sign in sign up
<<
Home , Psilocybe, Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe cyanescens, Psilocybe zapotecorum, Roger Heim

O [email protected] P. O. 116,Husum, Box WA 98623, The StateEvergreen College, Emeritus, Professor W.By Michael Beug the Mixeteco Indians to protect their tothe Indians protect Mixeteco Wassonarticle of the names changed andinthis powers vision-giving with of the seeking four summersinthe remote mountains Valentina, wife, Russian-born hadspent Wasson aromaticburning leaves. andhis ceremony the bysmoking mushrooms in for the“Eva preparing Mendez” (Figure 1,pp100-101)showsCurandera ” spread andthe opening the Magic “Seeking was article magazine The title of Wasson’s Lifefamous now to about begin. was 60s, psychedelic age,the andanew America North Mexico to the attention in ofreaders mushrooms in ofhallucinogenic use Wasson brought the ritual Gordon byR. article magazine n May 13,1957,aLife which for centuries have been a secret which for asecret centuries have been mushrooms, divine to eatthese history I were the firstwhite menin recorded and Richardson experience awestruck… the from andemerged saw visions, mushrooms, acrid these and swallowed Wevisions. chewed the eatercause to see they that is, powers; hallucinogenic with were ofaspecies mushrooms “The elements. Christian andpre- Christian a ceremony ofmixed then consumed.” It was and were firstadored ‘divine’ mushrooms communion’ where a celebration of ‘Holy friends ofIndian family a with and Ishared Richardson Allan mySpanish, friend no stillspeak that ofthe people most remote so “in aMexicanvillage Indian quite famous. to become healer, Mazatec whowas Sabina, Maria the actually privacy. “Eva was Mendez” It the night ofJune was 29-30,1955

Figure 1. second night, when Allan Richardson Richardson whenAllan night, second the was This onehalfhour toabout eat. them slowly, chewing custom, taking “Eva andthen, following Mendez” Curandera ofmushrooms from pairs of Wasson ration his ofsix taking first mushrooms wereandimages consumed where animageofthe thewith house article 102-103ofthe famous pages scene that wewitnessed.” Figure 2shows the described hadever anthropologist Mexico.the world great insouthern No from far living peoples Indian of certain FUNGI Volume 4:3Summer 2011

31 32 FUNGI Volume 4:3Summer 2011 the images on pages 104-105(Figure onpages the images wehave andso again, than partaking the ceremonyphotographed rather Figure 3. Figure 2. blackness photographed by pointing bypointing photographed blackness incompletean underground room 3) ofthe ceremony held that in was the firsttime” for shown fungi vision-giving “Rare containfor they guide, a biblical like 107, became 106- next pages, the this region, on descend soon whowould people young of mostly audible sounds. thetowards flash For the hordes new trials point to point the ofthese promise trials new thefrom results “Early in cancer patients. for treating anxiety at looking Grob’s includes at research UCLA Charles initiative at Johns Hopkins. research investigator ofthe psilocybin lead is the Griffiths 2010). Roland and (Griffiths Scientific Grob, American 2010 inthe December and itappeared as Medicine” The titleis “ write this. as I hotoff the presses article (p.106). perilous” is, muy as that delicado, oftheir use speak excitement. TheIndians themselves todares eatthem frivolously, for inthesold marketplace, andnoIndian are never these mushrooms, ordinary Unlike ofmany kinds. restrictions with hedged is their use Among the Indians, extreme with treated must be caution. mushrooms “hallucinogenic masses: onthe lost to be soon caution that was of mind.” ButWasson a issued also else’s someone it didnotmean state For the meaning. onreal firsttime took “For theecstasy firsttime the word Mushrooms. the Magic to Mexico flooding inpursuitof be soon whowould gringos to uninformed served desirablePsilocybe less low-potency the to become was cubensis Singer, found ondung(Figure 5). (Earle) cubensis abundant Psilocybe the also was There byBeug). article Figure 18inthe(see accompanying debris Heim, found onwoody aztecorum “Children ofthe Waters,” Psilocybe and accompanying byBeug); article Figuremarshy 4inthe (see ground found Heim on also . nigripes var Reason,” Murrill caerulescens Psilocybe the “Mushroom ofSuperior Beug); latosensu , inthe accompanying article Figure hoogshagenii 13,Psilocybe Heim Heim, found onmarshy (see ground of Thorns,” zapotecorum Psilocybe the “Crown ofFUNGI); in this issue America” inNorth Psilocybe byM.Beug in the accompanying “The article Figure 13 Heim, (see found inpastures mexicana Psilocybe the prized was There mushrooms. many magic ofthese Naturells. andname Heim wouldcollect ’s National Muséum d’History of Heim,Roger andhead amycologist Wasson accompanied byProfessor was Mexico the Life writing before article, to southern trip (Figure last 4).Onhis Fast forward to the present andan Fast forward Wasson experiences his About said Figure 5. what drug knew no one yet written, suicide. even and injuries accidental to led has usage mushroom following paranoia that report they situations, unsupervised In longer.” even or days lasting senses other or vision in disturbances or distress, psychological psychosis, prolonged include hallucinogens of risks potential other session… the during sometime paranoia felt fifth a about and fear significant of period some experienced participants the of third a about psychologist, clinical a with preparation of hours eight least at and screening careful after study, even Hopkins Johns the “In that caution also they But health.” and well-being psychological in spirituality of role well-documented the explaining in aid turn, in will, others and oneself towards attitudes benevolent engender can experiences mystical how understanding changes… life important make to ability the hence, and, experiences spiritual profound reporting patients some with therapies, Figure 4. magazine article was was When thearticle Life magazine

