Psilocybin is the naturally occurring active ingredient in many species of psychedelic (“magic”) mushroom. Once ingested, it converts to psilocin in the body and induces an altered state of consciousness: a psychedelic experience.
Psychedelics are a class of psychoactive compound which induce altered states of consciousness. The term psychedelic comes from “psyche” and the Greek word dēlos, which means “to manifest”, together meaning “mind manifesting”.
Examples of “classical” psychedelics are psilocybin, mescaline, LSD and DMT. Other substances sometimes considered psychedelics are cannabis, MDMA, ketamine, and ibogaine.
Start by filling out our online reservation form and speak with a VIP Host. This intake call gives us an opportunity to meet you and for you to connect you with your VIP Host. We will gain a deeper understanding of your background, intentions, and desires for your experience. It also helps us learn how to best support you on the retreat, and allows us to answer any questions you have about Mycelia.
After your call with your VIP Host we send an email with a link to make a deposit or full payment if your retreat date is within 30 days. Once you submit a deposit your spot is secured and you receive the balance due 30 days prior to arrival date.
Receive your preparation package and book your flights to Jamaica!
After making payment, you’ll receive an email which includes travel guidelines, a retreat schedule, information about psilocybin mushrooms, and more. Then you can book your flights and start preparing for your retreat!
5.How long does the intake process take?
Once you complete your intake call it should take only a few days to get approved. If you have used psilocybin before this can be fast tracked. If you have never used mushrooms it can take a little longer. The process should take to 2-3 weeks if this is your first experience and you want ot be screened beforehand for any issues..
Absolutely! Start by filling out the application form (one for each person) and we’ll take it from there. Please note both guests are charged the per-person rate for a shared room.
Everyone stays in a private room; no one sleeps together unless its booked that way.
Due to the format we follow, we’re not able to host people who are not participating in the retreat, even if they are friends, relatives, or partners of participants. We’ve learned from experience that having each person in the group fully share in the same set of experiences helps create a more beneficial environment for everyone involved.
Individuals with personal or family histories of bipolar, schizophrenia, or other personality disorders may be at risk if using psilocybin. A strong psychedelic experience can exacerbate or trigger the onset of these conditions.
Retreats are five days / four nights.
A minimum of 6 with a maximum of 12 guests
Three facilitators attend each retreat, along with two support staff for Jungle therapy providing more operational support. The total number of team members on each retreat is three to five.
- 3 Psilocybin sessions as group
- Accommodation for the duration of the retreat
- Meals prepared fresh daily on-site and off site.
- Guided preparation and integration activities
- 1-on-1 check-ins with VIP Host
- Group movement and meditation practice
- Preparation and intension settings
- Access to private beachfront and swimming pool
- Transport to and from Montego Bay Airport (MBJ)
- Follow up integration call post-retreat
Mycelia is $2,995 USD for one participant. This is paid once you are accepted into a retreat – after filling out the application form and having an intake call with your VIP Host.
Flights are not included. You’ll need to book your own flights to and from Montego Bay (Sangster International Airport – MBJ).
Our psilocybin session format draws on research trial protocols, psychedelic therapy, and indigenous traditions.
Our sessions are all held outside, so bring any items you may desire during your journey (pillows, blankets, a journal, water bottle, etc.)
A Mycelia team member will be present during all sessions; participants are never left alone during their experience.
Music is played over a speaker, playlists are mostly instrumental and curated to deepen and enhance the psychedelic experience.
Participants are encouraged to focus on their own inner experience, and to allow others the space to do the same. We ask participants not interact with one another during the session. Everyone is in the same physical space, having their own private journey.
This combination of laying down with music and covering or closing your eyes is used in psychedelic research studies at Johns Hopkins, Imperial College London, NYU, and other institutions. It’s also the format used by most psychedelic guides.
If you ever need support during your journey, you can raise a hand or reach out to one of our facilitators who will be there to help you. Facilitators can offer verbal and emotional support, and potentially certain forms of physical touch. Our team is highly aware of potential sensitivities around physical touch and will always check before offering this form of support. Facilitators will also be attentive around refilling cups/bottles of water, helping participants stay comfortable, getting a blanket if you feel cold, etc.
The session last 5-6 hours, and we close the main ceremony with a bonfire and soft music.
You may hear us refer to the psilocybin session as a “ceremony”. This is because we approach certain aspects of psychedelic work in a ceremonial manner. Please note that ceremonial does not mean religious – we do not subscribe to any organized religion, and we do not attempt to impart any religious or spiritual beliefs on participants who attend our retreats.
We hold this work in a ceremonial manner because psychedelic experiences are generally more impactful and beneficial when they are approached with a high degree of intentionality, care, and respect. Ceremony, for us, is about creating the right container, or setting, for the experience to unfold in a maximally safe and helpful way. Ceremony also honors the fact that psychedelic journeys are often experienced as sacred.
We work with local grower in and have a special treat for everyone who attends Mycelia Retreat. Sacred Sun is an amazing visual strain created by Jordan James and available at Mycelia Retreats. The mushrooms are carefully grown, dried, and sealed to protect the psilocybin from degrading.
There are three psilocybin sessions; participants take an initial microdose on day one. This is based on preferences, intentions, prior experiences (or lack thereof), and bodyweight. After approximately 1.5 hours, a facilitator offers an optional booster dose, which is approximately 50% of the initial dose. Day two is Jungle Therapy which is a total or 4 to 5 grams. The final evening is a lighter 2.5 gram session.
