Hey friend,

I've experienced the power, joy, giggles, and even the horror of magic mushrooms more than any other psychedelic—probably in the triple digits by now.

Let’s just say I’ve had my fair share of magic mushrooms, but none of those trips could’ve prepared me for this one.

Many years ago, a homie handed me a bag of shrooms... but these weren’t your typical Psilocybe cubensis. No, these were specimens I’d never seen before.

The blue bruising on the stem screamed psilocybin, and as my best friend Devin Horgan would put it, "Those fuckers be ooozing psilocybin."

Plus, they had a curious nipple on the cap, as if you were about to suckle from the bosom of the psychedelic maiden.

The homie dropped an obscure name—Psilocybe azurescens. But the kids call them "Azzies."

I devoured the bag, thinking, "If these are anything like the magic mushrooms I’ve had before, it’s gonna be a fun ride."

Little did I know, these were the most powerful psilocybe species on Earth—and one of the side effects? Semi-paralysis for about an hour.

I slipped into a psychedelic coma that felt like an eternity—terrifying, yet profoundly illuminating.

Thankfully, I made it to the other side...

It could've easily become a nightmare if I wasn’t in the right set or setting. I've heard horror stories of the psychedelic naïve stumbling onto these potent mushrooms.

So, my message is clear: know your magic mushroom.

Know Your Magic Mushroom

Some magic mushrooms are incredibly potent and can give you much more than you bargained for—just like my paralysis-inducing experience with the "Azzies."

Or they may lack potency, requiring you to take more to achieve the desired effects.

Knowing your magic mushroom is even more crucial when microdosing—just a bit too much and you’re past the psychoactive threshold.

You aimed for a productive day, but suddenly, the walls are breathing and your computer is floating. Not exactly what you had in mind.

Understanding what you’re up against when stepping into the world of fantastical fungi is step one for safety and optimal outcomes.

That’s exactly what we’re diving into today.

The Magic of Psilocybin Mushrooms

When talking about magic mushrooms, I'm referring to psilocybin-containing varieties—the most common being Psilocybe cubensis.

Within the Psilocybe cubensis species alone, there are hundreds—maybe even thousands—of strains, each with varying potencies.

Beyond Psilocybe cubensis, there are many other species of magic mushrooms, including different genera like Panaeolus, Inocybe, Agrocybe, and more!

Since these are less common, I want to keep this newsletter relevant and actionable, so I'll focus on Psilocybe and, to a lesser extent, Panaeolus.

One last thing to note is that while magic mushrooms vary in genus, species, and strains, their effects aren't as diverse as one might think—unlike, say, cannabis species and their strains.

Yes, psilocybin mushrooms can contain different alkaloids like psilocin, baeocystin, and aeruginascin, but your experience largely depends on two factors: set (mindset) and setting (environment).

What truly sets psilocybin mushrooms apart? Their POTENCY!

Real quick:

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I’ve put together a comprehensive guide featuring my personally vetted psilocybin product vendors, including companies I trust for my clients—plus vendors for other plant medicines like San Pedro, Morning Glory seeds, Ayahuasca, Amanitas, and more!

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The Psilocybin Mushroom Adventurer's Guide 🍄

Panaeolus cyanescens

Common name: Blue Meanies, Pan Cyans, Copelandia (older genus classification, Copelandia cyanescens)

Overview: While uncommon compared to Psilocybe species, Blue Meanies are one of the more common psilocybin-containing mushrooms from a different genus.

Which makes this magic mushroom very unique.

And don’t confuse it with Psilocybe cyanescens or the "Blue Meanies" cubensis strain. Hopefully, that clears things up!

Distribution: Found in tropical and subtropical regions like Southeast Asia, Central and South America, as well as Hawaii and Australia. [1]

However, it can also be found in temperate regions during summer, typically in high-humidity areas and post-rainfall. Many samples are collected from cow manure and grazed fields.

Potency: Low

While not as potent as Psilocybe cubensis, Panaeolus cyanescens contains significantly higher levels of psilocin than psilocybin. [2]

This is important because while psilocybin itself isn’t bioactive, it’s converted into psilocin, responsible for the effects. Since Panaeolus cyanescens has higher psilocin levels, it leads to a faster onset and quicker peak effects!

