Copelandia Cyanescens spores syringe .co.uk
own
cause of death and disease, bloated stomachs and
insanity. Beliefs such as these have survived to
the present day. They persist, for example,,, as
figures of speech, s u c h as the slick Austrian
description of a societal misfit as someone "who
ate those madness-inducing mushrooms."
But, there is another, very different,
magic mushroom legacy as well.
Flesh of the Gods for Devil Worshippers
The Old World. Mycenaean civilization
began with a mushroom trip -Mushrooms were
an ingredient in the ambrosia of Dionysus.
Porphyrius, the fourth century Latin poet and
contemporary of Emperor Konstantin, knew
that magic mushrooms were the children of the
gods.
WHO WAS THE FIRST MAGICIAN?
A quasi-cannibalistic ritual, the act of eating the
children of the gods unlocked one's power to
experience the truly divine. But not all
mushrooms enable human beings to enter the
realm of divine consciousness. This magic power
resides in only those fungi known as "fool's
mushrooms", which were considered poisonous
and believed to be the spawn of the Devil
throughout the late Middle Ages and well into
modern times.
The New World: The Aztecs in Mexico
referred to a number of small, inconspicuous
mushrooms as teonartacatl, or "flesh of the
Gods." These sacred mushrooms were eaten
during the course of rituals intended to contact
the Gods in order to learn about the world and the
realm of the divine. These magic mushroom
rituals thoroughly spooked the Catholic
Spaniards. The mushroom eaters, commonly
thought of as Devil worshippers, were hounded
by the Inquisition. Still, all good things survive
the tests of time, so the cult of magic mushroom
eaters did not become extinct. Like mycelia
underground, the cult continued to flourish, and
at the proper time in recorded history, in 1957,
the fruit of the fully grown mushroom re-surfaced
to draw widespread public attention. Valentine
and Gordon Wasson became the heroes of the
modern neo-mycophilic movement.
Back to the Old World: The revelations
and insights gained from the use of psychoactive
mushrooms were so magically wonderful, that
our native European "fool's mushrooms" - which
were gene ; considered inedible - had to be
recognized as closely related to the magic
mushrooms of Mexico, the flesh of the Aztec
Gods. The souls of magic mushrooms in Mexico
and Germany are essentially made from the same
substance: psilocybin.
Jochen Gartz has made an extraordinary
contribution to the field of mycology by embracing
Germany's magic mushrooms and the scientific
study and testing of these fungi. The research
efforts upon which this book is based require
nothing less than a fearless, brave and courageous
consciousness, free of prejudice and mycophobia. I
am convinced that a researcher's consciousness
infused by the spirit of the magic mushroom is
capable of far deeper scientific insights than we
can ever expect from the usual ivory tower
academics, isolated from reality
Macroscopically, it is extremely difficult to
distinguish from Psilocybe semilanceata. Unlike
the latter species, however, Psilocybe pelliculosa
will grow in forests on wood chips and sawdust.
Beug and Bigwood were able to furnish
analytical proof in support of the claim that
Psilocybe pelliculosa is weaker in its psychotropic
effects than comparable species. Psilocybe
pelliculosa contains about 30-50% of the amount
of psilocybin found in Psilocybe cyanescens (slang
names: Blue wavy, Cyan, Grandote), a species
common across the Pacific Northwest. It fruits
primarily in parks, forming partial fairy rings. This
species did not become popular
among users until the mid-1970s. species still fruits most abundantly in the fall.
A New Psychoactive Mushroom Mushroom Trips as a Popular Sport
Several additional Psilocybe species have
been found in the Pacific Northwest, even though
the taxonomic classification of most of these
species remains inadequate, despite the fact that
monographs such as those by P. Stamets offer quite
detailed descriptions of the psychotropic
mycoflora. In the mid-1970s, Guzman and Ott
reported a rather spectacular event concerning the
spread of a "new" mushroom species. During the
fall of 1972, large numbers of a strongly bluing
gilled mushroom with a distinct ring pattern were
found at the University of Washington in Seattle.
The fruiting bodies were found growing on bark
mulch, which came from a central distribution
point and which had been spread widely across the
campus by gardeners. Due to the bluing reaction,
students at the university assumed that the
mushroom contained psilocybin, a belief that was
confirmed later on. The sudden appearance of
massive numbers of fruiting bodies quickly
inspired students at the university to use the
mushrooms as a hallucinogen.
In my opinion, it is still uncertain if the
mushroom really appeared spontaneously, or
whether it fruited on bark debris simply because the
substance had previously been mixed with spawn
derived from fruiting bodies that originated
elsewhere.
