Magic Mushrooms in Religion and Alchemy

I bought this copy in error not realising it was just an American edition of his other book 'Strange Fruit'. It's slightly different and I think has some more illustrations so I'm happy to keep both as I now have one to lend out.So to save me some time and you some searching around here's my review of 'Strange Fruit'.The most exciting book I've read for a long time. But then I don't read celebrity life stories, pot boilers, Barbara Taylor Bradford and Mills and Boon. If you'd like to know more about the true origins of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Alchemy etc., then this book is worth a look. I'd have written it myself if I could, it's that good.Really pulls the rug out from the bogus religions of our time and all time by the look of things. But don't expect all your religious friends to take it on board. It's one for those who like to tread their own well-read and curious path to the Eternal Crystal Fountain of Truth that sits in the Garden of The House of God. Take sandwiches and a flask. You may be gone for some time.Probably the best £16.50 or whatever it was I spent.

Excellent read. A must for anyone interested in Amanita lore, etc. Not sure I'd try some of the methods, perhaps capsules would be better than a linga stone?

Brilliant book by a very clever writer. I will never look at a mushroom in the same light.

fantastic service and a wonderful book. many many thanks.in lakech

This beautifully illustrated investigation into the entheogenic use of psychoactive mushrooms, more specifically the fly agaric or Amanita Muscaria, draws parallels between religious literature and the psychedelic experience. The author looks at ancient cultures and certain symbols in the Hindu scriptures, Judaism, Christianity and Alchemy. He believes this Amanita mushroom was the soma of the ancient Vedic people according to his interpretation of certain passages from the Rig Veda. He discusses the work of entheogenic pioneer R Gordon Wasson and then discusses the following prophets of Israel in detail: Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah and Ezekiel. With the exception of Ezekiel's visions, I did not find his ideas convincing in this regard. He seems to find mushroom references everywhere! That includes the Song Of Songs, a book he claims is a song "in praise of the divine mushroom." Hmmm, I don't know. He also deals with the story of Jesus, the last supper, crucifixion etc. and here too, I think the author is stretching it a bit. The chapter on Gnosticism, the Dead Sea Scrolls, The Nag Hammadi scriptures, especially books like the Gospel of Truth, the Gospel of Thomas, the Gospel of Philip, the Apocalypse of Adam and the Apocryphon of James is very engaging, thorough and quite insightful. He also covers the Grail Legend and claim the philosopher's stone was none other than the fly agaric mushroom. The author then describes his ingestion of the sacred mushroom over a period of 31 days, when he finally had a brilliant and transformational numinous experience on the last day, as an example of heaven. He also describes a bad trip when he became nauseous and had a deeply unpleasant experience. He concludes with the observation that the proper use of entheogens requires maturity, education, instruction and guidance plus a safe and protected setting. He is convinced that the informed use of these substances challenges any system of dogma or brainwashing and claims that the expanded consciousness is a genie that cannot be put back in the bottle. The final message of the book is that heaven is worth the trip. This book was great reading and although I think the author tries too hard to see a mushroom under every myth, he writes with style and offers many valuable insights. Plenty of figures, black and white illustrations and full colour photographs enliven the text and the book concludes with an index.