How To Embrace All Kinds of Love This Valentine’s Day

While some greet it with a flutter of excitement at the thought of what heart-shaped trinkets they may be bestowed this year, others yell “Phooey!” and grind red roses beneath their boots.*

*Note: this may be an exaggeration for dramatic effect. 

Either way, it is a day that simultaneously fills some with warmth, and others with cold dejection. Luckily, despite decades of rom-com indoctrination, the parameters of what ‘love’ is, or what it can be, is widening and softening. Becoming a bit less man-gives-woman-box-of-chocolates-and-then-they-get-married (though that’s cool too, of course!). Love is a broad spectrum that comes in many forms and textures — all magical, and all worth celebrating. 

Celebrating All Kinds of Love this Valentine’s Day

For anyone who’s tripped on magic mushrooms or magic truffles before, you’ll know all about the waves of love for life, the universe and everything that can wash over you. Love is the deep connection that both grounds and frees us in the world. By recognizing it in all its forms we get to enrich our lives with its glow. Sounds pretty good, eh? But how do you get started? Especially if you’re someone who finds Valentine’s Day more on the cringey side of cute. 

From friendship-love, to familial love, to self-love, to nature-love, to yes, of course, romantic love; we are going to explore the ways you can enhance these connections in your life. From wellness practices, to taking magic mushrooms, to reminders on how to support your loved ones we’ve got it all covered. 

Love is Good For Your Health

And, if you’re still feeling skeptical, did you know that love is actually good for your health? It turns out that having loving relationships in our lives — of any kind — can make big differences in the long-term. Spending time with loved ones can reduce stress, anxiety, Additionally, those with a strong social support tend to heal better if they are taken ill. 

It is obvious to us that healthy eating and exercise can be beneficial to our health, and many people adjust their lives accordingly. It is worth remembering that some of the most important benefits are invisible. Looking after your relationships mean looking after yourself too. A relationship based on give and take… Now that’s what I call love!

Romantic Love

Romantic love is the bread-and-butter of Valentine’s Day but it doesn’t have to be commercial. A truly romantic gesture is to think about what your partner really loves. Pick out a movie to watch that means something to them — whether it’s their childhood favorite, one they’ve been longing to see for a while, or the first one you watched together. Or, think about what they’ve shared with you recently. It should go without saying, but sometimes simply listening to your partner and hearing what they have to say is the most important thing. Have they been stressed and complaining about work? Book them a massage or a spa day. Have they been talking about broadening their horizons? Get them a subscription to an audio-book service, or start your own book club together!

Many couples also enjoy taking psychedelic trips together. Psilocybin, from magic mushrooms and truffles can quieten our egos and lower our inhibitions meaning you can refresh or deepen your intimacy as a couple. For many romantic partners, they are each other’s ‘safe space.’ This means being able to truly be in the moment and experience the trip without fear. Psychologist and founder of rehabilitation centre TATVA, Kripi Malviya, told Vice Magazine in an interview;

“You feel more attractive and ephemeral on a psychedelic, so there’s a sense of self-transformation that then becomes a transformation together when done with a partner,” 

Many couples who describe tripping together emphasize how the experience has helped them see past small, petty, differences to see the bigger picture, and why they chose their partner in the first place. 

Family Love

Familial love can be a tricky one sometimes. For many people it goes without saying that their family is their first and constant love in their lives. However, for other people family life isn’t always as smooth. Our parents, siblings and family dynamic can have far-reaching effects throughout our whole lives. After all, often by the time we are the same age our parents were when they had us we realize that they were just doing their best — could we do any better? Who can say?

If you have a good relationship with your family, the best thing to know this Valentine’s Day is to let them know they are appreciated, that you are grateful to be lumped together with them for better or worse. Make plans to hang out with them, that aren’t based around obligatory holiday-hangouts like Christmas or birthdays for example. As a rule, the thing that makes a parent most happy is simply spending time with their kids. 

If your relationship with your family is not as close, you could make the effort to reach out or simply send a card. However, the chosen family you make with friends (more of this later) can also worthily take the place of this love.

In terms of psychedelic trips, thinking about your family the next time you take shrooms or truffles can help you to come to terms with your relationship dynamics. In many cases you can’t change your family, but you can love them. Psilocybin and other psychedelics can help us to see the bigger picture. Your mum’s nagging may be less irritating when you can see above the immediate situation. Your brother’s teasing (isn’t he too old for that?) is put into perspective when you are reminded of the love that runs deep via the history you share.