In any case, in 1976, the mushrooms were
named Psilocybe stuntzii Guzman & Ott (slang
name: "blue veil" or "stuntzees", (see Figures 54
and 71). Today, the species can be found growing
on bark and on lawns in parks, on golf courses,
football fields and gardens in numbers so large that
it is considered the second most important species
in terms of usage, after Psilocybe semilanceata. In
addition, Panaeolus subbalteatus is another
regionally important mushroom species (slang
name: "red cap"), even though its users believe it to
be slightly more poisonous than the Psilocybe
species. Still, the mushroom is used quite
frequently, because it begins to fruit during the
spring. The Psilocybe species, on the other hand, do
not appear until fall and continue to grow into early
winter, when temperatures consistently drop below
freezing, which inhibits further fruiting of the
spe and
familiarity with psychotropic mushrooms in
Europe that is most likely derived from usage of
Psilocybes and related species, rather than
experience with Amanita muscaria. However, it is
extremely difficult to reject or confirm this
hypothesis, due to the lack of conclusive data
available for analysis today.
Bwyd Ellylon: A Feast of Fairies in
Celebration of the Spirit World
Tales of ritualistic mushroom usage have
found their way into the realm of myths and
legends. For instance, one legend describes a
peculiar poisonous mushroom in Wales (British
Isles) with the strange name of Bwyd Ellylon,
which was considered a delicacy by fairies feasting
in celebration of the spirit world. Psilocybe
semilanceata is the most important psilocybincontaining
mushroom in Europe and it thrives in
parts of Great Britain, where the mushroom grows
abundantly all across the Welsh countryside during
fall season.
I would like to thank G. Samorini for
pointing out that the Inquisition was unusually
cruel and vicious in the Alpine valleys of
Valcamonica, Valtrompia and Valtellina (located
in the provinces of Brescia and Sandrio in
Northern Italy). Many books chronicle countless
witch burnings in that region, with particular
emphasis on the witches' meetings at the "Monte
del Tonale", located at an altitude of 2000 m (ca.
6,000 ft). Field research has shown that plants of
the nightshade family ("witching herbs") do not
grow at this altitude; even the fly agaric mushroom
is rarely found there. By contrast, pastures in the
area abound with Psilocybe semilanceata during
the fall. Given this historical context, it would
seem likely that Psilocybe
semilanceata played an important role as a
psychotropic agent in the region (see Figure 58,
Chapter 7.4).
In light of medieval accounts describing
the practice of witchcraft, it is interesting to note
that a subjective sensation of flying or levitation is
among the commonly reported effects of
psilocybin intoxication.
Berserk Rage of Nordic Warriors
In the course of the ideological power
struggle between Christianity and the remnants of
pagan religions that worshipped Nature, many
sources of knowledge were lost. The aggressive
repression and eradication of pre-Christian
customs all but destroyed the continuity of
Europe's original cultural heritage, along with
much historic evidence documenting early cultural
practices, including the usage of plants and
mushrooms for the purpose of temporary
alterations of consciousness.
Some authors went so far as to blame the
fly agaric mushroom for proverbial fits of "berserk
rage" attributed to Nordic warriors. Many accounts
detailing this phenomenon allude to a "deception
of the eyes" (i.e. visual hallucinations). After the
Nordic legal system banished the practice of
"going berserk", it disappeared quite suddenly
during the 12th century. At about the same time,
Saxo Grammaticus speculated that the Berserkers
may have used mag Mind-altering (psilocybine containing) mushrooms have been traditionally used in religious healing and curing ceremonies by native
buy mushroom buy Psilocybin
Macroscopically, it is extremely difficult to
distinguish from Psilocybe semilanceata. Unlike
the latter species, however, Psilocybe pelliculosa
will grow in forests on wood chips and sawdust.
Beug and Bigwood were able to furnish
analytical proof in support of Pictures Of Eminems House the claim that
Psilocybe pelliculosa gold tops mushroom location gold coast is weaker in its psychotropic
effects than comparable species. Psilocybe
pelliculosa contains about 30-50% of the amount
of psilocybin found in Psilocybe cyanescens (slang
names: Blue wavy, Cyan, Grandote), a species
common across the Pacific Northwest. It fruits
primarily in parks, forming partial fairy rings. This
species did not become popular
among
hawiian psilocybes
users until the mid-1970s. species still fruits most abundantly in the fall.
A New Psychoactive Mushroom Mushroom Trips as a Popular Sport
Several additional Psilocybe species have
been found in the Pacific Northwest, even though
the taxonomic classification of most of these
species remains inadequate, despite the fact that
monographs such as those by P. Stamets offer quite
detailed descriptions of the psychotropic
mycoflora. In the mid-1970s, Guzman and Ott
reported a rather spectacular event concerning the
spread of a "new" mushroom species. During the
fall of 1972, large numbers of a strongly bluing
gilled mushroom with a distinct ring pattern were
found at the University of Washington in Seattle.
