consumed and you're ready to lay down comfortably with your sleep mask on. The reason for this timing is so that you get into a meditative state of relaxation during the onset and reach the peak during the main song(s) selected to guide you across that threshold and on your journey. 

 

We strongly recommend setting up a container of safety which includes your mindset, setting, and dose: 

 

1. Mindset is about setting intentions - write down 3 to 10 questions or intentions you want a deeper understanding of. Don't have any expectations because people find they get exactly what they need out of their journey when they set intentions without expectations and let go.  

 

2. Setting is physically where you are - make sure you'll be comfortable and without interruption. The people who'll hold space for you is an important part of your setting. Ideally people with an understanding of the medicine, and it's often nice to have both male and female energy. They're there to keep you safe, to take notes if needed, get you water, help you to the washroom, ensure your sleep mask stays on, get you an extra blanket or pillow, and hold your hand if things get tricky. 

 

3. The dose is how much you take - 5 grams is the standard "heroic journey" coined by Terence McKenna. Although he suggested 5 grams of dried cubensis alone in dark silence - as more people turn to psychedelics as an alternative medicine safety is of utmost importance. So, we're not doing it alone, we're using playlists to help guide, and it's important to know that psychedelics aren't for everyone. Please do lots of independent research into possible risks and downsides, how to mitigate these, and when to avoid large doses all together. Mushrooms are statistically the safest drug of all and most experts agree 5 grams is a good amount for a transformative experience.

 

*It's important to note that you absolutely can't listen to these playlists on the free version of Spotify because it will be forced on "shuffle" and there will be commercials. The songs are curated in a very specific order so you don't want them to shuffle, and commercials are exactly what you don't want to hear on a deep psychedelic journey! It's important to double check that shuffle play and repeat are turned off because often when the main play button is pressed Spotify defaults to shuffle and keeps these user settings, so be sure to click on the first song in each playlist and pull it up to full screen to turn off shuffle and repeat. Turning on a 2 or 3 second "crossfade" in the Spotify settings helps with smooth transition between songs so find that setting too. Be on airplane mode so no texts or calls interrupt your journey and have good speakers/headphones that will play the full dynamic musical range. 

 

Playlists 1-6:

 

1. Brain Clean - Playlist 1 begins with "Grande Mareacion" by Maneesh de Moor and is a "brain clean" with its focus on peeling back some of the layers that pile onto people. It has a wide variety of songs designed to send you through a full range of emotions and connect you to your core self, challenge you at times, and wrap you in a blanket of love during others. If you find yourself in outer space, take it in and enjoy what's beyond the threshold. One of the most culturally diverse playlists it includes some classical favorites from the Johns Hopkins Psilocybin Research playlist, and a favorite of many "Om Namah Shivaaya" and there are beautiful songs from Native American artists, Middle Eastern, South American, Asian, etc. As well as one of my personal favorite songs, a lullaby "O, I Love You" by Essie Jain. She ended up being the artist with the most number of songs across all 6 playlists because her angelic voice peels so many layers off and allows the soul of your inner child to feel loved again, or possibly for the first time for some people... this feeling is invaluable. Towards the end you'll hear some African music including "Makambo" by Geoffrey Oryema which asks for peace, love, and togetherness... but all they got was war... "What is wrong with the world? What is wrong with the people? Why don't we want peace?" And the first recognizable mainstream song is "Changes" by Tupac Shakur. A psychedelic playlist doesn't seem like a home for "gangster rap" but this poetic and melodic song from the early 90s about the struggles of Black people in America is speaking about decades of oppression with a general lack of change. The War on Drugs being one of the most oppressive, racist, and politically motivated constructs in recent history - Tupac poignantly rhymes about this - "It's war on the streets and the war in the Middle East, Instead of war on poverty they got a war on drugs, So the police can bother me". And sadly, decades later the unjust constructs remain. Drugs are winning the War on Drugs and it's designed to punish people who need to be treated as equals. The final song was chosen by Adrianne who's featured in the documentary, DOSED, and has had an opportunity to experience psychedelics in profoundly life changing ways. Adrianne's favorite final song is "I Can See Clearly Now" by Jimmy Cliff... because psychedelics allow people to peel back so many layers that you literally can see things more clearly from understanding what's important, what's undeserving of worry, what motivates you, and being reminded of the connection to self, others, nature, and everything around you in a way that allows you to move forward in life feeling light and refreshed.

