‘Set’ is shorthand for your mindset. You can think of this as your mental state before your trip and in the days preceding. Your mindset is affected by all sorts of different factors from work etc.
‘Setting’ is the environment that you plan to trip in. This includes the room or space you plan to be in, the people you’re with, the music you have on and even the time of day/night.
Taking the set and setting into consideration can drastically increase the probability that we have are a really good time.
Why are set and setting important?
People find that set and setting have a profound impact on the psychedelic experience. The more supportive the set and setting, the more likely the experience will be positive.
How Does Set and Setting Work?
Set and setting are not unique to psychedelic experiences. One study, for example, described how set and setting affected an individual’s sense of religious mystique when experiencing nature in isolation. Obviously our internal state and external environment are the lenses through which we experience and process reality in any situation, but the reason set and setting are so frequently discussed with psychedelics is because these substances have a way of intensely amplifying those lenses.
How to Prepare Your “Set” or Mindset
- Clear your schedule. Commit to the experience. Do not agree to pick your friend up from the airport afterwards. Finish your taxes beforehand. If you want to ensure a positive therapeutic experience, you’ll want to start by clearing your schedule to alleviate any unnecessary stressors or interruptions. Carve out time for the journey as well as the time you may need to process afterward. The minutes, hours, and even days after can be tender.
- Set an intention. Setting an intention can help to align your thoughts and choices in the process. Ask yourself, what matters most to you? Where intention goes, energy flows. Once you have an intention, you can conspire to align your mind, body, and space. If things don’t happen in the way you imagined, that’s okay too. Just roll with it.
- Steady yourself. Whatever you’re thinking or feeling can be amplified during a trip. Consider how you might be able to clear your mind of distracting thoughts or feelings before diving in. This way you can focus on whatever your intention may be. Whether it be putting down the phone, meditating, or simply, going for a walk. Do what you need to do to steady yourself.
- Trust your points of contact. Every ship needs an anchor. Trip sitters, guides, shamans, and therapists are a tether to a more grounded reality. Make sure they are worth your trust and when they are, trust them deeply. Better social support correlates with higher, more enduring psychological well-being. They can also help with integration.
- Make peace. One of the most important things you can do is to let go and surrender to the experience. Make peace where you can and pray if it’s in your practice. Even the most challenging journeys can be rewarding in their own way. Allow the journey to unfold and see where it takes you. It seems counterintuitive but the less you try to understand, the more room there is for insight.
How to Prepare Your “Setting” or Environment
- Pick the right kind of music. Psychedelics can enhance the senses and make many inputs overstimulating. Lyrics can subconsciously influence your thoughts. Opt for mellow, calm, instrumental music.
- Pick a place free of distractions. If it’s too close to home or work that you suspect you will be distracted by something, look elsewhere. Find a neutral space.
- Give yourself options. A key component to creating a safe space is having some freedom to experience the trip in a way that’s comfortable for you. Can you lie down in the space? Can you sit? Can you use the bathroom? Can you warm-up or cool down? Can you go outside? Options are key.
- Alignment. Find a spot that most aligns with your intention for the trip. If you want a connecting, profound experience you may wish to be close to nature. Wherever you are, know you are safe.
jjjjj