The fruiting bodies were found growing on bark
mulch, which came from a central distribution
point and which had been spread widely across the
campus by gardeners. Due to the bluing reaction,
students at the university assumed that the
mushroom contained psilocybin, a belief that was
confirmed later on. The sudden appearance of
massive numbers of fruiting bodies quickly
inspired students at the university to use the
mushrooms as a hallucinogen.
In my opinion, it is still uncertain if the
mushroom really appeared spontaneously, or
whether it fruited on bark debris simply because the
substance had previously been mixed with spawn
derived from fruiting bodies that originated
elsewhere.
In any case, in 1976, the mushrooms were
named Psilocybe stuntzii Guzman & Ott (slang
name: "blue veil" or "stuntzees", (see Figures 54
and 71). Today, the species can be found growing
on bark and on lawns in parks, on golf courses,
football fields and gardens in numbers so large that
it is considered the second most important species
in terms of usage, after Psilocybe semilanceata. In
addition, Panaeolus subbalteatus is another
regionally important mushroom species (slang
name: "red cap"), even though its users believe
Paul Stamets Game Shrooms it to
be slightly more poisonous than the Psilocybe
species. Still, the mushroom is used quite
frequently, because it begins to fruit during the
spring. The Psilocybe species, on the other hand, do
not appear until fall and continue to grow into early
winter, when temperatures consistently drop below
freezing, which inhibits further fruiting of the
spe
, and who gorge
themselves on our tax dollars.
I met Jochen Gartz shortly after the fall of
the Berlin Wall at the third symposium of the
European College for IN MAGIC IN MUSHROOMS IN THAT the Study of Consciousness
(ECSC) in Freiburg, Germany. Our encounter was
my first contact with a researcher from the former
East Germany.
Jochen Gartz's enthusiastic lecture
was a truly consciousnessexpanding event, his
words breaking down traditional borders and
crossing over into new territory. The magic
mushrooms spoke
cow dung psilocyde
through him - with no trace of
dogma or ideology - in
the tradition of true anarchy that is the hallmark of
mushroom magic. What I heard was unbelievable.
Jochen spoke of a "new" psychedelic mushroom
and its migration. The mycelia had spread in
concentric circles outward from Leipzig, jumping
all political borders.
Finally, when the mycelia
reached West German soil, the hated Berlin Wall
crumbled. Could there possibly be a connection
between the evolution of the magic mushroom and
the evolution of our consciousness? Could a
mushroom have contributed to the resolution of
our political conflicts?
In the past, politicians, even popes, had
their own jesters and magicians, who functioned as
pressure release valves in the machinations of
political power struggles.
It is obvious that a
country whose chancellor is being pelted with
eggs, urgently needs a new breed of magician who
are able to readjust reality.
But today, no aspiring
magician should go about this task without this
book as a guide for the wondrous journey into the
realm of magic mushrooms.
Christian Rdtsch
Figure 5 - "Anthropomorphic Beings Engaged in Mushroom Dance"
10,000-year-old rock drawing in Tassili, Sahara (Algeria)
CHAPTER 1
I BELIEVE THE TIME HAS COME FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF NEW
FINDINGS FROM THE FIELDS OF MYCOLOGY, TAXONOMY AND NATURAL
PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY
When R.G. Wasson, R. Heim and A.
Hofmann began their interdisciplinary research
program to study the Mexican species of
mushrooms and their usage in Mexican
mushroom cults, their efforts culminated in a
1958 landmark report that described the isolation,
molecular structure and synthesis of the
mushrooms' active ingredients: psilocybin and
psilocin. Several years later, these substances
were also identified in a species of mushroom in
Europe, Psilocybe semilanceata, which became the
first in a series of newly discovered species. Since
then, psychoactive mushrooms from other genera
have been reported with increasing frequency.
As part of my analytical work dedicated
to the identification of
Semilanceata Characteristics Magic Tops Tops Semilanceata Mushrooms naturally occurring
chemicals, I had the good fortune to be part of a
research team that studied alkaloids found in a
variety of mushroom species.
Now I believe the
time has come for a comprehensive review of
new findings from the
Liberty Caps Psilocybe Semilancea Paul Stamets fields of mycology,
taxonomy and natural products chemistry.
Wasson and his successors have already provided
detailed accounts pertaining to the history and
study of the Me own
cause of death and disease, bloated stomachs and
insanity. Beliefs such as these have survived to
the present day. They persist, for example,,, as
figures of speech, s u c h as the slick Austrian
description of a societal misfit as someone "who
ate those madness-inducing mushrooms."
But, there is another, very different,
magic mushroom legacy as well.
