James Arthur: (also at jamesarthur.net)

Ethno-Mycology

The effects Mushrooms have had on the Culture, Religion, and Philosophy of Mankind throughout history.

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MUSHROOMS AND MANKIND

  A brief introduction to Ethnomycology. 
 
 For thousands (maybe millions) of years on our planet, humanity has been involved in a symbiotic relationship with plants. Not only have plants supplied mankind with a never ending food-source, the necessary nourishment for our bodies and life itself, but they have also served us in another way: an extremely important and intricate one, yet an often overlooked one. I am referring to those plants which, traditionally, have been known to pharmacologically expand human consciousness into the mystical/spiritual states. The study of these plants is called "Entheobotany", or "Ethnobotany". A sub-field (of this study), known as "Ethnomycology" is specifically dedicated to mushrooms which have consciousness expanding qualities, and therefore deep roots imbedded in the religious traditions, writings and indigenous knowledge of mankind. The term, "Ethnomycology" was coined by its father, the late Gordon Wasson. This line of study is constantly expanding as more and more correlations come to light regarding the usage of mushrooms in a particular culture or religion.

This is discovery of the most magnificent degree. We have uncovered the natural link between man, consciousness, and God. This discovery may at first seem abstract, wishful thinking, or even impossible; yet as evidence presented on these pages unfolds, you may find that its understanding does not require as much of a leap of faith as you might think. What is presented here is, to my thinking, as well as many others, the most significant discovery in the entire field of religious knowledge ever to happen in the history of mankind. And you are now a part of it! We should be jumping for joy and shouting from the housetops to the people of this planet to put their differences aside, and join in the commonality of the understanding that each and every one of us may now experience that which has been, until this time, hidden away in the recesses of our spiritual history. We may at last be actually ready to usher in the Golden Age of understanding, as the age of Aquarius dawns.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy as you enter the incredible world of Ethnomycology.

The experience attained by the Entheogenic [En(in)theo(God)gen(generation)] use of this mushroom is extremely valuable, yet the rules for experimentation of this type are unforgiving. NEVER eat ANY mushroom, unless you are absolutely certain that it is the one you want. VERIFY its identification with an expert mycologist. This is not a recreational experience. The Shamanic "DEATH (and REBIRTH) EXPERIENCE" is called that for a very good reason (it is, what it is). When experimenting with entheogenic mushrooms, always have a few friends along (as monitors) in case you need to be assured that you are not dying. RESEARCH this before experimenting. Plan a full day for your experience. This is not a scheduled substance, responsible and careful use will keep it that way. BE SMART, Ever onward. Most of all, JUST SAY KNOW.. James.
 

Amanita muscaria:
The mushrooms that shaped mankind.
 

Figure 1.   Amanita muscaria

A typical RED variety of the Amanita muscaria, the single most written about and mystically symbolized mushroom throughout history. As you will see, this mushroom played a major role in the formulation of nearly every world religion and world mythology. It is the primary focus of this investigation.

The Amanita muscaria mushroom can be found at the roots of most of the religious writings our planet has to offer. Yet you will find within these pages very little in way of endorsement of any particular religion. However, please bear with me when I interject my own philosophical opinions. Remember, I admit openly that I certainly do not know everything. This is the result of a serious study of the doctrinal/scriptural substance of each of the presented religions, and an exploration into the hidden symbology and meanings within them. The discovery that, although the Sacramental substance is unquestionably present, the organizations themselves have obscured the knowledge of it, was an enigma. That is, until the political nature at the roots of religion itself had been uncovered. Today's religions do not answer this important question. They explain it away as purely symbolic, or of no importance. Religion has polluted itself by denying its own source, and by removing the individual's ability to experience the effects produced by the substance that imparts GNOSIS (the joining together of the consciousness with the consciousness of the Divine). By the removal of this key knowledge, religions themselves become lies; especially when the same systems inspired by Entheogens condemn their usage.
 