Figure 6. ofthe (loss dephosphorylated been that has molecule simply apsilocybin is 6) andthe other psilocin. psilocybin (Figure psilocybin one compound He named 1950s. success inthe late his announcing mushrooms, magic ofthe ingredients active two principal the and synthesized isolated successfully who Pharmaceuticals working for Sandoz researcher a Swiss Hoffman, Albert Itmushrooms. was present inthe was

Figure 7. as known byergotamine, is produced The condition, andlegs. ofarms the loss to cases, insevere condition, leading, flow,blood gangrene-like ina resulting of loss of intense bysevere heatfollowed to produce feelings known was of wheat, much kernel likethat ablackened looks acontaminant. Ergot, purpurea ingrain Claviceps ofthethe stage resting from ergot, isolated is acid The lysergic stop inchildbirth. excessive bleeding to forhelp inasearch adrug making hewas acid oflysergic derivatives oneofmany LSD-25, had synthesized Hoffman Albert before, years A few mimic (Figure 7)inthe brain. enter they and circulation as psilocin upas wind both –they you ingest itmatters little which drug psilocybin, the quicklydephosphorylates GItract butsince potent ofthe twochemicals, the is place).more Psilocin inits group oxygens inthe Figure an–OH 6,leaving phosphate P, group, surrounding andits FUNGI Volume 4:3Summer 2011