Friendship Love

Romantic relationships may come and go, and you can’t pick your parents, but you can choose your friends. Often overlooked, our friendships are actually the key relationships in our lives that endure for the longest. Who have you cried laughing with? Who gave you romantic/career/ DIY advice? Or who will come and buy hangover snacks with you in your PJs? Your friends, that’s who! It’s easy to forget that friendships need care and nourishment just like romantic relationships. That’s because they often come so easily. They do not have the pressure of a romantic relationship, or the obligation of familial ones. But, they often bring the most joy. 

Leslie Knope, the beloved main character of sitcom Parks and Recreation, rejected Valentine’s Day in favor of Galentine’s Day. An excuse if you couldn’t guess, for hanging with your ‘gals’.

And, you can follow in this mold — a tongue-in-cheek version of romance — celebrating your best buds (gals, guys and in-between!) Or just hang out your own way, do the things that you enjoy most together as pals, whether it’s playing video games, going for walks, a spa day, bouldering, or just gossiping over a coffee. Just make sure that your buddies know how much you appreciate them. In fact, did you know that in some countries — Finland, Estonia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Mexico — Valentine’s Day is actually celebrated as Friendship Day? Pretty cool, huh. 

Finally, tripping on magic mushrooms with friends can be really fun. You can catch each other’s vibes, and enhance your experience by chatting, playing, and sharing ideas. Equally, being with close friends can help ground you and help you feel safe. You will sense when each other may need time alone, and when you may need support. A psychedelic experience with friends could cement your bond for life. 

Nature Love

If you wanna get super philosophical, you could say; nature is love, love is nature.

After all, if it wasn’t for this beautiful blue planet we wouldn’t have anywhere to love anyway! Of course, it’s a bit of a different loving nature than giving your mum a bunch of peonies, but it’s deeply important too. Here are some ways you can treat your other Mother — Nature — with love and care this Valentine’s Day. 

Explore the Outdoors

From something as simple as going for a walk in the park, to camping, to going for a cycle, or having a picnic exploring the outdoors can remind you of the nourishing goodness of nature and your love for it in return. 

Eat Natural

Whether you grow your own food or go to local markets or restaurants, eat the produce that has grown where you too are growing. Seasonal ingredients are fresh and full of life, and will enhance your dining experience, the powers of nature we often take for granted. 

Pick Up Some Trash

OK, it’s not sexy or romantic, but picking up trash is one of the sweetest things you can do for Mother Nature. Gather some friends, some trash sacks, put on some gloves and get busy. 

Plant Flowers, Herbs or Even a Tree

Rather than buying a bouquet this year, why not plant some of your very own? Planting flowers that bloom afresh every year is the gift that keeps on giving for both you and the planet. Why not plant some greenery or flowers in honor of a loved one? It’s a Valentine’s double whammy!

Trip in Nature

Tripping on psilocybin in nature is deeply profound. Users experience a closeness to the Earth that cannot be matched. Even scientific study backs it up! Become one with nature this Valentine’s Day — or anyday for that matter. 

Self-Love

Despite ‘self-care’ being a buzzy-buzz word, for many of us it’s something we still overlook. It’s very easy to put others’ needs above your own, especially in the name of love. However, showing ourselves love and appreciation is key to happiness, and actually helps all of our relationships in the long run. 

Give yourself a break, practice self-care, and treat yourself with the compassion you would give to a loved one. As well as feeling good, it also has many medical benefits. It lowers your stress levels and increases those much coveted ‘happy hormones’; serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine. It also can improve cardiovascular health and even strengthen the immune system. 

Of course, you know what your dream self-care Valentine’s activity is. But here are some suggestions: 

Take yourself out for dinner: Choose your favorite cuisine, order whatever you want, and soak in some time with yourself. 

Exercise: For some people it’s not a treat, but it will give you that extra dopamine hit, which feels gooood. 

Have a bath: Candles, bubbles, the lot. You earned it!

Say ‘no’: It’s a small thing, but for some people saying ‘no’, even when they really don’t want to do something, is very hard. Taking time for yourself and making boundaries takes some getting used to but it is key to maintaining balance. It means the next time you say ‘yes’, you’ll be your best self. 

Trip alone: Want to get to know the real you? Go on a date with psilocybin — it could change your life. 

Pssst! Never tripped alone? Follow our guide right here. 

So there you have it. Valentine’s Day need not be a bore. It can be an excuse to explore the whole psychedelic spectrum of love in any way you wish!

Happy Valentine’s Day!