  In today's society it has become taboo to present the expansion of consciousness by the use of any kinds of drugs/plants in a positive light. Such is the case when one discusses government or religion (or any other societal norm) in a negative light. While I have nothing positive to say about heroin, highly refined Coca (coke, crack), or amphetamines (crank), I feel that a blanket assessment of all drugs as being DIRTY is not only unfair, but a classic case of dis-information.
 
  Drugs, in the psychedelic category, are commonly referred to these days (by those in the know) as "Entheogens", meaning simply; "the generation of God within"; for the experiencer, "the realization of God within ones own consciousness".
 
  The facts are that there are many plants that have been known to expand consciousness, increase awareness of self, and initiate one into the nature of spirituality. Thousands of PhD. professors all over the world (in fields such as botany, ethnobotany, entheobotany, archaeology, anthropology, philology, philosophy, psychology, as well as a plethora of other inter-related fields) have written thousands of books/papers on the investigation and study of psychedelic plants. These writings have dealt with the use of such substances by spiritual practitioners in most every religion formed on the planet. Most people are out of the loop in knowing about any of this. Throughout history, each tribe/culture has looked for leadership and insight to the local Holy-man, or otherwise known as the Shaman, Healer, Priest, Mage, Sage, Yogi, Magician. The insight these leaders possessed was largely due to their experience and understanding of pharmacopoeia (use of plants) and the insight offered by the use of these things. "Pharmacopoeia" is the root of our English "pharmacy" or "pharmacist", and has been also translated as "witchcraft". Different tribes and peoples used different Entheogens, largely determined by local availability. The social power, respect, reverence, and authority held by the "pharmacopoeia-practicing" native shaman was/is a major problem for government and religion. It is the wanton jealousy for the power and control, held by these natives, which in turn, inspired the campaign to demonize and dis-repute Shamanism and pharmacopoeia as something of the devil. The Spanish (Catholic) inquisition and witch hunts (the murdering of over eight million people, tried as witches, and the stealing of their land and other properties done in the name of God by the Church-government up until the 19th century) were prime examples of this. Also related to this church jealousy and greed is the matter of an estimated twenty million indigenous Central Americans murdered (exterminated), bringing about the near extinction of the Aztec/Inca/Mayan peoples, AND the all-to-similar fate of indigenous North Americans ("American Indians"). The underlying agenda is the repression of the knowledge of Entheogenic plants which, if it succeeded, would insure the people's loyalty to established religion in all matters pertaining to God, primarily due to the inability of experiencing God for oneself. Since government and religion are the controllers of the world, an independent Shaman/Priest/Mage/Magician/Prophet is a threat to their power.
 
  The sacramental use of Entheogens has only come into a bad/dirty light recently. This is largely due to the lumping together of any and all substances used by people (whether used for spiritual or recreation purposes) and then classifying them as "bad" (for you), "evil", "vile", and/or "dirty". This prohibition is the propaganda of the inept, corrupt, and oppressive (monetary based) war on drugs. In realty, despite the incredible amount of evidence that humanity's origins of spirituality are inseparably linked to entheogens, governmental prohibition continues to rob each individual of their human right to directly access and understand the nature of spirituality through the traditional and ancient means provided by mother earth.
 
  People who follow the government's lead in this field, without researching the subject on an individual basis, are usually quick to jump to conclusions and condemn things they really know nothing about. Unfortunately, there are many people who have not researched this subject and believe that anything the government says must be true, yet they have absolutely no personal experience or real understanding about the subject other than the government/media-released propaganda and dis-information geared to create their agenda-based opinion; an opinion really based on ignorance.
 
  The agenda of the propaganda-pushers is not only sad but actually quite sickening because of the way it tends to lead the mindless masses of sheep right down the road to foolishness, causing them to become the unknowing pushers of the very same oppressive dis-information and propaganda which imprisons them, whilst believing the whole time that they are being right, proper, clean purveyors of the truth. As you will see, this subject is absolutely a matter of religious practice, and as such, it must be protected by Constitutional rights.

