Mushroom Magick art book
I just received a curious and lovely new book, titled Mushroom Magick, by artist Arik Roper. It's a collection of Roper's paintings of various species of hallucinogenic mushrooms. BB pal Erik Davis contributed an essay and famed mycologist Gary Lincoff provided notes on the various kinds of 'shrooms pictured in the book. From the book description:
Mushroom Magick (Amazon)For centuries hallucinogenic mushrooms have participated in a sublime relationship with humankind, thanks to their psychoactive chemicals that shift and modify the human mind. Arik Roper's exquisite painted portraits of magic mushrooms illustrate more than 90 of the known hallucinogenic species from around the world. He captures their powerful auras, adding to a tradition of Mushroom art that stretches back more than 400 years.
Mushroom Magick sample pages (Abrams Books)
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For centuries hallucinogenic mushrooms have participated in a sublime relationship with humankind, thanks to their psychoactive chemicals that shift and modify the human mind.
So they get you high. Why the need to be so elevated about it?
@1: Eat 5 grams and you'll understand.
Thanks, David. This looks like a cool book. And I didn't realize mushroom art is a 400 year old tradition...
Manooshi, I think mushroom are goes back about 9000 years if you look at the cave paintings in Tassili-n-Ajjer.
Then you would have to look at Roman art, or the Mushroom stones of meso-america.
I have no problem with posting pictures of Psilocybe related mushrooms [blue stained or developing blue blotches where bruised] and calling them "magic". However, anytime I see a picture depicting an Amanita related mushroom [red/orange/yellow cap with white flecks], I want to throttle the artist: unlike Psilocybes, Amanitas: (1) need extensive parboiling to detoxify them, (2) are extremely variable in potency and effect, and can be deadly. They're not as super-deadly as old books have it, but in contrast to Psilocybes they are just plainly far, far more dangerous. So folks remember the red cap with white flecks (Amanita!) and DO NOT just PICK AND EAT these. They have the potential to be Tragic Mushrooms.
Shrooms. (shudder)
And I'm with #1. I don't think I can roll my eyes enough at this idiotic mysticalization of drugs. Drugs make you feel and think differently because they are poisonous and your body can't handle them. It's no more magical than the dreams you have at night--your brain basically malfunctioning.
I understand why cavemen would consider them magical, but nowadays? C'mon, you can't simultaneously look down on religious people who get off on the natural high of primate social bonding and then pretend that fucking yourself up with poisonous plants is any better.
I mean, if you like drugs and can use them safely (difficult to impossible if you don't know where they come from--and you never do--there's the epiphany I had on shrooms, and it wasn't pleasant), then have at it, as far as I'm concerned, but don't pretend it's some magical, mystical, spiritual experience. It's just chemicals. That's all we ever are.
you drink, kyle?
@6
It's no more magical than the dreams you have at night--your brain basically malfunctioning...It's just chemicals. That's all we ever are.
You are totally harshing my mellow.
Kyle, shrooms are not plants - they are fungi. Claiming that fungi are plants is, taxonomically speaking, a bigger misconception than claiming dolphins are fish.
Other than that, I just came here to say what #5 Anonymous said:
Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is not a safe drug.
Even if you manage to get a pleasant high of it (which is unlikely) there is a very high chance that you will damage your liver beyond repair and spend your few remaining days hooked to a dialysis machine.
There are safer and more fun shrooms out there. So if you're going to dose yourself, go for the Philoscybe family - putting back the fun in fungi!
don't pretend it's some magical, mystical, spiritual experience. It's just chemicals.
Please tell me that doesn't apply to a well-made martini.
the wise among us will prepare amanitas in the olde style.
feed them to your a few of your reindeer, collect the urine, add a few herbs and spices to taste, and drink! By rotating the reindeer, there is less of a chance of any of them ending up with liver damage.
This is how everybody's favorite Shaman, Santa Claus did it, before he traveled the world axis (chimney) to intercede on behalf of the tribe (children) by holding pow-wows with the elemental spirits (elves).
And why he wears red with white accents.
flying reindeer, get it?
Um, #11 FTW
Those of you freaking out about how dangerous Amanita muscaria is should calm down. Fatalities are *extremely* rare and involve large quantities (like eating 12 full caps - this is a large mushroom). You really have to pig out on them to die. That isn't to say that you won't get sick eating them. The poisonings from A. muscaria and species with the same toxins place second each year in the US for number of cases that result in Poiosn Center calls.
SPAZZM, liver and kidney damage are not symptoms of A. muscaria poisoning. You are thinking of the various Amanitas with high levels of amatoxins (A. phalloides, A. ocreata, A. virosa, A. bisporigera, and most of the other species in section Phalloidae of subgenus Lepidella). A. muscaria has ibotenic acid and muscimole, toxins that produce delirium.
