It is said that amanita muscaria mushrooms are one of the oldest mind-expanding substances known to man. At least one expert has theorized that amanita mushrooms were written about in ancient texts in India more than 6,000 years ago. Others believe these fly amanita mushrooms may have even inspired the Santa Claus legend, citing references to similarities in dress between traditional shamans in Siberia and Saint Nick.Today, among people who are interested in exploring the possibilities of the human mind, amanita mushrooms are among some of the most popular entheogenic substances. But newcomers to magic mushrooms and other people who are relatively inexperienced should approach this arena with more than a healthy dose of caution, because not all red mushrooms are amanita muscaria.

There are even some look-alike mushrooms that confuse expert mycologists, let alone those of us who have not earned post-graduate degrees in the study of mushrooms and wild fungi. Unless you are absolutely certain that you can identify a mushroom with precision, you are taking a big risk if you do not simply leave it alone, or admire its color and beauty without touching it.

After all, there are safe, secure and easy ways to obtain amanita muscaria and other magic mushrooms, thanks to reputable online sources. The company that we have found to be reputable and reliable is Bouncing Bear Botanicals, based in Kansas, USA. They are happy to ship their mushrooms and many other entheogenic substances internationally as well as domestically, but they do caution that purchasers outside the United States should check to check their local laws and customs regarding the importation of these substances before they buy amanita mushrooms and similar products.

Siberian Amanita muscaria-Grade A Caps – These Grade A Amanita muscaria mushrooms were harvested in the mountains across Siberia.

Eastern European Amanita muscaria Grade A Caps - Amanita Muscaria (Fly Agaric Mushrooms, Amanitas) Grade A Amanita muscaria mushrooms are harvested from Eastern Europe. Very nice, premium-quality caps. No stems.

Washington State Amanita muscaria–Grade A+ Caps  – From Washington state, USA. These premium Amanita muscaria mushrooms are harvested in Washington. These are all bright red and orange (mostly just red) Whole Caps Only. Basically every one is museum-quality. They sell them in frames in their physical store, they are so beautiful. Very high quality.

At any rate, I thought I would pass the article along as food for thought. Not to be confused with feeding your head…

Are People Who Take Drugs Accessing the Astral Plane?
By William Ember

It depends on the drugs, but if altered perception is involved then to a certain degree the answer is yes. However, for several reasons it is detrimental and definitely not recommended. Firstly, drugs artificially stimulate and force open receptive centres in a way which can be damaging to the unprepared subtler bodies. The natural conscious opening of these centres through simple techniques is by far a much more interesting and rewarding experience.

I believe the ‘instant gratification’ that drugs can seem to provide is just a learned mental greed, a blown-out-of-all-proportion ‘I want!’, especially when just a little patience and practice can produce lasting and repeatable results. Many drugs have physical side effects, but all of them temporarily imbalance the energy centres (chakras) to one degree or another. Often it is more the sensation of this imbalance and the resulting experiences which people are addicted to than any addictive qualities to the drugs themselves (marijuana is an example of this.)

Common street drugs not only do not help you achieve Astral Projection, but will most likely create energetic conditions inside your body that can actually prevent you from projecting naturally. At least until the imbalance truly subsides. And unfortunately for fans of the wacky tobacky, marijuana is known to suppress dreaming memory and alter REM cycles, which certainly doesn’t help Lucid Dreaming and in many cases prevents it (though the individual effect varies.)

Other bliss-inducing drugs (such as ecstasy, heroine, cocaine etc.) may temporarily open one to the feeling of more blissful astral levels. But whatever the short term effect, it is an undesirable means due to their temporary and pendulum-swing nature alone, and the physical and psychic repercussions confirm this. With natural techniques, one acquires access to the knowledge of how to anchor blissful experiences into everyday life. Isn’t this seemingly elusive state what people call ‘happiness’? It is far easier to create than is generally thought of!

Hallucinogenic drugs (such as magic mushrooms, LSD, party acid cocktails, peyote, etc.) mostly cause a ‘bleedthrough’ of astral perceptions into physical perceptions. This can be confusing or disorienting, especially without experience focusing one’s consciousness, and there’s always the risk of a ‘bad trip’; very unlike the vibrant and evolutionary Astral we are seeking to access. The temporary trip may be a curiosity for some, enlightening for others, but is truly incomparable to the available natural methods.