As Timothy Leary put it so well, "Psychedelics often produce psychotic and even violent behavior in those that have never used them".
 
  The simple reality is that plant Entheogens are spiritual in nature.
 
  I prefer "Just say KNOW" to the oppressive fascist propaganda "Just say no"
 
  One more thing before we get going...
 
  Its the use of heroin, crack, and crank that the government throws on the table to cause panic in the minds of people, that has allowed them to erode the Constitution away into a now historical document, by passing unbelievable laws all under the guise of stopping the use of drugs and saving our precious children from the "vile drug-pusher", while all along it's been the O.S.S. and then the C.I.A. in bed with the Mafia and local government officials that bring the highly addictive drugs (Heroin/Crack), that destroy peoples lives, into the Country, and then distribute them locally. If you don't think this could be true, then take a look at this:
 
 
The CIA/OSS and the "War on Drugs"
You have heard the rumors and the dis-information about them.
Now look at the documented evidence.
 
  Perhaps our favorite free-thinkers and musicians, by taking certain plants, and smoking certain herbs (also with a long religious history) should be praised for the insight and understanding they have received in life through these things, not be condemned and thought of as dirty for their use of the same. Of course, Heroin problems are very dangerous and damaging, and I am not talking about that. Besides, it is the highly addictive properties of these drugs that are exactly what make the Mafia/C.I.A./Government wet their lips from excitement (due to huge profits involved), not caring what damage they do to people. Also the natural plant Entheogens are not a hot commodity for them, partly because they actually make you think, which is one of the things those agenda-driven, power & money-hungry monsters would prefer you didn't do.
 
 
With that said, lets get going...
 
 

Figure 2.   Artwork as Revelator

Amanita muscaria is a "good luck charm", associated with the four-leafed-clover in artwork and traditional superstition. It is not restricted to pictorial art in obvious places. Mushroom-associated symbolism is found throughout religious artwork as well. Decoding these religious art symbols has always been a favorite pass-time of mine; it seems when you start to look, there is mushroom imagery everywhere, especially when the artist is one of those "in the know", as revealed through their usage of these special symbols. For good reason, as the story unfolds you find that the depth of your understanding of religious art, is directly associated with the depth of your understanding of the symbols.

Figure 3.   The Little People

Often associated with Gnomes, Fairies and "little people", the beauty of this mushroom makes it a favorite for artists. Certain artists also reveal deeper symbolic information. The mystical aspect is generally reserved for those that happen to be "in the know".

 
  "The Hidden Meanings of Christmas"
 
  After studying the Amanita muscaria mushroom for some twenty years, I fell into the company of some very enthusiastic folks who insisted that I commit this study to writing. It is one thing to talk about the many various religious writings which I have been looking into, and found ample mushroom symbology to present a verbal case for ethnomycological reference, but another thing entirely to compile it into book form. For one thing, in order to present a full scope of significant inter-religious connections verbally one can jump from one religious context to another, traversing a wide scope of references in several religions, weaving an overall scope of the similarities found in each. But in order to write a book on the subject I found that separating the different religious references into their respective chapters was the best way to go. So I try to limit the temptation to jump from one religion to another, and keep it to a minimum.

Within the study of world religion one finds philosophical systems. These are the philosophies which the respective believer adopts as their understanding of life itself. State-ism must be considered a religion in its own right, as even those who profess no religious preference or belief adopt a philosophical view of reality based upon a state/culturally conditioned belief system. These belief systems are also based upon religious philosophy which are brought into fruition through media and popular opinion. Were the many state and religious philosophies to be based upon truth and justice the world would not have an incredible history of bloodshed, wars and oppression. Therefore, religions and state indoctrinated belief systems share commonality of basic philosophical principles, and all of them must be looked into with an objective point of view. This must be done in order to dispel falsehood. It is not difficult to see that the condition of life on our planet leaves much to be desired. Societal conditioning plays an important part in developing individual belief systems. In some ways this could be considered a good thing, but in other ways it may be intrinsically bad. The study of ethnomycology can not simply be the study of religion and its association with mushrooms per-se' because by its very nature it must examine the philosophical principles of the religions which have an ehtnomycological connection. I need to explain this in order to set the stage for what is to come within these pages. This is not only an examination of ehtnomycological associations throughout history but is also an examination of those religions which show evidence of having ethnomycological association, yet currently deny this association due to corruption of their root principles.