33 gangrenous ergotism but because of the backbone and both would be expected to he was possibly too successful. intense fire-like pain of the early stages bind to the same receptors in the brain Within six weeks of his return from of the disease became known as St. – albeit bind with different strengths. Cuernavaca, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Anthony’s fire (Hudler, 1998a). Madness LSD binds much more strongly and thus had granted Dr. Leary four bottles of also often accompanied accidental ergot it is no surprise that it is both effective psilocybin pills for research. Along consumption and was caused by two at a much lower dosage and effective with a colleague, Richard Alpert (who compounds in Ergot, and lysergic for much longer – much too long in my was to change his name to Ram Dass) acid hydroxyethylamide, the target of humble opinion. LSD is also much more and several graduate students, Timothy Hoffman’s research (Hudler, 1998a). likely to cause long-term adverse effects Leary began experiments to learn The discovery of the hallucinatory and “flashbacks.” the effects of dosage and place, soon effect of LSD-25 was purely an accident In the 1950s, R. Gordon Wasson moving from classroom to his home and resulting, Hoffman believed, from the and his associates were not alone in student residences to escape the sterility absorption of tiny amounts of LSD traveling to Mexico to learn about the of academia. Undergraduates began directly through his skin. It was Albert ancient mushroom rituals of the Indian to hear rumors of psilocybin sessions Hoffman’s fascination with the effects peoples. Blasius P. Reko, Richard E turned orgy and demanded to be able to of LSD (and the consequent massive Schultes and others were also involved in take part. Scandal ensued. Traditional self-experimentation with LSD by rediscovering and documenting the use psychologists at Harvard began to Hoffman and many other researchers of psilocybin mushrooms in shamanic express concerns in private but soon at Sandoz) that led Hoffman to also ceremonies by indigenous Mesoamerican word of their displeasure reached the investigate Psilocybe species to see what peoples. They uncovered quite pages of the Harvard Crimson. Timothy caused them to produce hallucinations convincing evidence that the shamanic Leary added and LSD to his so remarkably similar to LSD. He knew rituals that they were observing were researches - was that LSD produced hallucinations that remnants of ancient religion practiced by sweeping the country. were much longer lasting than the Aztec and Mayan civilizations, modified In 1963 official concern came to a hallucinations produced by Psilocybe little by the overlay of Catholicism head at Harvard and both Timothy species (on average 12 hours for LSD introduced by the Spanish. Their Leary and Richard Alpert were fired, versus 6 hours for the mushrooms) evidence included “mushroom stones” only to go on to become cultural icons. but the hallucinations were otherwise and other archeological evidence, plus In the 1960s ’s slogan was exceptionally similar in nature. Were they were able to uncover some obscure “Turn on, tune in, drop out.” Rebellious the active ingredients of the Psilocybe writings by one early monk that survived youth rioted against the Viet Nam War, mushrooms at all structurally similar to despite Catholic Church attempts to smoked pot and tried all manner of LSD, a slight modification of a metabolite wipe out all ancient knowledge of these hallucinogens – leading to increasing from the mushroom Claviceps purpurea? peoples and to persecute users of magic official consternation. To the untrained eye, the answer is mushrooms. Schultes and others came Meanwhile the CIA and the military no, LSD is a much more complicated to realize that was were exploring the potential for molecule. But at their core, the two esteemed as a holy sacrament called hallucinogenic drugs. At the very last molecules share a very similar teonanacatl (God’s flesh) in Aztec (see Mycomedia® gathering (in 1999) at Stamets, 1996). Breitenbush, a hot springs retreat in In the summer of 1960, Timothy Leary the Cascades, we all jammed was vacationing in Cuernavaca when he with Ken Kesey and his band, the Merry 7th Annual Fungi Festival tried the mushrooms, purchased from a Pranksters, and listened while Ken told street peddler (Hudler, 1998b). The influx the audience of participating in those Sept.18th ~ Sept.25th of thrill-seekers after the Life article CIA drug experiments and clandestinely The 2011 Fungi Festival will be an exciting week of identifying, was already having a profound effect obtaining the keys to the locked cabinets picking, and eating Wild Mushrooms! Including: -Presentations, Workshops, and Slide Shows on southern Mexico and the societal with the various hallucinogens – and Boletus Gypsy -Live entertainment, Guided Tours, *The Grand Camping Tour. prohibitions regulating use of Psilocybe thus the birth of the “Kool Aid Acid” FEATURING: -Larry Evans -Tyson Ehlers -Paul Kroeger mushrooms were already fraying. bus and his psychedelic tours about The Fungi Festivals Grand Tour An exciting week of touring As a psychotherapist and newly the U.S. with his Merry Pranksters. different locations including: Revelstoke, Nakusp and appointed director of the Center for At Breitenbush at the end of October, Sicamous...all rich in beauty and Mushrooms! Lobster 2011 Weekend Fungi Festival Research in Personality at Harvard 1999, we were marking the end of the Held in the Red Barn Arts Center in Sicamous. University, Dr. Leary felt that the biennium. We even got to ride on the last Including: Lectures, Tours, and slide shows. mushrooms could form the basis for his incarnation of the famous bus. Lactarius There will be Live Entertainment and Beer Gardens! Puffball newly proposed existential approach At this final Mycomedia® event (it had For reservations, costs, and other information to , where the therapist been about 15 years since we had last all please call 250.836.2220 or visit fungifestival.com becomes immersed in the patient’s been together) Paul Stamets had spared Celebrate the end of summer in Beautiful British Chanterelle psychological turmoil. The mind-altering no expense to bring speakers from all Columbia and enjoy a Wild Mushroom Experience! mushrooms would allow the therapist to over the world, shamans and scientists reach the mental state of the disturbed. alike. It was the weekend of Halloween, fungifestival.com Leary had been told by his superiors to the traditional time of year for the Shaggy Mane Sponsored by Narrows Village Morel shake things up at Harvard, and at this Mycomedia® gatherings, while choice 34 FUNGI Volume 4:3 Summer 2011 old wooden meeting hallwhere wewere meeting old wooden of the ancientthe beauty and the enjoyed Participants the sauna. steam and andwent thecame from hotpools orrowdy. loud,boisterous was People Noone inward andreflective. turned at butmostly times visiting couches, sat and but most quietlyoncushions alittle danced people Some evening. asublimely and peaceful quiet it was ofTimothydescriptions orgies, Leary’s the what from from onemight imagine Butfar the proceedings. observed whomerely oneofthe few have been many. that Imay ButIdobelieve mushrooms wereorhow consumed for theknowwhat firsttime.Idonot mushrooms magic to try who wanted night forHalloween a writer/reporter ashaman. people, special very of those one have been hewouldindeed Siberia, in lived timeorhadGary an earlier to that Gary, to realize Icame were this Ilistened As mushroom ofthe shamans. theworld is where ofthe inthat part what helearned on hadbeen talk –his knowledge inpursuitofethnomycological East tours inhis ofthe Russian Farobtained Shaman, authentic ofaSiberian dress exquisitely ofall–inthe costumed the most was Lincoff the dance, Gary acostumenight party. there was At Halloween ofthe festivities. part always byDr.past Weil Andrew (Figure 8),were inthe often demonstrations, cooking aroundin the Breitenbush, and mushrooms were stillabundantedible Figure 8. I had agreed to be the guide that the guide to 1999 be I hadagreed Many ofthe early noaccident. was college at this time emergence ofthis venue. The a new provide would soon requirements, course no specific than and courses ratherprograms taught integrated team- grades, rather than evaluations with alternative college State an College, of The Evergreen in the late 1960s (Wark, 2010). to end anabrupt came elsewhere and at Harvard on hallucinogens Research banned. hadbeen white kids affluent of bright, first time,adrug this law. For the of that to the event passage led focal the administration was the Harvard Timothy and andRichard Alpert Leary battle The like andcocaine. of ofharddrugs addicting possession the treated sameas Possession was passed. was andpsilocin of psilocybin mushrooms arethese illegal. once whygathered. Iwondered, again, The founding In 1968the U.S. prohibition federal QuarterPageFungiMag 11/3/108:54AMPage3 T H C I T S I R M A S U R U G M O O R H S U M R E H C A E T o E C O L O G I S T · E N T O M O L O G I S T · or 18” der posters: der Proceeds benefit Sam Ristich Archive Fund Archive Ristich Sam benefit Proceeds X 24” · $25 $25 · 24” 20 or 30 women in all of Harvey Mudd 20 or30womeninallofHarvey freshman women(thereThe were about totheleaving join Evergreen faculty. Mudd before College atlecture Harvey that the morning Igave myhad been last ofmy event youngprofessional career notable drug Themost unimpressed. quite andwas times afew marijuana tointo. about get Ihad tried what Iwas mushrooms for dinner. Ihadnotaclue fish and ski, hunt , to liveinthe Iwanted merely because Evergreen). to Iapplied Evergreen to intact theirto department bring of Tennessee Department, Biology application entire byhis University to Dr. mycologist RonPeterson, an according (including, hadreceived they applicationsof the that 10,000 faculty out in1972,somehow picked hired I was in. institutions poured multiple previous from 1971. Students whohaddeparted in1970and faculty to students in first to the opened Evergreen, doors whose the Viet Nam Warto flooded protests, like marches andother protest activities Rights inCivil participating for fired faculty, Rebellious times. having been thatexperiments ofthe were aproduct elsewhere, experiments educational failed from Evergreen came faculty · R O T N E M D E M A R F N U www FUNGI Volume 4:3Summer 2011 .samristich.com · · · TURALIST S I L A R U AT N A R O VAT I T O M $ 115

