LSD vs Psilocybin

What's the difference between the two?This question is often discussed in psychonaut circles, and everyone seems to have a different answer. It's most often asked by newbies who have only tried one or the other and are curious about the other substance. I'll give you my assessment of the differences, but I'd love to hear from other psychonauts about their experiences.

Disclaimer: Dedicated readers will already know that I have only done shrooms twice, and therefore I'm not as much of an expert on that substance as others are. Please fill out my knowledge with your comments. :)

• On LSD, I experienced a heightening of my existing synesthesia (crossing of the senses). Those that don't already have the condition often develop it while on acid. On psilocybin, I did not experience any particular synesthesia, but my sense of taste became really decadent. Eating organic honey while on shrooms made it one of my favorite foods.
• While we're on the topic of taste, LSD totally obliterates my appetite, rendering me unable to eat, whereas psilocybin does not affect my interest in food.
• LSD causes depersonalization. My first trip illustrates this: on my comedown, I remembered I was a human with a past and a personality and it felt very strange integrating these ideas with the "no-one-ness" I had been experiencing for the last few hours. Psilocybin, on the other hand, causes what I like to call "repersonalization," meaning you become convinced of being someone other than yourself. I became an aztec goddess for eight hours, and felt very powerful and sexual. Someone else I know found himself to be a gorilla and stripped off his clothes and ran around town, eventually getting arrested (true story).
• On LSD, my closed-eye visuals mainly consist of blobby but colorful patterns, like a more extreme version of what you get every time you close your eyes. On psilocybin, my eyelids became a jungle of weird (but by no means scary) little centipedes with hundreds of eyes and hundreds of legs.
• LSD trips are longer than psilocybin trips by a couple of hours.
• LSD trips peter off into a sort of "hangover" where I'm very sensitive to motion in the corners of my eyes and I feel a little off-kilter for a day. The effects of shrooms ended promptly after eight-or-so hours, leaving me feeling clean and refreshed.
• LSD tends to create a variety of emotions in me throughout a single trip, including discomfort and anxiety. Psilocybin tends to be an unfailingly positive experience, making me giggly and energetic.
• Psilocybin mushrooms can cause vomiting, but LSD really cannot on its own. This is the sole reason that I have more experience with LSD, because I have a phobia of vomit.

A user on a forum summed it up as "LSD is electric, mushrooms are organic." What do you guys think?

Why You SHOULDN'T do LSD

I spend a lot of time talking about why (and how) people should be doing LSD. After all, it has done worlds of good for many people (including myself). However, I do NOT advocate the use of LSD for EVERYONE. Many acid-heads get excited about the creation of an acid utopia inspired by their own psychedelic experiences, but taking LSD is a risk that some people just should not take. If you belong to any of the groups listed, you should think very carefully before you use any psychedelic substance.

• People with a tendency toward mental illness. People with a history of, or a genetic predisposition towards, schizophrenia can be triggered by hallucinogens and may not recover in a timely manner-- or ever. These are the horror stories you hear about "permanent bad trips:" in almost every case the patient has a history of certain kinds of mental illness. Other, more common, mental illnesses, like anxiety and depression, can also be made worse by the use of LSD, as it puts you in a fragile mental state that may exacerbate these conditions. This is not to say that those with anxiety and depression should not EVER use psychedelics; in fact, LSD use often helps me with my own depression. Just be prepared for the possibility.
• People on SSRI antidepressants. SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) and LSD work the same way, by blocking the neurochemical serotonin from getting used and recycled. Unfortunately, having too much serotonin active and bouncing around in your system can cause Serotonin Syndrome, which is potentially life-threatening and has symptoms like headaches, confusion, shivering, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, twitching, tachycardia, and coma. Since another symptom of Serotonin Syndrome is hallucinations, you might not know what is happening to you until it is too late. Please do not take this risk with any hallucinogen.
• People who do not feel comfortable using psychedelics. I'm sure you've heard the old adage for preparation: set and setting. One must make sure that their external "setting" and environment are good for a trip, but they must also make sure that their mindset is positive. If you are much more nervous about tripping than you are excited, then don't rush it. You will always have another opportunity if and when you feel more confident. It's like a roller coaster: it will always be a little scary, but it certainly shouldn't be terrifying.
• People who don't know they're taking a drug. Sometimes people get really enthusiastic about an experience that they have had and want to share it with others who might be wary or even negative about psychedelics, so they decide to make it a "surprise." This is a violation of someone's personal freedom of choice, which I never advocate, and can also very easily cause a bad trip. If someone doesn't know that they've taken a drug, the effects thereof can be really frightening and might make them think they've gone insane. Not good. Or, even worse, some people will attempt to use psychedelics to take advantage of others sexually. This is EXTREMELY wrong, for many obvious reasons, and is not something anyone should do to another human being. Ever.
• People who just don't really want to. If you don't think that psychedelics would be your thing, then whatever. I do not think that everyone should do psychedelics, just that those who do want to should have the freedom to do so. Whatever you choose is the right choice for you.

