When people think about preparing for a psychedelic experience, they usually focus on mindset (“set”) and environment (“setting”). These are essential, of course — but there’s a third dimension that’s just as crucial and often overlooked: the body.

Psychedelic preparation isn’t just about what you think or where you are. It’s about the state of the vessel you bring into the experience.

Psilocybin mushrooms, often called “magic mushrooms,” are entering mainstream conversations more than ever before. From Silicon Valley founders microdosing for creativity to clinical research on depression and PTSD, the curiosity around these ancient fungi is at an all-time high.

But one question rises above the rest: Are psilocybin mushrooms safe?

Have you ever hit a milestone—landed the promotion, closed the funding round, or scaled the company—only to feel like you didn’t deserve it? If so, you’re not alone. That feeling has a name: impostor syndrome.

It’s the nagging belief that your success is a fluke, that you’re “faking it,” or that others will eventually discover you’re not as capable as they think. For many executives, founders, and high achievers, impostor syndrome is a constant companion—even in the face of undeniable evidence of success.

Get ready for a safe, meaningful mushroom ceremony or private 1:1 psilocybin journey. Discover how mindset, setting, support, and integration create the foundation for transformation with The Mind Shift Network.

Many executives and high achievers struggle with perfectionism. On the surface, it can look like a strength: a drive for excellence, attention to detail, and a relentless pursuit of results. But underneath, perfectionism often carries a heavy cost—one that can impact not only performance, but overall health and well-being.

The prevalence of perfectionism is on the rise. Between 1989 and 2016, traits of perfectionism increased by up to 33% among college students in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. And while younger generations are experiencing this trend intensely, executives and business leaders are far from immune.

When people think about psilocybin, the focus is often on the ceremony itself—the deep journey, the visions, the breakthroughs. But here’s the truth: the real transformation doesn’t come during the ceremony. It comes afterward.

This is the art of integration—the practice of weaving insights, emotions, and lessons from a psilocybin journey into your daily life. Without it, even the most powerful experiences can fade like dreams. With it, they can become catalysts for lasting change.

Microdosing mushrooms has exploded in popularity in recent years, often promoted as a way to boost mood, creativity, focus, and overall well-being. Yet alongside this rise in interest, a wave of unsafe and misleading products has also entered the market—leaving many consumers vulnerable to harmful experiences.

Psilocybin, the active compound in “magic mushrooms,” has been gaining increasing attention for its profound impact on personal growth, creativity, and healing. But not all psilocybin experiences are the same. Two common approaches—microdosing and macrodosing—serve very different purposes.

Every founder knows the exhilarating high of a good idea—the spark that lights up the mind with possibility. But in reality, most ideas never leave the “belief” stage. They get stuck there, simmering quietly in the background, buried under fear, uncertainty, or the overwhelming demands of day-to-day life.

For those who do take the leap and bring their product to market, the road is rarely smooth. Only a small percentage succeed not for lack of effort, but because the obstacles are relentless: shifting market conditions, missed hires, investor pressures, drying funding, leadership misalignment, and the founder’s own self-doubt or ego.

Are you feeling stuck or curious about new ways to approach your personal growth? Maybe you've heard about psychedelic journeys and the profound shifts they can spark. If you're looking for a psilocybin facilitator in Los Angeles, you're searching for a safe way to explore what these experiences might hold for you.

It's a big step, and you probably have many questions about what it involves and how to find the right guide for something so personal. This process can feel overwhelming, but you need clear information. You've come to the right place for practical advice on finding a qualified psychedelic professional in the Los Angeles area.

At The Mind Shift Network, we meet a lot of people who are new to psilocybin experiences. They’ve heard about the healing potential, they’re curious about what’s possible, and they’re ready to explore—but there’s one question that comes up again and again:

“Should I do a private journey or join a group ceremony?”

Both experiences can be powerful, transformative, and deeply healing but they’re held in different ways and offer different benefits.

Let’s break it down in plain language so you can choose the container that best supports your intentions.

