Thanks for the pointer Grant, that's a very interesting thread. I'm also interested in hearing about people's experiences with more emphasis on the magical/spiritual effects. Alas, perhaps some of the weird people here haven't been experiencing our magical fungal friends recently.
As I've stated before, I came to ritual use of entheogens quite late in my shamanic practise - just 3 years ago in fact. I worked shamanically for many years before getting my feet wet in the hallucinogenic waters. I do think that it stood me in good stead as I was quite experienced in dealing with altered states and was able to deal with being 180 degrees to reality quite well.
I've now taken several varieties of Psilocybin (Liberty Caps, Philosopher Stones, Cubensis and soon - Conifer Psilocybin) as well as Fly Agaric. At this point I guess I work with mushrooms about twice a year. Some I've had fresh, others dried. Dried mushies are never as potent as the fresh stuff. Similar to what people have said in that thread, there is a huge variety in strength of mushrooms, and sometimes you can just take a couple and be off your head.
However, when I take them I do so in ceremony, and have a least a basic ritual form - which includes setting up the space in a safe manner. Even if you view this purely as a pschological tool, it's a useful thing to do.
I view the various mushrooms as Plant Teachers and usually have long conversations with the fungus involved. Each trip I've had with the various mushrooms has been subtly (and sometimes radically) different - reflecting the temperment of the fungus itself.
My last trip was the most hallucinogenic I've ever experienced, and I have to say I was close to freaking out because reality was completly whipped away from me. Thankfully, I knew that I had to go with the flow and accept the experience for what it was. I knew that the worst thing possible would have been to give in to my fears, and instead I accepted them, and then put them to one side. It certainly reminded me that shrooms are not to be underestimated, and to take them lightly is to set yourself for a potentially bad trip.
I have the utmost respect for mushrooms and the amazing gift of insight they can bestow upon you. They are great if done in a social environment - as long as you're with friends you trust and you're all on the same wavelength.
Interestingly, I was "told" in my last trip that if I could handle that experience then I would be able to take peyote in the future. My feeling is that is a year or so away yet. But, one day... |
