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 states of consciousnes, and mystical experiences, also known as the “psychedelic experience”.
Psychedelics are a class of psychoactive compounds 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.
You will begin by filling out our online reservation form and speak with a VIP Host. This intake call gives us an opportunity to meet you, assess your needs and gather information on any medications you may be on that may be countraindicative to the experience. It also allows you to connect 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 may have about Mycelia.
After your call with your VIP host, you will receive an email with a link to make a deposit or full payment if your retreat date is within the next 30 days.
Once you submit a deposit, your spot will be secured and you will receive the balance due 30 days prior to the arrival date.
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 psychedelic retreat!
Once you complete your intake call, the approval process takes only a few days.
The process will be fast-tracked if you have previous experience with psilocybin mushrooms.
The approval will take longer if you have no prior experience with the psychedelic. The process should take 2 to 3 weeks if you’re a novice as our team needs to go through a screening process to ensure there are no contraindications to any medication you may be on.
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.
Each attendee will reside in a private room, unless they have requested shared rooms during the intake call.
Due to the format we follow, we are unable 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 disorder, schizophrenia, or other personality disorders may be at risk if using psilocybin.
Although some small-scale clinical trials suggest that psilocybin-assisted therapy may be an effective treatment for those suffering from Bipolar disorders, more research needs to be conducted.
An intense psychedelic experience has the potential to exacerbate or trigger the onset of these conditions.
Retreats are five days / four nights.
At Mycelia, we aim to maximize the benefits of guided psilocybin experiences by ensuring that each attendee is properly catered to. As a result, we aim to limit our group ceremonies to 6 people, with a maximum of 12 potential guests.
Three facilitators attend each retreat, along with two support staff for our two immersive psilocybin ceremonies. OUr staff includes trained ENTs who will assess whether medical care is ever needed. The total number of team members on each retreat is three to five.
- 3 psilocybin group ceremonies ( unless individual sessions are requested.)
- Accommodation for the duration of the retreat.
- Daily fresh meals prepared on-site and off site.
- Guided preparation and integration activities.
- 1-on-1 check-ins with your VIP host.
- Group movement and meditation practices.
- Preparation and intentions setting.
- Access to private beachfront, swimming pool and jacuzzi.
- Transport to and from Montego Bay Airport (MBJ)
- Follow up integration call post-retreat.
Mycelia’s 4-day program is currently offered for $2,995 USD per attendee. The price is paid once you are accepted into one of our programs – after filling out the application form and after completing the 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 guided psilocybin ceremonies are all held outside, so bring any items you may desire during your journey (pillows, blankets, a journal, water container, bug spray etc.)
One or more Mycelia facilitators will be present during all sessions; participants are never left alone during their experience.
Each ceremony is accompanied by a carefully curated playlist created 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 ceremony. 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 if and only there is previous agreement. 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, providing blankets and pillows in case attendees feel cold or necessitate more comfort.
The psilocybin sessions last 5-6 hours, and we close the main ceremony with a bonfire accompanied by a curated psychedelic playlist.
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.
Our mushrooms are locally grown and tested in a lab in order to ensure the right dosage each time. Sacred Sun is an amazing visual strain created by Jordan James and available at Mycelia Psychedelic Retreats.
The mushrooms are carefully grown, dried, and sealed to protect the psilocybin from degrading.
There are three psilocybin sessions.
Participants take an initial mini dose of 0.5 grams of psilocybin on day one. The dose is not meant to induce a psychedelic experience. Rather, it is designed to assess the individual dose required by each individual during the two psychedelic ceremonies to follow. Dosage will vary based on medication, personality type, and sensitivity to psilocybin.
The two immersion cereminies are designed for participants expereicne the full effects of a mystical psychedelic experience and achieve ego-dissolution. A boster dose will be provided to those who have difficulty reaching altered states of consiousness. During the Beach Therapy gorup ceremony, a total or 4 to 5 grams of psilocybin mushrooms is provided. The final session will be adapted based on individual needs. While some attendees may way to enjoy a lighter dose, other may require a custom dose in order to reach an even more intense experience.
Psychedelic experiences are varied and often unpredictable. The psilocybin experience can vary based on personality type, age and dosage. For an optimal experience, Mycelia ensures that each guest is under the right set and setting. Consensus within psychedelic communities is that it’s beneficial to enter a journey with openness and curiousity, 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-assisted 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. Studies have demonstrated that psilocybin mushrooms are 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. Moreover psilocybin is also designated as “breakthrough therapy” by the FDA.
The “set” (an individual’s mindset) and “setting” (physical setting) of a psychedelic experience greatly influence the process and outcome. 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. 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.
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 effects 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.