Flesh of the Gods for Devil Worshippers
The Old World. Mycenaean civilization
began with a mushroom trip -Mushrooms were
an ingredient in the ambrosia of Dionysus.
Porphyrius, the fourth century Latin poet and
contemporary of Emperor Konstantin, knew
that magic mushrooms were the children of the
gods.
WHO WAS THE FIRST MAGICIAN?
A quasi-cannibalistic ritual, the act of eating the
children of the gods unlocked one's power to
experience the truly divine. But not all
mushrooms enable human beings to enter the
realm of divine consciousness. This magic power
resides in only those fungi known as "fool's
mushrooms", which were considered poisonous
and believed to be the spawn of the Devil
throughout the late Middle Ages and well into
modern times.
The New World: The Aztecs in Mexico
referred to a number of small, inconspicuous
mushrooms as teonartacatl, or "flesh of the
Gods." These sacred mushrooms were eaten
during the course of rituals intended to contact
the Gods in order to learn about the world and the
realm of the divine. These magic mushroom
rituals thoroughly spooked the Catholic
Spaniards. The mushroom eaters, commonly
thought of as Devil worshippers, were hounded
by the Inquisition. Still, all good things survive
the tests of time, so the cult of magic mushroom
eaters did not become extinct. Like mycelia
underground, the cult continued to flourish, and
at the proper time in recorded history, in 1957,
the fruit of the fully grown mushroom re-surfaced
to draw widespread public attention. Valentine
and Gordon Wasson became the heroes of the
modern neo-mycophilic movement.
Back to the Old World: The revelations
and insights gained from the use of psychoactive
mushrooms were so magically wonderful, that
our native European "fool's mushrooms" - which
were gene ; considered inedible - had to be
recognized as closely related to the magic
mushrooms of Mexico, the flesh of the Aztec
Gods. The souls of magic mushrooms in Mexico
and Germany are essentially made from the same
substance: psilocybin.
Jochen Gartz has made an extraordinary
contribution to the field of mycology by embracing
Germany's magic mushrooms and the scientific
study and testing of these fungi. The research
efforts upon which this book is based require
nothing less than a fearless, brave and courageous
consciousness, free of prejudice and mycophobia. I
am convinced that a researcher's consciousness
infused by the spirit of the magic mushroom is
capable of far deeper scientific insights than we
can ever expect from the usual ivory tower
academics, isolated from reality Dosages for Psilocybe australiana Guzmán & Watling, Psilocybe eucalypta Guzmán &
Those who ingest Psilocybin Red Woods Where I Can Buy Psilocybin Copelandia cyanescens, known Psilocybin Red Woods Where I Can Buy Psilocybin in
e creek on wood chips of
Carpinus, Alnus and Salix, on raw compost
mixtures of Picea, Pinus and Larix needles,
as
Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.
Figure 21 - Fruiting curve of Psilocybe
cyanescens based on observations at several
locations in the former Czechoslovakia.
The mycelia make use of different kinds
of plant debris and even grow on wet cardboard,
where they develop into rhizomorphs just like
they would in nature. Rhizomorphs are thick
strands of mycelia that serve to transport
nutrients and water. They also develop intense
blue stains (see Figure 22).
Figure 23
Distribution pattern of Psilocybe
cyanescens in Germany and adjacent areas
(according to Krieglsteiner). Locations are
indicated by black dots.
Figure 22
Psilocybe bohemica
rhizomorphs growing on
wet cardboard.
Figure 24 - Psilocybe cyanescens at a natural location (USA).
Figure 25 - Psilocybe bohemica on twigs and leaves.
Impressive Experiences
Psilocybe bohemica is a very psychoactive
species. Its effects are vividly documented in the
following account of one natural scientist's
experience as part of controlled clinical trials in
Prague:
About 30 mg of psilocybin in mushroom
tissue was prepared in hot water, with effects
already noticeable ten minutes after ingestion. I
grew increasingly quiet. At first, my legs began to
tingle, then my underarms as well. Aside from a
deeper breathing rhythm, few other somatic effects
were noted. Initially there were fits of laughter
caused by unusual cognitive associations; this
laughter also affected the two "sober" guides. A
growing hyperacuity interfered with the ability to
listen to music, so that Vivaldi's "Springtime"
caused painful stabs inside the brain. I compared
the pain to that caused by a "sawing knife". The
experimenters appeared bloated and yellow...
Existing bodily characteristics, such as thinning
hair stimulated a person's illusionary
transformation into a monk with tonsure. Their
voices also appeared reverent and, from a
somewhat paranoid point of view, these gentlemen
at times seemed to be working a switching station
that, for some reasons, was my enemy. At the same
time, I found both of them to be quite likeable.
