The best activities for your first psychedelic trip

With 2021 just behind us, a lot of people may be thinking about trying new things this year. For example, those who are already familiar with cannabis may want to take the next step with psychedelics. Whether it’s your first time trying MDMA or LSD, there are a variety of fun activities available for your first trip that will make the experience memorable and enjoyable.

Make a visually stimulating film

Photo by: Mollie Sivaram

Psychedelics have the ability to create or enhance visual elements. Additionally, the introspective and empathetic attitudes they encourage help us connect better with stories and characters. For these reasons, it can be a good idea to turn on visually stimulating movies. Watching movies is also a comfortable and sedentary activity that might be suitable for users who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere. Some cult favorites for psychedelics are Baraka and Samsara, both documentary films that lack conventional narrative or lack dialogue and voice-overs. Animation is a great idea too, especially stop motion. You don’t have to stick to arthouse either; There are some pretty mainstream options like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse with its unique and colorful comic book animation. I tend to keep it easy, but if you are adventurous you can check out some wicked horror movies too.

Go outside!

Photo by: Mike Benna

Many psychedelics have stimulatory effects that sometimes give you increased energy. As such, I always enjoy going on hikes or walks in the city center, in parks or on hiking trails. Surrounding yourself with nature is a good idea, but when you can’t get to a greener part of the city I also find it fun to people-watch in the city. Another option is to visit a specific place like a museum. This is one of my personal favorite things to do while on the trip as the sights are both aesthetically and intellectually stimulating. If you are more of a nature lover, I recommend that you go to a place that has every type of body of water, especially when the day is warm and sunny and you can dip your feet in the water. Getting some fresh air outside can also help someone who is suffering from the nausea or claustrophobia that may appear the first time they try certain medications.

Put some music on

Photo by: Eric Nopanen

The first time I tried MDMA was at a music festival, which is a happy stereotype. In fact, MDMA is a crowd-pleaser at raves and concerts, and many people take this particular drug for the first time at events like this one. Music and drugs have such a strong connection that researchers have even found scientific evidence of why music sounds so much better when you’re high. People tend to hear music with no lyrics when they stumble, but I think each type of music has its merits. You can even challenge yourself by listening to genres or artists you normally avoid and see if being high changes something!

Meditate

Photo by: Jared Rice

Some people like a quiet time when they stumble. Music can help you meditate, but you can go a step further by following some proper meditation techniques. Our guide has a few simple steps that you can follow. Meditation can be a really helpful activity for your first trip, especially during the departure phase when people usually feel a kind of disorientation. Even so, meditation is suitable for any phase of a journey and can be combined with some of the activities mentioned above. You can put on music or even try meditating outdoors in a suitable setting.

Tips for your first trip

These activities for your first trip should help keep you feeling comfortable and stimulated. However, follow best practices so that you have a good, safe time. Some considerations to keep in mind:

• Be careful with large crowds. If this is your first time stumbling around, hanging out with too many unfamiliar faces may not be the best idea.
• Avoid unfamiliar environments. Stumbling, especially for the first time, can be a disorienting experience.
• Have a trip sitter. At least one sober person should be around to keep an eye on things.
• Take care. Stay away from dangerous scenarios. Have fun, but be wise!

What activities do you like to do when you get high or trip? Let us know in the comments below and follow us on @cannalifenet today!