XPost: alt.drugs.psychedelics   
   From: riburr@shentel.net   
      
   mimus wrote:   
   > Frederick Burroughs wrote:   
   >>   
   >>The experience is not what I'd call fun, compared to experiences when I   
   >>was much younger.  There was considerable paranoia in the early stages,   
   >>and a furious barrage of thoughts that felt like all the stops had been   
   >>pulled in my brain.  Later, the pace slowed, and I drifted weightless   
   >>through a psychedelic cosmos, beyond beautiful, with full control over   
   >>where I chose to explore.   
   >   
   > That sounds LSD-like, eg relatively unpleasant "first rush" (which I   
   > interpret as a form of motion-sickness as you are transported to   
   > "L-space") followed by whatcha came for . . . .   
   >   
      
   The length and character of the experience is typical for mushrooms   
   containing psilocybin, from what I've read.  But, the nausea was much   
   more intense than is common with LSD.  I don't remember this ever being   
   a problem with LSD.  I did read that nausea is common after ingesting   
   mushrooms containing psiloc(yb)in, especially if the mushrooms are   
   bitter.  Shamanically, vomiting is a form of purging, and considered useful.   
      
   >   
   > Has anyone ever actually IDed the psychedelic(s) involved?   
   >   
   > I know that psilocybin is simply a phosphorylated form of the   
   > ten-times-stronger psilocin and have read that you can convert the former   
   > to the latter by pressure-cooking.   
   >   
      
   Some species of Gymnopilus will actually bruise a blue or green color,   
   suggesting the presence of psilocin.  (I did not witness any bluing in   
   the Gymnopilus I found.)  There are probably trace amounts of related   
   psychoactive tryptamines.  No doubt some of these will oxidize and lose   
   potency relatively easily.  Gram for gram, psilocin is supposed to be   
   1.4 times "stronger" than psilocybin, but this is accounted for by the   
   weight added to the psilocybin molecule by the phosphate group.  And,   
   since psilocybin is converted to psilocin in the body, I don't see the   
   need for conversion.   
      
      
      
   >   
   >>Interestingly, I was thinking of leaving it be this year, as a sort of   
   >>offering to the forest and the mushroom spirits, and out of respect to   
   >>its resilience in this very dry year.  Well, what do you know - we got   
   >>rain today!  First rain in almost 7 weeks.  Not much, between a third   
   >>and a half inch in the forest near my home.  Every time I pay homage to   
   >>the mushroom spirits, I'm rewarded by fortunate coincidence.   
   >   
   >   
   > Or at least every time you _think_ about paying homage . . . .   
   >   
   > Maybe the occasional grateful or even respectful thought is enough.   
   >   
      
   Respectful thoughts are all well and good.  But, thoughtful action is   
   also good.  I've decided to forgo harvesting the Gymnopilus, much as I'd   
   like to harvest and dry it for later use.  There is an even chance of   
   rain in the forecast for tomorrow.  Not nearly what we need.   
      
   Was hoping my wife could drop me off up river on a weekday this week.  I   
   scouted the river on Saturday, and there was a group paddling on the   
   river.  They said the river was low, but passable.  The water is crystal   
   clear.  And, the trees are getting nice.  The river winds its way   
   through some beautiful rural landscape.  You'd think you were   
   transported a hundred years back in time.   
      
   --   
   I can tell your future just look what's in your hand...   
      
   - Robert Hunter   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)