Yes, sort of. Psilocybin mushrooms are naturally occurring mushrooms which contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin. More than 180 psilocybin-containing mushrooms species are found all over the world and can induce hallucinogenic/psychedelic effects when consumed. Psilocybin is converted by the body to psilocin, and this is the actual compound which produces their psychoactive effects.

Individual results will vary. While most people will have a profound experience, some will have a challenging experience, while a very few may feel no effects.

When ingested, psilocybin may elicit transformative experiences. Those experiences may impact your attitudes, beliefs, personality and how you relate to others and the world around you. It is important to be prepared and informed when planning a psilocybin experience. These experiences can be powerful, but for some individuals they can also potentially be destabilizing.

Psilocybin mushrooms can produce changes in a user’s consciousness, mood, perception and sensory experience. These changes are classically known as a psychedelic ‘trip’ or ‘journey’, and can last anywhere between 2–8 hours. The intensity of the journey is directly related to the dose consumed and the strength of the mushrooms in terms of their psilocybin content.

A commonly reported effect is that the mind seems to become more open under the influence of psilocybin and sensory experience can become very intense.

This means things which a person would normally find aesthetically pleasing (art, nature, music) can become far more beautiful on psilocybin, but it can also mean that normal sensory experience can become overwhelming. Being in a crowded place like a concert or a nightclub, for example, can become difficult because of the sheer amount of sensory input which can easily overwhelm the mind and the senses.

The optimum physical setting for a psilocybin mushrooms experience is somewhere comfortable and one that feels safe, where the amount of sensory input is low or can be controlled.

Key effects of the experience include thinking in new, interesting or peculiar ways; having emotions far more connected to sensory experiences; having your gaze directed inward toward your own memories, emotions or character; experiencing time distortions; experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations; and, at very high doses, sometimes experiencing the loss of self-identity sometimes called “ego death.”

Given that psilocybin seems to connect parts of the brain in novel and interesting ways; different, fascinating, odd and sometimes scary ways of thinking can present themselves to the journeyer.

There is little one can do to predict the ways a psychedelic journey will go, and the best practice is to ensure a positive mindset and comfortable setting prior to the journey (also often referred to as positive Set & Setting).

Hallucinations can occur based on the strength, species, strain, and dosage of the mushroom consumed and can include changes in perception of sounds, closed-eye visuals and open-eye visuals.

Closed-eye visuals can range anywhere from seeing fractal patterns and vivid colors to experiencing dream-like sequences and deeply-set memories, all with your eyes closed.

Open-eye visuals can include hallucinations of your environment, like colors becoming much more vibrant, surfaces seeming to ripple or ‘breathe’ before your eyes, patterns forming, moving or rotating as you observe and much more. At higher doses objects and environments may morph into different things.

Auditory hallucinations can include sounds becoming clearer, crisper or more distorted or layered with meaning. The perception and appreciation of music or words/language can also change.

At very high doses users may experience something referred to as ego death. This is an intense experience when your sense of self can (seemingly) cease to exist. his loss of identity can be powerful and life-affirming, allowing the journeyer to feel unified with everyone and everything. It can also be challenging and terrifying.

A high dose is not recommended, especially to first time users or those not familiar with journeying, as ego death can be a very intense and challenging experience.

Psilocybin is generally considered safe, but there are some risks. One risk of psilocybin are experiencing a ‘bad trip’. A bad trip can include various negative experiences, such as feeling incredibly uncomfortable within yourself or your environment.

We always recommend you journey with a licensed, skilled psilocybin facilitator.

Psilocybin raises blood pressure, temporarily. If you have any health concerns about psilocybin, talk to a doctor first. We can recommend doctors in Oregon who are familiar with psilocybin.

Research has shown that the following factors seem to help mitigate potential harms, and increase the likelihood of benefit from psilocybin, both during and following the experience:

Having supportive family or friends available around the time of your psilocybin experience.

Developing a contemplative/meditation/journaling practice to help prepare for the experience and for ongoing integration.

Ensuring that you have time to process your psilocybin experience in the days following your session.

Having ongoing therapeutic support available is not necessary but may be supportive.

Rigorous studies at leading medical research institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Alabama, and New York University show that psilocybin can be effective, and provides real promise for those suffering from depression, end-of-life anxiety, and addiction.

Psilocybin shows so much promise that the FDA recently granted it a “breakthrough therapy” designation—meaning that it may demonstrate substantial improvement above and beyond what’s currently available to address mental health issues. The Oregon program is based on this growing body of research.

Psilocybin use is legal in Oregon under Measure 109, codified under ORS 475A, which is regulated by the Oregon Health Authority. Please note: psilocybin is still federally classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. In Oregon anyone 21 years of age or over can use psilocybin services, for any reason. No diagnosis or prescription is needed. Clients must, however, participate in preparation sessions with a licensed psilocybin facilitator before consuming the product in a licensed service center.

It depends. We are working to make some sessions as affordable as possible for people without means. We will also offer highly curated experiences. We are seeing other psilocybin service centers costs ranging between $2,000-$15,000 per individual journey.