A bigger problem with these mushrooms is misidentification of the various Psilocybe species. Most of them fall into the category of "Little Brown Mushrooms" (LBMs) that are often fiendishly difficult to identify accurately. Although the blue bruising should help a lot, I have seen people mistake almost any color change you can imagine as blue bruising. There have been a number of poisonings where people thought they had one of the psychedelic Psilocybe species but had actually picked the similar looking but deadly Galerina marginata (which contains the same deadly amatoxins as the deadly Amanitas).
LBMs are pointed out to people starting out in mushroom hunting as something to avoid. They're too hard to identify accurately and some of them are deadly poison.
"You are totally harshing my mellow."
I love it!
Everybody shut the fuck up; Kyle had a bad trip on shrooms once.
So how much mushrooms do you have to eat to read this book?
Yeah, I did have a bad trip on shrooms. Really really bad. And I haven't touched anything stronger than a fine martini since (speaking of, there are some olives still in the fridge... I think you just planned my night!).
Like I said, I'm not saying people shouldn't use substances if they want. I think they should, and I think that they should be legalized so people don't do things like take pills that are supposed to be MDMA, something they know how to use responsibly, and they are actually radioactive dynamite or something and they are at death's door. Again, if there are safe ways to use drugs, I do think there are benefits and fun to be had. It's just than none of it is magical or mystical. You're just getting fucked up. You're not convening with nature or gaining insights into the cosmos, you are just spouting nonsense while your brain is in a sorry state and trying to cope.
I think you should all read Albert Hoffman's book "LSD my problem child", he describes LSD and Psilocybine quite adequately. They both target the serotonin 2a receptor, the effects are quite impressive but an understanding of physiology explains it all. They should be used as Timothy Leary originally proposed in the exploration of one's own psychology, for this they are admirably suited, they also have a remarkable effect on migraines and cluster headaches, and possibly other forms of neuralgia. Using them for enebriation is where the problem lies, even the shaman would agree with that.
The fetishism of psychoactive substances is like fetishizing a Leatherman tool that also just happens to be a prime deity.
but with more colors
it is possible to experience a mystical event while using drugs. That doesn't necessarily mean the drugs had anything to do with it. Or didn't.
I'm pretty sure psychoactive drugs got popular because we all got too busy.
heh!
http://fc09.deviantart.com/fs43/f/2009/080/5/6/Barack_Alien_by_mataleoneRJ.jpg
@Allison, Kyle, and Nehpetse:
There is nothing mystical or magical about the altered state of consciousness brought on by the use of psychedelic substances, yes. But at the same time, this does not invalidate this state, nor its place in human history. To elect not to ever participate in a psychedelic experience is like going through life never having had a sexual experience (Terrence McKenna).
"It's just than none of it is magical or mystical. You're just getting fucked up. You're not convening with nature or gaining insights into the cosmos, you are just spouting nonsense while your brain is in a sorry state and trying to cope."
Kyle,
You clearly have no idea what you're talking about. You sound like the Pope trying to give sex advice. You haven't a clue what other people's experiences are ,so get off the soap box and humble yourself. It's obvious why you're more of an alcohol kind of guy.
the mushrooms aren't mystical, magical, and spiritual.
YOU are mystical, magical, and spiritual.
Turn off the computer for five minutes, and go sit in the woods. Maybe you'll notice.
with or without mushrooms, it doesn't matter.
It's easy to disparage the psychedelic experience if you have not had an adequate one in your life. If you happen to experience it as a "party high" or consume the mushroom or iboga root bark with a belittling attitude, one is apt to "harsh the mellow."
@#15 Cowicide:
"Everybody shut the fuck up; Kyle had a bad trip on shrooms once."
Lol. Totally.
And @#23 Jason Rizos: well said, dude.
being mean to Kyle isn't going to relax his attitude to psychoactives. If you ever want to see legalization and proper organized research you want people on your team, not against you.
for some of the most recent studies, visit my friends at : www.maps.org
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/43695722.html
the mushrooms aren't mystical, magical, and spiritual.
YOU are mystical, magical, and spiritual.
And there is the basic problem I have with the whole thing.
No, you are not. You are meat, and when you are putting drugs (of any kind) in the meat, you are just poisoned meat.
a weed is a plant in the wrong place. Dose makes the medicine - or poison.
mystical meat!
magical meat!
spiritual meat!
isn't it great that our language has both nouns and adjectives? it makes for a much more interesting experience. You know that there is a theory that says that psychedelics are responsible for the development of language? Intelligent, curious meat thinks that is a good theory.
#11 "And why he wears red with white accents."
Santa dresses in red and white because of Thomas Nast and Coca Cola.
"Santa dresses in red and white because of Thomas Nast and Coca Cola. "
The Coca Cola image of Santa was based on previously existing images of Saint Nicolas ( which may have had fly agaric mushroom connections) , they didn't invent it.
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/santa/cocacola.asp
#35 "The Coca Cola image of Santa was based on previously existing images of Saint Nicolas ( which may have had fly agaric mushroom connections) , they didn't invent it."
It wasn't suggested that they invented Santa. Before Coca Cola used Santa in their ad campaign he was portrayed in a variety of colorful outfits. Our now "classic" image of santa dressed in only red and white is because of coca cola, not magic mushrooms.
