Set and Setting: Timothy Leary’s Essential Safety Measure for Trying Psychedelics
Set and Setting: Timothy Leary’s Essential Safety Measure for Trying Psychedelics
How one simple principle can help you avoid a bad trip and boost the chances for a positive experience
If you’ve been out partying before, you’ve probably come across people under the influence of drugs.
The signs that someone is high are usually super prominent but hard to pinpoint, especially if you have never experienced a drug trip before.
Dead giveaways are:
- Dilated pupils
- Uncertain on their feet
- A wild or lost look in their eyes
- Difficulty speaking or forming coherent sentences
In my experience, the more public the space, the easier it is to notice if someone is high. The reason for this is the space itself. For many, the decision to take drugs is strongly influenced by their surroundings and the people they associate with.
When you go out, have a drink, and smoke a joint, deciding to spontaneously ingest other substances can seem like a fun idea.
But the reality is, if you don’t know the drug, this could lead to a horror trip.
Even if your body responds well to the drug, your mind might not. You could face anxious thoughts, memories, or situations you didn’t see coming, which is why it’s so important to be aware of where you are and who you’re with when given the option to take a drug, or not.
Timothy Leary called this “set-and-setting”.
For context, Timothy Leary was a psychiatrist obsessed with studying and researching psychedelics like LSD in the 1960s. Leary played a major role in bringing these substances to the public’s attention and is said to be the reason LSD found its way out of the lab into the hands of the public. His controversial experiments cost him his professorship at Harvard.
However, before leaving academia, he found that a person’s mindset and surroundings significantly influence the quality of their trip experience.
He conducted studies with people who took psychedelics in controlled environments and understood that the same drug could produce entirely different experiences depending on an individual’s psychological state and physical surroundings.
This insight formed the foundation for his “set-and-setting” theory, which remains a cornerstone of psychedelic safety to this day.
I understood this best after a psychedelic trip in which I experienced an overwhelming of sensation in my body and psyche.
While my surroundings had been familiar to me some of the people were strange. And, most importantly, part of me found the person facilitating the journey was not genuine in their intentions. I wasn’t convinced that going through with this journey was a good idea in the given situation but I partook anyway. What followed was me feeling trapped and overrun by both the substance and the person “guiding” me through it. Lucky for me, this remains the only psychedelic experience I’ve had I’d call “bad”.
Still, this experience was enough to share what can mitigate the possibility of going through something like this.
Let’s dive in.
Set: Your Inner State
In Leary’s view, the “set” refers to a person’s mindset — their mental and emotional state — going into the experience.
This includes everything from your current mood to your worldviews, expectations, and intentions. Leary observed that a calm, open, and positive mindset often leads to more pleasant experiences, while feelings of anxiety, fear, or unresolved issues could cause challenging, sometimes distressing trips. For anyone considering to take psychedelics, it’s crucial to reflect first:
- Are you in a stable, peaceful state of mind?
- Have you prepared yourself emotionally for the experience?
- Do you think you could surrender to the process and let go of control?
- Are you ready to face challenging emotions or memories that may arise?
Consider whether you’ve resolved recent moments of stress or conflicts, and how comfortable you feel about stepping into the unknown.
With a willingness to accept whatever the experience may bring and a solid intention in mind, you’re likely to approach the trip from a more positive, grounded place.
Setting: Your Physical Environment
The “setting,” on the other hand, is all about your external surroundings.
- Is there someone you trust nearby?
- Is the space private and free from unexpected interruptions?
- Are you in a safe environment, surrounded by supportive people?
- Do you have easy access to the music you like or your favorite pillow?
The physical environment plays a powerful role in shaping the experience.
Leary advised choosing a space that feels secure, comfortable, and free from potential disturbances. Ideally, you should be in a calm, familiar place, with a few trusted friends or guides prepared to support you. Bright, chaotic environments or loud, unfamiliar spaces can overwhelm your senses and leave you feeling lost.
Creating a peaceful, controlled setting allows you to focus on yourself and feel safe to let go during your journey inward.
A Simple Guide to Ensure Safety
If you are thinking of using psychedelics, here’s a very basic safety checklist you can use inspired by the “set-and-setting” theory:
- Double and Triple Research: Research the substance in advance and know the effects, risks, and duration.
- Check Your Mindset: Reflect on your mental and emotional state. If you feel distressed, anxious, or uncertain, don’t take the substance.
- Be in a Safe Environment: Find a calm, comfortable space, preferably at home or another familiar setting.
- Prepare Yourself Beforehand: Keep water, snacks, and items like music, your journal, or warming socks nearby to stay comfortable throughout the experience.
- Choose Your Company Wisely: Have a sober friend or an experienced guide who can give you reassurance and support if and when needed.
This list is by no means exhaustive but is meant to provide a guidepost in the sea of information surrounding this super important issue.
Remember, the goal is not only to avoid a bad trip but to create a meaningful, positive experience that enhances your understanding and appreciation of yourself and the world around you.
Ultimately, the single most important safety measure is just that — setting both your inner and outer worlds in alignment before taking any step into the psychedelic landscape.
By embracing this, you’re creating the foundation for an experience that can offer genuine insight and personal growth.
Prepare your mind and environment well and they can transform a psychedelic trip into a profound, potentially life-enhancing exploration.
Related: The Centrality of Set and Setting
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