During this time period, the other female subject
perceived fantastic images of moving colors and
saw visions of her whole life unfolding behind
closed eyes. During this period, I had the distinct
impression that an electrical current was flowing
through my body, which was not an uncomfortable
sensation. About three hours later, the gentlemen
retired to the kitchen and the nature of the
experience changed quite drastically.
At first I felt as if my legs were increasingly
merging into the wall, a very comfortable
experience. In a state of utter clarity of
consciousness, I finally felt as if I had no body at all.
I said. "The most descriptive expression is the
experience of a pure soul". Using words as triggers,
we were able to induce shared experiences o
, and who gorge
themselves on our tax dollars.
I met Jochen Gartz shortly after the fall of
the Berlin Wall at the third symposium of the
European College for the Study of Consciousness
(ECSC) in Freiburg, Germany. Our encounter was
my first contact with a researcher from the former
East Germany. Jochen Gartz's enthusiastic lecture
was a truly consciousnessexpanding event, his
words breaking down traditional borders and
crossing over into new territory. The magic
mushrooms spoke through him - with no trace of
dogma or ideology - in
the tradition of true anarchy that is the hallmark of
mushroom magic. What I heard was unbelievable.
Jochen spoke of a "new" psychedelic mushroom
and its migration. The mycelia had spread in
concentric circles outward from Leipzig, jumping
all political borders. Finally, when the mycelia
reached West German soil, the hated Berlin Wall
crumbled. Could there possibly be a connection
between the evolution of the magic mushroom and
the evolution of our consciousness? Could a
mushroom have contributed to the resolution of
our political conflicts?
In the past, politicians, even popes, had
their own jesters and magicians, who functioned as
pressure release valves in the machinations of
political power struggles. It is obvious that a
country whose chancellor is being pelted with
eggs, urgently needs a new breed of magician who
are able to readjust reality. But today, no aspiring
magician should go about this task without this
book as a guide for the wondrous journey into the
realm of magic mushrooms.
Christian Rdtsch
Figure 5 - "Anthropomorphic Beings Engaged in Mushroom Dance"
10,000-year-old rock drawing in Tassili, Sahara (Algeria)
CHAPTER 1
I BELIEVE THE TIME HAS COME FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF Tattoo Articles Tattoo Articles Mushroom Articles Mushroom Articles Mushroom NEW
FINDINGS FROM THE FIELDS OF MYCOLOGY, TAXONOMY AND NATURAL
PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY
When R.G. Wasson, R. Heim and A.
Hofmann began their interdisciplinary research
program to study the Mexican species of
mushrooms and their usage in Mexican
mushroom cults, their efforts culminated in a
1958 landmark report that described the isolation,
molecular structure and synthesis of the
mushrooms' active ingredients: psilocybin and
psilocin. Several years later, these substances
were also identified in a species of mushroom in
Europe, Psilocybe semilanceata, which became the
first in a series of newly discovered species. Since
then, psychoactive mushrooms from other genera
have been reported with increasing frequency.
As part of my analytical work dedicated
to the identification of naturally occurring
chemicals, I had the good fortune to be part of a
research team that studied alkaloids found in a
variety of mushroom species. Now I believe the
time has come for a comprehensive review of
new findings from the fields of mycology,
taxonomy and natural products chemistry.
Wasson and his successors have already provided
detailed accounts pertaining to the history and
study of the Me
e creek on wood chips of
Carpinus, Alnus and Salix, on raw compost
mixtures of Picea, Pinus and Larix needles,
as
Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.
Figure 21 - Fruiting curve of Psilocybe
cyanescens based on observations at Magic Mushroom Grow Kit Monterey Mushroom several
locations in the former Czechoslovakia.
The mycelia make use of different kinds
of plant debris and even grow on wet cardboard,
where they develop into rhizomorphs just like
they would in nature. Rhizomorphs are thick
strands of mycelia that serve to transport
nutrients and water. They also develop intense
blue stains (see Figure 22).
Figure 23
Distribution pattern of Psilocybe
cyanescens in Germany and adjacent areas
(according to Krieglsteiner). Locations are
indicated by black dots.
Figure 22
Psilocybe bohemica
rhizomorphs growing on
wet cardboard.
Figure 24 - Psilocybe cyanescens at a natural location (USA).
Figure 25 - Psilocybe bohemica on twigs and leaves.
Impressive Experiences
Psilocybe bohemica is a very psychoactive
species. Its effects are vividly documented in the
following account of one natural scientist's
experience as part of controlled clinical trials in
Prague:
About 30 mg of psilocybin in mushroom
tissue was prepared in hot water, with effects
already noticeable ten minutes after ingestion. I
grew increasingly quiet. At first, my legs began to
tingle, then my underarms as well. Aside from a
deeper breathing rhythm, few other somatic effects
were noted. Initially there were fits of laughter
caused by unusual cognitive associations; this
laughter also affected the two "sober" guides. A
growing hyperacuity interfered with the ability to
listen to music, so that Vivaldi's "Springtime"
caused painful stabs inside the brain.
