Hallucinogenic Mushrooms

Hallucinogens have been a part of customs and religion as long as there has been recorded history. The consumption of hallucinogens, specifically magic mushrooms, has been dated back to approximately six to nine thousand years. There is historical documentation of the sacred usage of mushrooms from all over the world. They have been used in religious ceremonies, as well as an escape from people’s monotonous, mundane lives. A spike of usage occurred during the 1960’s, in accordance with the counterculture, as a gateway into higher consciousness. Psychologists such as Timothy Leary experimented with mushrooms to see the connection from sacred mushrooms, to understanding a human’s subconscious. The magic mushroom is a psychoactive drug that alters
the world around an individual, however it doesn’t necessarily induce hallucinations. The purpose of the mushrooms has greatly changed over the course of history, from “magic mushrooms,” to a recreationally used drug. There are about one hundred species of hallucinogenic mushrooms; the two most commonly consumed mushrooms in the United Sates are Psilocybe mexicana, and Psilocybe cyanescens.
Mushrooms are hallucinogens because they contain the chemical Psilocybin. Psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, works with interaction by neurotransmitter receptors on nerve cells in the brain. There, it replicates the affects of serotonin release. This is the same way that hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, or mescaline affect the brain. Hallucinogens like these forcefully affect the brain, distorting the senses and changing the users perception of time and
space.
The ritualistic uses of these mushrooms have been utilized since 1000 B.C. The first recorded usage was by the Aztecs, who called the mushrooms Teonanacatl, or the divine flesh. Consumption by the personal physician to the king of Spain noted that, “when eaten cause an uncontrollable laughter … and others which bring before the eyes all kinds of things, such as likeness of demons.” Mushroom use was kept solely connected to shamanic ritual until about 1953 when its use in Mexican rituals became a more focused topic for psychologists. In the 1960’s Albert Hoffman, the synthesizer of LSD became interested in utilizing the Psilocybin in the magic mushrooms and using it for psychiatric use. Hoffman synthesized the Psilocybin and marketed it as Indocybin until it was illegalized in 1965. It was also used recreationally in the 1960’s by influential figures in the media and science community, such as; Timothy Leary, Jimi Hendrix and Ken Kesey (Shroomery). It was added to the register of Schedule I drugs in the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, illegalizing its consumption in the United States. Timothy Leary was a respected psychologist who practiced in a very unorthodox manner.
His work as the Director of Psychological Research at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Oakland, California only helped him recognize that standard methodologies were not the only option. Leary was a very focused individual; and in 1960, he was invited to join the faculty of the Social Relations Department at Harvard University. Leary began a study on the affects of mushrooms on individuals; and also partook in the consumption of the shrooms. Leary had a friend named Frank Barron who helped to get him the job at Harvard. It was Barron who first introduced Leary to the possible connection between sacred mushrooms and psychiatry in 1959. Leary began his testing of the mushrooms and soon became an avid member of the drug community, “Clearly, there was a time when very intelligent and accomplished people were excited about the possibilities that sacred mushrooms offered. I can tell you now that the mushrooms haven’t changed at all, and the possibilities are still there.” What Leary was trying to portray was that the mushrooms can still hold their spiritual meaning if used properly. People now abuse them and use them as a recreational
trip. Psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, acts by interaction with neurotransmitter receptors on nerve cells in the brain. Here, it imitates the action of serotonin, the “happy hormone.” This is the same mechanism of action as for the other hallucinogens like LSD, or mescaline. LSD and psilocybin show cross-tolerance, after taking one of these substances, the brain quickly develops a tolerance to it. Taking another dose of one of these substances soon after usage will require an increased dosage to induce the effects. As the psilocin reacts with the receptors in one’s brain, one begins to experience an altered reality. Mushrooms have been known to give their users nausea, uncontrollable laughter and a feeling of airiness. When mushrooms first hit you, one receives a feeling of their physical self becoming lighter, as their soul takes over. Idries Shah, an author and a teacher of the spiritual dimension of Islam, wrote in his book The Perfumed Scorpion, "You must conceive of possibilities beyond your present state, if you are to be able to find the capacity to reach towards them" (Shah). Shrooms are one of the most commonly consumed drug next to Marijuana within the group of people I hangout with. Most of my friends had their very first really spiritual moments, as a rational adult, while they were on mushrooms. It is a drug based on good vibrations and loving friends, which gives individuals the ability to easily open a connection with their environment and the people around them. Each trip varies on the potency of the mushrooms, the strand and the individual who eats them. I have personally seen people have life-changing trips on mushrooms, and have also experienced the power of the magic mushroom; however, I have never had a parallel trip to any other individual. After a trip, it is always interesting to hear about how everyone else was feeling and how each person was affected. It’s a very spiritual and bonding thing to do with one’s peers, and it is understandable as to why they had such growing popularity in the 1960’s. All in all, the mushroom will always be somewhat involved in society. The use of mushrooms can be dated back thousands of years and will continue to be used for a long time to come. Although they may not be as sacred and ritualized now, they still hold the same purpose. People from all walks of life, and different parts of the world take mushrooms for many different reasons. However, it comes down to one main incentive, and that is to reach a higher consciousness level. The level reached while on mushrooms is near unexplainable, but it can be healthy to know yourself that well. Just as Timothy Leary explained, it is important to know yourself, so that other people can see you as you see yourself.