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Fairy Rings and Toadstools by Richard Doyle, 1824-83

This article was written for Funga by Cordelia Fleming

 

Whilst there is well documented evidence of psychedelic use, particularly mushrooms, in places like Mexico and within ancient Mesoamerican cultures, the documented use of mushrooms in the British Isles is much more scarce, nuanced and mysterious. In this piece Funga sheds a light on the British Isles links to magic mushrooms and its relationship with them. Before we start our journey, it is worth noting that the very word ‘psychedelic’, was coined by a British psychologist Humphry Osmond in the 50’s, after Aldous Huxley asked for a dose of mescaline. The word is a result of forming of the Latin words ‘psyche’ and ‘delos’, meaning “mind manifesting” or “soul manifesting”.

It is natural to think about the historical use of psychedelics in the UK and jump to the swirling, freethinkers and musicians of the late 1950’s & 1960’s, when the world psychedelic became mainstream, and psychedelia was at its peak. Yet dig a little deeper into to the very fabric of Britain’s stories, deeply rooted in myths and legends and one can see clear links to ‘mind manifesting’ worlds that are a treasure trove of links to magical pastimes.

From ancient Celtic celebrations and rituals to tales of enchanted forests to encounters with fairies and other otherworldly, supernatural beings, these celebrations and stories depict realms that challenge ordinary perception and invite exploration of the subconscious. ever intriguingly many of these elements have a compelling link to the experiences and aesthetics often associated with psychedelics.

 

 

‘Other worlds’ and altered realities stem back from Ancient British (or Celtic) times. Halloween, one of todays most beloved and celebrated festivals, can be traced back over 2000 years to the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced ‘Sow-in’) that marked the end of the harvest and the shift to winter. For the Celts this was a not only a time for seasonal change but also a sacred occasion where the boundaries between the physical and spiritual were blurred and where the souls of the and spirits of the dead might roam freely amongst those still living. Coincidently this festival of death and rebirth fell (and still does, 31st October) in Autumn at a time when many fungi throw their reproductive fruiting bodies (the mushrooms themselves) up from the hidden under world into our visible world, making Fungi and their sudden seemingly magical appearance viewed as deeply connected to the otherworld. It is widely believed that the Druids (high ranking Celts) turned to the natural landscapes’ psychedelics to deepen this physical and spiritual connection. Additionally, there is ancient artistic flourish that hints at possible Celtic psychedelic practises. Celtic art is characterised by swirling shapes and spirals, such as those at Newgrange in Ireland, are thought by some to be inspired by psychedelic trips. The spirals, carved into ancient stone, are very similar to the patterns that are experienced when on a mushroom trip. Just like the 70’s the kaleidoscopic pattern, inspired by LSD, were the celts inspired too?

 

130 Ancient celtic stone images ideas | celtic, ancient, stone

The British Isles is home to two distinct mild altering mushrooms the delicate Liberty Cap (Psilocybe semilanceata) and ever depicted, red and white and more toxic, Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria). Both mushrooms have been known to give consumers altered perception of time and size, sensations of flying and visions of fairies, leprechauns, and other worlds. Like today, in Celtic times, both grew abundantly in the wild and are thought to have been used by Druids and Celts for rituals and ceremonies. Visions of faeries are so strongly associated with mushrooms that the today the Gaelic slang word for faeries and mushrooms is the same – ‘Pookies’. Even today, a magic mushroom experience has been associated with the user being “away with the fairies” and “off with the pixies”. Although there is little hard evidence of Celtic psychedelic use, much like the Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs, The Roman invasion of Britain brought Christianity with it, and with that the Celts lost their rank, power and culture in society. Christianity also brought with it a distrust for mushrooms and an association of mushrooms being linked to the Devil and witchcraft, hence common names like ‘Devil’s Fingers’, ‘Witches’ Butter’ or ‘Satan’s Bolete’ that we still use today.

 

Devils Fingers

Witches Butter

 

Satan’s Bolete

 

Elfin Saddles

 

Scarlet Elf Cup

 

The connection between fairies and fungi has lived on. We’ve touched on visions of mythical creatures above, but there are many more non-psychedelic fungi connections to mythical creatures. The beautiful Scarlet Elf Cup takes its name from the folklore that woodland elves were said to drink and bathe in water collected in the cups. Then there’s Elfin Saddles, which are said to be sat on by elves as they ride around. ‘Fairy rings’ that are mysterious rings caused by underground mycelium fungi. Fairy rings have a rich history in European folklore and myth. Austrians claimed they were shaped where dragons rested, but probably the most pervasive tale derived from English folklore, that fairy rings were mystical gathering places created by dancing fairies. Any human that dared to enter the ring would be forced to dance until they either went mad or died of exhaustion. If you happen upon a fairy ring, take a closer peek. While you’re unlikely to spot a twirling fairy, these rings give us aa clue into the mycelium-meeting network that is occurring under our own feet and whatever you believe about fairy rings, they are an exciting discovery if you’re lucky enough stumble upon one.

 

Fairy Rings

 

It is fair to say that Britain’s fairy tales and folklore provide a narrative framework for exploring altered states of consciousness around mushrooms and these ideas often predate notions that would later be associated with psychedelics. All invite a sense of wonder and curiosity, blurring the lines between reality and imagination, the natural and the supernatural. It is this shared resonance that continues to inspire both modern storytelling and the exploration of the human psyche today.