Identification features: White to grayish caps with a slight blue bruising and slender stems. The caps often have a slight nipple shape.

Psilocybin content: 0.16 - 0.19% psilocybin; 0.17 - 0.95% psilocin [2]

Dosage: Using dried mushrooms, shoot for a dose 20% higher than P. cubensis.

• Microdose: 120 - 600 mg
• Standard: 1.2 - 4.2 g
• Heroic: 4.2+ g

Psilocybe azurescens

Common name: Azzies, Flying Saucers

Overview: Psilocybe azurescens is the most potent psilocybin mushroom on the planet—the one from my opening story, infamous for causing semi-paralysis for about an hour. It’s not for the faint of heart.

Distribution: These rare mushrooms thrive along the Western coast of North America, particularly in the wet, coastal regions of Oregon (my home state), Washington, and the Columbia Gorge.

They’re typically found in beach grass-covered dunes and beds of wood chips.

Potency: Extremely high

Identification features: P. azurescens has a caramel to golden-brown cap with a prominent umbo (nipple-like feature in the center) that bruises blue, a thick white to pale tan stem that also turns blue when damaged, and close, dark purple-brown gills.

Psilocybin content: Azzies packs a punch with an average psilocybin content of 1.7%—far higher than the 0.63% in typical Psilocybe cubensis—and a psilocin content of 0.38%! [3]

Dosage: Using dried mushrooms, shoot for a dose 25-33% lower than P. cubensis.

• Microdose: 30 - 150 mg
• Standard: 0.4 - 1.5 g
• Heroic: 2+ g

Psilocybe cubensis

Common name: Cubes, Golden Teacher, B+

Overview: Psilocybe cubensis is one of the most common and popular magic mushrooms, thanks to its widespread availability, easy cultivation, and consistent potency and effects.

Distribution: Global

P. cubensis grows in warm, tropical, and subtropical regions, often in cow or horse manure-rich fields, preferring humid conditions. They're common in Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and the southern U.S. and can be easily cultivated in controlled environments.

Potency: Moderate

Identification features: P. cubensis has a golden to reddish-brown cap, often fading as it dries, with a bell-shaped or slightly domed appearance. Its thick white to light brown stem bruises blue, and the dark purple-brown gills turn black with age.

Psilocybin content: 0.63% [4]

Dosage: Using dried mushrooms, here is a breakdown of different doses…

• Microdose: 100 - 500 mg
• Standard: 1 - 3.5 g
• Heroic: 3.5+ g

Psilocybe cyanescens

Common name: Wavy Caps

Overview: Psilocybe cyanescens, or "Wavy Caps," is a potent psilocybin mushroom known for its wavy cap and blue bruising, signaling high psilocin content.

Distribution: Unlike many other psilocybe species, Wavy Caps is found in temperate regions, particularly in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

It thrives in wood-rich areas such as mulch beds, wood chips, and decaying plant matter, especially in urban and suburban environments.

It is also common in coastal regions like the Pacific Northwest (U.S.), including Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. It prefers cool, damp environments and can often be found in the fall and winter months when conditions are right.

Potency: Moderate to high

Identification features: P. cyanescens has a wavy, golden-brown cap that bruises blue. Its stem is pale, 5-10 cm tall, and thickens at the base.

Psilocybin content: 0.85% [5]

Dosage: Using dried mushrooms, shoot for a dose about 25% less than P. cubensis.

• Microdose: 75 - 375 mg
• Standard: 0.75 - 2.6 g
• Heroic: 2.6+ g

Psilocybe mexicana

Common name: Teonanacatl, Aztec Mushroom, Mexican Mushroom

Overview: Psilocybe mexicana, revered by the ancient Aztecs and Mesoamerican cultures for centuries, was called Teonanacatl, meaning "Flesh of the Gods."