Psychedelic experiences are varied and often unpredictable. You may have heard or read things in media or online that cause you to think “I want that experience!” However, consensus within psychedelic communities is that it’s beneficial to enter a journey with openness, and to let go of any expectations or desires for a specific experience or outcome.
That said, there are some commonalities across most psychedelic experiences. For example, you may experience visual effects, color saturation, and solid objects may appear as if they’re moving or breathing. You may experience physical sensations differently, feel hot or cold, feel parts of your body in a different way or feel parts of your body you’ve never felt before. Your sense of time may become distorted, and it may seem to become compressed or expanded throughout the journey.
You may experience strong emotions – positive and negative – and you may experience two or more seemingly contradictory emotions at the same time. You may experience a deep and healing emotional release.
You may see, imagine or remember people in your life, past and present, in particular those you have close relationships with. You may visit archetypal realms featuring figures, symbols or imagery from various cultures and mythological traditions. You may be visited by animals, or you may yourself transform into an animal. You may have the experience of everything as divine or holy, or of this alternate reality as being somehow “realer” than normal waking reality. You may lose your sense of being a separate self, and feel yourself dissolve into the universe or the cosmos.
These are only some of the many possible aspects of a psychedelic journey. A psychedelic experience can be overwhelming, and it can be underwhelming. Upon consuming psilocybin mushrooms, your experience may not be what you expect at all. Once again you are encouraged to let go of your expectations or desires for specific experiences or outcomes, and be open to whatever comes.
We do not claim or attempt to treat any medical or mental health condition. While it’s common for people to have therapeutic experiences with psilocybin, attending Mycelia is not a substitute for medical services, psychotherapy, or any other form of treatment.
Further, research protocols indicate that psychedelic therapy is most effective with multiple preparatory and integration sessions, and sometimes multiple psychedelic sessions. Unfortunately, it’s not possible for us to recreate this level of care with a retreat model at this time.
Psilocybin is generally safe and well-tolerated.1 It’s not physically addictive, and overdosing is almost impossible (it would require eating at least several pounds of mushrooms). Researchers in the UK deemed psilocybin mushrooms to be safer than alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and over a dozen other substances.2
The “set” (an individual’s mindset) and “setting” (physical setting) of a psychedelic experience greatly influence the process and outcome.2 If set and setting are properly prepared, the experience is much more likely to go well. If you’re accepted into a retreat, we’ll send you a comprehensive prep package ahead of time, so you can learn about what to expect. You’ll also be briefed on the effects of psilocybin at the retreat. Our experienced, knowledgeable facilitators will be there to support you every step of the way. Your sessions will take place in a comfortable outdoor setting, selected as the perfect place for a psychedelic experience.
We take every measure to ensure every Mycelia guest has a safe, comfortable, and positive experience in both the short and long term. However, psychedelic experiences are not for everyone. Our application process is designed to help us determine if a psychedelic experience is a good fit for you.
Please note: Individuals with personal or family histories of bipolar, schizophrenia, or other personality disorders may be at risk if using psilocybin. A strong psychedelic experience can exacerbate or trigger the onset of these conditions. These risks are addressed in detail in our application process.
Psilocybin is generally safe and well-tolerated.1 It’s not physically addictive, and overdosing is almost impossible (it would require eating at least several pounds of mushrooms). Researchers in the UK deemed psilocybin mushrooms to be safer than alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and over a dozen other substances.2
However, individuals with personal or family histories of bipolar, schizophrenia, or other personality disorders may be at risk if using psilocybin. A strong psychedelic experience can exacerbate or trigger the onset of these conditions. These risks are addressed in detail in our application process.
Our retreat is held in St Mary, located on the North coast of Jamaica. Ocho Rios is a safe, popular tourist destination with many hotels and resorts. When you attend Mycelia Retreat, your picked up by a driver at Montego Bay/Sangster International Airport (MBJ) and driven directly to our venue. The venue is a private, gated villa with staff on-site at all times. When it’s time to depart, you’re driven back to the airport. There can be safety concerns in Jamaica, but they’re mainly concentrated in Kingston, the capital city located on the Southeast coast.
At Mycelia, we aim to make psilocybin ceremonies accessible for a broad range of people while also fostering the best atmosphere possible for group activities. Although those on low doses of SSRIs/SNRIs can still be considered on an individual basis, participants are normally required – with the approval and assistance from their doctor – to be free from all SSRIs/SNRI (and other mood altering substances) at least three months before joining our programs and must pass our qualification screening process. We use our suitability screening to guarantee a healthy and productive environment, not as a diagnostic device.
Despite the unknowns, we can surmise that the psychedelic effects of psilocybin is a result of its interactions with serotonin neurotransmitters and associated brain circuits. Research suggests that much of this hallucinogenic effect might be attributed to its activity at 5HT2A receptors in particular. SSRI and SNRI medications also interact with serotonin through these same receptors, creating intricate changes in their behavioral consequences. Therefore, ascertaining the precise dose of these compounds to guarantee a meaningful experience is difficult. We strongly encourage anyone who takes SSRIs/SNRIs and plans on attending our program to consult with their healthcare provider (ideally the doctor that prescribed them SSRIs/SNRIs), discuss possible drug interactions with them, and participate in our retreats at your own risk.Taking psilocybin together with SSRI/SNRI drugs is said to result in a less intense psychedelic experience. While the intensity of a psychedelic journey tends to result in powerful transformation, be aware that those taking low levels of serotonin-based medications may not experience the same effects as others who stay away from mixing drugs. Therefore, Mycelia strongly advises against combining medication and psychedelics.