I have heard many stories about psychedelic mushrooms growing in the Northern Forests of North America. The same forests that British Columbia was carved out of to make room for the diverse industry and housing we live in here.
Growing up in Ft St James in Northern BC, Canada, I knew persons who foraged for and harvested them. I took a trip or two and had a 3 day weekend 35 years ago that I can’t recall. It began the day I came back from camp, tea to relax, and 8 grams consumed. Next thing I’m sure of, I was waiting for the ride back to camp 3 days later. You only get that high once in a life if it happens to you. Stay focused. You will survive if you are calm.
There’s also a story from a time long ago about Reindeer and their love of a strain that grows in Russian forests. The herders noticed the animals grazing in the fields and acting funny. The mushrooms are potent. Toxic if not prepared properly when more than a small amount is consumed.The hearders learned that the Reindeer acted as ‘filters’, and they drank the urine the animals produced safely. I imagine it was safest kept cold and fresh. Brave people, in my humble opinion. Anyway, from that cold, desolate land of Northern Russia came the legend of Santa Clause and 8 flying Reindeer. Was it related to Mushroom use? At least in at least one popular theory, it was.
I can’t state it strong enough to warn you about preparing to forage for ANY SPECIES OF PLANT OR FUNGI. Always download a plant and / or mushroom identification app before heading out. If you fail to do so, you may only need to find one shroom and test it. It may be the one that feeds you the rest of your life. Only the right phycotropic shrooms are safe. Go slow on your initial trip. Be safe, get those apps.
Thank you to the Vancouver Mycological Society, who selected a number of ‘locally’ growing species of ‘funny fungi’ to share with you here. They do look like other mushrooms. Use that app I keep mentioning. Be sure of the trip you take, particularly if you do more than microdosing.
https://www.vanmyco.org/about-mushrooms/psychedelic/psychedelic-mushroom-species/