Facilitated mushroom journeys are a new concept to most people, though they are gaining broader awareness. Understanding basic steps of a guided psilocybin journey can help bring clarity to why a retreat around it fits perfectly. But first, let’s cover what most people know to be “doing shrooms;” Personal use.
People often ask me if they can just buy mushrooms from me. I ask what they plan to do for their journey, how much they are going to take, wha their intentions are, and more. Most people don’t consider much of this. Some are honest, and say they’ll just watch “Fear and Loathing”, or something. Others want to go to a concert. Most have no plan whatsoever, so they either eat it haphazardly or, more often than not, their mushrooms just sit there, waiting for the perfect opportunity that never comes.
No matter how you slice it, the reality is recreational use likely won’t have the same effect as an intentional journey. In fact, if people don’t consider all of the factors that get amplified when you’re “in the medicine”, not only is it likely you won’t have a full blown “mystical experience,” you could have a trip that causes you to think the mushrooms themselves are not good for you. That’s the opposite of what we’d like to see happen.
It should be noted that a lot of people, myself included, had powerful psychedelic journeys using them on our own. For me, it was a lucky and rare event, prior to which I had had several trips where little happened other than me feeling weird. Fortunately I didn’t have an encounter that turned me off of them forever, which has happened to many other people. Then, one time, I had an experience that changed my life, and have wanted to share that feeling with everyone since then.
One comment I get a lot is “I’m just going to do them in the backyard/party/camping with my friends. They’ve done it a lot, and we’re really close.” While I get how that seems ideal, I’ve done similar trips. Even after training and experience in the field, it’s tough for me to get friends to hold intention around the journey. Even if those are set, people are more willing to break agreements, especially around conversation, and pull you out of your personal journey for a more social one.
The music is usually haphazard, and what you’re used to, not expansive and aligned with the journey. You also typically stay in the same realm and emotional resonance that your relationship has been at with them. Dosing can also be quite random. That makes sense, as dosing should align with your intention. Broadly speaking, there’s usually no process or guidelines around a friends journey. Preparation and integration sessions usually aren’t even considered during trips like this.
Plus, friend groups usually all take the medicine together, so no one is holding “ground control.” What happens if something goes wrong? It’s not easy to deal with things in your physical reality when everyone is in that etherial space. Your default mode nework shuts down, so even everyday tasks become far more difficult. Imagine navigating a serious problem like that.
No matter how you slice it, one thing holds true: Psilocybin journeys are rare experiences for most people. People can get put off for years or even altogether for life when they have a negative experience without guidance. Deep medicine journeys can be some of the most expansive moments of awareness and healing in people’s lives. That’s a huge loss if things turn bad.
People often think bad trips just happen, but most of the time they are due to using the medicine in the wrong way or environment. It’s also worth stating that trained professionals screen for any difficulties that might arise, and even flag people who could likely respond to the journey poorly. We also talk to our trusted, professional networks if we have questions.
Even if everything above is taken care of, issues may arise during a journey that create difficulty for people. “Ego death” is a part of the journey, which can be a confusing and uncomfortable moment. And unresolved trauma can surface. A good facilitator can help people reflect on what arose, work through the lessons it offers, offer a sound path forward, and help turn that into a vital part of the healing experience. Doing it on your own however, often difficult Journeys can lead to more trauma.
Of course you could have a very positive experiences on an unguided journeys. But if you want to take a deep dive into your subconscious and the universe, the risks greatly increase and chances of reward massively decrease when you do it on your own.
Even with all of this, the main issues for most is the pricetag associated with this work. So let’s talk about where your money goes.
The cost of a facilitated journey is exponentially more expensive than buying a bag of mushrooms. The most obvious cost is the time and experience of the facilitator. You want someone who knows what they are doing, and who you like and trust, to be there with you to help you work through what arises.