Our service center rate is under $1,000 and the purchase of psilocybin mushrooms ranges from $30-$300. Facilitator fees are a separate rate that varies between $1,000-$2,500 depending on the facilitator.

Being in a group journey will cost less depending on the dose, duration, and size of group. Both group and one-on-one journeys require preparation sessions.

We are in touch with all the licensed manufacturers. They are currently pricing a medium dose of psilocybin at about $150. A higher dose would be up to $300. Many people will find a lower dose more effective.

No, under Oregon’s legal psilocybin program, all psilocybin products must be purchased from a licensed psilocybin service center and consumed on site.

Your safety is our greatest concern. We expect you to remain at the service center with a facilitator for the duration of your experience so we can keep you safe.

Not yet! As more research helps insurance companies understand the value of psilocybin, they may start covering these services.

If you are taking lithium, you would be required to completely taper off the lithium before consuming psilocybin. Interactions between psilocybin and antidepressants are complex and beyond our capability to guide you. We ask our clients to conslt with a doctor who specializes in evaluating psilocybin clients, or the Spirit Pharmacist, Ben Malcolm, before scheduling a journey.

We can provide you with a list of doctors who are prepared to help you evaluate your prescription and over-the counter medications, and also look at your risk factors.

Most of the preparation can take place by Zoom or phone. We recommend that you arrive in town a day before your journey, then spend at least one night in town after your journey. For taxi service to and from the Portland Airport, we work with Hood River EV Taxi and Gorge PDX Shuttle. There are no Lyft or Uber services in Hood River.

Yes, we have space for up to 6 people in our group administration room. We also have a double bed for couples. Depending on the dose, we may need to have two facilitators present for your group experience. Some of our facilitators are experienced working with group and couples journeys.

There have been some studies that show good results for some people, but psilocybin does not work for everyone. Most studies require participants to be in a stop smoking program and to be currently abstinent from cigarettes on the day of their psilocybin experience.

Yes. End of life anxiety is one of the most-studied conditions with psilocybin use. Many people are able to tolerate a psilocybin experience. We have facilitators who specialize in end-of-life work.

You will probably want to work with a doctor to assess your risks and medications before your journey.

Research is ongoing for these conditions. Results are not yet sufficient for the Oregon Health Authority to allow us to make any claims about the efficacy of psilocybin for these conditions.

We understand that the cost of psilocybin experiences is out of reach for many people. We will start to offer group sessions at a lowered fee based on a sliding scale, sometime in 2024. There are several nonprofits forming to provide assistance to those who need it. We will add links to them here as they are able to take applications.

Oregon Health Authority’s rules allow for a support person to accompany a client. You will work out those details with your facilitator.

If you have had a challenging experience with cannabis or other psychedelics, there is an increased possibility that you may also have a challenging experience during your psilocybin session.

But, it’s important to talk with a facilitator about the context of your previous experience. The setting for your session, the mindset you have when you enter a session, and the support you receive during the experience may play a significant role in shaping the outcome.

Some people may experience some of these symptoms, with low-moderate severity. They almost always resolve after the drug is out of your system, usually within 24 hours.

Nausea. This is the most common adverse effect. Some find relief by using Gas-X, an over-the-counter gas reliever.

Elevated heart rate and/or blood pressure. Talk to your doctor if you have a heart condition.

Feeling cold

Challenging emotions including anxiety, confusion, fear, paranoia.

Headache

Vomiting, which rarely occurs when starting with an empty stomach

Fatigue and/or insomnia, usually lasting one or two days or less.

People with certain psychiatric or medical histories could be at higher risk. Medical or psychiatric intervention may be necessary in rare instances.

Markedly elevated blood pressure that can lead to organ injury (hypertensive crisis). Talk to your doctor if you have a heart condition.

Activation of subconscious psychological material.

Psychosis of short duration (lasting less than 24 hours), or of long duration (lasting longer than 48 hours).

Anxiety, depression, mania, psychosis, and/or perceptual disturbances lasting longer than 24 hours.

Increased thoughts of self-harm, suicidal ideation, or attempt.

Individuals are very unlikely to experience the following symptoms, however, due to the lack of research and FDA recommendation, they should be considered possible.

Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder. Re-experiencing of one or more perceptual symptoms experienced while using mushrooms. This can include visual hallucinations, false perceptions of peripheral movement, color distortions.

Serotonin Toxicity, which is the excessive build-up of serotonin in the system. This is very unlikely due to psilocybin’s mechanism of action on the serotonin system, but could happen due to other factors such as medication interactions. Symptoms include elevated temperature, confusion, muscle stiffness, twitching or jerking movements, extreme and fluctuating vital signs, agitation or comatose mental state, muscle rigidity, pronounced hyperthermia (fever), and/or seizure activity.

Long term heart damage. There is theoretical concern that long-term, repetitive use of psilocybin (even microdosing), could cause damage to your heart valves. More research is indicated to better understand this risk.