So this study will deal with ethnomycology as a base, but will also delve into psychology, ethnology, philology, anthropology, archaeology, sociology, art, history, religion, myth, culture, symbology, and philosophy.

I will begin this book with the study of Christmas and its associated symbols and icons because after studying most of the worlds religions and their associated philosophies, I have found this to actually be a religion in its own right and quite pure philosophically.

What are the origins of the Christmas traditions? Most people never think to ask this question. Those that do, find a seemingly complete dogmatic system of explanation. Then, of course, one day there is that discovery that Santa Claus does not really exist. But... Does he? Many things have been written in an attempt to trace Christmas' development. You can find people who consider themselves experts in this field, and even books on this subject. I suppose you could call the field "Santa-ology", or perhaps even "Santa-ism". Yet, long lost, deeply underlying the realms of simple tradition, are very amazing symbolic connections and origins that are either long- forgotten or were/are intentionally overlooked. The basic philosophy behind Christmas is; if you are good you will receive a present under the tree, if you are bad then you receive no present. In some cultures those who are bad even receive punishment delivered by various means and personages. This is a very simple philosophical system. Santa Claus is an all knowing icon who reads the hearts and intentions of everyone on the planet. Each child is told the story of the round-man (who wears red and white) and his associates; reindeer, little people and Mrs. Claus. They are also told the story of a miraculous worldwide flight in a sleigh which results in presents being delivered under a tree. Yet when a child reaches the age of reasoning he is informed that this story is all a fabrication. This revelation is devastating upon the psyche of a young mind. It is also at this time that the child is often comforted, and pacified from the shock, by very strong reinforcement that the religious system which the parents or guardians profess are indeed factual. And an attempt is made to incorporate the respective religious traditions into the holiday as the REAL meaning for the celebration. There is an alternative to this cultural conditioning and shock-relief system of indoctrinations, into the realities of life, which is based upon truth and is much more interesting than even the simple traditional understandings of Christmas themselves. The key to this alternative is encoded within the icons and symbols of Christmas. To know the meanings behind the symbolism to which most people only attach dogmatic explanations, is to open the doorway to understanding the very roots of many other religions as well. Several books have been written about the Amanita muscaria mushroom. This mushroom is found growing all over the world under Pine (& other coniferous trees), Birch, and sometimes Oak. The Pine tree is one of the well-known central relics of Christmas. Under this tree is where those who are deemed good find their reward in the form of a present. A big red and white rounded mushroom grows under the very tree we are to look under on Christmas morning to find our gift. If we can find that this present does indeed exist. If we can find that reindeer are thought to be able to fly for a very good reason, and we can show that traditionally they carry people spiritually through the air in a way that defies the laws of time. And further, if we can show that the philosophical idiom "be good not bad" is really THE universal truth, would we have sufficient basis for discarding the established religious dogmas which traditionally replace the Christmas tale, and instead simply expand the story to reveal the more esoteric principles upon which it is based?

It is my assertion that the traditional day of reckoning wherein it is revealed; Santa Claus is not real, Reindeer do not fly, there is no present under the tree (unless placed there by a deceiver), is a dis-information campaign geared towards conditioning the young mind to be unable to accept the information which is presented herein. I also assert that the devastating blow of the destruction of a belief, and the associated reinforcement of "Christianity" (or other religious system) is psychologically designed to support the replacement information which is given as a comforting foundation during a time of shock and crisis, and is explained as something that will never be revealed as false (like Santa and all that fantasy).

