Mushrooms and Second Exam: Second Exam: Religion: Psilocybe November 15th November 15 and related genera
Origin of Religion Origin of Religion zMcKenna believed psilocybin mushroom zOrigin according to Terrence McKenna. led to religion and intelligence evolving. Started as result of ingestion of Specified Stropharia cubensis. mushrooms with psilocybin. Took place in Africa, during Theory actually originated with Gordon hunting/gathering period. Wasson, in 1986. Ingestion of mushroom began while Not only origin of religion but also hunting hooved animals. evolution of intelligence. Stropharia cubensis grows on Wasson’s quote on Soma. From herbivore dung. Persephone’s Quest, 1986.
"A prodigious expansion in Man's Examples Used By Wasson memory must have been the gift that differentiated mankind from his zMushroom stones predecessors, and I surmise that this were symbol of expansion in memory led to a religion of Mayans. simultaneous growth in the gift of zTraced back as far language, these two powers generating as 1500 B.C. in man that self-consciousness which is zEquivalent to cross the third of the triune traits that of Christians and alone” make man unique”. crescent of Moslems. R. Gordon Wasson, 1986
Examples Used By Wasson Examples Used By Wasson zIn Greece, a festival was held in Eleusis z for 1500 years, starting from 7th. Celebration of Demeter’s gift of grain to Century B.C. mankind and also reunification of Persephone and Demeter. zSecret ceremony involving Kykeon contained barley, mint and water. zBarley believed to be infected with Claviceps purpurea.
Origin of Religion Origin of Religion zMcKenna believed psilocybin mushroom led to religion and intelligence evolving. zTheory not well received by McKenna’s Addition of S. cubensis led to: colleagues. Better eyesight (low conc.) zAlso believed psilocybin mushrooms to be intelligent and extraterrestrial in Better sex origin. Development of language zEvidence of mushroom cults as early as Beginning of religion (high conc.) 7000 to 9000 years ago, in Northern Eating mushroom did not make people Africa. “smarter”, genetically! Caused change in behavior!
McKenna’s Theory McKenna’s Theory zGods were created to explain unknown phenomena, polytheistic. zEventually reduced to one god, monotheistic
zAre these cave drawings evidence of mushroom worship in Algeria, 7000- 9000 years ago?
McKenna’s Theory Psilocybe and related genera zHas Class VII mycotoxins: Psilocybin and zIngested in high concentrations, Psilocin. mushroom is mediator to god(s) . zGods were created to explain unknown zMycotoxins belong in the same family as phenomena, polytheistic. LSD. zEventually reduced to one god, zSome Native Americans used mushrooms monotheistic in religious ceremonies for centuries, but use unknown to Western Society. zOn the May 13, 1957 issue of Life Magazine, Wasson’s article Seeking the Magic Mushroom was published.
Psilocybe and related genera Psilocybe and related genera
zTheories of origin of Native Americans. Ancestor of North American Indians migrated from Asia and brought their Ð religious ceremonies with them.
Migration occurred during the last ice age, where land bridge formed from drop in sea level, on the Bering Strait, between Alaska and Siberia. Arrow indicates site of land bridge formed about 20,000 years ago.
Psilocybe and related genera Discovery of Mushroom Ceremonies zTheories of origin of Native Americans. zFirst observed by Spanish Conquistadors. Ancestors of North American Indians zCeremonies suppressed by Spaniards in migrated from unknown origins and order to convert Native Americans to some brought religious ceremonies with Christianity. them. zHarsh punishments for those caught Migration occurred by land and sea continuing religious practices. at various points along coastal America. zSuppression only validated belief in Mitochondrial DNA and Y religious practices. chromosome studies suggest diverse zReligious practices driven underground migrations (4 lineages). and became impossible to combat.
Psilocybe and related genera Rediscovery of Ceremonies zAncient relics and remnants of cultural zEunice Pike, a missionary linguist, in traits discovered by anthropologist Oaxaca, Mexico rediscovered that still persist in North American ceremonies. Indians. zNoted that ceremonies became zEarly Spanish explorers recorded use tainted: of “magic mushrooms” in religious Mushroom now is said to be the ceremonies. “Blood of Christ”. Now believed that the mushroom grew wherever a drop of the blood of Christ touched the Earth.
Rediscovery of Ceremonies Rediscovery of Ceremonies zCeremonies had been recorded by various Spanish priest. William Safford, 1906, believed Bernardino de Sahagún, Spanish Teonánacatl to be a plant. Priest recorded usage in Florentine Blas Pablo Reko believed otherwise. Codex, in 16th. Century. Robert Weitlaner, in 1930s, Stated mushroom was used in observed ceremonies sent religious ceremonies, called mushrooms to Reko. Teonánacatl, “flesh of the gods” Reko forwarded sample to Harvard. de Sahagún’s Florentine Codex knowledge lost until 20th. Century.
