i find the notion of ego-death to often be quite misdirective.

folks are getting taught that the source of their problems is their “ego”, ignoring that we need a functioning ego to survive. it’s not something to be demonized or eliminated. rather, an opportunity to integrate that part of ourselves and our relationship to it, including any stories that we may be telling ourselves about the inherent pathology of ego.

please note i am using the term “ego” in a psychoanalytic sense, not in the pop-connotative sense of displays of narcissistic arrogance.

I think 'death' is a misnomer here. It doesn't kill it so much as force you to acknowledge and face it.

I'd say it 'dies' during the trip as it is ripped from you. In my experiences however it took quite a dose to achieve that.

To me the folks warning to be careful about stress and things you avoid facing when tripping hard are dead-on.

Mushrooms have a way of cleansing the mind and soul, but that's if you are lucky,and you'd best be ready for it.

Usually it's just some cool visuals and good feelings.

it depends, of course. to experience a transpersonal / “spiritualized” angle into reality can be deeply challenging for non-religious, non-spiritual, or atheist folks.

or it can feel quite curious, new, refreshing, even liberating.

or anything else along that spectrum.

are you consuming them on an empty stomach?

what are you eating the day beforehand / how is your diet in general? (like, lots of greasy, heavy food the day before / day of, or more on the lighter, healthier side of things?) this can really impact a body’s response to mushrooms on a gastrointestinal level.

those being more fundamental, I would say - but on top of that, could consider a hot-water infusion with anti-emetic herbs like ginger. tends to be smoother on the GI (provided you haven’t filled your stomach contents as way as well). tends to come on more quickly as well.

something else to consider is that gastrointestinal distress with psilocybin can be an indication of unprocessed emotional material and / or trauma. there’s different ways to work with that, in that context.