10 years ago I felt called by psychedelics.

My first task was to find out where they were calling from.

In other words: how exactly do you get your hands on some?

1) Underground markets

The most obvious route is underground markets.

But I didn’t know any dealers. Let alone more niche ones who stocked psychedelics.

And the dark web wasn’t on my radar back then. Today, this would mean learning to navigate encryption, cryptocurrency, scammers and ever-changing marketplaces.

Setting practicalities aside, i'm uncomfortable sending money into ethically dubious supply chains. Even if these are the result of senseless government prohibition.

2) Cultivation and extraction

So I did more research.

I was amazed to learn you could make psychedelics such as DMT and mushrooms at home. I spent days devouring knowledge shared by modern day alchemists on obscure forums.

The call was answered (more on that experience in future).

This is a highly rewarding route. But it does involve:

• investing in equipment

• having enough space (meaning it's also not very discreet)

• scheduling considerations, like timing a mushroom grow so you'll be around to harvest for 1-3 weeks after waiting 3-5 weeks.

3) Foraging

It wasn't until 2020 – 5 years after my first trip – that I seriously considered foraging. Let’s dig into why I now think it’s the best way to source psychedelics.

How I Got Started

I knew mushrooms grew outside – not just in plastic boxes. But I always dismissed foraging as not for me.

Don't you need to be an expert mycologist, or at least initiated by some wise elder? Is it safe? What if I eat some deadly lookalike?

I learned you should always approach mushroom identification with utmost caution, and never eat anything you're unsure of.

But I also found out that learning to identify whichever psilocybin-containing species grows near you is well within reach of a motivated amateur.

If you live in Europe, the Pacific Northwest, or Eastern Canada the most common species is the liberty cap (Psilocybe semilanceata).

So I pored over photos and spent weeks (now years) researching where and when liberty caps grow. As a data scientist I eventually built Magic Mushroom Map to share what I found. I'll cover practical advice in next week’s post.

I then set out on a hike in the Lake District.

It's supposed to be beautiful but I didn't notice. I was stooped over, eyes glued to the ground, scanning left-to-right as I made my way up the hill. I caught a glint in the corner of my eye and made a beeline for it.

A liberty cap! I crouched down and spotted at least 10 more within a few metres. A primal sense of satisfaction washed over me.

Benefits Of Foraging

Over time i’ve come to realise the best part of foraging isn’t the free mushrooms. It's that foraging itself is powerfully therapeutic, and helps set you up for a positive psychedelic experience.

Here's 3 reasons why you'll feel better before even tripping:

1) Connection with nature

Humans have existed for over 300,000 years. For nearly all this time we were intimately connected with nature. Modern ways of living have severed this connection and we're paying the price.

Studies show that wellbeing is positively linked to feelings of nature connectedness. Spending more time outdoors can help to restore this connection. But spending this time in direct contact with nature – such as by foraging as opposed to merely hiking – is even better.

Nature connectedness is also linked to pro-environmental behaviour. So we have a virtuous cycle on our hands – nature's good for you, and you're good for it! This cycle is further accelerated by research showing that psychedelics increase nature connectedness.

2) Connection with body

We evolved not only spending time in nature but moving through it.

Today, you can meet your basic survival needs by only moving between your sofa and front door. But surviving isn’t thriving, and we know regular exercise is an essential component of good physical and mental health.

Gyms are convenient. But studies show that exercising in nature is even better for you than doing the same amount of activity indoors.

3) Connection with self and others

Foraging can be a chance to connect with yourself.

Spending time on your own in natural versus manmade outdoor environments is shown to improve your ability to reflect on a life problem, decrease your concern with how others perceive you, and restore your ability to direct attention.

But foraging is also a now rare chance to engage in the most fundamental human activity: the cooperative search for sustenance.

Here i’m not just drawing an analogy between hunting for physical and spiritual sustenance. Evidence suggests our ancestors may have actually been foraging for psilocybin-containing mushrooms up to 9,000 years ago.

In any case: foraging and enjoying the fruits with friends is a deeply bonding experience. I highly recommend it.

All the best for the week ahead,

Nick