Rediscovery of Ceremonies Rediscovery of Ceremonies Richard Schultes received specimen and In 1956, Schultes’ collections championed Reko’s cause. identified to species. Roger Heim, identified one species In 1938, Schultes and Reko, collected as Psilocybe caerulescens. specimens, in Mexico, used in ceremonies. Met with Eunice Pike. David Linder identified another as Identified mushroom as a species of Panaeolus sphinctrinus. Panaeolus and published in 1939. Rolf Singer, identified a third Further work discontinued until after species as Stropharia cubensis. WWII.
Rediscovery of Ceremonies Rediscovery of Ceremonies
zMore importantly Gordon Wasson zGordon Wasson, his wife, Valentina also discovered Shultes 1938 article and Allan Richardson, photographer, that led to: were participant in ceremony. Wasson going to Mexico to find z more information on this subject. Purpose of the ceremony was best explained by a chant by Maria Came in contact with Maria Sabina, Sabina. Shaman of Mazatecs (=Eva Mendez in Life article).
Rediscovery of Ceremonies Rediscovery of Ceremonies
“There is a world beyond ours, a world that is far away, zMushroom of Oaxaca referred to as nearby, and invisible. And there is where God lives, where Teonanacatl, “little flower of god”. the dead lives, the spirits and the saints, a world where everything has already happened and everything is known. Actually referable to many That world talks. It has a language of its own. I report species, in a number of genera: what it says. The sacred mushroom takes me by the hand and brings me to the world where everything is known. It is Conocybe Generally, those they, the sacred mushrooms, that speak in a way I can Panaeolus species that stain understand. I ask them and they answer me. When I return Psilocybe from the trip that I have taken with them, I tell what they blue are the ones Stropharia with psilocybin have told me and what they have shown me.” Copelandia and psilocin Anellaria
z Not all species of Psilocybe have psilocybin!
Conocybe filaris
Psilocybe coprophila
Panaeolus sphinctrinus Psilocybe cubensis: one of two of most commonly used magic mushrooms
Psilocybe semilanceata: The other Copelandia cyanescens commonly used species of magic mushrooms
Copelandia bispora Copelandia cambodgeniensis
Panaeolus subbalteatus Anellaria sepulchralis
Rediscovery of Ceremonies Rediscovery of Ceremonies
zJob of the shamen: Communicate with zThe mushrooms were not the only this spirit world so that he/she may source of hallucinogens. Mescaline talk to god. (=Peyote), and Morning Glory were also used in religious ceremonies. zMushrooms makes possible for this communication to occur.
zSeveral species involved, but all contain psilocybin and psilocin.
Peyote Morning Glory
Ipomoea violacea seeds
Lophophora williamsii Ipomoea violacea http://mescaline.com/exp/peyote-cacti.jpg http://www.seeeds.de/images/Ipomoea_violacea.jpg
Psilocybe and related genera Aftermath of Rediscovery zWas use of these mushrooms restricted to Americas? zEffort to keep Maria Sabina zDid Celtics use Psilocybe semilanceata, anonymous unsuccessful. a common Indo-European species? zThousands came to Mexico to experience the “magic mushroom” (term originated by Life Magazine). The Gundestrup zFew realized that magic mushrooms cauldron available in their own back yard, literally.
Aftermath of Rediscovery Aftermath of Rediscovery zThe next five years, following his zHoffman synthesized compound called article in Life, Wassons led several Indocybin. Presented to Sabina. more expeditions to Mexico zWasson studied several other groups Roger Heim went on one expedition of indigenous people. and named a number of new species zIndigenous people no longer receptive and grew some in lab. to North American visitors. Albert Hofmann analyzed the psychoactive compounds in the zShamans who take money from mushrooms and named them strangers for mushrooms shunned psilocybin and psilocin. for prostituting knowledge.
Aftermath of Rediscovery Aftermath of Rediscovery zPsilocybin usage is widespread. zVisitor to Mexico for mushrooms, included Timothy Leary, in 1960. zIn Thailand, its use has become part of the tourist industry. zLed to Leary’s interest in psychoactive mushrooms and later LSD. zDesire for psychedelic drugs spread throughout world. zInduced many young people to travel to exotic land, find god, etc.
Aftermath of Rediscovery Carlos Castaneda zIn Thailand, its use has become part zA discussion about Teonanacatl would of the tourist industry (continued). not be complete without a discussion of Carlos Castaneda. zCarlos Castaneda, anthropologist? Author of: The Teachings of Don Juan, a Jaqui Way of Knowledge. A Separate Reality: Further Conversations With Don Juan. Journey to Ixtlan. All published during “psychadelic 60s”, describing 22 drug trips.
Carlos Castaneda Carlos Castaneda
zDuring the “New Age”, non-drug experiences were described: Tales of Power. The Second Ring of Power. Theme reflected occultism and feminism trend of period.