D E M A R F

· T S I N O I T A V R E S N O C R E H P A R G O T O H P

35 36 FUNGI Volume 4:3Summer 2011 that they were restricted to southern to southern that were restricted they any of myandI thoughtguides field mushrooms were in notmentioned Psilocybe upinthe mid-1970s. showed andJonathan all Ott Jeremy Bigwood the to students me. Paul came Stamets, anything at mushrooms andso allabout knew ontheBut nooneelse faculty underDr. Daniel Stuntz. course at theeducation University of adult ofoneprevious training consisted andmy interest mycological inbiology notthe chemistwith physical slightest at smallcolleges. academia andto anduniversityresearch industry meaway turning both from points focal wereevents two These ideas. research away for giving bymyscolded advisor then thoroughly the Iwas sageadvice. –thankinghimfor to my advisor thesis had inadvertently done.He wrote – back thatresearch might undothe I damage University the course suggesting of at researcher Cornell ornithological To Iwrote to aleading make amends, shell egg causing thinning inbirds. be my work to “prove” that DDT could not of the meaning then twisted Industry notwhat Ihaddone. Spring, andknew Rachel Carson’s read I hadnotyet Silent inScience. published also my was article onmy and behalf, intervening Laureates intwoNobel resulting name, eventually paper essentially word for word under his my andthen sent article inthe rejected reviewer But aScience Nature. Journal orinthe Science British in the journal either publishanarticle to also needed that important that I so the work was said , butthe editor Biochemistry journal accepted bythe was resultant paper ofmy The theresearch. focus that was system the Anhydrase, enzyme Carbonic hadon DDT other andsome pesticides what effect meto see hadasked advisor months completing before my PhD, my for industry. Butseveral headed – Iwas ateacher wouldbe that Inever me was the to clear onething thatschool, was disappointed. girlsmost were The totally unaffected! the ofthe rest day andindeed lecture Iwent them ontoget down. my last inthem thatmuch Icould weed barely hadso andthey ofthepan “brownies” and orangejuice. halfofa Iconsumed It of“brownies” consisted for breakfast. meto days) invited theirin those dorm Arriving at a Evergreen, Iwas Arriving graduate whenIhadstarted Back

and were stooped overonathletic fields and were stooped chipexamining beds, mulch andwood critically fields, farm were swarming Figure 9. Washington Oregon.They andwestern mushrooms were alloverwestern ofmagic seekers here). Soon, theories our notrepeat this day –butIwill to Paulremains amystery andmeto (howthat about came ofthe DEA head the West knew Jeremy Bigwood Coast andwhich werehallucinogenic not. potentiallythe were PacificNorthwest outto which discover mushrooms in set awelcome relief. was research andmushroom radicalized politically Iwas this, After were Congress. inwith and explain that the predicament they ourstudents with personally to meet the U.S. EPA to Evergreen came even underthreat so that of thewas head much ofourwork butthe EPA itself EPAThe funding NSF were and the alongthe River. Columbia industry aluminum smeltingthe nowdefunct consideredathreatwe were also to related For research). stillother research pesticide ofsome Hawaiifrom (because andofficials ofAgriculture, Department City ofTacoma, the Washington State as were the fired, both tous get trying theSenators from cotton were belt today.in operation Prominent U.S. still cooperative aresearch and formed mammals inmarine onPCBs worked another andyet group arsenic with coveringTacoma,that was Washington, that asmelter ultimately close helped of ourstudents haddonethe research were now complete), another group (my DDT amends America inNorth of thebanon use finalthe that secured completedstudents the hadjust research Dr.colleague, andour Herman, Steve My an Environmental Chemist. become Attransformed. Evergreen Ihadinitially andmy was research me otherwise, Mexico.taught students quickly These Paul Stamets, Jeremy Bigwood andI Jeremy Bigwood Paul Stamets,

