Magic Mushroom

The fungi family is one of the largest and most diverse groups of organisms on this planet. Of the estimated half a million species, thousands are used as food, and 470 medicinal species have been identified and their benefits harnessed. One branch of this ancient family tree contains the medicinal, psilocybin mushrooms that can lead to hallucinations and altered perceptions.

With more than 200 known species, not to mention new genetically altered varieties, it can be daunting to choose the right one for you and your needs. I’m going to take you through some of the most popular types of funky fungi for the best “trips”.

What Makes a Mushroom Magic?

Magic Mushroom

What sets these psychedelic mushrooms apart from the rest of their large family is the mind-altering psilocybin that they house. This groovy hallucinogenic activates the serotonin receptors in your brain, affecting mood, and perception. They aren’t only used to having an out-of-this-world experience though! They have a long history of supplying medicinal benefits, treating everything from depression and addiction to mental blocks.

Set and Setting

No one wants to go into what should be a beautiful experience only to be met with a “bad trip”. Psychedelic researchers in the 1960’s coined the term set and setting to describe the ideal situation to have this mind-altering experience. Making sure you are in the right mindset as well as physical setting with someone you can trust will help cushion you from any negative thought processes.

African Panaeolus (Panaeolus Cyanescens, Pan Cyans, Blue Meanies)

Magic Mushroom

“The blue meanie is the perfect alchemist: it transforms dung into gold, into the golden light of enlightenment.” - GALAN O. SEID

Don’t be fooled by the size of these cute, little button-top mushrooms. They carry a powerful psilocybin punch, making them one of the most powerful members of their psychedelic fungi family. This doesn’t stop them from being one of the most popular strains for beginners with their mild visual and auditory hallucinations. Instead, these cyans create a giggly, euphoric, or even spiritual experience which is best enjoyed while frolicking in nature.

African Panaeolus originate from, you guessed it, Africa but are commonly found all over Southern Sudan. They are small mushrooms with a stubbier frame and wavy, brown caps that have a fairly mild taste. When purchasing dried cyans you will see blue spots or discoloration on these normally neutral mushrooms. This is completely normal; it’s bruising caused by the psilocybin interacting with the air.

Monster Mack

Magic Mushroom

This strain is named for its monstrous size and strong potency. This genetically engineered mushroom is the love child of the infamous penis envy and pan cyan psilocybin mushrooms created right here in Canada. These huge mushrooms with thick stalks and small, brown caps will lead to more intense visual hallucinations even in smaller doses. They’re known to take you sky-high with fits of laughter and non-stop good times until you’re carefully transported back for some deep introspection. Monster Mack is a very strong mushroom so be careful with dosing and remember to start slow and low.

Penis Envy Mushroom: This is THE king of psilocybin mushrooms. Penis Envy is named for its phallic shape and is so strong people that have eaten it say they’re transported to another realm the way a stronger psychedelic drug might. This is where the Monster Mack inherits its effective hallucinogenic properties. The only issue with these little button caps is that they are extremely hard to cultivate and rare in the wild making them the perfect contestant for a little bit of genetic modification.

Pan Cyan: These are the same tiny mushrooms above. I won’t go more into detail since you’re all blue meanie experts now.

Z X Amazonian (Golden Teacher)

Magic Mushroom

Even if you’re not very familiar with different types of psilocybin mushrooms, you have probably heard of the infamous golden teacher. They have stunning honey-coloured caps that are commonly large and meaty. This is the most widely used type of mushroom used globally to reach enlightenment and deeper thinking. It’s known to have different positive effects that lead to euphoria without little of the unwanted side effects such as nausea and sleepiness. Another quality of the golden teacher that might speak to movies users is that the effects are shorter-lived than other types. This means that the trip could be as short as 2 hours. These sun-shade caps are perfect for someone looking for a calm, relaxing, and enlightening trip through the mind.

Great White MammothMagic Mushroom

Great White Mammoth is an albino species that grow to monumental sizes, named for its unique white spores. This beautiful cocktail of psilocybin varieties is known to create euphoria while treating chronic pain, anxiety, and depression. This albino mushroom starts with a buzzy, warmth that moves into vivid hallucinations and synesthesia, hearing color and seeing sounds. In large doses, people even experience ego dissolution or death. This can be a painful healing experience so make sure you are set and setting.

Magic Mushroom

Dosing

These mild-tasting and giggle-inducing fungi should lead to a 4-8 hour psychedelic experience with the usual peaks and valleys.

Taking anywhere from 25-250 mg is a nice microdose that will provide positive benefits without the actual trip.

Anything above a couple of grams at a time will lead to an intense and spiritual experience so know what your goal is. If this is your first experience, I suggest taking a smaller dose to see how your body reacts.

Final Thoughts

This list is only the tip of the iceberg, with three of the hundreds of known psilocybin mushrooms that grow globally. These are the most popular varieties that draw people in for their groovy, euphoric, and eye-opening effects. Happy Travels Psychonauts!