 

2. Let Go - Playlist 2 begins with Essence by Laraaji and is about letting go and forgiveness, both forgiving yourself and others. This playlist is slightly calmer than Playlist 1 and designed to draw out deep pain, allow you to process the feelings, and let it all go. Sometimes it's as simple as realizing it's not your fault, and you don't need to live your life with those feelings hanging over you anymore. The Channel by Essie Jain and Pure Realm by Maneesh de Moor and Winson Liao will take you across the threshold, followed by some enchanting classical music including Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 by Samuel Barber, London Symphony Orchestra. Existence: Life by Hafez Nazeri, Shahram Nazeri, Paul Neubauer, Matt Haimovitz, and Glen Velez will challenge you to get to your deep emotions if you haven't by now. The Finishing by Stavroz offers the most gentle saxophone with brain cleaning bass, followed by The Mad Man's Laughter by Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou and piano that'll have your brain cells dancing. The first mainstream songs are Paradise by Coldplay and O-o-oh Child by The Five Stairsteps which remind us about how we can escape the trauma of childhood and live free. Ending with What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong.

 

3. Dark Places - Playlist 3 begins with Meditation No. 1 by Laraaji and starts out with some of the calmest psychedelic-meditation music available to settle in for nearly 2 hours into your trip. In The Labyrinth Garden by Alio Die will put you into the most peaceful meditative state as it takes you across the threshold. As Adrianne says in DOSED "It took me to some really dark places, but I guess that's where I needed to go" and as we near 2 hours Dreamcatcher by Bahramji & Maneesh de Moor will finish out the gentle vibrations. For The Damaged Coda by Blonde Redhead will precipitate a journey into the deepest abyss that begins Mount Kilimanjaro by Iridis followed by 5 mysterious and moody songs over the next 45 minutes meant to challenge your darkest energy. Challenging trips teach us lessons and on the other side of this section of the playlist, which will be challenging but rewarding, we'll hear our first English words from Pink Floyd with Breathe (In the Air). Deep breaths are always welcome and several calming gentle songs will follow but we're not finished visiting dark places yet. Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration), Op. 24, TrV158 by Richard Strauss, Zdenek Kosler, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra is a 25 minutes masterpiece that'll take you on a riveting journey from highs to lows before we head towards the finish of the playlist. Hurt by Johnny Cash, Fix You by Coldplay, A Love Song by Garth Stevenson, through to the final songs are Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by The Beatles. 

 

4. Feels - Playlist 4 begins with Lux 4 by Brian Eno and has a calming vibe throughout allowing you to experience deep feelings with less guidance from the music, and more of your own intuition combined with the medicine. With classical favorites sprinkled throughout you can relax deep into this journey with songs like Hymn by Ashana, The Atomium Part 2 by Stars Of The Lid, Apana by East Forest, and Om Mani Padme Hum 1 by Jane Winther. The first mainstream song is Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. and it's a reminder you're not alone, it's only sometimes, so hold on. Ending with Three Little Birds by Bob Marley & The Wailers because in the end, everything little thing gonna be alright.

 

5. Sweet Life - Playlist 5 begins with Everlasting Moments by Mark Banning and is another calming vibe throughout with sections focusing on origins of life, humanity, and the universe. Medicine Buddha by Maneesh de Moor is a 43 minute long song that'll take your peak to the root of everything. Cultures are being lost as technology takes over and several songs following will transport you over land and time, Kahalu'nyuhe by Joanne Shenandoah, Vuoi Vuoi Me by Mari Boine, Cuatro Vientos - Rey&Kjavik Remix by Danit and Rey&Kjavik, and Kindred Spirit by Deuterto name a few. Golden Tempo by TEEMID is a nice brain clean. And Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? by Moby is the first mainstream song - and a question for everyone to ponder at times - hopefully after your journey it doesn't. Ending with Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

 

6. Healing - Playlist 6 begins with Dawn by Garth Stevenson and is a warm hug from mom, and the universe. Once you get past Standing Waves: 1976 by Stuart Dempster and Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45: II. Denn alles Fleisch es ist wie Gras by Johannes Brahms, Netherlands Radio Choir, Concertgebouworkest, Mariss Jansons which are meant to challenge you, beautiful songs await like Devi Prayer by Craig Pruess and Ananda, Teyata by Deva Premal, Regenerative Being by Desert Dwellers, and Dream Raga by Jami Sieber. (Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding is the first mainstream song. Followed by You Can't Rush Your Healing by Trevor Hall to remind you that you can't rush it, but you're on the right path, and it's been happening this whole time. Ending with Why Worry by Essie Jain and Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles.

 

7. Sometimes having fun with friends is what's needed and the compilation of songs beginning with Veridis Quo by Daft Punk is an ever-growing collection of chill but more upbeat vibes that you can enjoy in a different kind of set, setting, dose.