DM Turner- The Esseential psychedelic guide

of life and intelligence on our planet. Many scientists feel that life could not
have developed on this planet during the 200 to 400 million year period
from when Earth's crust cooled until evidence of the first living organisms
were found. The theory of "panspermia" has been suggested to account for
this. Studies conducted by astrophysicists at the University of Leiden in
Netherlands have determined that certain mushroom spores could survive
up to 45 million years in interstellar transit. (see Nature - Aug 1, 1985).
DOSAGE:
Although some users eat just one gram of "shrooms," dried weight, I find
this produces little more than threshold effects. Two grams should produce a
mild psychedelic high, five grams should produce an experience of similar
intensity to a 250 mcg. LSD trip. (Five grams of dried Psilocybe cubensis
typically contains about 15 mg. of psilocybin/psilocin.) At 10 to 14 grams
I've had experiences which are quite incredible. The potency of different
batches of mushrooms varies, usually within a range of +/-10%, although
I've come across some strains that were nearly twice as potent as standard.
Mushrooms lose potency with age (about 25% in six months.) They will
keep much longer if stored in an airtight container in the freezer. Fresh
mushrooms should be dried at a low temperature, around 95 degrees F, to
preserve their potency.
THE HIGH:
Mushrooms produce an experience similar to LSD but with a different
signature. The mushroom high tends to be dreamy and drifty in comparison
to the penetrating brilliance and lucidity of acid. Users report feeling more
relaxed on shrooms, sometimes even drowsy, rather than the speedy, edgy
feeling common with acid. The average shroom trip lasts five to seven
hours, with the most intense and visually hallucinogenic part of the
experience taking place during the first two hours.
The content of a mushroom trip is also a bit different than acid, and as with
all psychedelics, each trip is a unique experience. Frequently users claim
that shrooms put them more in touch with the "mystery," feeling acid to be
cold and linear in comparison. With mushrooms I've often felt that I'm in the
presence of an ancient teacher, whereas with LSD, it can feel like I'm
simply traversing my own mental pathways.
Mushroom visuals can be magnificent on large doses, especially in a pitch
black environment. Many people find the mushroom visuals to be more
"organic" than acid visuals. The mushroom visuals tend towards rounded
forms, and images congruent with nature, while acid visuals are usually
more angular, with kaleidoscopic or abstract imagery.