I received some very helpful wisdom on this topic, many years ago in my early teens, from a random guy I met on a beach.
He said "if you are interested in tripping, you'll almost surely do it. Just be sure to never feel pressured to do it at any one time - it'll always be there. When you do, just be sure you feel comfortable, not tense, and are in a good situation, among friends, and so on. ", basically how to avoid bad trips.
Only did a handful of times, but every time was totally worth it, mind expanding, and enjoyable. Definite thanks in no small part to the wisdom from a random stranger.
I think that because psychedelics are illegal part of why people do them is to satisfy their need for danger. This is the person who thinks “why the hell not!” when taking acid for the first time from a stranger at a party. They’re in this rule breaking mindset already, so stuff like “set and setting” is just one more rule to break.
It’s like if scuba diving was illegal. I’m doubtful that people would do it as carefully.
The advice you got from that stranger seems like a good antidote to that mindset. “It’ll always be there.” That sentence alone seems to take the edge off. You don’t have to take it just because you were offered. It’ll come by again.
He said "if you are interested in tripping, you'll almost surely do it. Just be sure to never feel pressured to do it at any one time - it'll always be there. When you do, just be sure you feel comfortable, not tense, and are in a good situation, among friends, and so on. ", basically how to avoid bad trips.
Only did a handful of times, but every time was totally worth it, mind expanding, and enjoyable. Definite thanks in no small part to the wisdom from a random stranger.