It is also my conclusion that this event subliminally plays an important role for religious systems that wish to suppress the expansion of consciousness through fear of the unknown. The psyche is scarred deeply when it is forced to deal with realizing it has accepted a falsehood as truth. And when it deals with plants and things found under trees, subliminally, one armors oneself against these concepts. There develops an unconscious fear of falling into the same trap. Of course this is also pacified through replacing the meaning of things like the pine tree. Interestingly, in some traditions the PINEAL gland is thought to be the seat of the human soul. It is shaped exactly like a pinecone (hence the name Pine-al). Apparently, it is also an autonomous part of the brain, resting in the dead center, not attached to any other part of the brain; sort of a floating pinecone in the center of the human brain. Perhaps we have a lot more in common with the Pine tree than we thought. This gland, and its endogenous secretions, as well as other relevant implications, will be further discussed in a later section. But it is interesting to note; due to cultural phenomenon, the pineal gland atrophies during youth, which corresponds to this timely day of reckoning, and even begins to calcify during puberty. This atrophy/calcification causes a reduction of Pineal endogenous secretions.
 
  The Santa Claus and Christmas traditions of today have metamorphosed out of many older mythologies. The icons, symbols, and relics that have managed to survive from the "Winter Solstice" celebrations of old, have a commonality that deserves some reflection, study, and perhaps even some reverence. Understanding that these traditions are borrowed ones, is central to getting at the heart of the true meaning of Christmas.

Figure 4.   Santa as a Shaman

Today's Santa Claus is a metamorphosis of many older mythologies, including Thor or Donner (German) who wears red and rides in a "Golden Flying Chariot" pulled by two Goats (Cracker and Gnasher). In a sense, these goats were the ancestors to the now popular reindeer. What would the red and gold clad angel be doing with that nice basket? An Easter basket at Christmas is an interesting concept.

Christmas is commonly thought of as a Christian holiday (the birth of Jesus). Many Christian beliefs and traditions were borrowed from more ancient religions and mythologies. This is well documented by authors such as Gerald Massey, Godfrey Higgins, Robert Graves, Kersey Graves and many others. The virgin birth, the incarnation of God, the sacrament, Christmas, Easter, etc. have all been adopted/stolen by Christianity as its own.
 
  It is well documented by fundamentalists (apologists) that the Christmas traditions are Pagan in origin.. This simply means that their origin comes from the traditions of the country-folk (pagan). By contrast, the Pagan origins of most of the other attributes of Christianity are vigorously denied. It is also very easy to obscure, overlook and discredit the Egyptian, Mithraic, Germanic, Norse, Celtic, Greek, Hindu and Buddhist roots by lumping all non-Christian religions together and labeling them Pagan. These are certainly not simple country-folk religions. So to just say Christmas has Pagan roots, and not go further, is glossing over what exactly those roots are, and discrediting their study as worthless. Christmas icons, traditions and stories have hidden meanings. Although not initially apparent, a more thorough investigation reveals far more symbolic content (which is decipherable) than originally suspected. At the roots of this symbolism research is information about the secrets of the mushroom, regarding its habitats, forms, uses, preparations, and effects.
 
  Shaman of Siberia and the Russian icon, St. Nicholas, both play parts in the tale of Christmas, providing clues as to where Christmas came from and why there are certain symbols associated with the holiday. It is these types of clues that will help (the questors) in the deciphering of the symbols. Siberian Shaman used/use (despite governmental oppression) the Amanita muscaria as a religious sacrament. It is used for spiritual vision, out-of-body travel into the realms of the spirits, and as a plant-spirit guide in teaching and healing. The value of the inebriant is placed highly among the commodities of the native tribesmen, fetching reindeer pelts, meats, and all manner of tradable goods in payment and barter. Interesting to note: If you aren't quick enough in the hunt, you will find only the mushroom stubs, the rest greedily gobbled up by the hungry reindeer.

