I have had a nagging interest in psychedelics ever since reading Michael Pollen’s book ‘How to Change Your Mind‘, and making a 180 degree flip in my opinion (and understanding) of these entheogenic¹ compounds.

Taking a dose of psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in magic mushrooms or 5MeO-DMT, a very powerful entheogen, under the correct set and setting is on my bucket list of things I want (but probably wont) do before I die.

Walking my dog after autumn rain I often spot outcrops of Fly Agaric Amanita muscaria mushrooms with their distinctive red tops and white spots. Think Christmas decorations. Think fairy rings. Think powering up Mario and Luigi. This fascinating mushroom also contains a mild psychoactive substance called muscimol.

I admit I have entertained the idea of trying them out, but they require a prescriptive preparation to remove another compound called ibotenic acid that can make you very sick. No thanks.

Recently I found out there is another mushroom containing very potent doses of psilocybin that grows in abundance all around the area where I live. It is named Psilocybe subaeruginosa.

In general, P. subaeruginosa favours the oceanic climate of south-east Australia, where it appears from late March to mid-April following a consistent drop of temperatures below 8 ºC, and heavy dews.

And it seems to be pronounced ‘sil-oso-be’ rather than ‘silo-cybe’. Amongst mushroom foragers they are often referred to as ‘Subs’ for short.

Now, out with the dog I see them everywhere. And again there is a curious temptation to try them. A sirens call of abundant accessibility.

Note: all quotations in this post are from the following reference:

Download a comprehensive pdf factsheet on
Psilocybe subaeruginosa HERE.

I think there are two reasons why the psychedelic properties of this commonly found mushroom are not widely talked about:

1. Public safety. Subs are very similar in appearance to other mushrooms which are toxic or deadly (particularly the infamous ‘deathcap mushroom’amanita phalloides, and it may grow amongst them making misidentification and accidental poisoning a real risk.
2. The law. It is illegal in Australia to posess or ingest these mushrooms. See here.

It is a an interesting underscore on our society that a naturally occurring fungi that grows everywhere around me without constraint must be secreted away and made illegal. So much as to even snug one out of the ground and put in your pocket could find you in trouble.

So no, I will not try them. I do not trust my fungi identification skills enough to not screw up and poison myself. Plus, if I were to partake, I would want an experienced person as a guide. Both for the trip and to properly understand and integrate any experiences afterwards. I’m not interested in wasting psychedelics as a merely recreational activity. To me, that dishonours the plant and its medicinal & spiritual history.
Finally, of course, I would not flourish well in jail.

So after the rains, as the dog bounces around marking each and every tree, I walk amongst the subs, noticing them here and there and taking peaceful consolation that they hide in plain sight. Waiting patiently until required.

Legal note:

It would be remiss of me not to highlight the legal ramifications of using this mushroom for any recreational or entheogenic activity:

All species of Psilocybe, bar one, contain psilocybin
and psilocin. Both substances are classified in Australia as Schedule 9 substances by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Possession of psilocybin-containing mushrooms is illegal in Australia and may lead to fines, criminal convictions, or imprisonment. Cultivation without a licence is considered the manufacture of a Schedule 9 substance.

Further reading: Just how magical are magic mushrooms in Australia?

1. Entheogen: A psychoactive substance used for the purpose of inducing a mystical or spiritual experience ↩︎