Set and setting tips for first-timers
What does “set and setting” mean?
“Set and setting” is a term coined by the “father of psychedelics” and Harvard psychologist Timothy Leary. Tim argued that psychedelic drugs worked like a magnifying glass on one’s consciousness and that non-pharmacological factors substantially impact how drugs are experienced.
Set – Mindset, an individual’s personality, expectations, level of preparation for the experience, and intention when taking a psychedelic.
Setting – The environment in which the psychedelic journey happens.
What does the research say?
Back in the 1950s, scientists were researching LSD and seeing test subjects have a broad spectrum of responses to the drug. Some experienced profound and exuberant feelings of wholeness. Some experienced anxiety, paranoia, fear – you know, what we, in the business, call a “bad trip.”
By the 60s, scientists concluded that your mindset and environment are huge factors bearing on your drug experience. Patients who were expected to complete tests suffered more negative effects, whereas those who could choose their activities had more positive experiences. Results also showed that familiar settings tended to lead to more positive LSD experiences, and unfamiliar environments often caused unease and anxiety.
And then, research came to a stop with the prohibition of psychedelics.
Since the early 90s, research on psychedelics has resumed again. Modern researchers are now investigating questions like “To what extent do set and setting influence how a person experiences a drug?” and “Can the effects of a substance be separated from the context in which it’s taken?” We look forward to learning what they uncover.
Set and setting and cannabis
There’s a growing awareness that the right context can optimize a psychedelic experience and minimize harm. But there’s also evidence that set and setting may have an influence on other substances like alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis.
Cannabis can have the effect of amplifying what’s already circulating in your body. It can amplify pleasant feelings like relaxation or creativity and also unpleasant feelings like anxiety, worry, or negativity.
For those new to cannabis, getting set and setting right is particularly important.
Minding your set
Your set – or your mindset – is all about preparation and intention. Smoking in an anxious or agitated state of mind can lead to jitters and increased heart rate. Cannabis is good, and there are some powerful products out there, but none are powerful enough to overcome a strongly negative mindset.
Ideally, going into a cannabis experience, you want to be relaxed and at ease. Avoid it during times of high stress.
Setting intentions before sessions is something many consumers practice so that they can get more meaning and purpose out of it. This practice can help folks gain deeper insight. However, intentions don’t always pan out the way you want them to, so try not to fight whatever happens.
Quick Tips:
Prepare according to experience. Are you smoking a joint before bed or eating an edible during the day? Different experiences require different prep.
Clear your schedule. You don’t yet know what effects your consumption will have on you nor how long it will last. So don’t make any plans – you don’t want the pressure of a plan hanging over you while you’re experiencing cannabis as a newbie. And definitely don’t make any plans to drive anywhere.
Ground your emotions. Let go of whatever is causing you stress. Ground yourself.
Take care of yourself. Stay hydrated. Keep snacks around. If you start to feel bad, try watching TV or listening to music to distract yourself. Or just go to sleep. You will be fine when you wake up.
Set your intention. What do you want out of the session? Do you want to have a deep conversation with someone? Reflect on your life for a new perspective? Just relax? Or grow some roots in a couch and slither off into slumberland?
Mind your setting
Setting includes not only your physical environment but also your social and cultural environments.
Your physical environment can have a substantial effect on your experience. That’s why it’s wise as a first time trying cannabis should be in an environment where you feel safe and comfortable – like your home, the home of a friend or loved one, or out in nature.
Your social environment – the people around you during your cannabis experience – can also significantly impact your experience. You should also consume with a person or people you trust. The first time is not the time to try consuming alone or with people you have just met (there will be plenty of time for that later).
Your cultural environment, or the culture you come from and/or are surrounded by during your experience, can impact how you interpret your cannabis experience. For example, a spiritual person will interpret their experience differently than someone who highly values science. Similarly, if your experience of cannabis is solely from movies or TV, you may have a preconceived idea that could warp how you see your experience. Although it may often be more subconscious than not, our beliefs and worldviews have a bearing on drug experiences.
Quick Tips:
“I know a spot.” Get high where you feel most comfortable. Home, nature, wherever.
Pick your people. Partake with people you trust and feel comfortable with.
Reflect on cultural influence. Open yourself up to alternative perspectives.
If your intention is to be creative, prepare your setting to optimize your creativity. Want to do art? Set up your art supplies, etc. in advance.
Ready to go?
If you need some help choosing a product to get started, we can help.