The Other Magic Mushrooms. Amanita Dreams. Substantial Clarity. Substance, & Substances.

[blig-blug]

I don't think anybody over here disregards the physiological aspect of plant experiences, @blig-blug

Me neither. I was expressing my views about it, not saying that it has happened here.

if even a single use of the word spirit is triggering, and invokes a belittling attitude and slanders like "crap"

I think that was about the idea of using a nicotine-containing plant to treat nicotine addiction, not about spirits. It's not a tone I endorse.

without the slightest openness or curiosity to understand the deeper meaning of what is shared

That's exactly what I was saying: to get insight from other people's experiences or views on psychoactive substances it's not necessary to share their core beliefs, and the discussion about those beliefs themselves is usually very unproductive (and repetitive).

I do like to hear about the experiences and viewpoints of people who do believe in the spirits of plants and such, I think they transmit valuable information even if I don't agree with the interpretation (at least for the moment).

 

[dithyramb]

Thank you, @blig-blug. I agree that stating you don't believe in your discussion partner's worldview is not productive, to say the least. Spirit is not something that can be conveyed through text and I am in no mission to convert people to my worldview that the material world is only the tip of the iceberg of reality. And, this thread is not about this topic.

The matter here is beyond the classic understanding of spirit though. It feels like we bumped into a barrier that does not allow for any dynamics beyond receptors being agonized by molecules. If you insist that Mapacho is nicotine and nothing else, and that the way you approach it has no relevancy to how it will affect you, then there is no possibility of having a discussion. As @northape said, I have been a person with a hangup on tobacco, and very recently developing a relationship with Mapacho and experiencing it's priceless contribution to my medicine practice, I was excited to share about it here. I did not get addicted to it, I only cheek smoke it at the end of my medicine sessions. Deep reverence towards a plant seen as a sacred spirit is not something to be underestimated, I assure you. It is miles away from seeing it as a mundane substance to maintain your mood on a wim. I could say it is my deepest belief that integrating a sacred approach to life is the cure to "quite a lot of things." Developing a relationship rather than being in an objectifying and consuming dynamic.

And I am pretty sure that introducing such a relationship with Mapacho can be very supportive in the tobacco addiction healing process. Transforming the perception of tobacco, and transforming one's relationship to life (which is the way psychedelic medicines heal you as far as I am concerned). Besides that, it is actually a mainstream "scientific" practice to use nicotine patches in the tobacco addiction waning process. This works in a different way than I offer about Mapacho, but would you also call it crap? As the examples of @Exitwound and @blig-blug one can see many different ways in which Mapacho could help heal tobacco addiction, other than the way that I offer.

Like @blig-blug I don't endorse a belittling attitude towards discussion partners, and I want to mention something else which I don't endorse. Like @Jamie01 I don't romanticize native peoples, however I don't despise them either, and I often feel an implicit or explicit arrogant attitude towards native cultures from various people around here. This goes against my core values and is very repelling to me. Western science is not the monolithic God of truth in this world. It is ever evolving, once asserting that the earth is the center of the universe and persecuting those who stated otherwise. We have things to learn from every culture in this world.

 

[Kobranek]

After 3 weeks of microdosing amanita muscaria today. All I can say is that I truly love this mushroom. From the first dose I immediately experienced perception shift that is very prominent. Focusing on nuances have become crystal clear, especially with my relationships with others. The lightheartedness of feeling like a kid again and looking through that lens is an eye opener with the root causes of my trauma being presented as a gift along with the compassion to not be so hard on myself.

I'm going on three months without drinking alcohol and my cravings have drastically reduced and the waves not coming as frequent. My relationship with cannabis has also become clear as to when I benefit the most and when I don't. Amanita synergizes very well with cannabis.

My sleep patterns have drastically improved I'm on a consistent sleep schedule. My energy has increased from not only the stimulating effects but also from not drinking and sleeping better.

Started off with 200 mg's first week then gradually increased to 400-600 mg's second week to end with 750 mg's the final week. I'll be taking a week break then continue with the 750 mg's before bed and maybe try and add a 250 mg morning booster.

I have no intention to go very deep with amanita out of an abundance of respect and caution

 

[Exitwound]

The best thing for me with Amanita microdosing/healing regimen is that, I think you feel when you don't need it anymore.
It is as if mushroom speaks to you, "I've done my work, now you can continue on your own" type of communication.

 

[dithyramb]

I have written before, I have little experience with Amanita, but the impression I got from it along with what I have heard from others makes me almost recommend it to everybody. It makes me happy that humans seem to have collectively crossed the barrier of seeing it as a too strong and crazy mushroom, to embracing it's priceless supportive medicine in lower doses, which we might as well rethink as normal doses, and understanding that it is not something to replace psilocybin mushrooms or be approached as a classic psychedelic.