Mr. Fun Guy of August 2011 – A magic mushroom user

This time we had a talk with a magic mushroom user: Peter (not his real name). Peter is a student from the Netherlands. He wanted to remain anonymous, so we changed his name.

Peter, you’re a magic mushroom user, right?
No, I’m not. I used to be. Until 2008 Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms were legal in the Netherlands. I used to take them frequently. Now they are illegal so I stopped using them.
Why is it that they are illegal?
Some tourist combined magic mushrooms with alcohol and jumped off a bridge. Stupid stuff like that.
I’m convinced that magic mushrooms are completely safe to use, as long as you take them responsibly. I took them for years and never had any issues.
You never had a bad trip?
Of course I had a bad trip; everyone has one at some point. The only difference is that I had a sitter. Someone who looked after me when I was tripping. Responsibility is key! That’s why I never used magic mushrooms when I wasn’t feeling right, or when I was feeling down.
Why is that?
Because negative emotions can trigger a bad trip. It’s like a downward spiral, it’s very hard to get out of a bad trip. Many people start freaking out, which always ends bad.
Magic mushrooms should never be taken in a hurry. You need to plan your trip very carefully. Any kind of anxiety or uncertainty can trigger a bad trip.
Have magic mushrooms had a positive effect on you as well?
Definitely! Shrooms gave me a different look on life. You tend to self-reflect a lot when tripping. I saw that I was way to capitalistic, way too greedy. I changed my life completely and I’m very happy with what I achieved so far.
I hear many of these spiritual stories from trippers. Give me an example. What changed exactly?
Well for starters, I sold my car and jewelry. I felt like I didn’t need them. I live in the city and I’m perfectly able to get everywhere by bike. I used the money to invest in green energy and biological clothing and hemp products.
The biggest change for me is the fact that I stopped being selfish. I haven’t got an ego anymore. Earth, nature, life, it’s all bigger than me. I turned my destructive behavior into a constructive behavior which has been very beneficial. I’m more at peace now. I share my happiness with others and I get a lot of support for that.
Do you miss the mushrooms?
No, sclerotia (hallucinogenic truffles) are still widely available in the Netherlands and I take those now. They are less potent, but they deliver the same effects.
Does it make you angry that they banned the mushroom, but the sclerotia are still legal?
There’s bureaucracy for you. These guys are fighting nature and they know it. We keep on finding new ways to trip. It’s as if nature wants us to trip. It’s a gateway to a higher spirituality provided by nature.
What would you tell others who want to trip?
First of all, don’t break the law. If you want to trip, do it safely and come to the Netherlands.
Secondly, Think about what you’re doing and do it safely. Don’t trip when you’re not feeling like it. Talking to an experienced user can help you with that. I found a lot of help back in those days on mushroom related forums.
Thanks so much for this interview.
My pleasure