Magic, hallucinogenic or psychedelic mushrooms are a psychoactive group of fungi that can be used in medicinal, therapeutic and spiritual purposes.

They are one of many “entheogens” – plants and fungi that can be ingested to invoke a feeling of communion with the divine and higher powers or deep knowledge of self.  

The etymology of the word entheogen is Greek and its roots are as follows:

en – in
Theo  – God
genes  – to be born of a specific kind

Whether you’re spiritual or not, it remains a fact that even the most skeptical and rational individuals have reported a deep psychological experience of expanding awareness after ingesting psychedelic mushrooms.

There are mainly two types of psychedelic fungi: psilocybin mushrooms and muscarine mushrooms.

In this short introduction on the magic of mushrooms, we’ll stick to the psilocybin mushrooms as they are the most common and frequently used.

Psilocybin mushrooms: the science

There are more than 200 species of mushrooms producing and containing psilocybin which is their main psychoactive component.

When ingested, psilocybin gets quickly metabolized into psilocin which in terms of chemical structure greatly resembles serotonin (the happiness hormone).

That’s why psilocin “stimulates” our serotonin receptors and causes the brain to act as if it’s full of serotonin. The result of that is the feeling of joy and happiness that people feel after ingestion.

Other than that, psilocin causes brain centers to alter their way of communication.

Communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain enhances as well as communication between the neocortex (new “cognitive” brain) and paleocortex (old “emotional” brain).

The EMP activity of the brain increases only 30 minutes after ingestion of psilocybin mushrooms which is followed by visual visionary trance.

Spiritual people tend to give them meaning or draw meaning from them and call them visions and indeed, these hallucinations are often indicative in terms of our suppressed unconscious content.

The important thing to note is that psilocybin mushrooms are NOT neurotoxic. They won’t physically damage your brain.

The other incriminating myth about magic mushrooms is that they cause addiction which is not true. If anything, they are used in treating addictions.

Therapeutic use of psychedelic mushrooms

Psilocybin mushrooms give remarkable results in treating:

• OCD
• Depression
• Anxiety
• PTSD

They mainly work by rewiring the brain and altering the usual patterns of thinking in order to allow for us to reprogram our sense of self and to unearth suppressed traumas in order to deal with them.

Needless to say that patients under psilocybin treatment change the way they look at things, both literally and metaphorically.

We all know, that especially in terms of psychotherapy when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

That is why it’s important to be exposed to psilocybin effects with the proper guidance of a therapist or a shaman or at least in a peaceful, natural environment.

Psilocybin gives you the means to travel, but a guide may provide a map.

Spiritual use of psychedelic mushrooms

Psychedelic mushrooms have been with us for a long time. Some evidence suggests that they have been used in spiritual ceremonies since 4000 BC.

Nowadays in the midst of the overall drug abuse, millennials use them to “get high” although most of them are in for a surprisingly deep spiritual journey of peace, happiness, self-discovery, and communion.

Instead of something used to make the consciousness numb, psychedelic mushrooms heighten and shamanic healing it and allow you to tap into the universal flow and peaceful rhythm of nature.