the Red Bulb

Some on Fly Agaric, the red bulb, from a site on Celtic information at the following address...

http://www.shee-eire.com/Herbs,Trees&Fungi/Fungus/Fly-agaric/main.htm

It was referred to as the 'Flesh of the gods', or 'Food of the Gods' because they believed that they were in direct communication with the Earth and the Universe when they consumed this Fungi.

These fungi are the fruit of an Organism that can live to be thousands of years old. Most of this organism is the root system with only the fruit being seen here in the photos. The fruit of this organism is well known but few realise the fruit found over a certain area will usually all be from the one organism.

The smoking of the fungi would have been done when it was dried and where possible they would have tried to sun-dry the mushrooms. It would then have been mixed with other herbs and/or fungi and smoked through a pipe.
It would also have been burnt or mixed with the water in the sweat-lodges to be consumed through the pores in the skin.

It takes no more that a few days for the fungi to grow from the root to a full cap. If it is not eaten by another of Mother Earth's creatures.
Eating of the Fly-Agaric Mushroom : The most common way that this mushroom was eaten was when it had been dried. The Druid or Druids fasted for at least 3 days, drinking only water although sometimes small amounts of purifying herbs may also be taken and meditating before consumption of the fungi. This was done for a number of reasons, not only to purify the mind but also it purified the body because the body acts in a strange way to this fungi. When consumed the body removes the Mind-Expanding substances before the poison. So the Psychedelic is in the body before it starts to react to the poison. This reaction is violent stomach emptying as the body rejects what's left of the mushroom before it absorbs any more of the poison. The Druids were well prepared for this sickness as it was part of taking the fungi. After the poison is rejected the Psychedelic starts to act, this is when the second reason for body purity was needed as the first urine expelled after consumption is nearly all Psychedelic and this was either consumed at the time to give full effect of the fungi or stored for a later ritual. It may also have been used in some of their Beverages or Potions. This may sound a bit sick to some but with the 3 day fast and only water going in, only water was coming out.
Smoking the Fly-Agaric Mushroom : The dried mushroom can be broken into small amounts and smoked on their own or with other herbs or fungi in a pipe, chillum or bong. The effect can be felt almost immediately and is much milder than eaten, and there is no sickness when smoking as the poison is destroyed by the heat. Some of the poison is also removed during the drying process.

The Organism that these photos are taken off, would be from 200-300 years old. So I for one do not have the right to destroy this old an living growing organism. As a Celtic Pagan I also have a right to use these tools of exploration and no other human has the right to deny me these tools. There is an arrogance from the politicians of today that they have the right to interfere in the lives of others, this is not so and if these politicians don't realize this soon there will be a breakdown of the system as more and more people take radical action against their unjustifiable laws.