in getting threatened with a citation for for citation a with threatened getting in succeed did I materials. hallucinogenic of sale their for prosecuted never was Safeway® since law the of application unequal was there 2) and possess to illegal was it mushrooms which of list no provided law the 1) that were arguments cultivating been had who person a of trial a in witness expert an as while possession psilocin and psilocybin against law the on approach frontal a in list that used I Safeway®. at purchase could one that substances controlled containing spices and plants the of all of list a prepare to interest that using plants, hallucinogenic all in interested was Jeremy mushrooms, on focused pretty America. North of Mushrooms Hallucinogenic Teonanacatl: book the Ott Jonathan with coauthored 1978 in and 1986) & 1976 Oeric, and Guide Grower’s Mushroom Magic alias) an (under coauthored had He chemistry. as well as cultivation mushroom was focus His years. six roughly for undergraduate registered a as me with worked instead degree, a completing in interested seemed never Figure 10. mushrooms. for ofhallucinogenic the cultivation aguide as butalso businesses, growing mushroom edible thriving to start notonly used, amajor book to be soon The Mushroom Cultivator , became other, coauthor with JeffChilton, Mushrooms and their Allies andthe Psilocybe became One manuscript published. which were soon books, for firsttwo his the manuscripts Paul completed project, capstone senior onlyprofessor. his – Iwas For his Bachelor’sand completed his degree work mefor with the next four years exercise yards. and prison Jeremy Bigwood (Figure 10), who who 10), (Figure Bigwood Jeremy to (Figure Paul 9)was Stamets . cubensis. Psilocybe

While Paul stayed stayed Paul While Psilocybin: Psilocybin: The The

(Oss (Oss Figure 12. got the notoriety never They illegal. made were ever normuscimol acid neither ibotenic side-effects, nasty very much) totoo get and easy (itis curve dose-response narrow avery with are potentdrugs mind-altering species, Amanita ofthese the ingredients active andmuscimol, acid though ibotenic even University ofWashington. Interestingly, Dr.with Scott Chilton (Figure 11)at the andAmanita pantherina muscaria Evergreen left to work onAmanitasoon Wasson Gordon ofR. and friend close a caught on.Jonathannever became it he championedthe for term years, the “,”coined term butthough and the term liked never 1976).Jonathan andPollock, 1976; Ott andGuzmán, (Ott infungi psilocybin on articles 1976)andpublished (Ott, Hallucinogenic America ofNorth Plants hewrote Jeremy with Bigwood, book mentioned addition to previously his prison. from grower the protecting in succeed not did I court. of contempt Figure 11. Jonathan Ott was a prolific writer. aprolific Jonathan was Ott In young MD from Harvard, young MD from Harvard, that Dr. Weil, Andrew a Ibelieve organization. forcedriving ofthe the principal as Stamets Mycomedia® Paul with by organized Oregon Cascades at Breitenbush inthe ofconferencesa series Washington andthen by JuanSan of Islands Islandinthe on Orcas byaconferencefollowed conferencesearly were ofdeath).pain These – under mentioned could notbe secrets ceremony’swhose yet for 2,000years, ceremonies that persisted (ancient religious Greek mysteries the Eleusinian lay of at the heart fungi ofpsychoactive the use postulated that first Carl and Hoffman Ruck Wasson, Gordon conference R. Albert Washington, in1977.At the 1977 at Fort Worden inPort Townsend, Washington, in1976andthe second State Park Olympia, Millersylvania near the firstoneheld in theat 1970s, mushroom conferenceshallucinogenic two international thatgroup organized it worked. amazement, and putthem inthe mail.Much to my “dried material for scientific research” them labeled specimens, requested upthe butIpackaged to the request way to nolegal respond was do? There Jeremy andIwere workingon.What to that Paul, species Psilocybe Northwest vouchers ofthe– hewanted Pacific Germany then Communist East was from what me first contacted Gartz whenJochen remember I stillvividly Weil,Andrew andothers. Gartz Jochen TerranceJonathan Ott, McKenna, off.The champions taking were also Wasson, Gordon byR. was developed individuals. other flamboyant championed byTimothy andmany Leary were andLSD andpsilocin Psilocybin YorkMorgan New &Co,astaid banker. Wasson,Gordon aVice President ofJ.P. R. championing was Amanita muscaria person The andpsilocin. of psilocybin The a core students Evergreen formed ethnomycology,The ageof initially about toxicabout mushrooms ingeneraland (Hudler,few” 1998b). butrather that too we use hallucinogens, many notthat todaytoo is ills weuse that ofsociety’s “theargued cause root Terrancemushrooms. McKenna champion colorful ofhallucinogenic another andbecame ofthesome events Terrence present at also McKenna was life his passion. around the globe species on to make the pursuitofpsilocybin gone including John Allenwhohas were many others drawn to the region, There species. the Oregon hallucinogenic of (Figure knowledge 13)contributed his Menser states ofthesouthern U.S.; Gary present inthemushrooms were also attention the to psilocybin the fact (Figure Texas from 12)came bringing Dr. expert; Psilocybe Pollock Steven the world andbecome genus Psilocybe to the amonograph who wouldwrite (Figures Guzmán 11and13), Gastón mushrooms. of psilocybin inthe andsetting use ofset importance much with both onthe sageadvice us andheprovided of Paul Stamets friend close avery to become He was conferences. oneofthese attended every andmushroom use, andabuse, use drug interested inalternative medicine, I attended the conferences to speak conferences Dr.These attracted also FUNGI Volume 4:3Summer 2011