"Our now "classic" image of santa dressed in only red and white is because of coca cola, not magic mushrooms."
As I just said, the red and white imagery of Saint Nicolas existed before Coke. Therefore Coke simply latched on to one image of the character which was a part of folklore. Coke's involvement in deciding on using the red and white costume doesn't do anything to remove the association of the Siberian Saint Nicolas with the fly agaric.
Here's a piece about the recent research into psilocybin at Johns Hopkins and the question of a core mystical experience:
http://www.searchmagazine.org/Archives/Back%20Issues/2009%20January-February/full-mystics.html
#13, ToxicMan:
I'd agree with this. I ate A. muscaria on a few occasions in my student days, sometimes fresh, sometimes dried, the largest dose being 4 mushrooms.
My worst trip on Psilocybe was far, far, more unpleasant than anything experienced with fly agaric (but the best was also far, far better).
Kyle,
I'm sorry you had a bad trip. I've had them before too. But I've also had good trips.
To belittle yourself as just a piece of meat, I think, is indicative of why you may have had a bad trip. I think Nietzsche would have had a field day with your critique, as the conclusions you have come to rely far too much on a method (analysis), and far too little on other things, such as feeling.
Perhaps an ultimate cynicism about human life is in order, but on the flipside, there is a good possibility that we are a pretty spectacular organism that is able to both reason quite well, which is very handy for survival, and also feel, which goes deeper to the root of our psyche. For many of us, shrooms have helped us explore that root, and in turn have made us respect just how limited pure reason is. And, even if you are right, that we are just pieces of meat with no purpose, we have good enough minds that we can convince ourselves to have a purpose, and live happier lives trying to fulfill that purpose. Why be angry and cynical when you can be happy and open-minded?
Just to clarify my perspective, i'm an atheist and fetishizing anything gets very silly very quickly.
On the other hand, having the right tool at the right time can change destiny.
In reference to Kyle's experience, everyone's body is made of chemicals and meat.
Some people's meat naturally has an aversion to certain chemicals. (peanuts, cat dander, pollen, etc) Some people also naturally have no interest in sex. Some people are born with no sense of smell, or blind or deaf etc.
This is no excuse to make fun of them. Its just in their nature.
Seems to be a pretty cool book. Though I have never trid them, mushrooms seems to be hardcore high. I prefer a martini but anyway we should not judge others!
This looks to be a very cool book. Poison mushrooms have always facinated me.
Has anyone here bought this? Because I'm wondering if it has Kaentake, one of the most evil looking poison mushrooms in the world. As far as I know, it only grows in Japan, and there is scarce English info on it. But it would be perfect for a book like this.
Why? Its name means "flame mushroom"- it's bright red, in the shape of flames! Here's the wikipedia entry for it (Japanese, but good pics)-http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/カエンタケ
Don't eat this stuff- it gives vicious effects. Vomiting, diahhrea, limb numbness, slurred speach, liver failure, lung failure, and renal failure, with high chance of death. Brain atrophy, hair loss, and permanent speach impairment are common after-effects. Basically, it fucks you up real bad. At least as bad as any of the dreaded Amantia mushrooms.
Check it out- if you see it, you'd have to be nuts to even think of eating it- its appearance screams pain infliction, yet some cases pop up each year in Japan of poisoning with these.
#37
Santa Clause was portrayed in any number of colors, no one more common than another. I suppose the different colors could be for your drug of choice...but probably not.
Then again, if you want to justify your drug use in this way, who am I to stand in your way.
#31 POSTED BY KYLE ARMBRUSTER
Did you have any of these "meat" visions while shrooming and did you put the lotion on its skin?
Various food affects the brain in various ways. Do you consider food poison as well?
Don't eats the clams!!
It's very bizarre how mushrooms work. To claim that a shroom trip, is nothing more than getting fucked up, is insane to believe, and communication doesn't do it any justice. Look up DMT, and your sleep. OR your near death experiences. You shouldn't just live your life, pretending that a single trip told you that it's only chemicals. Because words can always be contradicted. Perception is obviously always contradicted, and besides you should always have an optimistic way and open-minded way to look at death. IT makes for fun conversations, as well as reason to expand.
For the people saying that there's nothing magical or mystical about psychedelic experiences, I think the problem lies in the language. "Magic" is not supernatural, it is an experience, is something that happens to you, in your brain. The fact that there's a neural correlate of these experiences doesnt make them irrelevant, it just means that our scientific understanding is growing. And it's not just "the brain malfunctioning", that's an oversimplification and it's wrong. I'm atheist, I dont believe there's anything supernatural about these experiences, but the experiences themselves are magical and mystical. There's also nothing supernatural when the Virgin Mary appears to people, or fairies, or flying saucers, etc. Under psychedelics you experience a great mystery and something that can be compared with religious experiences. Again, there's no God, there's nothing supernatural, but the experience is very real, and it's something deeply human and worth exploring for anyone who is interested in understanding what it means to be human.