Did some shrooms today, and realized I always learn a new tip or trick. Here are some of them. Feel free to add your own.

Of course every time you trip you learn something new. You may always take something out of it about yourself as a person, and that's fucking awesome, and is the real reason to trip, in my opinion. For the purposes of this discussion, I would like to talk, and hear from you, about some tips or tricks as far as set-and setting (things to do/have/look at/hear etc.) which will in turn lead to a better mindset and generally give you a positive tripping experience. Some of these things are probably common sense to most people, and more often very well known by experienced trippers, but I think it's good advice for beginners, as well as includes a few oddball things which others may not have tried or thought of. Please add to this discussion. I want to know what you think of these things and more importantly, want to hear things that work for you. Everyone experiences trips differently.

Here we go:

•Set up a shit load of activities prior to tripping. Hook up your video games - have games and controllers out, measure out kool-aid stuff (looks cool to stir it up yourself), roll out a yoga mat, turn your TV(s) to channels you will want to watch (I recommend cartoons or nature shows), have a music playlist made, lay out some paper and drawing tools, set out some cool stuff to look at (paintings, posters etc.)

•Control the temperature. I find that I get cold much easier than hot - blankets are not only warm, but they're very soft and cuddly which is one of the best things to have during a difficult wave. Adjust the thermostat ahead of time to compensate. I also recommend having bottled water - several that are chilled, and several that are room temperature. If you're hot, drink the cold water. If you're already feeling cold, drink the warmer water. I tend to both feel cold, and very thirsty when I trip, so I opt for room temperature water.

*Play with water. I find that these are my personal favorite visuals. What I like to do is pour a cup (a clear glass) of water, and take sips out of it in different lighting settings. I've used a flashlight or other bright lights to "activate" the vibrancy of the colors reflecting and refracting as it flows towards my face. Another easy way to do this is to use brightly (multi)colored objects to hold the glass. You will see these colors on the bottom/side of the glasses and the light will catch the crests of the wave, changing that color and messing with you in a very cool way.

•Have control over the lighting. A multicolored light works best. I find that two things tend to set me off the most; silence - when the music stops, and the "wrong" color. Colors have different connotations for different people. Some people find warm colors to be exactly that - warming and comforting, whereas others may find them firey and extreme. The next guy/gal may find cool colors to be really chill while the first person feels cold and dark... Find what works for you.

•I know most people aren't too hungry on shrooms, and that's cool, but try some foods. A lot of people neglect the taste and oral texture perceptions, which makes sense if one isn't feeling hungry. Try biting into a strawberry - the texture is very strange and then the flavor is amazing. Experiment with other foods. I wouldn't advise eating a lot of the food, just a bite or two of a few things. Also, note that I recommend doing this during the later parts of the trip or the very beginning of the comedown if you can time it. This is just a personal recommendation because I generally feel nauseous mostly during the onset of the shrooms.

These are all pretty simple things, and I know I'm missing out on a lot, but if I had to summarize it all I would say to prepare your trip, understand that you have control over the setting and that if you're not feeling comfortable either mentally or physically, the best way to make things better is to change your environment.

Feel free to expand upon what I have said, or offer your own piece of advice. I would love to see this be an in depth conversation, and am willing to participate further. Thanks