37 38 FUNGI Volume 4:3Summer 2011 mushrooms containing psilocybin and mushrooms containing psilocybin their transformative power. of use The the mushrooms lose use repeated with that learn soon push the boundaries who The few tranquilsettings. in quiet, andreflectively infrequently only very them use individuals andmost addictive are not They manywith other drugs. the is case as generally notabused funny. very so found wife everything his why and totally mystified the colleague adinnerparty. werehosting guests Their before shortly semilanceata of Psilocybe 10specimens about consumed each wife retirement near his age,whoalongwith oflaughter acolleague, tale from came Another inthe street. naked laughing later and found dancing andwas edible Gym” “BigLaughing formistook an Japan from where ahousewife a story Gym.”Laughing My involves favorite tale “Big as known even is ofpsilocybin levels significant with species bitter tasting laughter. , avery spectabilis were prone to individuals Some peaceful. and subdued were very always observed the mushroom consumption I scenes danger, physical actual sense sometimes alcoholhigh consumption andonecan inarowdy where group therebeing was Unlike around drunks. to be than itwas mushrooms containingusing psilocybin people be around differentto was it how with struck Iwas look-alikes. deadly oneoftheconsumed several inidentificationso thatto assist noone ofthe mushrooms but use discourage to was My policy of participants. on hundreds their effects and noted mushroom use psychoactive observed Iquietly years the next several Over andeffects. order to dosage understand in species ofPsilocybe users to interview Figure 13. I learned that the mushrooms were I learned G was feeling similar effects. They both They effects. similar feeling G was theand soon mycologist glasses rosy very the world through andseeing laughing Lwas underonehourmycologist just We observed. sat quietlyandin Rogers, Maggie person, Afifth the mushrooms. consumed also inthe room mycologists told mightKandtwoother happen. been as Ihad nonausea was There Ihadexpected. not at as allunpleasant were quite tasty, –they 15 specimens Saturday, 7PM. about Islowly consumed a night, Itthe second hangers-on. was and andexperts friends with packed many, The conferencewas many years. Mycomedia® conference the last be for them to Breitenbush to for what was Itook foron campus overadecade. gathering mushrooms ofallkinds been Ihad noticeno onewouldtake because that Iknew specimens. semilanceata daylight 200Psilocybe about picked of the Evergreen Parkwayandinbroad in the mid-1980sIwent to the median Thus to mushrooms. experience these grandmother,their honorary wanted bymy fondly children known as K, My mushrooming partner,knowledge. personal without theirabout effects howIcould lecture and asking the mushrooms wouldtry that Inever my howitwas students asking kept ofabuse. other drugs andsome with happen can as fromrisk ofdeath overdose Thereis no themselves are remarkably nontoxic. However, andpsilocin psilocybin ofthe some mushroom. aspirating from treating anadultpatient died whonearly told Aphysician meof yard. his it from lethal to one youngchild whoconsumed lightly. proved even cyanescens Psilocybe taken andshould notbe perilous indeed Throughout the 1970s and earlyThroughout 1980s the 1970sand mushrooms are –the trip a bad of therapy after years needed they where me ofcases told Individuals ofanxiety.sense your increase mushrooms can theare troubled, Ifyou important. very is setting and Set restraint. and guidance both requires ideally psilocin exact same blue of the images from exact from sameblueofthe images the was commenced. Theblue soon blue inabrilliant ago,visions years since the century event. quarter morehave itis than up–yet a welled emotions come andpowerful to my eyes ever, for thepaper firsttime have tears my eyes. andclosed bag sleeping mushrooms into could have, my Islipped these what know effects to never Resigned rainforest. old-growth beautiful through the inadrizzle walking cabin, to back my whenIheaded 1AM about world. It bemushroomed a distant was roommates whowerehis quietlyoffin whileobserving research his about talked track) and Ididnotkeep two bottles, (about wines California finerare very We cyanescens. Psilocybe dranksome in seeing thatcompounds wehadbeen ofthe ofsome otherstructure indole-like the to determine working ontrying was who afriend their Ithen cabin, joined andsizes. shapes ofother hundreds mushroomswith ofall onthe along display tables specimens labeled other thanout inthe afew open them seen theeven firsttime that Ihad any offered and mushrooms magic been conferences the firsttimeIhad this was Inallmycabin. ofattending years these to their KandMaggie Iwalked slowly as to munch them andproceeded handful agood-sized Itook so a shopping bag, from cubensis fresh Psilocybe me offered someone andquite disappointed, normal quite stillfeeling both the lecture, we left anytook more at As that ornot. point ifK Idonot remember effects. visual hadtoldtheir meabout strongLeslie what and Repke remembering handful, myself to a aroundIhelped so passed being was cyanescens ofPsilocybe bag A lectures. oftheto evening the last that wehadeaten. We off then headed potent mushrooms were very and these what Wasson inMexico hadconsumed 6times 75each, along –atotalofabout offall wellthat polishing Ihadbrought pretty 20more about mushrooms, took We butstillnothing. each observing, We still Maggie with andrelaxed visited each. 30 time mushrooms This about more consumed mushrooms. we each to have this experience, Determined –nothing. andwaited and Iwaited K to attendleft lectures. the evening When I closed my eyes twenty five my eyes When Iclosed toAbout putthis next on bitdown andKsafely getting Maggie toAfter fearing thatfearing the mushrooms still held over andpulled scared on the road.Iwas car keeping the having difficulty started I ofBreitenbush. dueNorth Soon lies which straight my towards vineyard, roads Mountains onlogging the Cascade upthe spineof andheaded Squareback ThenIgotintoexperienced. VW my how much Ihadeaten andwhat Ihad I went into sleep. asound allover. itwas ithadstarted suddenly as like asuddenexplosion andas seemed what there was mushrooms, cubensis ofthe Psilocybe thehad consumed last exactly I almost At 6hoursafter 4AM, sleep. inandoutofarestless I drifted My continued retired. as visions also to their Thetwo cabin. mycologists andKreturned Maggie At 2AM, about at ofthe mushrooms. the power marvel could enjoy the both extreme and beauty this experience andI that Iwouldsurvive ofresearch andyears years from I knew Fortunately, wouldresume. the visions and bag undermydarkness sleeping andplungeinto my eyes Close normal. andallwouldbe my eyes I wouldopen awayfar into that blueworld. gorgeous andgofar, Iwouldleave mybag body my with the room sleeping and darkened my eyes timeIclosed Each happening. it was my andnarrate as the head trip over pulled bag thelie with sleeping and for the next Iwould hourorso KandMaggie hadjoined mycologists Bythen the other returned. two visions Idid,the as soon As room. darkened ina again my eyes and then closed to liedown me for abitwhenIdecided to stay andwatch over and Kdecided current state onanyone Maggie else. my mushrooms notwishing few the last thrown away ButIhadpreviously effect. hadno 6Xdose –hermassive effect thatso she experience couldthe also the more Kwanting cabin, mushrooms came to and to tell dressed them. They on the door andknocked were sleeping to the where cabin KandMaggie walked and Idressed ithadbegun. as fast over as and itwas my eyes Iopened minutes, more afew after scared Growing back. thatget Imight never and worried far, andproceed leave my body away far mushrooms (Figures 14,15).Ifelt myself andother Psilocybe photograph Stamets many so spent hourswatching Paul where Ihad Microscope, Electron the Evergreen State Scanning College At breakfast, I told Andrew Weil Itold Andrew At breakfast, about psychedelic drugs (Moreno, 1997). In drugs psychedelic using disorder of obsessive-compulsive relief rapid andsustained who obtained ofa34year-old male the case described (Taylor, paper 1996).Thenin1997 a second coming” The “Psychedelics: titled thatof research Ifound was revival on the Thefirst paper groups. money, nonprofit private butfrom company norpharmaceutical money neither taxpayer from was funding The inthe 1990s. began hiatus, year a40- after on hallucinogens, research Hood. Robin modern a and – Robber WesternBank Bandit,” notorious a Hollywood “The befriended had students) her of one also was (he I and wife my that found we Seattle, in yard back a in trailer a in up holed robber bank a at shooting police by killed was student the When life. double a living student a but mine, of student nice very a been had thief the that told was Years I later everywhere. exhausted nearly were chemical pure of stocks existing and chemicals two the making was one no days those In halt. a to research my bring to sufficient was it but effect, any experience to person a for enough not Itwas psilocybin. pure of dab a with other the and psilocin pure of trace a with vial one – standards my of vials tiny two the stole and lab my into broke someone time. more one mushrooms the to out reach to way a for look will I pain, unmanageable or depression incurable suffer to were I if or PTSD, to leading stress traumatic a is there end, my nearing am I and strikes ever cancer if that know I before. ever than emotional and sensitive more much now am I – me in change permanent a been also has there that now realize I But done. never had I that wish I that life my in thing one the was this that felt and said I Foryears many kind. any of drugs with involved someone about reading just sweat a into broke I afterwards, year a for But incident. further without vineyard the to back it made and tire the changed I flat. was tire front right The it. saw I sway.Then The rebirth of funded scientific funded The rebirth of Soon after this Breitenbush experience,

