From a time before hipsters<\/h2>\n
Magic mushrooms and other natural psychedelic plants have been used by humans for centuries for rituals and self-enlightenment. Some historians claim that magic mushrooms were used in North Africa as far back as 9000BC (Brusco, 2017)<\/a>, as demonstrated by cave paintings found in the area.<\/p>\n It has long been known that the Aztecs and Maya in central America have used magic mushrooms in ritual ceremonies. There are also arguments that magic mushrooms were used by our linear ancestors, the hominins, and that they played a part in the development of society and the brain (Rodriguez Arce and Winkelman, 2021).\u00a0<\/p>\n This article will explore more around the history of psilocybin use in cultures all over the globe, how they have been used as a ritual or ceremony and the current landscape of legalization.<\/p>\n Recent evidence suggests that psilocybe may have arisen on earth right around the same time as the giant asteroid which caused the mass extinction of the dinosours.<\/p>\n A study conducted by the University of Utah and the National History Museum of Utah into 52 psilocybe specimens found that they appeared on planet earth far earlier than previously thought \u2013 an astonishing 65 million years ago<\/strong>. Researchers established<\/a> that \u201cpsilocybin was first synthesized in mushrooms in the genus psilocybe, with four to five possible horizontal gene transfers to other mushrooms from 40 up to 9 million years ago.\u201d The scientists and historians involved in this body of research claim it is essential to undergo this kind of molecular research in order to understand the diversity of the compounds in our world and to use the biodiversity to our advantage.<\/p>\n Magic mushrooms may have been used by our human ancestors to strengthen social bonds and increase empathy.<\/em><\/p>\n In an article published in The National Library of Medicine, Rodriguez Arce and Winkelman (2021)<\/a> claim that psilocybin was used by our hominin<\/strong> ancestors and that it may well have contributed to the evolution of the brain<\/strong> and societies as we know them.<\/p>\n The term \u2018hominin\u2019 <\/em>is used to refer to a group of extinct primates that are known to be part of the human lineage. They are distinguished from other primates by physical\u00a0 characteristics including; larger brains and standing up on two feet, and behavioral characteristics including; using tools and, in some cases, by using language to communicate.\u00a0<\/p>\n The authors of the paper believe that the psychedelic effects of magic mushrooms were used by our ancestors to open new neural pathways<\/strong> and increase empathy<\/strong> and understanding of others, thus supporting shared goals<\/strong> and strengthening social bonds<\/strong>. They argue that by using psilocybin, social bonds were strengthened through pro-social activities such as laughter, storytelling, music and religion, therefore adapting early humans to live cooperatively with one another and to adapt to their environment.<\/p>\n You may also be interested to learn about Terence McKenna\u2019s<\/a> \u201cstoned ape theory\u201d from the 1992 book \u201cFood of The Gods<\/a>\u201c. He theorizes that the transition from Homo Erectus to Homo Sapiens and the cognitive revolution was caused by the addition of psilocybin mushrooms, specifically the mushroom Psilocybe Cubensis, into the human diet around 100,000 years ago. Using evidence largely based on studies from Roland L. Fischer et al. from the 1960s and 1970s, he attributed much of the mental strides made by humans during the cognitive revolution to the effects of psilocybin intake found by Fischer.<\/p>\n There are cave paintings<\/strong> in North Africa<\/strong> and Europe,<\/strong> featuring mushrooms, that date back as early as 9000BC.<\/strong> Although we may never know the truth about these historic cultures, it is suggested, from how the mushrooms are depicted in these paintings, that magic mushrooms were used medicinally, as a connection to the gods, and to enter the spiritual world.\u00a0<\/p>\n One particular painting found in a cave in Spain shows mushrooms lined up in a row, providing evidence that they were certainly of cultural importance to those who painted them.<\/p>\n Consumption of hallucinogens has been recorded in numerous geographical locations in Asia<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hindu<\/strong> Sanskrit texts mention \u2018Soma\u2019 numerous times, Soma is an elixir<\/a> thought to contain the amanita muscaria, also known as the fly agaric mushroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n The amanita muscaria is the dreamy fairytale-like red mushroom<\/a> with white spots that many of us picture when initially conjuring the thought of a mushroom. The fly agaric mushroom does not produce psilocybin, like other magic mushrooms we are familiar with, but it does have psychoactive effects due to two compounds which combine to create a drunken-like state with both auditory and visual hallucinations.