I compared
the pain to that caused by a "sawing knife". The
experimenters appeared bloated and yellow...
Existing bodily characteristics, such as thinning
hair stimulated a person's illusionary
transformation into a monk with tonsure. Their
voices also appeared reverent and, from a
somewhat paranoid point of view, these gentlemen
at times seemed to be working a switching station
that, for some reasons, was my enemy. At the same
time, I found both of them to be quite likeable.
During this time period, the other female subject
perceived fantastic images of moving colors and
saw visions of her whole life unfolding behind
closed eyes. During this period, I had the distinct
impression that an electrical current was flowing
through my body, which was not an uncomfortable
sensation. About three hours later, the gentlemen
retired to the kitchen and the nature of the
experience changed quite drastically.
At first I felt as if my legs were increasingly
merging into the wall, a very comfortable
experience. In a state of utter clarity of
consciousness, I finally felt as if I had no body at all.
I said. "The most descriptive expression is the
experience of a pure soul". Using words as triggers,
we were able to induce shared experiences o
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Fungus ed
and large numbers of studies were conducted,
primarily with LSD. These investigators sought to
discover the receptor binding sites for
hallucinogenic compounds in the brain and to
understand the mechanisms underlying the
genesis of psychedelic visions.
Today, we still
lack a sound theoretical framework able to
explain the relationship between chemical
compounds and the manifestation of their
psychoactivity. Even though basic research is
certainly important, its methods, unfortunately, are
often a function of a rather one-sided
pharmacological approach to investigating the
effects of psilocybin, LSD and mescaline - an
approach that is, in fact, too narrow to address the
remarkably unusual nature of these substances and
their effects.
Misunderstandings between pharmacologists
and toxicologists on the one hand and
psychiatrists and psychologists on the other can
often be traced all the way back to the 1950's,
creating a legacy of disputes and arguments that
have yet to be resolved. S. Grof undertook the
tedious task of analyzing 5,000 experimental LSD
protocols in an effort to isolate "absolute"
symptoms that are reported or occur all of the
time. His results were negative. According to Grof,
hallucinogenic substances are non-specific triggers
causing a sequence of altered states of
consciousness, which do not
mushroom drawings fit the syndrome
labeled "toxic psychosis". Rather, it is the
individual's personality, along with the
experimental setting that significantly shape the
nature of the psychedelic experience. This view is
shared by a majority of experts with considerable
experience in conducting psychedelics-assisted
psychotherapy. Even "real" somatic symptoms,
such as nausea or vomiting, can often be controlled
through psychological intervention techniques
administered by trained professionals.
A Plethora of Names
The broad range of possible experiences
inspired the use of labels other than
"hallucinogens", with widely differing semantic
connotations: entheogens, psychedelics,
illusionogens, psycholytics, psychomimetics,
psychodysleptica, psychoemetics and others.
"Phantastica" (Lewin) is the oldest label
ever used to describe this class of substances. This
term successfully evokes dream-like, fanciful
aspects of the experience, as well as the potential
for euphoric and dysphoric emotional overtones.
More recent terminology often says more about
semantic biases of those who use the labels than
about any factual, objective characteristics of the
alkaloids they refer to. Accordingly, official antidrug
propaganda since
the 1960's has disparaged "psychedelics" as
excessively glamorous and too positive a label, as
the term was popular among Timothy Leary's fans
and supporters.
When used
Magic Mushroom Cultivation Mellow Mushroom in low doses or for the first
time, these substances are most likely to bring
about a kind of magical transformation of
surroundings, with a heightened ability to perceive
subtle differences along the color spectru
ulinary
mushroom bears no
resemblance, either in size or form, to Inocybe
aeruginascens. Overall, however, these
unfortunate cases have also contributed to our
understanding of mushroom biochemistry.
In this context, I want to emphasize
once more that the hallucinogenic varieties
among the Inocybes can easily be mistaken for
those muscarine-producing Inocybe species
that are extremely poisonous.
As part of his investigation of the
Psilocybe genus, Guzman noted a common
trait among the hallucinogenic species, in
addition to the bluing reaction: a flour-like
smell or taste. Apart from the inherent
subjective nature of our sense of smell and
taste, a common odor is a trait that definitely
does not apply to the European species (also
see Chapter 3.2).
Mycophile or Mycophobe?
