Psilocybe

entheogen
Written By Thomas Young

Psilocybe sp.

See artwork and accessories in our shop celebrating the Psilocybe mushroom!

  • Please refrain from picking and consuming mushrooms without proper guidance. If you have an interest in learning how to forage, I strongly encourage you to join your local mycological society. You can find a list of clubs across America, organized by state, on the North American Mycological Society's website.

  • Given that psilocybin containing mushrooms are still illegal in many parts of the United States and the world, I am not advocating for the ingestion of these psychoactive mushrooms. However, for those who chose to explore this experience, proper research and preparation is crucial. Unlike other substances, entheogens (psychodelics) are profoundly influenced by your mindset and environment making preparedness paramount. Below are some recommended resources for individuals considering this journey:

Etymology: The term "Psilocybe" originates from the fusion of two Greek words: 'ψιλός (psilós),' meaning 'bare' or 'naked,' and 'κύβη (kúbe),' which refers to the 'cap' or 'head' of an object. Together, these components allude to the smooth and featureless cap characteristic of mushrooms within the Psilocybe genus.

Common/Other Names:

  • The names here most likely refer to Ps. mexicana or Ps. caerulescens

    • Teonanácatl - teotl (divine or sacred) + nanácatl (mushroom) = Sacred Mushroom

    • Teotlacuilnanácatl - teotl (devine or sacred) + tlacuilolli (painting) + nanácatl (mushroom) = Sacred Mushroom that paints/describes through color figures

    (Guzman, 2012; Nahuatl Dictionary)

  • The spellings provided are the best attempts to represent the word, but do not properly encompass the complexity and various pitches used

    • xi-tjo: General name for mushroom that directly translates to “which comes out” (presumably of the earth)

    • di-xi-tjo-nizé (Ps. mexicana): di (little) + xi-tjo (mushroom) + nizé (bird) = Little bird (as the mushroom makes you sing like a bird)

    • di-xi-tjo-ki-sho (Ps. caerulescens): di (little) + xi-tjo (mushroom or “which grows out”) + ki-sho (landslide) = Little mushroom which grows from landslides

    • di-xi-tjo-le-ra-ja (Ps. cubensis): di (little) + xi-tjo (mushroom) + le-ra-ja (steer or cow): Little Steer mushroom, referring to it being found growing from cow dung

    • ‘nchè-jè (Ps. zapotecorum): “a signal of” as it was used as an indicator when foraging that other entheogenic mushrooms were near by, particularly Ps. caerulescens

    (singer, 1958)

Location: Psilocybe mushrooms typically thrive in subtropical humid regions, with a significant concentration of species found in Central America and various parts of Asia. However, these fungi can be encountered across the globe, albeit with varying degrees of occurrence and diversity.

Ecological Group: Psilocybe mushrooms are primarily saprophytic meaning they obtain their nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter such as animal dung, grass litter, and mulch.

Edible? Well… I suppose this depends on what you define as edible. These mushrooms contain several psychoactive chemicals that can cause varying degrees of altered perception, euphoria, time dilation, and spiritual/mystical experiences. That said, there are many look alike to these mushrooms, some of which are deadly. Extreme caution is needed if you decide to forage and consume these mushrooms.

Fun Fungal Facts!

    • Contrary to popular belief, psilocybin isn't the compound directly responsible for inducing an altered state of consciousness. Instead, upon consumption, psilocybin is broken down into a smaller molecule known as psilocin. Psilocin, in turn, can easily cross the blood-brain barrier, where it binds to the same receptors as serotonin, facilitating its psychoactive effects. (Dinis-Oliveira, 2017)

    • These mushrooms exhibit a remarkable capability to dismantle nerve gas, extracting its phosphorus compounds. Utilizing these phosphorus elements, the mushroom synthesizes psilocybin, a compound that crucially relies on phosphorus for its formation. That is pretty poetic if you ask me. (Rockefeller, 2020, 57:40)

    • For years, scientists lacked a complete understanding of the causes behind the blue bruising in Psilocybe mushrooms. However, this changed with the release of a paper in 2020 by Lenz et al., which identified the underlying mechanism. The bluing phenomenon stems from a chain reaction involving two enzymes that convert psilocybin into psilocin and subsequently join two psilocin molecules into various shades of blue, ranging from greenish-blue to cyan. (Lenz et al, 2020; Rockefeller, 2020, 40:30; Cole, 2023)

    • Psilocybin, the main compound in magic mushrooms, was first synthesized in 1958 by Albert Hoffman, the same scientist that discovered LSD. (Hofmann et al, 1958)

    • Maria Sabina, a traditional Oaxacan curandera (shaman), played a pivotal role in sharing the traditional knowledge surrounding entheogenic mushrooms with ethnomycologists Valentina Wasson and R. Gordon Wasson. They would later bring worldwide attention to these mushrooms in there 1958 Time article titled “Seeking the Magic Mushroom.” (Pavlovna et al, 1957; Wasson, 1957)

Articles

Coming Soon!

Learn More

  1. Wikipedia Psilocybe

  2. Psilocybin Mushrooms of the world - Great book categorized by location

  3. Seeking the Magic Mushroom - This is THE magazine article that brought psilocybin containing mushrooms to the attention of Americans and many other parts of the world. It starts on page 100

  4. Mushroom Revival: DNA, Microscopy, Psilocybes and More with Alan Rockefeller - excellent podcast interviewing and talking with the incredible Alan Rockefeller, a taxonomist and Psilocybe expert. They touch on many interesting points related to Psilocybe mushrooms alongside some other interesting topics related taxonomy and bioluminescent fungi.

  5. Blue Shrooms: Why Magic Mushrooms Bruise - As someone who hasn’t taken chemistry since high school, this article helped a lot with visuals and explanations breaking down what causes the blue bruising in Psilocybe mushrooms.

  6. SciShow Psych: Your Brain on Psilocybin - Very informative video that lists all their citations which is a blessing (at least for me). Goes into depth about some of the research being done going over the benefits of Psilocybin.

References

Disclaimer: Please refrain from picking and consuming mushrooms without proper guidance. If you have an interest in learning how to forage, I strongly encourage you to join your local mycological society. You can find a list of clubs across America, organized by state, on the North American Mycological Society's website.

Thomas Young
Previous

Lungwort Lichen
Next

Stinkhorns