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Philosophy
The Philosophy of the Shroom Liberation Front is based around our extensive experience with magic mushrooms and the experiences it can generate. Of all things magic in this world, these humble mushrooms truly live up to their name, and users can quickly be transported to a world of Tolkienesque strangeness and magnificence. For within the realm of magic mushrooms, fairies, wizards and sorcerers truly abound. Dragons carve the evening sky, trailing a wake of sparkling, glittering swirls behind them. The imagination possible in this world is unlike imagination possible anywhere else - this is a world of imagination. It is not just enhanced, it is super-enhanced. At one moment you can be drifting down an alien superhighway, the next, gliding in a deep-sea submersible, illuminating underwater cities in your high-powered lamps through the aqua gloom. Perhaps even the great empire of Rome rises up before you in your vision, marble pillars, and mosaic floors abounding everywhere, as the sun slowly rises, orange and golden above it. We cannot stress enough, the intricacy of the visions possible (dosage dependent of course), and the effect that the psilocybin has on the mind – it is as if your mind is suddenly converted to a precision engineering CAD Package, where designs of immense complexity, and detail can be summoned at will. Yet a lot of the time you are a passenger, with little control of what visions will unfold next before you, and you just flow along from amazing thought to thought, like a canoe down a mountain stream.
Strangely we have noticed that the basic building block of these visions can be made up of strange hieroglyphic-like symbols and Aztec-like patterns. If you’ve never experienced anything like this, then you’ll just have to take our word for it, it’s awesomely impressive. And we have to admit - to the uninitiated it can be a daunting if not little bit scary experience taking just a bit of getting used to. But conquering these fears and gaining mastery of the magic mushroom experience will enable you to liberate yourself and how you think about life and the world around you. It is a liberating experience in every sense of the word.
And might we just mention – up till this point one hasn't even opened one’s eyes – this is just the internal frontiers of the mind at work. Now, if one was to look around them in this state, equally fantastic visions would greet the eyes. For now the everyday world is far from everyday. It is beautiful and magnificent. Everything that can be seen glimmers and radiates with pulsating jewel-like colours. A hair brush or vacuum cleaner suddenly becomes something of exquisite beauty. You’ll probably catch your breath at it all, and suddenly look at the world with the bemused wonder and awe that a child must have. The very air itself also seems transformed. It is as if it has become a prism, something solid, and clear, yet catching the light and refracting gentle halos. Generally, this visionary experience will mark your arrival in the magic land – a place where wonders abound round every turn. At this stage, may we recommend just one thing. Look at the sky, day or night. Or go for a walk in the countryside. You will then see that what we say about mushrooms is true.
Yet this is just a rough description of the general buzz derived from the mushrooms. But the question is, why is it the mushrooms themselves are capable of giving people such an amazing and wondrous experience - why mushrooms? Obviously, the experience is generated by the chemical compounds found in the mushrooms, mainly psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin. Similar mind-manifesting drugs can also be found elsewhere in the Natural World in plants, frogs, and even some rare kinds of fish!!! Yet it is mushrooms that interest us. Why have these mushrooms developed the ability to produce these chemicals? According to Andy Letcher, author of Shroom – A Cultural History (2006)
“Some of the more lurid theories suggest that the mushrooms altruistically synthesise them for human benefit, to kick-start a human-mushroom symbiosis, or perhaps to open our eyes to the planet’s ecological needs; others, that they are a gift from God. More prosaically, they may be by-products from some other essential metabolic process, or have some yet-to-be determined ecological function, perhaps in deterring mycophagous flies” Paul Stamets in his book Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World, states “Psilocbyes have propelled themselves to the front lines of the evolutionary race, precisely because of their psilocybin content. The production of psilocybin has proven to be a competitive evolutionary advantage. Psilocybin mushrooms carry with them a message from nature about the health of the planet. At a time of planetary crisis brought on by human abuse, the earth calls out through these mushrooms – sacraments that lead directly to a deeper ecological consciousness, and motivate people to take action.
From our own perspective, mushrooms are like some gateway, existing between life and Death – they are saprophytes by their very nature, meaning that they decompose dead wood, plant or animal material, recycling them back into the environment. The mushrooms themselves also form many symbiotic relationships with many plant and tree roots – forming complex underground networks called mycorrhizae, or a ‘wood-wide web without which both the plant and fungus would struggle to survive. Without similar fungal relationships, the Amazon rainforest would simply not exist. Mushrooms play a crucial role in the life cycle of the planet, and without whom we probably wouldn't be here today.
It is also strange that fungi are one of the simplest organisms, primitive (yet sophisticated) in their design. Estimates suggest they have existed on Earth for at least 400 million years, since the Devonian period. They have proved to be remarkably successful, exploiting a huge array of niche’s and the mushrooms themselves coming in a wide array of shapes and sizes. But almost certainly mushrooms were one of the earliest organism to exploit the Earth (comparatively speaking) from its earliest days. Humans by contrast represent the most evolved and advanced species on the planet mainly thanks to our equally highly advanced brain, a veritable super computer, capable of allowing us to through imagination and creativity, shape and manipulate our world around us, and is perhaps the main reason we have become the dominant species of the animal world, along with our famous and highly designed opposable thumbs, which better allow us to make tools to achieve these dreams we have envisioned.
