Mushroom rituals ???

[Greenking]

Any information on shamanic rituals, diets for Mushrooms. There’s a lot of info on Ayauascha, how about the Mushroom?

[Xochipilli2012]

Any information on shamanic rituals, diets for Mushrooms. There’s a lot of info on Ayauascha, how about the Mushroom?

Hi Greenking!

Great question.

Back in the late 70s there was a "church" called The Church of the Tree of Life that I joined by mail. I don't remember how I learned about them; probably from an ad in High Times magazine. Anyhow, they had a book of rituals that I have long since lost that included a ritual for taking mushrooms. As best as I can remember, it was based upon the kind of rituals performed by the Mazatec shaman/medicine woman, Maria Sabina, and included such elements as taking shrooms in pairs (i.e. an even number), burning copal resin as incense, and also included cacao beans and tobacco, although the details on these things are sketchy as it was awhile ago that I last read about this stuff. Also, the ritual was to be done at night.

I tried to find something online about this, but could find nothing about the CTOL (the initials used by the Church of the Tree of Life back then). However, I came across an account of two mushroom rituals, one with Maria Sabina and the other with Don Pablo which you can read in detail at:

http://www.csp.org/nicholas/A27.html

This was supposed to be from a book The Flesh of God: Sacred Mushroom Traditions among the Mazatec Shamans by Enrique Gonzalez Rubio. Unfortunately, I couldn't find this actual book anywhere, so I don't know if it's been published. Enrique Gonzalez has a book out called Medicina Chamánica (http://www.amazon.com/Medicina-Chamanica-Enrique-Gonzalez-Rubio-Montoya/dp/8498270103) that you can buy through Amazon, but it's in Spanish and I don't think it's the same book.

This is all very interesting stuff, and I'm encouraged to explore this further when I am graced with some sacred fungi sometime next year (we hope).

There are a lot of details there which you might be able to use to construct your own ritual. It wouldn't be the same as having an actual shaman doing a traditional ceremony, of course, but it might be very valuable to try it out and see how it fits.

There are even recordings of Maria Sabina chanting, but I don't think a recording would be quite the same as having someone with her skills or knowledge singing for you. To relate it to the ayahuasca ceremony (and I have never done ayahuasca so this is 2nd hand info), having the brew and a recording of the icaros is no substitute for having a real curandero present and available to sing according to whatever is required in that moment. I happen to have a CD of some icaros, so maybe I can try an experiment with that as well someday..but that's another story.)

Ann Shulgin responded to a question in Psychedelic Salon #53 (http://www.matrixmasters.net/blogs/?p=117) recorded at Burning Man in 2006 about ritual, and she responded along the lines that we can create our own rituals, and these don't have to be based on someone else's culture (I'm paraphrasing here and I may be mangling what she said). Give that podcast a listen for more ideas. (It's a wonderful recording of two amazingly beautiful people.)

Hopefully, people with more knowledge than I will have more to add on this subject.

Thanks for raising it!

[Ostritt]

I personally don't think it's a good idea to adopt a ritual. Ritual is really just a way to create a certain reality around what you're doing, I would say just approach it in the way that makes the most sense for you and serves you best. Rituals are someone else's ideas and entheogens show (me at least) to rely only on my own.

[sparrow]

Any information on shamanic rituals, diets for Mushrooms. There’s a lot of info on Ayauascha, how about the Mushroom?

You can find a wealth of information on Erowid.org - not only in the Mushroom Vault, but in the library vaults; some books online, and some links to websites where you can purchase.
Here's one I haven't read, but sounds like it might be what you're looking for:
http://www.erowid.org/library/books/flesh_of.shtml

[Xochipilli2012]

I personally don't think it's a good idea to adopt a ritual. Ritual is really just a way to create a certain reality around what you're doing, I would say just approach it in the way that makes the most sense for you and serves you best. Rituals are someone else's ideas and entheogens show (me at least) to rely only on my own.

Hey Ali!

Generally, I would tend to agree with you on this point--these sacred medicines can speak to us on their own terms so long as we remain open to hearing them. That said, it seems that for devoted ayahuasca users, a real ceremony with a bona fide curandero has a tremendous impact on their experience. As I've never done ayahuasca in any context, I cannot personally comment on the veracity of this statement, but I can accept the possible truth of it.

In the same way, when I've gone to meditate at a Zendo, or at a Nying-Ma Center, there are certain "rituals" involved with those meditation spaces that very deliberately create "a certain reality" around the experience. You could argue that meditation doesn't require any of that, but still, these rituals exist within certain traditions for a reason.

So it doesn't seem completely off-base to apply some Mazatec processes to using magic mushies. One clear difference that I can see is that if there is an ongoing tradition in Oaxaca that is alive to this day, not much is being shared about it--not nearly to the same degree as with ayahuasca. So for me, at least, I would be curious to try a Mazatec style ritual someday just to see what new things it might bring to the temple.

In my own case, I don't ritualize my private journeying much at all. I don't even say a prayer or anything at the beginning. I do get quiet when I'm really starting to come on, turn the lights off and keep the music off while I lie down on my bed. Later, as the trip progresses I might speak in tongues or sing to keep me grounded, and eventually I'll play one of my didges. I think it might be worthwhile for me to bring a little more "structure" into the experience--while being open to abandoning it along the way if it doesn't "feel right."

Copal smells pretty good to me, by the way.

How about you, Ostritt? Do you have any sort of ritual structure to your mushroom journeys, or do you sort of "go with the flow"?

I'd love to hear your, or anyone else's perspectives on this.