Figure 14. psilocybin inanattended, controlled psilocybin and in Griffiths took Grob, 2010). He Johns HopkinsUniversity (described intoadmitted at the program research chemotherapy (Tierney, 2010).He was cancerand kidney he battled with untreatable as depression seemingly Washington,from suffering who was Vancouver, from psychologist clinical year-old aretired Martin, man,Clark ofa65 the story published newspaper once underway. is again research 2003).Psilocybin (Shirota, and psilocin psilocybin way to utilize measurable aconvenient with researchers and nowprovides andpsilocybin psilocin to produce methods synthetic scale in Aprillarge- of 2010.Thedevelopment California held José inSan was Century” inthe“Psychedelic 21st Science treatments” (Biley, 2008).Aconference, and substances for hallucinogenic evidence new “Psychedelic medicine: in books new in2008ofthree a review was 2008).Theremainstream” (Morris, moves onpsychedelics “Research titled review agreat carried Lancet Report.”Hopkins Researchers The Johns of Hallucinogens Persist, Effects like “Spiritual headlines with wide open were 2006). By2008,the floodgates (Beillo, psilocybin of effects physiological and University onthe pharmacology of Griffith Johnsby Roland Hopkins research It”“Not Imagining describes Tour” 2006)andthe (Choi, second, Mushroom was “Magical 2006. Thefirst in twostories American published in2006.Scientific reports of news byanexplosion followed 2005) was 2002).Astudy in2005(Palmer,(Seifert, inAddiction published Biology was pharmacology literature onpsilocybin ofthe dispersed widely 2002 areview Oregonian On April 14,2010,The FUNGI Volume 4:3Summer 2011