Figure 5.   Christmas Ornaments

One of the traditions, of ornamenting a tree, comes from the tradition of "The Paradise tree", a fir tree decorated with apples (representing the fruit of the "Tree of Knowledge" in the "Garden of Eden"). This "fruit" will be discussed later as the Amanita. During Germany's Middle Ages, a popular play, which was symbolic of the paradise story, was staged on December 24th (the religious feast day of Adam and Eve) . Two more symbolic connections with the mushroom are the candles and cookies that were also hung on the tree (candles = Christ; cookies = wafers of the Christian sacrament). This ornament is of particular interest because of its association with the fruit of the tree of knowledge and the Amanita muscaria. This indicates that there have always been people "In the Know" from time to time. According to Apocryphal texts and other older ones, the "Fruit of the Tree of Life" and the more recently added "Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge" were originally one in the same.

So, why do people bring Pine trees into their houses at the Winter Solstice, placing brightly colored (Red and White) packages under their boughs, as gifts to show their love for each other and as representations o the love of God and the gift of his Sons life?
 
  It is because, underneath the Pine bough is the exact location where one would find this "Most Sacred" Substance, the Amanita muscaria, in the wild (in Nature). These mushrooms grow in a symbiotic/mycorrhizal relationship with the Pine tree, which means they always grow underneath it. The symbolic placing of gifts under the tree at Christmas is a sort of proxy-present-giving action, whereby the celebrants ritually mimic the work of God/Santa/Nature, by placing under the tree a GIFT (actually THE gift). Big clue here: Winter brings rain; rain brings mushrooms, IN the mountains, AT Christmas time, UNDER the Pine trees. Then and there will you find that which unlocks the key mysteries of the Universe, through a multi-dimensionalizing of the consciousness in a way that no other known substance can. This Gnosis (joining together of your mind with the mind of the Universal Consciousness) is what the Sages, Mystics, Teachers, and Prophets were attempting to communicate through their rampant symbolism. (Had they not feared persecution, they may have spoken of it openly and directly.)

Figure 6.   The Christmas Tree

All over the world, people bring Coniferous s into their houses and place brightly colored packages underneath them. In Nature, this is where you will find the Amanita muscaria (under coniferous trees). The actual mushroom "plant" is the underground "mycelium" or "mycorrhizae", which is directly attached to the tree roots; the mushroom itself is only the fruit-body of the mycelium. The mushroom is literally the Fruit of the Tree. They grow in a mycorrhizal (not parasitic) relationship with the tree. Many people follow the tradition/custom of bringing a tree into the home and putting presents under it, yet have absolutely no idea why. Even people that think they know, usually have no knowledge of these mushroom connections. The true symbolic meaning transcends dogmatic etymological and historical evidence, by revealing itself in the totally obvious iconography and historically associated myths and traditions.

1. Saint Nicholas is the patron Saint of children in Siberia (Russia), a supplanter to the indigenous Shaman.
2. The Amanita muscaria mushrooms grow nearly exclusively under the Christmas (Coniferous) Trees (Birch also [another whole story]).
2. The Reindeer eat these mushrooms, hence the presumed flight.
3. Santa brings presents in his white bag/sack. Mushrooms are gathered in bags, and Amanita muscaria sprouts out of a white vulvae sack.
4. The mushrooms are red and white and grow under a green tree. Christmas colors are red, white and green.
5. Typically, the red and white mushrooms are dried by stringing them on the hearth of the fireplace. Christmas stockings are red and white, hung in the same way, and shaped similar.
6. The Virgin Birth is symbolic for the "seedless" growth/germination pattern of the mushroom. To the ancient mind, with no microscope to see the spores, it's appearance was thought to be miraculous.
7. The very name, "Christmas" is a holiday name composed of the words, "Christ" (meaning "one who is anointed with the Magical Substance") and "Mass" (a special religious service/ceremony of the sacramental ingestion of the Eucharist, the "Body of Christ"). In the Catholic tradition, this substance (Body/Soma) has been replaced by the doctrine of "Trans-substantiation", whereby in a magical ceremony the Priests claim the ability to transform a "cracker/round-wafer" into the literal "Body of Christ"; ie, a substitute or placebo.

