Amanita Muscaria

This mushroom is sedative and relaxing in small doses and a mild hallucinogen and dream inducer in higher doses. Too much it can be toxic, but that is very rare.

Amanita muscaria has been revered for thousands of years for its spiritual importance. It played a significant role in indigenous religious and cultural traditions in North America, Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Siberia and Northern Japan.

Reindeer in Scandinavia actively seek out and consume this mushroom, which contains psychoactive compounds like muscimol and ibotenic acid. When reindeer metabolize Amanita muscaria, their urine retains a concentrated form of muscimol, the psychoactive compound. The Sami people discovered that consuming the urine reduced the mushroom's toxic effects while preserving its hallucinogenic properties. (Some believe this ultimately led to our holiday flying reindeer and a red and white Santa!)

In eastern Siberia, the shaman would take the mushrooms, and then his followers would drink his urine.

Some historians believe that Amanita muscaria was used 3500 years ago by the Indus Valley civilization. Given its long-standing use by different cultures throughout the world, some believe that Amanita muscaria may be soma, a plant, god, and intoxicating drink frequently described in the ancient Hindu text, the Rigveda. Exactly what soma was made of has been lost over time, but there are compelling theories and arguments in favour of Amanita muscaria being the mind-altering drink.

A quick recipe for Amanita Tea:

Each tea bag contains 2 grams Amanita muscaria. Fill up a small pot of water (250ml-500ml) and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to maintain simmer. The amount of water doesn't matter, it just needs to be enough to cover the material used while simmering. The more liquid you use the more you need to drink, but the less bitter it will be.

Add tea bag with 1 tbsp lemon juice, then simmer with the lid on for 20-30 minutes.

Squeeze the bag gently so it doesn't burst but you get out everything you can.

Allow liquid to cool a bit, then drink with milk and honey, cinnamon or lemon juice. Store in one or multiple containers. You can keep a week's worth in the refrigerator and keep the rest in the freezer. It can get very science-y on the internet with double extractions and adding this and that, but for the average psychonaught, this is just great!