There’s also the set, setting, safety, time, and even regulations. Yes, it does seem counter to the ethos of mushrooms themselves to talk about professional oversite and licensing. But you’re in a very vulnerable, open state when you’re tripping. Having someone who isn’t working under the best of intentions, or simply just untrained and following poor practices (both of which happen far more than we’d like in the medicine community) can result in real harm and even criminal offenses. That’s the risk that you carry going to unlicensed and/or unreputable places.
By going through the licensed and regulated process, you’re supporting the safest way of bringing this profession into existence. Supporting this type of work furthers its reach within our current society, and allows people like us to spread the message and continue the work. All of that is pretty awesome, and we sincerely appreciate it.
Plus, you get someone knowledgeable around the medicine journey itself, with preparation and integration sessions that can last for hours each, along with some to sit with you on your medicine day. Some facilitators offer multiple sessions, particularly for integration. Make sure you go with someone who’s approach resonates with you, and they’re knowledgeable about the larger journey beyond just the medicine part of it all.
All in, a legal, professionally facilitated journey will typically cost upwards of $1500 for the entire process, and can go higher depending on a number of factors. Then you’ll have to factor in travel, transportation, food, and lodging if you’re coming from somewhere else. Safe and reliable transport to and from the location is expressly agreed to, as you can’t legally drive back from the journey.
When you add up all of this, plus creating and holding a solid “container”, offering space and working with intentions for extended periods of time, it’s a lot. Plus the places you go, both the “service center” (Places that hold the actual mushroom Journey) and the retreat center usually have a high price tag. That’s why a psilocybin retreat (typically $4000 and up) or our Nature Based Journeys ($2600 and up) are a far better option for many, as you’ll get food, lodging and transportation covered. Plus, you get to experience the nature of Oregon, which enhances and is enhanced by the mushroom journey.
While this can be a difficult price for people, it is a sprouting profession, and newly legal. If you can hold out, it could get far cheaper, especially if insurance companies cover the costs. Some insurance companies already do, and there are scholarships. As more research and personal stories around this work come out, we can only imagine ways that access to it will grow.
All that said, whether you go with a facilitated journey or a retreat, here is the process you are paying for:
Most Psilocybin Journeys, preparation is minimal—often limited to an intake form a few hours conversation before our arrival.
You’ll get tips for your preparation, but it’s on you to follow through. Notice how your facilitator handles preparation, as that will likely reflect how they will handle a lot of this process. If you realize you aren’t comfortable or happy with them or their approach, look for another one. Don’t talk yourself into going with someone who you feel isn’t giving you the support you need.
Alternatively, an Evolve Wild Journey includes intentional preparation over several weeks or months due to the fact that we can only run our journeys during a limited time of the year, and often fill the spots well in advance. We’ll explore your intentions, mental and emotional readiness, and connection with nature and medicine over time.
You’ll also have a day immersed in the journey, and in nature, immediately before your medicine day with us. This allows you to open to it on a different level. This thorough preparation helps provide reassurance, support, and connection during the onset and ascent phases of the psilocybin experience, which can help you feel more grounded and safe as the effects begin and intensify. This also helps you to dive deeper into the higher doses.
The environment where a psychedelic therapy session unfolds can shape the entire experience. While clinical settings offer safety and structure, there’s growing evidence that natural environments can amplify the positive effects of psilocybin. For example, studies at Johns Hopkins University have shown that participants who experienced psilocybin therapy in nature reported deeper feelings of unity, transcendence, and connection—not just with themselves, but with the world around them.
Natural settings, like the beautiful forests, mountains and rivers of the Pacific Northwest, help ground participants and inspire even more awe throughout the journey. The sights, sounds, and sensations of the natural world can help ease anxiety and support the unfolding of the journey, allowing for a more profound response to the medicine. Researchers continue to examine how different environments affect outcomes, but the consensus is clear: the setting is not just a backdrop, but an active part of the healing process.
Oregon requires that we do the medicine in a service center, not outdoors. But by having a preparation day in nature, as well as an extended integration out there, we help you to carry that presence through the journey as best we can. Anecdotally, I’ve found that I “vibe” more with nature on the medicine, while hallucinations and inner work are more vivid when I’m in a supported indoor environment, with the aligned Journey music and incredible people.