At The Mind Shift Network, we deeply honor the ancient roots and sacred essence of plant medicine. Psilocybin and other psychedelics have been used for generations—not as products to be patented, but as profound tools for healing, connection, and transformation.

We recognize that the growing attention from pharmaceutical companies and regulatory bodies signals a cultural shift. In some ways, that’s encouraging—psychedelics are finally being taken seriously in mainstream medicine. But let’s be honest: it also comes with real concern.

In recent years, psychedelic-assisted work has been making its way back into the mainstream — with growing research, shifting cultural acceptance, and evolving legal frameworks. Alongside this rise, new modalities are emerging, including psychedelic coaching: an approach that integrates intention setting, somatic awareness, mindset work, and leadership development to support personal growth through non-ordinary states of consciousness.

As the founder of The Mind Shift Network, I’m often asked: How is what you do different from therapy?

And more importantly: Can we work together?

The answer is a resounding yes.

When people talk about psilocybin or other psychedelic experiences, you almost always hear about the importance of set and setting. And for good reason.

Set is your mindset going in—your emotional state, intentions, and readiness for the journey.

Setting is the physical and energetic environment—the space, music, lighting, and the presence of trusted facilitators.

Together, they create the foundation for a safe and meaningful ceremony. They set the stage.

But there’s another ingredient that’s just as critical—one that often gets less attention: surrender.

Throughout my career, I’ve been praised for my ability to read a room, sense unspoken tensions, and pick up on subtle dynamics. That kind of external awareness was a major asset in high-pressure environments. But for years, I overlooked something far more powerful: the ability to read myself.

I was productive and focused, yet often reactive — driven by thoughts and emotions I barely noticed, let alone understood. Like many high performers, I was operating from reflex instead of awareness.

Things shifted when I began exploring internal practices such as meditation, journaling, and eventually, guided psilocybin journeys. Over time, I developed the capacity to observe my internal experience. That awareness changed how I led, communicated, and made decisions. It gave me choice.

Los Angeles has been my home since 1997, when I moved here from Indianapolis. What started as a career shift turned into a deep, lifelong connection with this city—its rhythm, diversity, ambition, and creative edge. Over the years, LA has provided countless opportunities to grow professionally across multiple industries, from entertainment licensing to tech startups and beyond.

I just wrapped up a beautiful client engagement that spanned about 3.5 months—and I have to say, witnessing this transformation has been nothing short of inspiring.

The first six weeks of our time together were spent unpacking some very real challenges in the workplace—patterns, dynamics, frustrations, and beliefs that were also showing up in their personal life. Funny how that works, right? The inner and outer worlds always reflect each other. We explored these cracks gently but intentionally, allowing space for deep awareness to surface.

Welcome to this week’s edition of Mushroom Monday, where we explore the deeper mechanics behind psilocybin journeys. Today’s topic touches the very root of every successful psychedelic experience: Set and Setting.

If you’ve ever explored or considered exploring a psilocybin experience, this phrase has likely popped up. But what does it really mean? And more importantly — why does it matter?

Let’s break it down.

What if a mystical experience — something hard to describe, deeply personal, and borderline spiritual — could actually help ease depression?

It might sound far out, but that’s exactly what researchers are starting to explore with psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, or PAP. Psilocybin is the active compound in “magic mushrooms,” and it’s showing real promise in treating depression that doesn’t respond to traditional meds.

But here’s the kicker: it’s not just the compound itself that might be helping — it might be how you experience it.

Let’s break it down.

Not long ago, if you mentioned microdosing, most people would picture trippy hippies or Silicon Valley weirdos trying to hack their brains. Fast forward to now microdosing is everywhere. From podcasts and Reddit threads to therapist offices and startup circles, people are exploring tiny doses of psychedelics like psilocybin (the compound in “magic mushrooms”) to lift their mood, sharpen focus, or reduce anxiety — without actually tripping.

So, what’s real? What’s hype? And is it actually worth trying?

If you’ve been curious, this article’s for you. We’re diving into what microdosing is, what science is starting to say, and how to think about whether it’s a fit for you.