"Yet the chemical affect of psilocybin in the brain is profound – it seems the close similarity of psilocybin and psilocin to serotonin means that they latch onto the brain’s so called 5-HT2A serotonin receptor sites (but, unlike LSD, psilocybin does not directly affect dopamine, the neurotransmitter implicated in schizophrenia). It is rather as if a new, alien but curiously compatible piece of software is thrown into the brain’s computer, disrupting its normal operations in novel and unexpected ways." Is this not a case of convergent evolution? I.e. tantamount to throwing in a super software that unleashes your super computer brain to its maximum operating potential. Amazing when we think this software (arguably) is at least 200 million years old. It just adds to the ongoing mystery of the relationship, between man and mushroom. Have these chemicals been evolved just for us? Is it an accident, or is it part of some Divine Plan?
As you have seen, magic mushrooms offer plenty to fascinate one and all. And that is why the Shroom Liberation Front feels so passionately that the magic mushrooms deserve more respect in today’s modern society, not least by the Governments of the world.
In creating the Shroom Liberation Front, we wanted to devise a legitimate means of publicising the benefits of magic mushrooms and generating an interest in them to new people, so that Shrooms' following can continue to grow.
Yet despite all we have said, we also feel that magic mushrooms are not for everyone. One only has to do a cursory look on the internet to see that there are many stories of people who have had bad experiences. To be fair most of these have been one-off occasions, and usually down to people doing them with the wrong set and setting, or not being psychologically ready or prepared for the mushrooms effects. But it is true, not all experiences are positive - there is simply no guarantee a user will have a good trip. The experience can be profoundly different for each individual. The experience is influenced not only by the amount and potency of the species but also a host of cultural, environmental and psychological factors. According to Paul Stamets – those eating Psilocybe mushrooms for recreational purposes often have experiences far different from those seeking religious insights. Irresponsible use can result in disaster for the participants and those around them. He says "I have observed individuals who fear losing control are more often psychologically predisposed for negative encounters. Those suffering from illness may be physically or psychologically unprepared and should avoid experimentation. Although psilocybin mushrooms are empowering, it is the person using them who must take ultimate responsibility for the nature of his or her experiences". Truly wise words from a truly wise man. We can only echo these sentiments. Care, research, preparation and planning have to be taken when considering using magic mushrooms. You have to expect the unexpected and use common sense. Yet if one is prepared to do this, and take responsibility for their actions on mushrooms, then the Shroom Liberation Front can see no reason why it is necessary to ban magic mushrooms in society, or any other drug for that matter. This attitude is a foundation of our beliefs and something we encourage our members to continue to develop.
Paul Stamets goes on to say "When mushroom use is ritualised – guided by veteran users who can help orchestrate the necessary variables with careful attention to set and setting - an extraordinarily gratifying cerebal adventure can unfold. The senses come alive, elevated to a level far above the ordinary consciousness. Vision becomes more acute. Hearing is enhanced. Awareness of the fluid state of our bodies is brought to the forefront. Some participants believe Psilocbyes simply amplify the qualities of the inner self. Some feel the mushrooms help them understand their place in the universe and their intimate connection with the planet. Many have deep religious revelations or feel that they have been changed for the better forever."
The Shroom Liberation Front feels that the mushrooms are for pushing boundaries of what is possible for the end user – what it is possible to imagine, to think, to feel, to hear, etc. And this is the essence of why we believe mushrooms represent a true basic level freedom - they give you the freedom to go anywhere you wish, to transform your life beyond the rigid boundaries of what is possible in everyday states of the ordinary. And this is possible thanks to the fact that Psilocybin mushroom's effects have been described as boundary-dissolving. Terrence McKenna was quoted on one his many recorded appearances saying “What Psilocybin seem to do generically – is that they seem to dissolve boundaries and the ego is in the business of maintaining and defending boundaries, so I really see the psilocybin as directly intervening in the core process which is running us over the edge, which is our inability to emotionally connect with the consequences of what we’re doing …”
He may be right. And whilst humans continue to ask big questions about who they are and where they come from, we believe that Magic Mushrooms will always continue to captivate and enchant all those who come in touch with them. Without a doubt the magic mushroom experience is a Class A experience, but does not deserve its Class A drug classification. And until this matter is has been resolved the Shroom Liberation Front will not rest. We hope you won't either. So if you agree with us, take a positive step and join our cause. With your help the Shroom Liberation Front can realise this dream and make a worthwhile contribution to changing the world, and society for the better. Few more noble gestures exist. We hope you feel as inspired as we do.
Aztec Dreamer.
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