And of course, Timothy Leary has summed it up best: "Acid is not for every brain .... Only the healthy, happy, wholesome, handsome, hopeful, humorous, high-velocity should seek these experiences. This elitism is totally self-determined. Unless you are self-confident, self-directed, self-selected, please abstain. "

Racism and Marijuana Prohibition: Video Version

I made a video based on my most popular post, Why Pot Supporters Shouldn't Use the Term "Marijuana." It's slightly revised and also shows off my handsomeness and charm. ;) Watch the video and let me know what you think! :)

I'll read your comments when I'm done with my appointment with Lucy: stay tuned for a trip report, and after that an article about meeting Steve Bloom, former High Times editor. Stay stoned, psychonauts!

LSD & Uterine Contractions

This is much more of a public service announcement than I usually do, but I am not the kind of guy who can't admit the flaws in the things that I love. While LSD is largely harmless to the mind and the body, it is synthesized from ergot, a fungus that has been used for centuries to perform abortions. Even the end result, LSD, is still in the same chemical family and has still been proven to cause uterine contractions, which may lead to pregnancy complications. I wouldn't advise using any psychoactive while pregnant, but you should be especially careful about avoiding this one. Menstruating females may also find that it increases their related pain.

Best Psychedelic Tumblr: "Disregard Everything I Say"

I'm not a huge fan of Tumblr. Most people aren't creating original content; they're just reblogging the same things everybody else does. One human, however, is really leaving everyone in the dust (including me!) when it comes to producing original content. His Tumblr, Disregard Everything I Say, is a great mix of both fact and really insightful opinions. I've read almost every single one of his posts, and I can't get enough. I'll give you a quick run-down on my favorite posts by him, so that you can go check him out yourself. :)

The Visual Components of a Psychedelic Experience
This is a comprehensive review of common visual effect categories resulting from the ingestion of psychedelics. Each entry includes a description, the intensity of the trip during which these visuals usually appear (rated out of five), and really accurate pictures recreating each effect (which you can see over there to the right). He's made a really thorough survey and does a great job describing each type. This is by far my favorite post on his site. If you read nothing else of his, read this.

The Mental Components of a Psychedelic Experience
Like in the last link, he describes many types of psychological effects that psychedelics can cause, to help you understand what to expect. Equally valuable as the last one, but without the pretty pictures. :)

(Untitled Picture)
His visual representation of what it is like living with HPPD (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder).

Drug Induced Happiness vs Genuine Happiness
A really vital distinction. Many drug users don't understand the difference and therefore end up abusing the euphoric potential of certain substances, while many people with an anti-drug stance believe that drugs completely prevent true happiness.

How to easily avoid freaking out and having a bad trip
He offers both general statements that quell most neophyte psychonauts' anxiety ("you are not dying!") and also states his opinion on how to create the best set and setting.

Let's all begin testing the existence of DMT entities
His (admittedly cannabis-produced) idea of how to verify or disprove the actual existence of the alien entities often encountered during DMT trips.

Simple Mushroom Growing Technique
A basic but thorough guide. In my opinion, better-organized and more informative than the classic Erowid guide.

Simple DMT Extraction Technique
For all those eager to have the legendary DMT experience. No previous chemical expertise needed.

The Subjective Differences Between LSD, Mushrooms, and Ayahuasca
The first article I read from his site, and definitely one of the most insightful. I have only done mushrooms once, and ayahuasca never, and I never really assumed that they were too much different in quality. However, this guy disagrees and lays out for us the specific differences and similarities in a variety of categories. Also contains lots of pretty pictures!

Simple Ayahuasca Brewing Technique
Another really great guide.