WARNING: The internet and various texts are full of conflicting reports and data concerning this legal mushroom. Without getting into some of the standing arguments, this will merely report what SWIM encountered. SWIM hesitates to call this a "trip report", although there certainly was one, he feels it was a light dose all things considered, though given the effects, can see what it would have become if more was taken. SWIM used "Washington State Grade A+ Caps" from the vendor "shamansgarden". After much research, and having tried some European varieties in the past, clues pointed to this specific type as being the real deal. Unlike the smaller, Latvian variety, these were certainly active, much larger in size and deeper in color.
PREPARATION: SWIM lightly baked the caps in the oven at a low 170 degrees for about 8-10 minutes. Due to the actives likely already being decarboxylated and converted from the vendors prior drying process, SWIM felt he needn't apply much more heat. In retrospect, this short baking process could have probably been skipped. He then took the caps and crunched and broke them up with his hands into a bowl, then powdered the material in a food processor. This is done so that the varying potency of the caps are all mixed into an evenly distributed powder, which makes dosing easier. He then had about a 1/4 cup of coffee, and ate a single slice of bread with peanut butter and honey. Coffee is said to expedite the trip, and may contain an enzyme inhibitor which causes the effects to become more pronounced (A full cup of coffee is recommended in retrospect, preferably black with honey as sweetener). The small amount of food was had in order to help the stomach begin a preliminary digestive process, and the natural fat in the peanut butter may or may not further expedite the effects, in place of drinking milk, which some have been known to do prior. SWIM does however recommend a small bit of food prior to ingestion, though warns against dosing on a full stomach, as this may result in a wasted dose.
After an hour or so, SWIM put a mugs worth of water in a pot to simmer. As soon as the water began to lightly bubble, he turned the heat off and poured the water into the mug. He then added about a tablespoon of honey to the mug and stirred. He then added 4 tablespoons worth of muscaria powder to the mug and stirred. (IMPORTANT: All signs point to refraining from boiling the powder directly, as this may destroy some actives. Instead, the water should lightly bubble before being transferred to the mug, then the powder is put in the mug.) The water instantly turned dark orange in color. SWIM allowed the brew to cool for a bit, stirring occasionally. SWIM does not understand why some people cannot stand the smell and taste of A. muscaria. It is certainly that of a mushroom (what would you expect) though of a meatier and slightly sweet taste - it goes well with honey. Although a hint of staleness was detected, the tea was not difficult to drink, and the remaining particles not difficult to chew and swallow. All in all, the tea was tasty, pleasant, and mildly relaxing. He ended up taking 11 tablespoons in all after it was felt that the state was fairly manageable. He considers this a light dose, though potency between caps may greatly vary, and dependent on the climate, location and season in which they were grown. As an obvious note: It is always best to start small and work your way up. Once the general
potency of the batch is detected, a straight, full dose may be attempted at another time. SWIM noted that the general effects of A. muscaria certainly follow a sort of "journey-like" flow. That is, the state which it conjures is not merely a one-trick-pony, like many others, and will take you through stages. STAGE 1: - At first, not much more than a slight relaxation. This may partially be due to the ingestion of hot water. - After some time, subtle effects are noted, though resembling a possible placebo. - A gradual increase in both relaxation and subtle excitement begins to build. - Subtle euphoria begins to build, along with quicker thoughts. STAGE 2: - Relaxation, excitement, euphoria and quicker thoughts continue to build. - Body sensation begins to build in the form of a general lightness-of-being. - Subtle closed-eye visuals become apparent, which are more like hypnagogic dream flashes.
- Body high/sensation continues to build until becoming very apparent. Notes: It should certainly be noted that the body-buzz hardly resembles a form of alcohol, as others have said. SWIM notes that it more resembles a subtle mixture of absinthe and salvia. The body comes to feel generally lighter and freer, along with a sort of momentum or potential energy. Things are very "clear" despite the now obvious alteration, and entirely manageable without much effort. On the mental side, just as it has been noted in various other accounts, one is completely able to switch between "ordinary" and "affected" states, with the alteration becoming more obvious when it is being paid attention to, though if attention is turned to ordinary matters, it may feel as it the alteration has been pushed to the "background of thoughts", until it is again allowed to come forth or is actively paid attention to. This is a very curious detail which seems to be unique to A. muscaria, bearing in mind, that higher doses may cause it to become much more pronounced. STAGE 3: (Peak) - Closed-eye visuals are still subtle and hypnagogic, but there. - Very light "psychedelic"-esque feelings and thoughts, though again, very light.
- Body high comes to a peak, and is fairly nice; general enjoyment of the state. - Quick-thoughts are still prevalent, though may be pushed to "the background" if needed. - "The Loop" begins to make itself its elf known. Notes: "The Loop" seems to be another eventual characteristic of A. muscaria dosing, and usually becomes more prevalent during the mid-peak, the end of the peak, and the comedown. It has been mentioned in various other reports, all the same. The best way to describe it is a mental process which one is disconnected from, though aware of, and like the name says, it "loops" in a pattern of (for SWIM at least) auditory sounds which only become noticeable when SWIM closed his eyes and paid attention to his own thoughts. For SWIM, the Loop primarily took interest in extremely catchy musical hooks, which it repeated until morphing into something slightly different. SWIM notes that it took some effort at times to convince the Loop to start focusing on something else, but the Loop appears to be stubborn, and very content with Looping. The Loop may become mildly annoying. It is SWIM's opinion that "The Loop" marks the oncoming end of the experience, and seems to be what the mental effects eventually become before fading out completely. It also
seems to be very subjective to any media that is watched, or in any case, any information which is being "downloaded" at the time. Perhaps this is why some A. muscaria users note that if one watches a movie while under the influence, that it is entirely possible to "become" the movie, in a sense, as the psychedelic effects of A. muscaria appear to utilize one's surroundings to a great extent in order to build up it's own "dream world". The loop, if it becomes bored, seems to merely repeat anything it can come up with or that it takes interest in, before eventually fading out. As was said, for SWIM, this was in the style of incredibly catchy, though repetitive song hooks which the Loop seemed to invent on it's own. Any one of these could have easily become the next hit single. The Loop only became apparent when SWIM closed his eyes and paid attention to it, otherwise, it may have only been present in the subconscious background, without the conscious being immediately aware of it. All in all, SWIM gives A. muscaria a thumbs up, though he most enjoyed the body-high, the lightness, subtle feelings of "floating or flying", the subtle dream-like quality and interesting "quick-thought" processes. No amount of toxicity or negative side-effects were felt either during or the day after; no nausea was present, and salivation appeared normal throughout. SWIM awoke the next day feeling refreshed and completely normal; hangover was non-existent.
Final Notes: Again, SWIM considers this to have been a light dose. If twice the amount, all of the effects mentioned would likely have been twice as strong, if not moreso. On a truly strong dose, such effects may indeed take the explorer by surprise and might result in physical and mental discomfort. A. Muscaria should be respectfully approached as a teacher and as a gateway to the dreamworld. On a strong dose, SWIM sees no reason as why one would not become fully enveloped within the dream which it builds up and produces, which could, if one is not careful, result in delirium and nonsensical actions. However, the ability to differentiate between the effect and the ordinary state, and casually switch between them, appears to be woven into the experience. This may however only be a product of a light to medium dose, with it becoming more difficult to distinguish between states with heavier doses. As if it had to be said; some caution should be exercised.