The more intense variety of hallucinogens such as DMT or salvia divinorum or others are a topic in themselves, purportedly resulting in dimensional journeys similar to projection. I have no wish to explore the topic here, there is plenty of information elsewhere. However, I would really like to caution against these to anyone who is inexperienced with hallucinogens, as the immediacy and intensity of these drugs is very difficult to control. Certainly they are not to be used for escaping a negative state like most ecstatic drugs – instead they will amplify the experience of your current state manifold.

Experienced projectors have done their own investigations by observing those using drugs to access the Astral and unanimously report the inferior aspects of such methods, including various damage to physical and astral bodies. The only thing observed to temporarily counteract this damage to any extent is the spiritual intent of the person, as for example observed in various shamans.

In conclusion, there is simply no need for drugs when greater, more stable, more beneficial, and more interesting and ecstatic experiences can be had through natural means. On a sociological level, the prevalence of drugs in any society is more an indicator of the devaluation of the meaning of life, and a lack of real spiritual education in the means for achieving psychic growth and these same ecstatic states naturally.

When it comes to the aims of Astral Projection and Lucid Dreaming, we want to learn how to create and experience what we desire. We need to become more consciously focussed. And focus is usually the first thing we lose when we use any kind of mind-altering substance. It is usually an ‘unconscious’ rather than a ‘conscious’ journey in many respects – at the very least we don’t know exactly where we are nor exactly how we got there. It’s strange and unfortunate to think some people struggle hard to maintain a drug habit when it’s much easier (and cheaper) to learn natural methods… if only they were far more prevalent and well-known (and used.)

William Ember is an self-trained explorer of Lucid Dreaming and Astral Projection experiences and has recently authored the most comprehensive and in-depth training guide to these experiences available anywhere. It is available at: http://www.ultimateastralexperience.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Ember
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Mushrooms are a form of fungus as we are all aware. There are edible mushrooms and there are also the poisonous ones. Besides these two types of mushrooms magic properties have been given to one particular type. This mushroom goes by the name of psychedelic mushrooms.

These particular mushrooms magic properties are mainly hallucinogenic. For this reason many countries around the world have very strict controls placed on the use of these mushrooms. People who have eaten these mushrooms state they feel as if they were having a really good and warm feeling. The world about them is seen in a different manner.

This is not an unusual state for uses of mushrooms magic users have experienced this feeling too. To make sure that the narcotic reactions from the mushrooms are not that potent or harmful these magic users will only use the psychedelic mushrooms for necessary reasons. Also the dosage that is used will be sufficient for the ritualistic purpose. This however is not the case with the users of Western cultures.

There have been reports of people experiencing feelings of coldness, disorientation, numbness in the mouth and other facial features can be felt. Besides these effects there are other such as pupil dilation, swollen features, and stiffness in the limbs.

Since these are reactions that can be felt by any one who consumes these mushrooms magic users need to see what their countries legal laws have to say about the possession, growth and use of these psychedelic mushrooms.

Strange as it may seem there is a loophole in the laws that govern the sale and use of these mushrooms. At the moment some countries will allow these mushrooms to be grown for personal use but the mushrooms that are used must be of the fresh variety. For various groups of people who use these mushrooms magic rituals will need to be prepared well in advance as the mushrooms can only be harvested and eaten when they are still fresh.

Now before we proceed any further a word of cautions should be made. In the first case as most of us have little to no experience of mushroom varieties that are edible, you should take lots of care about eating one of these mushrooms magic in property or not.

Next while some of your rituals may state the need for using these psychedelic mushrooms you will need to understand what the legal laws have to say about these mushrooms. The final item of caution about the use of these mushrooms is that while they are safe in small fresh doses, they can be very fatally deadly at higher and dried, crushed, brewed as a tea or even in a powdered form.

For these many different reasons if you can avoid taking these mushrooms you will have a safer life. While these mushrooms magic are closely connected it is best to leave them in the hands of shamans, the healers of tribes that still use the ancient arts.

About the author: Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Magic for Years. For More Information on Mushrooms Magic, Visit His Site at Mushrooms Magic