There are reports from the Western
United States about people with expert
knowledge of Psilocybe semilanceata -
devoted mushroom hunters who can identify
the species with drill and accuracy. At the
same time, however, these experts cannot
identify easily spotted common table
mushrooms, nor are they able to differentiate
the Agaricus species (champignons) from other
mushrooms, even when these species grow on
the same pasture. Such individuals, then, are
not interested in species other than Psilocybe
semilanceata. In my opinion, this attitude
reflects a rare combination of mycophilia and
mycophobia.
A mushroom's spore dust provides
important information needed to determine
identity. A spore print is left by the gills when
the cap is placed on black or white paper
(depending on spore color). As the process
takes several hours, a glass vessel must be
placed over the cap to prevent drying. While
useful, information obtained from spore
analyses has its limitations, For instance,
spores derived from mushrooms belonging to
different genera may have the same color, but
reveal basic differences under the microscope.
There is also a high degree of similarity among
spores from different Psilocybe species. Thus,
the only way to prevent grave errors and
potentially deadly intoxications is to rely on
experienced experts for mushroom
identification, a process that must include
analysis of available ecological data.
CHAPTER 5
THE BLUING PHENOMENON AND METOL
TESTING: REALITY VS. WISHFUL THINKING
As previously discussed in Chapters 3.1
and 3.7, the bluing reaction is characteristic
of species that produce psilocybin. Still, for
unknown reasons, some species or samples
belonging to a genus that usually turns blue
may not always change color, regardless of
psilocybin content. Among the species that I
have examined, Psilocybe bohemica
displayed the most impressive bluing
reaction. The caps of this species stain very
quickly in reaction to pressure. Other species,
such as Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Sing.
have stems that develop very intensely blue
stains, while their caps do not exhibit the
bluing reaction. By contrast, Psilocybe
was
followed by a very vivid sensation of the soul in
flight, coupled with feelings of euphoria.When
looking out the window into the dark night of a
forest landscape, visions of strange patterns and
formations occurred, which were deeply impressive
and seemed to impart an inkling of eternity. At the
end of four hours, the effects had dissipated without
dysphoria or any type of somatic side effect.
A control experiment for comparison
purposes was performed using 0.8 g of dried
Psilocybe semilanceata. The onset of symptoms was
much more sudden, including a heavy flow of tears,
so that there was an initial phase of anxiety. Only in
a later phase of the experience was it possible to
perceive ornaments in the form of "underwater
streamers", and to appreciate the aesthetically
enhanced nature of these visions.
The regular pattern of. involuntary
intoxications is a good indicator for the large scope
of expansion of Inocybe aeruginascens into new
habitats during the 1980s. For example, at the time
of the initial intoxications - when the species was
still restricted to a few easily quantifiable
collections - the mushrooms had spread from
Potsdam to the location known in 1982, and from
there moved on to several other locations in the
vicinity, where more than 150 mushrooms were
found (see Figure 34).
Symbiosis With Trees
Starting in late May 1984, fruiting bodies
of the species could be found in abundance at
countless new locations across the Brandenburg
region of Germany. They tend to grow near the
roots of different deciduous trees (Populus, Tilia,
Quercus, Betula), on lawns in parks and gardens,
at the edges of trails and in the paved margin areas
of tree-lined sidewalks (where they may even
grow on bare, sandy soil) as well as amongst the
greenery of residential areas in the suburbs and
communities in and around Berlin.
Herein lies the most marked difference
between Inocybe aeruginascens and other
European psychotropic mushroom species:
Inocybe aeruginascens grows only in areas of
human development. Their prime locations are in
the middle of villages and towns, where they grow
locally much like other Inocybe species. They may
temporarily produce mass quantities of fruiting
bodies, in those locations that are typical habitats
for the edible varieties of the fairy ring mushroom.
So far, the most abundant crop of fruiting
bodies was observed in 1987, due to very wet
weather conditions, which allowed the mushrooms
to thrive. The following years were comparatively
dry and the species hardly fruited at all. It wasn't
until 1990 that a few mushrooms re-emerged at the
classic location in Potsdam. Despite 1989 having
been a bad year for mushrooms, it was the year
when Inocybe aeruginascens was found for the
first time at four locations in and around Rostock,
a city located on the Eastern German coast, which
is famous for its wet climate. Finding the
mushrooms at these locations is evidence for a
mu xican mushroom species, so that
these materials need not be repeated in this
context. However, certain aspects concerning the
more recent uses of these mushrooms as well as
their conditions of growth will receive more
detailed attention in later chapters.
The main purpose of this book is to
inspire further study of these mushrooms,
particularly basic research efforts and medical
applications of magic mushroom ingredients.
The extensive bibliography will help
scientists and other interested mycophiles to
further immerse themselves in this complex area
of study.