During the medicine sessions, participants typically lie down with the option of eyeshades, while headphones or speakers provide immersive music. Carefully curated playlists include instrumental songs like piano, violin, guitar, and strings to support the journey.
We understand that most people want to listen to the music they’re used to while they are under. But that music is often associated with things that might influence the course of the journey, and envoke familiar habits, thoughts, and emotional triggers. The design of the playlists structure the music to guide participants through key points of the session. It should help people peak, and carry them through emotional states, ranging from melancholy to moments that open up the heart. The music acts as a helping guide, illuminating the vividness and resonance of the experience.
The most common facilitated, legal psilocybin sessions right now are individual sessions held in service centers. At Evolve Wild, we mainly offer group settings. While we hold groups during preparation and integration, during the mushroom journey people don’t typically talk to each other. You go through your own experience, and others go through theirs. We bring on experienced facilitators at a 3.5 guests to 1 facilitator ratio. You’ll receive personalized care throughout without being overwhelmed, in a safe and supportive environment. All of this allows the medicine to do it’s work for those who resonate with this type of approach.
Integration, or the process of weaving insights from the medicine back into your daily life, is where real transformation actually happens. Many retreats offer only brief post-session discussions before guests return home. Evolve Wild’s nature-based integration continues well beyond the journey. You’ll get reflections, practices, and share yourself in community to start being the person you see in others eyes, to help embody what you’ve discovered. This is the path to lasting change and spiritual growth long after the experience.
We also hold regular work around the journey through our meet-up platforms. We have both online offerings, such as book clubs, preparation and integration groups, and more. If you’re in the Philadephia, Portland, or Southern California areas, we have in person preparation and integration groups. All are welcome to them, but we have a much greater depth of experience with those who have journeyed with us, obviously. Plus group members can journey together, form incredible bonds, and help each other hold their intention back in the places they live.
Despite the incredible amount of positives coming from research on psychedelic therapy in helping to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, there are still difficulties to consider. Not every journey is smooth—some participants may encounter feelings of dissonance, sadness, or anxiety during their sessions. If you aren’t ready to do some real reflection and inner work, a full on deep dive into your subconscious might not be your best move. Consider microdosing, or smaller dosing, like PNW Integrative and other service centers offer.
Note that the effects of psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD can be unpredictable, and difficult journeys, though rare, are a real possibility. This typically happens without proper screening, preparation, dosing, or alignement with intentions, other people, or the environment.
Another challenge lies in the lack of standardization across psychedelic therapy protocols. With researchers and clinicians using different approaches, it can be difficult to compare results or determine the most supportive and effective methods. This is especially true when it comes to incorporating music into sessions. While music has shown to be a powerful tool for guiding and supporting participants, the type of music, whether it’s classical, ambient, or specially created tracks, can lead to very different experiences.
The field is still evolving, with ongoing studies examining the effects of various drugs, settings, and supportive interventions. While the majority of research points to overwhelmingly positive outcomes, particularly when sessions are mindfully co-created and supported, it’s important to be aware that psychedelic therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Continued research, education, and careful attention to each participant’s needs will be key to unlocking the full potential of these powerful medicines.
While the approaches discussed all intend to use plant medicine to support mental health, self-discovery, and emotional well-being, Evolve Wild’s approach is rooted in relationship—with nature, with self, and with the living world around you, and designed for you to step into something far beyond just symptom relief or an isolated moment in your life. It’s meant for real change, relationship, and to give you what you need to follow a path true transformation.
At Evolve Wild, we believe that reconnecting with Wild Nature (which covers a lot) is the most important thing that anyone can do at this time. Opening yourself to this connection with psilocybin, and exploring your wild consciousness, can open up a whole other world for you. Our guided psilocybin journeys in Oregon combine plant medicine, movement, reflection, and intentional time in the natural world for true personal and cultural transformation.
If you’re feeling the called to explore this path further, schedule a free discovery call and see if you’re ready to step into the next chapter of your story!