This psilocybe gained fame as the species behind Albert Hofmann's (the chemist who first isolated LSD) first magic mushroom experience with Maria Sabina, a curandera from Huatla de Jiménez, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Sabina introduced Hofmann and R. Gordon Wasson to psilocybin mushrooms, and Hofmann later took a specimen back to Switzerland, where he isolated psilocybin and psilocin for the first time.

This encounter is credited with introducing psilocybin mushrooms to the Western world.

Distribution: P. mexicana is primarily found throughout Mexico, Central, and South America.

Potency: Low to moderate

Identification features: P. mexicana is a small mushroom with a brownish-yellow conical or bell-shaped cap that flattens with age. Its slender, pale to brownish stem bruises blue when handled, hinting at its psilocybin content.

Psilocybin content: 0.4% [6]

Dosage: When using dried mushrooms, aim for about 33% more than the standard dosages of P. cubensis.

• Microdose: 130 - 650 mg
• Standard: 1.3 - 4.5 g
• Heroic: 4.5+ g

Psilocybe semilanceata

Common name: Liberty Cap, Liberty Bell, Witch's Hat, Magic Cap

Overview: Psilocybe semilanceata, or "Liberty Caps", is easily recognized by its bell-shaped, pointed cap and ranks as the third most potent psilocybe, trailing only P. azurescens and P. bohemica.

Distribution: It thrives in grassy fields, especially livestock-grazed pastures, found in temperate regions worldwide—most notably in North America and abundantly across the UK.

Potency: High

Identification features: P. semilanceata features a small, bell-shaped cap with a pointed tip, often light tan or yellowish-brown, and a slim, fibrous stem that bruises blue when handled.

Psilocybin content: .98% [4]

Dosage: Using dried mushrooms, shoot for a dose approximately 33% less than P. cubensis.

• Microdose: 65 - 330 mg
• Standard: 0.6 - 2.3 g
• Heroic: 2.3+ g

Magic Mushroom Species Dosages

Here's a quick snapshot of the dosages from all of the different psilocybin mushrooms we covered today:

The world of psychedelic mushrooms is vast with numerous genera, many species, and countless strains—all containing the potent alkaloid psilocybin!

We only scratched the surface today...

Some mushrooms pack more punch than others, so understanding the potency and composition of the one you're working with—whether microdosing or macrodosing—is key to a safe, effective experience.

Psilocybe cubensis—and its countless strains—is the most common magic mushroom today (which I'll be diving into in later issues). But with advancing cultivation techniques, that could soon change.

I’m curious—have you explored psilocybin mushrooms? Which ones have you encountered or tried—species, strain, or otherwise?

Hit reply and let me know.

See you next Saturday,

Onjae

PS. If you’re ready to experience the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin mushrooms but accessibility is holding you back, check out my Psychedelic Sourcing Bundle and solve that problem once and for all!

References:

[1] Merlin, Mark D., and John W. Allen. "Species Identification and Chemical Analysis of Psychoactive Fungi in the Hawaiian Islands." Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 40, no. 1, 1993, pp. 21-40, https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(93)90086-K. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

[2] Stijve, T. “Psilocin, Psilocybin, Serotonin and Urea in Panaeolus Cyanescens from Various Origin”. Persoonia - Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi 15.1 (1992): 117–121. Print.

[3] Gartz, Jochen, and Georg Wiedemann. "Discovery of a New Caerulescent Psilocybe Mushroom in Germany: Psilocybe Germanica Sp.Nov." Drug Testing and Analysis, vol. 7, no. 9, 2015, p. 853, https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.1795. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

[4] Gartz, J. “Extraction and analysis of indole derivatives from fungal biomass.” Journal of basic microbiology vol. 34,1 (1994): 17-22. doi:10.1002/jobm.3620340104

[5] Repke, D.B., Leslie, D.T., and Guzmán, G. "Baeocystin in Psilocybe, Conocybe, and Panaeolus." Lloydia, vol. 40, no. 6, Nov.-Dec. 1977, pp. 566-578. PubMed, PMID: 600026.

[6] Gotvaldová, Klára, et al. "Extensive Collection of Psychotropic Mushrooms with Determination of Their Tryptamine Alkaloids." International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 23, no. 22, 2022, p. 14068, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232214068. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.