[Ostritt]

Basically I follow what Terence McKenna used to do and add some stuff that works quite well for me. Before I eat them I give gratitude to the mushrooms and thank them for teaching me, kind of like a pre-surrender. Then I clean out the closet of my psyche, bringing up anything that may come up later (and far more intensely). Then I sit down and eat each one, washing them down with water and staying as relaxed and meditative as possible. I also look forward to the actual trip and let some of the excitement tingle through in positive vibes. Mostly I've gotten fresh shrooms from either Holland or Germany and I've never been into making a tea or trying to disguise the taste or anything. Also I always always eat on an empty stomach, so usually they are my breakfast :D Then I chill and kind of chew the cud as I wait to come up, don't do anything too strenuous and then - the rest is history :rolleyes:

[cereus]

A ritual is a good idea to make the most out of your trip; i personally use a mix of shamanic rituals and witchcraft rituals, when that is said I hate rituals that is to rigid and dogmatic as in Wicca. I do often choose the night of the full moon and pack some ritual paraphernalia, some fasting both mentally and physically, and setting up a safe haven is also advisable. I always go outside during the trip if the trip is not held exclusively out side. The rituals them self is to set the theme and the purpose of the trip and it can save you in tight spots. My advice is to read about rituals of different religions and spiritual practises and compose your own rituals. It will take time to do this but it will be of use the rest of your life. Not only when using the sacraments but also when trying to digest and use what you learned from your travels in the other realms.

Good travels and safe journeys

[Greenking]

Awesome posts everyone.

Xochipilli2012:
Nice find, although it’s hard to believe a lot of it. If that story was in fact true it’s remarkable. 5 days away from sexual relations was interesting.

This is definitely a touchy subject.

It’s hard to say if the rituals are actually making the difference or whether your brain is playing tricks on you. You know what I mean. (I’m talking Mushrooms only)

My early experiences with the mushroom led me to believe it’s all in our brain. Especially since I’ve seen dozens of friends not have any spiritual insights at all. Just good & scary times. ;)
My 1st experience re-assured me of everything I had already learned from Cannabis.
But it also made me think for a while we are just like animals & once you die that’s it, your done. Make every second count.
Nothing spiritual at all.

People interpret things differently. Maybe that’s why there are so many diff. types of Ayuascha rituals?
In any case, with my telepathic incident I had a few months back; I can’t get over the fact that there is something else to it, which will be investigated.
And the fact that Shamans abide by these strict rules, swearing by their end result….
Maybe there is something to it.
I’m definitely curious to see how our ancient humans respected it. & why would you need to diet & so on. So I can make my own conclusions & in the end like you said OSTRITT do what serves me best.

Peace & Love

keep em comin...

[Little Elf]

Any information on shamanic rituals, diets for Mushrooms. There’s a lot of info on Ayauascha, how about the Mushroom?

I had my first chocolate mushroom last night. Warmest lightest most deep experience I have yet to have with the mushroom. The second good mushroom since my first mdma in june. I just felt MDMA revealed this higher self to me that mushrooms reveal in time, but since mdma its been like an extra boost in the love void. I hesitantly ate a chocolate with supposedly an 8th of shroom after watching the sun set over my town from a big hill. I can never plan a trip, it has just got to be right. Fine hemp clothing is a plus. Always avoid headphones. And I just felt the chocolate added so much to that warm love feeling. I've never had such a profound experience with mushrooms or chocolate. I did smoke a little salvia with my weed, but most was lost in the wind and my fumbling shaky self.

I plan on doubling the dose for the solstice or the 23rd. Trying to get some friends to climb a mountain and do a fire dance something. Bellingham has the most beautiful landscape of hills, mountains, lakes, plant life, puget sound, islands. A mushrooms paradise.

Just thought I'd share. If anyone wants to let me know about chocolate mushrooms and if there could be any other drug at play or something, I'd be happy to know Not like there was bad side effects like I had reported with picking cynesses. And not welding helps I believe.

[LendogPDX]

Just thought I'd share. If anyone wants to let me know about chocolate mushrooms and if there could be any other drug at play or something, I'd be happy to know Not like there was bad side effects like I had reported with picking cynesses. And not welding helps I believe.

I know there is a good supply of chocolate mushrooms in Northern Oregon, there are many sources and they range in different packaging and flavors. The ones that I would get in the past had 1/2 of an 1/8 per piece and they were a little bigger than a hersheys minuature. I really liked the white chocolate the best.

I never worried about them being made with anything except high quality chocolate and mushrooms. They were wrapped in foil and made in a chocolate mold for a good design. Young hippy couples are always the best source. ;)

[Little Elf]

I figured it out last night with my bowl of the evening. I can't believe this evaded my mind in my last post:o. I did eat about 15 really small of those hand picked mushrooms about 4 hours before I ate the chocolate. No wonder I didn't come down till about this morning, although I have yet to smoke a bowl, but I'm fairly sure I'm down now. Sorry for the presumptious posting, but I just felt really good about how things went. I guess I should say I wasn't like tripping yesterday, but such a strong after glow, feels like it will last well into several weeks.

[Little Elf]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybe_tampanensis

any random info from any random people?

[Little Elf]

reminded me a bit a 'mescaline' probably "2c-t-7"

[lemonlove]

i once ate some random mystery shroom chocolates and it felt very different from regular mushrooms...i thought maybe there was 2cb in it.

i got them from a friend of a friend...i've been dying to meet the guy and ask what it was...

[CrackaJacka]

On the subject of mushroom rituals, I'm part Native American and have hung out with some of the more full-blooded Natives in the Kentucky area and Washington area and must say that mushrooms did play a big part of rituals. The ceremonies were amazing! The blazing fire, the drums beating, the costumed people dancing! All of it was inhanced by the mushrooms and a lil weed I brought as a "peace offering" :D But the stories they told and when asked some would say yes some wouldn't say at all but most of the elders would say yes.