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Home , Agaric, Amanita, Amanita muscaria, Psilocybe

muscaria (Fly ) zIn discussion of toxins, eight classes were recognized, and two are known to be : and Religion: „Class V: and . „Class VII: and

Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric)

zWestern Society was not aware of their existence until late 1950s. „ known in 1957 from Life Magazine article, by R. Gordon Wasson, Seeking the Magic Mushroom. „Amanita muscaria known in 1968, from R. Gordon Wasson’s , Divine Mushroom of Immortality. zName is not familiar but mushroom probably is.

Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) zThe development of A. muscaria: zThe development of A. muscaria: „Young mushroom entirely „The mature mushroom. enclosed, like an egg, in the „Taste and odor not distinct . when fresh. After drying, acrid nauseating taste. „“Egg hatches”: Stalk of „Forms mycorrhizae mushroom elongates and cap (sing.=), usually expands, leaving remnants of with roots of and universal veil behind, giving it trees, less commonly with the characteristic white and larch. speckled cap.

 Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) zPrototype mushroom zPrototype mushroom

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Paras, a Pokemon character has A. Gourd with Amanita muscaria art. muscaria growing on it.

Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) zPrototype mushroom zPrototype mushroom

Often associated with Christmas. Girl carrying basket of A. muscaria Elf sitting on A.muscaria.

Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) zPrototype mushroom zPrototype mushroom

Another elf on Amanita muscaria. Christmas display of Amanita muscaria.

 Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) zToo much as been made of its zToo much as been made of its association with Christmas. association with Christmas. „’ red and white suit „Christmas is actually based on a represents A. muscaria number of pagan religions. „Actually from Coca Cola, 1931, „Christmas as it is celebrated, advertising campaign. Red and today, is actually a conglomeration white is color of Coca Cola. of things that retailers from New York put together for their convenience, i.e. Rudolph’s red nose, flying .

Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) zToo much as been made of its zEvolution of Santa Claus association with Christmas. „St. Nicholas, the model for Santa Claus, was from , where local tribes used A. muscaria „Actually, the Catholic Church does not recognize “Saint Nicholas” and does attribute the character to a pagan source. Also, did not have red and white suit. Saint Nicholas Santa Claus

Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) zWhy is it associated with Christmas? zWhy is it associated with Christmas? „Not just Christmas. Also found in „Not just Christmas. Art work by Dishes and even in Smurf cartoons. Beatrix Potter.

 Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) zWhy is it associated with Christmas? zAmanita muscaria is believed, by many, „Probably used because it is such a to be Soma, the god of picturesque mushroom. Has ancient India. become a caricature of mushrooms „Soma brought to India, by the zHowever, Amanita muscaria is believed Aryans, 3500 years ago, when they to have had impact on religion. invaded India from what is now .

Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric) Amanita muscaria (Fly Agaric)

zAmanita muscaria is believed, by many, zAmanita muscaria is believed, by many, to be Soma, the narcotic god of to be Soma, the narcotic god of ancient India. ancient India. „Soma was looked upon as an actual god, „Through modern interpretations of the whereas other magic mushrooms were Rig Veda, the holy book of the Hindu, mediators of god. Wasson deduced that A. muscaria was „Concept was first put forth by R. the Soma described. Gordon Wasson, in his 1968 book: Soma, Divine Mushroom of Immortality.

A Word About the Aryans A Word About the Aryans zWarrior people, with knowledge in zBoth groups had religious traditions agriculture and the growing of grains that were passed on orally and later zPlace of origin was somewhere in written down. Central Asia. zReligious work were Rig Veda and zAryans split into two groups: Indics Avesta, of the Indian Hindu and and Iranians. Iranian Zorasters, respectively. zIndics settled in what is now Afghanistan zBoth utilized a plant with hallucinogenic and the Valley of the Indus. properties in religious ceremonies. zReferred to as Soma in Rig Veda and zIranians settled in Iran. Haoma in the Avesta. Generally agreed both are the same.

 Wasson’s Reasoning Wasson’s Reasoning zIdentity of plant was lost, several zWasson’s proposal was unique and millennia ago, but ceremonies based on sound evidence. continued. „Rig Veda described Soma as a small, zBefore Wasson, scholars had proposed leafless plant with fleshy stalk. many plants as the identity of this „No mention was ever made of roots, sacred plant. flowers or seeds. zEphedra, rhubarb, opium, hashish and „ many others proposed and rejected. No mention was ever made of how it zWasson based most of his evidence on was propagated. interpretation from Rig Veda. „Aryans well known for their expertise in agriculture.

Wasson’s Reasoning Wasson’s Reasoning zWasson’s proposal was unique and zWasson’s proposal was unique and based on sound evidence. based on sound evidence. „If Soma was a plant, why was it not „This necessitated the need for a brought with them and cultivated?. substitute Soma. „Rig Veda also mentions Soma could „Soma could be consumed in two forms: only be found in mountains. Eating raw (?) mushroom or drinking „Only place where A. muscaria could be its juice. found in the latitude of Indus Valley. Taken in the urine by a person who „Although they conquered valley, they has ingested A. muscaria. did not conquer mountains and had no Only mushroom known access to A. muscaria. that can be taken in this form.

Wasson’s Reasoning Wasson’s Reasoning

zIn 1730, in Siberia, Johann von zMatter of economics. Only the Strahlenberg, first observed this wealthy could afford mushrooms. practice. The poor waited outside ceremonial area for someone to relieve zAlso an apparent function to practice. themselves so that they could fill zModern users complain of nausea, their containers with urine. probably due to other toxin(s). Passing zTribesmen had close association with through digestive tract eliminates other reindeers for this reason. toxin(s), but retains ibotenic acid zMushroom was replaced by as intoxicant.

 Argument against A. muscaria

zNot everyone supports Wasson’s theory: „Flattery, David Stophlet, and Schwartz, Martin. (1989). The Botanical Identity of the Indo-Iranian Sacred Hallucinogen "Soma" and Its Legacy in Religion, Language and Middle Eastern Folklore „ (Harmel or Syrian Peganum harmala Rue) is Haoma or Soma.

Argument against A. muscaria Argument against A. muscaria „In 1998 archeological findings in this country dating from 2000 B.C., of shrines of public worship and inner Turkmenistan sanctum for priest „Analysis of samples found in ceramic bowls, revealed the traces of both and . „Other samples yielded Ephedra and Opium. „Thus, most recent theory indicates Soma is a composite .

Argument against A. muscaria Activation of A. muscaria zPeople experimenting with A. muscaria zPractical reason why A. muscaria was did not get reactions described: dried in sun prior to consumption: „Has been explained by differences in „Ibotenic Acid is unstable and is biochemical populations. converted into the stable and more „Wasson has tried on several occasions potent Muscimol, during drying or and admits to not having any reaction. cooking process of mushroom. „However, current users suggest that „It is the Muscimol that passes mushroom must be dried and/or through digestive system unaltered cooked before psychotrophic that makes possible the “urine muscimol is active. drinking”.

 Further Impact of Soma Ganoderma lucidum zWasson believed that the origin of zKnown for thousands of years in China the Ling Chih was based on Soma: as a sign of good fortune, health and „Today Ling Chih is known to be longevity: Ganoderma lucidum. „Emperor Shih-Huang (Chin Dynasty 221-208 BC) was first report of Ling Chih. „Suddenly word came about a supernatural mushroom in the mountains and its supernatural powers. „People searched for it, but nobody could find it.

Ganoderma lucidum Ganoderma lucidum zKnown for thousands of years in China zKnown for thousands of years in China as a sign of good fortune, health and as a sign of good fortune, health and longevity (continued): longevity (continued): „Emperor order his magicians to find it. „During Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) was identified as the Ling „Emperor sent ships to nearby islands Chih. to find mushroom. „Found during reign of Emperor Wu-Ti, „Wasson believe rumors of this fungus found in palace was designated mushroom reached China by sea route as the Ling Chih. via India. Thus, idea of searching for „Wu-Ti was not a popular emperor and mushroom in mountains. used this as a means of to gain favor from people.

John Allegro Allegro alleges that zA discussion of A. muscaria would be Judaism and incomplete without mentioning John were Allegro, author of 1970 book: based on a secret cult Mushroom and the Cross. whose god was Amanita muscaria „Described another religious cult (represented associated with A. muscaria, symbolically as the Christianity. Christ). When the cult died out, Judaism and Christianity remained as religions.

 Fresco at Abbaye de Plaincourault Mérigny, France.

Allegro alleges fresco represents Adam Wasson disagrees with this interpretation and Eve, with the Amanita muscaria as and he has his followers. the “”.