Jochen Gartz
Figure 6 - Bronze doors with mushroom motif entitled "Trial and
Judgment" at Hildesheim Cathedral, Germany (ca. 1020).
CHAPTER 2
REFLECTIONS ON THE HISTORY
AND SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF MAGIC MUSHROOMS
It is remarkable that cultures native to the
American continent knew about a relatively large
number of natural mind-altering substances
compared to early cultures that evolved in Europe
or Asia. Botanical evidence does not support the
notion that Europe is home to fewer hallucinogenic
plants than other regions. Furthermore, the
growing number of recently discovered European
mushroom species containing psilocybin indicate a
flourishing psychotropic mycoflora in Europe
similar to those found in other countries.
It is unlikely that early European cultures
learned less about local plants and mushrooms
through usage and experience than cultures
elsewhere in the world. Most likely, early cultural
knowledge of European psychoactive plants and
mushrooms was lost or destroyed at some time in
history, probably as early as several hundred years
ago.
The discovery that the fly agaric
mushroom (Amanita muscaria) was known for its
psychoactive properties in Siberia invited the
conclusion that this mushroom was used as a
psychotropic agent in medieval Europe as well. In
fact, there is very little evidence from the Middle
Ages to indicate widespread knowledge of the
effects of specific mushrooms on human
consciousness. However, I believe that past reports
on psychoactive mushrooms were causally linked
to Amanita muscaria simply because this was the
only known psychotropic mushroom in Europe at
that time.
While the usage of Amanita muscaria
among Siberian tribes has generated reports of
spectacular hallucinations, European accounts of
fly agaric intoxications do not generally include
descriptions of such intensely hallucinatory
effects.
Accordingly, the potent hallucinogenic
effects of specific Psilocybes and related species
are likely to have had a much more significant
influence on early European cultures than the
delirium-like visions induced by Amanita
muscaria, a species that is also known to induce
unconsciousness and severe somatic side effects.
This hypothesis is corroborated by data from
comprehensive field studies conducted in Mexico.
I believe that historic accounts including those
described below - indicate a knowledge of ulinary
mushroom bears no
resemblance, either in size or form, to Inocybe
aeruginascens.
Overall, however, these
unfortunate cases have also contributed to our
understanding of mushroom biochemistry.
In this context, I want to emphasize
once more that the hallucinogenic varieties
among the Inocybes can easily be mistaken for
those muscarine-producing Inocybe species
that are extremely poisonous.
As part of his investigation of the
Psilocybe genus, Guzman noted a common
trait among the hallucinogenic species, in
addition to the bluing reaction: a
Growing Magic Mushrooms Copelandia Cyanescens Magic Mushrooms Queensland flour-like
smell or taste. Apart from the inherent
subjective nature of our sense of smell and
taste, a common odor is a trait that definitely
does not apply to the European species (also
see Chapter 3.2).
Mycophile or Mycophobe?
There are reports from the Western
United States about people with expert
knowledge of Psilocybe semilanceata -
devoted mushroom hunters who can identify
the species with drill and accuracy. At the
same time, however, these experts cannot
identify easily spotted common table
mushrooms, nor are they able to differentiate
the Agaricus species (champignons) from other
mushrooms, even when these species grow on
the same pasture. Such individuals, then, are
not interested in species
IDENTIFICATION Gallery IDENTIFICATION other than Psilocybe
semilanceata. In my opinion, this attitude
reflects a rare combination of mycophilia and
mycophobia.
A mushroom's spore dust provides
important information needed to determine
identity.
A spore print is left by the gills when
the cap is placed on black or white paper
(depending on spore color). As the process
takes several hours, a glass vessel must be
placed over the cap to prevent drying.
While
useful, information obtained from spore
analyses has its limitations, For instance,
spores derived from mushrooms belonging to
different genera may have the same color, but
reveal basic differences under the microscope.
There is also a high degree of similarity among
spores from different Psilocybe species. Thus,
the only way to prevent grave errors and
potentially deadly intoxications is to rely on
experienced experts for mushroom
identification, a process that must include
analysis of available ecological data.
CHAPTER 5
THE BLUING PHENOMENON AND METOL
TESTING: REALITY VS. WISHFUL THINKING
As previously discussed in Chapters 3.1
and 3.7, the bluing reaction is characteristic
of species that produce psilocybin. Still, for
unknown reasons, some species or samples
belonging to a genus that usually turns blue
may not always change color, regardless of
psilocybin content. Among the species that I
have examined, Psilocybe bohemica
displayed the most impressive bluing
reaction. The caps of this species stain very
quickly in reaction to pressure.
Other species,
such as Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Sing.
have stems that develop very intensely blue
stains, while their caps do not exhibit the
bluing reaction. By contrast, Psilocybe