Zoom 'Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) ' Botanical Postcard
Zoom 'Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) ' Botanical Postcard
Zoom 'Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) ' Botanical Postcard

'Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) ' Botanical Postcard

$4.00
A postcard featuring original botanical illustration of the sacred and divine psychoactive fungi, the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) mushroom

The Fly Agaric has a long history of use around the globe. Perhaps most famously in the rituals of Siberian shamans, who consider Fly Agaric the essence of their mysteries. It is their gateway to the experience of divine ecstasy, a trance-like state that enables them to fly into the world of their gods, battle with demons, and to gain fantastic visions. It is this magical flight that the common name ‘Fly’- Agaric’ alludes to, not, as has been suggested, its alleged power to ward off flies. During one point of the ritual, the shaman enters a trance-like sleep transports them to the ‘Other-World’, and experiences vivid, lucid dreams and ecstatic visions, often of a strong sexual and sensual nature. In this state, he can diagnose the causes of diseases, determine the whereabouts of lost objects, retrieve lost souls, fight with demonic forces, or gleam visions of things to come.
Fly Agaric also makes bold appearances in European, Mayan, and Indian mythologies. R. Gordon Wasson proposed that the sacred substance described in the Rig Veda as 'Soma' was in fact Fly Agaric. For further exploration of the religious historical use of this mushroom in ancient mushroom cults, which were possibly the original foundations of early Christianity, read 'The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross' by John M. Allegro.
The active entheogenic compounds in Fly Agaric are ibotenic acid and muscimol, which are both poisonous and psychoactive, so special care must be taken to prepare these fungi for safe consumption. The symptoms of inebriation are characterized by muscle twitching, dizziness, visual distortions, and altered auditory perception.

Illustrated originally in watercolor.

Send it in the mail or frame it as an art print!

Printed on high quality, heavyweight, and archival cardstock.

Paper is coated on the front, and the back is unfinished to allow for easy writing.

5x7" (slightly larger than a standard postcard - all this means is you have to use a regularly priced postage stamp)