A common question that many journeyers ask is “should I macrodose or microdose?” Macrodosing and microdosing are not mutually exclusive and neither is inherently better than the other. To begin, you’ll want to choose the one that best fits your intentions, life situation, and personal goals. As time goes on, you can experiment with different doses.
Macrodosing refers to the practice of taking larger doses of mushrooms. Based on your sensitivity, these doses can range from one to five or more dried grams.
Microdosing, on the other hand, is the practice of ingesting a tiny dose — in general, 0.05 – 0.2 dried grams (50 – 200 mg) — of mushrooms more regularly. Microdosing is sub-hallucinogenic, meaning you may feel something but won’t have anywhere close to a full-on psychedelic experience. Microdosing is a great practice to develop in preparation for larger doses.
Microdose and macrodose are popular concepts, which act as signposts to help you get started. In reality, a wide gradient of possible experiences exists between a microdose and a macrodose.
It takes time and effort to properly prepare your mindset and environment for a macrodose. When you go on a big journey over the course of four to six hours, you might relive and process suppressed emotions you’ve been holding onto for years. Sometimes, high-dose mushroom journeys can involve mystical experiences, which allow you to feel connected with what you might experience as “Infinite Love” or “Ultimate Truth.” The higher your dose, the more likely you are to lose control of some of your bodily functions and movements.
On the other hand, the practice of microdosing is ideal if you want to start at a slower and gentler pace. You may prefer microdosing because it:
A simple guideline is: the lower your dose, the more functional you will be, and the higher your dose, the less functional you will be. For example, you can microdose and have an otherwise typical day. You may even go to work. Most people will not know you have taken anything unless you tell them. On the other hand, if you take a larger dose, you’re more likely to be unable to fulfill any worldly responsibilities. You will probably not be able to interact with others as you normally would, and you definitely want to avoid driving a car.
Here are a couple of analogies that may be helpful in understanding how different dosages work.
Taking a macrodose is like climbing a high mountain. You’ll likely want to prepare mentally and physically, gather the appropriate gear, and seek some guidance from experienced climbers. You may even want to be accompanied by a professional guide who can help keep you safe.
Microdosing is like making it a practice to regularly show up at the base of the mountain to meditate before going about your day. This practice can help you get a feel for the energy of the mountain and perhaps gather the courage to climb it one day.
In terms of cleaning, microdosing is like taking a few minutes several times a week to clean a different area of your home. Over time, even a cluttered home will become tidy. Taking a macrodose is like setting aside a day to do a deep clean of your entire home. It might be exhausting and challenging, but afterward you are left with a sense of accomplishment and brightness, and you’ll feel fresh and happy being in your home. And you probably won’t need to think much about cleaning for a while. Now, we will discuss the practices of microdosing and macrodosing more in-depth.