39 40 FUNGI Volume 4:3Summer 2011 respect, restraintrespect, and care can, for at least are indeed “ again, Harvard. The University of California and even, once of Arizona, New York University, the universities including the University but also at many other colleges and at Johns Hopkins University and UCLA cultural areas…” (Wasson, 1957). occasions, from Indians in different answer that we have received on several ‘ está. Indian: the mushrooms from a Spanish speaking ago, when asking for the first time about what Wasson had learned over 60 years generosity.” Griffithswas rediscovering communities by encouraging reciprocal all in it together may have benefited advantage. The “feeling that we are perhaps because of an evolutionary experience these “unitive” experiences, it is like the human brain is wired to of consciousness. Griffithsfeels that vanish as they feel part of a larger state those who meditate. Egos and bodies reported both by religious mystics and experience similar to the experiences participants have a profound spiritual the findings of thescientists that many the most meaningful events of his life. relationships – marking it among the depression and profoundly changed his that it has helped him overcome his one six-hour experience sowas profound music. A year later he reports that the head phones while listening to classical setting on a couch with eye mask and Figure 15. Today research is underway not only Numerous news reports including Oregonian They carry youcarry They whereGod is’ an “Le llevan ahí donde Dios muy article have reported on

delicado Psilocybe ,” but used with mushrooms Sc References transformation lasting for years. one exposure a spiritual and emotional some who turn to them, create from just of Psychiatry 154:1037-1038. of Psychiatry The and compulsions. JournalAmerican reliefHallucinogen-induced of obsessions 371(9623):1491-1492. Lancet into moves the mainstream. psychedelics Princeton: PrincetonUniversity Press. MoldsMischievous Chapter 11:172-185. Mushrooms, Magical Mushrooms. Princeton University Press Molds Chapter 5:69-85.Princeton: Mischievous Mushrooms, Magical Crops. 621-632. 22(6): Journal ofPsychopharmacology 14monthslater. significance spiritual and meaning attribution ofpersonal the mediate bypsilocybin occasioned experiences 2008.Mystical- Jesse. W. U. Johnson, D. andR. McCann, American 303(6):77-79. Scientific Medicine. as Hallucinogens Tour. 295(3):36. Scientific American 15(9): 787-790. and MentalPsychiatric Health Nursing Journal of and two.Psychedelic horizons. Volumes andtreatments. substances one for hallucinogenic evidence New Biello, D. It. 2006.NotImagining Moreno, F. andP. A., 1997. Delgado. L. on 2008.Research K. Morris, Hudler, G.W. 1998b.Hallucinogenic Hudler, W. G. Ergot ofGrain 1998a. R., M. R. Richards, A. W. Griffiths, S. Grob. 2010. C. S.,and R. Griffiths, Q. Mushroom C. Choi, 2006.Magical Biley, F. 2008.Psychedelic medicine: C. ientific 295(5):33-35. American 100-120. Mushroom.Magic 21(3):234-239. Policy International Journal ofDrug psilocybin. andthedefinitionof changing Dass) Timothy (Ram Leary, Richard Alpert Service). C1-C2. (From York New Times News AprilOregonian 14: The Hallucinogens. 56-59. Today Psychology coming. second 29: Press. Agarikon The Mushroom Cultivator. Olympia: Press. and Seattle:Homestead their allies. Ten15. Berkeley: Press. Speed Mushrooms oftheWorld Chapter 1:11- Psilocybin Perspective. a Historical 66(6): 885-887. Mushroom.” Journal ofNatural Products constituents of“Magic principal andpsilocin, ofpsilocybin synthesis Y. large-scale 2003.Concise Goda. 357-364. Addiction 7(4): Biology of psilocybin. and T. 2002.Thepharmacology Passie. Substance Abuse 15(1):37-49. study. Journal ofChild and Adolescent acomparative dependence: and cannabis , hallucinogen, with Personality ofadolescents characteristics Mycologia68:1267-1272. Columbia. andBritish Idaho, Oregon,California, Psychotropic mycoflora of Washington, 39:258-260. Lloydia. andPsathyrella. , Psilocybe, of inspecies ofpsilocybin Detection Press. Seattle.Madrona America. of North Teonanacatl: hallucinogenic mushrooms Press, Wingbow Berkeley: America. of North Natura). Lux 1986;Berkeley: (reprinted, Press Seattle:Homestead guide. mushroom grower’s magic Psilocybin: Wasson, R. G. 1957. Seeking the Wasson, 1957.Seeking G. R. Wark, andJ.F. C., Galliher. 2010. Tierney, to Back J.2010.Flashing Taylor, the 1996.Psychedelics: E. P.,Stamets, Chilton. 1983. andJ.S. P.Stamets, Mushrooms 1978. Psilocybe P.Stamets, from 1996. Psilocybes O.,Shirota, W. and Hakamata, J.,U.Seifert, Schneider, H.M.Emrich, Palmer, andD. D. A., 2005. G. Daiss 1976. H.Pollock. J.,andS. Ott, 1976. Guzmán. J.,andG. Ott, 1978. ed. J.,andJ.Bigwood, Ott, J.1976.HallucinogenicOtt, plants O.Oss, T., 1976. andO. N. Oeric. Life May 13, 1957: