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The use history of Amanita muscaria also known as fly agaric spans millennia and is deeply intertwined with cultural, spiritual, and medicinal practices around the world.
I have always been fascinated by this mushroom, the lure and rituals behind it. When we look at modern day Christmas, it's almost impossible to miss the resemblance between the two worlds.
For today though, we'll just look at the role Amenita Muscaria has played. Here's an overview of its historical uses:
1. Spiritual and Shamanic Use
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Siberian and Arctic Tribes:
Indigenous groups like the Sámi and Siberian Chukchi have used Amanita muscaria in shamanic rituals for its psychoactive properties.
Shamans would consume the mushroom to enter altered states of consciousness, believed to facilitate communication with the spirit world.
The psychoactive component of the Amanita muscaria allowed them to achieve trance-like states that could previously only be found through dance and drumming.
Laypeople, on the other hand would drink the urine of the shaman who consumed the mushroom, as its psychoactive compounds remain active and perhaps even more potent, but less toxic after being metabolized.
According to Koryak folklore, the Amanita muscaria mushroom was a “sacred gift” from Big Raven, who was the first shaman and the causal beginning of the human race. Supposedly, big raven discovered the power of the mushroom when he had caught a whale, but wanted to put him back into the sea. The whale was too big and heavy for Big Raven, and he wanted help from Vahiyinin, or Existence. Vahiyinin created the Amanita muscaria, which it called wapaq, by spitting on the land, its white spots representing the spit. Big Raven ate the resulting mushroom and with it came the strength to throw the whale back into the sea.
Celtic Druids
The Celtic Druids are thought to have used the Amanita muscaria in pre-Christian religious traditions and rituals. Under the awareness that it was supposed to be toxic, the druids would first prepare the Amanita muscaria for consumption, and then eat it specifically for the hallucinations it could give. They believed the mushroom and its organism to be ancient, and that through eating it and experiencing its visions and hallucinations, one could inherit some of its ancient wisdom and be put into direct communication with the universe.
The Amanita muscaria was thought to give one visions of faeries and leprechauns —both very spiritual creatures deeply associated with Ireland and its historic folklore. To this day, Irish slang calls a magic mushroom trip a time where one “goes away with the faeries” or “off with the pixies.”
It kind of makes you think about all our miths and fantasies... maybe it all really exists in these different realms of reality?
Hindu and Vedic Contexts:
Some scholars theorize that the Vedic drink Soma, described in ancient Hindu texts, might have been derived from Amanita muscaria. However, this is debated, with other candidates like ephedra and psilocybin mushrooms proposed.
According to the Vedas, Soma was taken by priests during liturgical worship. First, it was mixed with water, then beaten with stones. Then it was mixed with more water, honey, or barley, and drunk by the priests, who would enter inebriated states.
2. Medicinal Use
Traditionally, parts of Amanita muscaria have been used to treat physical ailments, including:
Pain relief.
Muscle spasms.
Parasitic infections (e.g., using the mushroom to attract and kill flies, which inspired its name, fly agaric).
Modern herbalists often utilize Amanita Muscaria in the form of tinctures and dried caps. These tinctures are popular due to their ease of dosage and ability to concentrate the mushroom's active compounds. When prepared correctly, they can be used to address specific health issues under the guidance of a knowledgeable practitioner.
This would need some much deeper study, so I would suggest you keep digging before experimenting!!!
3. Folklore and Mythology
Amanita muscaria is deeply embedded in European mythology and folklore:
Seen in fairy tales as the quintessential "toadstool" associated with fairies and gnomes. Undoubtedly connected to the hallucination reports from the Celtic world.
Influence in the Santa Claus legend:
The red-and-white cap resembles Santa’s outfit, and reindeer are known to consume the mushroom, potentially contributing to "flying reindeer" myths. But like I've said before, there are a lot of dots that can be connected to come up with this theory. Once you start looking for it you will see it too.
4. Recreational and Hallucinogenic Use
In modern times, and probably back in the day, the mystical red and white mushroom has been used recreationally for its psychoactive effects, caused by muscimol and ibotenic acid.
Effects include altered perception, euphoria, and vivid dreams.
However, improper preparation can lead to nausea, vomiting, and toxic effects, as the mushroom contains compounds that need to be carefully processed to reduce toxicity.
One day I'll dig through some archive or better yet scratch my Siberian friend's brain for a recipe....
He always says don't mess with the yellow Amenita species they can give you a really bad trip. You may not see the happy feries and leprechauns we talked about earlier!
5. Culinary Use
While generally not recommended, some cultures (e.g., in parts of Japan) have consumed Amanita muscaria after careful detoxification by boiling and discarding the water multiple times.
I personally think that's entirely too much work while there are plenty of other choice mushrooms out there that can be eaten by simply cooking them! Plus nowhere does it say that the Amenita Muscaria is particularly tasty or anything.
6. Entomological Use
The name "fly agaric" originates from its use in attracting and killing flies. Mushrooms soaked in milk were used as an insecticide in Europe.
In conclusion, it's a mushroom with a lot of history and folklore that may play a big role in the culture we know.
It's good to know your past. We all have indigenous ancestors of some kind who had their ways of doing life. We live in the evolution of all of that and I like to explore what life could have been like many centuries ago.
Do you know where your people are from?
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