\u00a0<\/p>\n A sacred text over 3000 years old, the Rig Veda, which remains of great importance to Hindu\u2019s today, talks of the power \u2018Soma\u2019 has to connect those who consume it with the gods. The same compound was used by shamans and individuals of indigenous groups thousands of miles to the north, in Siberia<\/strong>, to induce a trance-like state. It is even suggested that Santa Claus as we know him has links to this little red mushroom \u2013 the amanita muscaria<\/a> would pop up under Christmas trees around the winter solstice and shamans would wear red outfits with fluffy collars and trims to collect them. The shaman would return to their cozy yurt which was billowing smoke from the chimney and then proceed to consume and share his mushroom yield with the village.<\/p>\n Ancient <\/em>Chinese art<\/em><\/strong> has many depictions of mushrooms which bestowed people with physical and mental strength.<\/em><\/p>\n Such mushrooms can be found in medicinal stores in the present day, but 2000 years ago they were thought only to grow on the mountains in sacred sites. The \u2018Lingzhi funghi\u2019 which translates to \u2018Divine mushroom\u2019 is prominent in some ancient texts<\/a> written by numerous philosophers in the East.<\/p>\n They refer to the spiritual power of mushrooms to promote mystical visions, transform consciousness and as a crucial part of spiritual transformation. Eating the mushrooms found on the mountains is said to be one of the greatest connections between humans, nature, and the spiritual realm and it was said that they could lead to personal spiritual strength, longevity or even immortality.<\/p>\n Findings of statues, paintings and symbols that depict mushrooms, along with paintings of pots overflowing with fermented, bubbling liquid have led to suggestions that the ancient Maya<\/strong> used magic mushrooms medicinally, as well as in rituals and ceremonies. The Maya ate mushrooms in dry, powdered or fresh forms to create visual hallucinations<\/strong> and feelings of connection<\/strong>. There are many claims that the \u2018mushroom stones\u2019 were used by a Maya cult for sacrificial purpose <\/a>(Brusco, 2017). There have also been various accounts, from colonizers, of these mushrooms and other plants being used medicinally and as hallucinogens.\u00a0<\/p>\n It is commonly thought that mushrooms<\/a> known as \u201cTeonan\u00e1cat\u201d <\/em>to the Aztechs<\/strong>, which translates to \u201cflesh of the Gods\u201d, were in fact magic mushrooms.\u00a0<\/p>\n Other native American tribes and cultures such as the Mazatecs also have associations with magic mushrooms.\u00a0 A shaft and tomb deep in the ground in Mexico shows a mushroom resembling the hallucinogenic \u2018Psilocybe Mexicana\u2019, <\/em>which adds further evidence to their use in these fascinating societies.<\/p>\n Another group in the Northern Hemisphere known to experiment with amanita muscaria mushrooms are the Vikings. <\/em>It is suggested that the Vikings used this particular mushroom in rituals to enhance their understanding of the world around them. Some argue the vikings even used them to become more fearless<\/a> when heading into battle (Schaller and Riphagen, 2022).\u00a0<\/p>\n The Viking Berserkers were legendary warriors feared by many over the world mostly for their unmatched fury on the battlefield. The amanita muscaria is said to induce a drunk-like state with hallucinations, dilated pupils, increased muscle-tone, delirium, vomiting, tremors, and can act as a stimulant \u2013 all of which are consistent with many of accounts of the Viking Berserkers. However, this theory is highly contested amongst historians and ethnobotanists and it has been suggested that other plants could also have induced such a state.<\/p>\n Shrooms arrived in the United states<\/strong> and among Western culture<\/strong> during the 20th century <\/em>with a helping hand from a banker at J.P Morgan, Gordon Wasson. The banker sampled them on holiday in Mexico and was said to be such a fan that he decided to take them back to the States.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Magic](\"https:\/\/cbdincubator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Magic-Mushrooms.jpg\" "\\"Magic")
<\/figure>\nHistory of magic mushrooms<\/h2>\n
Prehistoric psilocybe use<\/h3>\n
Mushroom cave art<\/h3>\n
![\"mushroom](\"https:\/\/cbdincubator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mushroom-paintings-in-moroccan-cave.jpg\" "\\"mushroom")
![\"Mushroom](\"https:\/\/cbdincubator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Mushroom-Cave-Art-1024x576.jpg\" "\\"Mushroom")
Divine mushrooms of the East<\/h3>\n
![\"Chinese](\"https:\/\/cbdincubator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/sacredmush7-1-720x363-1.webp\" "\\"sacredmush7")
How did the ancient civilisations of the America\u2019s use magic mushrooms?<\/h3>\n
![\"Teonan\u00e1cat\"](\"https:\/\/cbdincubator.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/8.jpg\" "\\"8")
<\/figure>\nDid amanita muscaria mushrooms create a trance-like rage for the Vikings?<\/h3>\n
How and when did magic mushrooms arrive in Western culture?<\/h2>\n