Figure 7.   Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas, known as the "Patron Saint of Children" (among other things), is the most revered saint in Russia, second only to the apostles. He is the Russian Orthodox Church's supplanter to the native people's highly respected local Shaman. A Shaman is a holy man that is well acquainted with a form of spirituality that incorporates plant entheogens which facilitate the NDE (Near Death Experience), or "out of body" experience. Saint Nicholas may not have been a shaman, yet the symbolism on, and coloring of his robes could lend to speculation. The equilateral-circumscribed-cross is an ancient symbol for Christianity AND the Holy Grail, it is another very obvious mushroom symbol.

The ancient shamanic use of Amanita muscaria in Siberia is well documented. Despite governmental oppression against its use, there are still many who refuse to accept the authorized state religion, and continue the shamanic traditions in secret. Just as the Siberian shaman (commonly dressing in red and white) would enter through the opening in the roof of a home where a ritual was to be done, Santa Claus also arrives on the roof and enters through the chimney. Just as the shamans would gather the mushrooms in bags which they would bring with them when performing a ceremony, Santa Claus also (on the Holy Day) brings presents in a bag. The Santa Claus we see today evolved from traditions developed in Germany. It is fairly common knowledge that the Weihnachtsmann (St. Nick) was an amalgamation of older Germanic/Norse gods such as Thor, Donner, Odin and Wotan. What's missing here is just as Santa flies through the skies in his sleigh, Odin (as well as the rest) rode through the sky in his chariot, which is depicted in the stars by "The Big Dipper". The Big Dipper is the chariot of Odin & Wotan, Thor, King Arthur, and even Osiris (of Egypt). The chariot that circles the North Star in a 24 hour period is thus also known as the sleigh of Santa Claus because it circles his mythological home, the North Pole. It is no surprise that Nordic/Germanic gods have connection to mushrooms in their mythology. As Thor throws his mushroom-shaped hammer to the ground, mighty thunders and lightning cracks cause the real mushroom(s) to appear. As the horses pulling Odin through the sky in his chariot become over-exerted, their blood-mingled spit falls to the ground and causes the Amanita mushrooms to grow at those exact points. The Osiris mythology has even more to add to this. To the Egyptians; South was up (North). Osiris was the lord of the underworld, the South, (South=down) which is why he circles the sky in the furthest possible lower (southern) area. Not only did Osiris ride the sky in a chariot, but after his death Isis found that an evergreen (Cedar) had grown overnight from a dead stump to full-sized (this also relates to the Djed pillar); which was understood as a sign of Osiris' rebirth and immortality. Interestingly, the traditional birth of Osiris is the 25th of December. The 25th of December was also celebrated annually by putting presents around the Cedar tree. This tradition is at least five thousand years old. The birth of Horus to the goddess-virgin-mother, Isis, is perhaps the eldest representation of the goddess/son mythology, yet it is impossible to know this or the real age of the Astro-theological-Virgo-giving-birth-to-the-child/god/star mythology for sure. However it is the oldest source I have found; it is VERY old.

Drying the mushrooms was/is a necessary procedure typically accomplished by stringing them up (like popcorn) and hanging them above the hearth of the fireplace. shamans and lay people alike, would gather and dry them. They gather all they can since they are a valuable commodity. Reindeer (native to Siberia) are known to be quite fond of eating these mushrooms. The mythology of flying Reindeer reflects the supposed pharmacological effects of such a meal.

It is important to point out that this Christmas/Winter Solstice celebration, with all its various counterparts, transcends the world's religions. The reason that this celebration is held all over the planet in various forms may have something to do with this other commonality at which we are looking; it is certainly entwined in the symbolism.

Here are some other countries' names for Santa Claus.

Australia - - - - - - - Santa Claus

British Isles - - - - Father Christmas

China - - - - - - - - Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run)

Czechoslovakia - - - -Svaty Mikalas

Denmark - - - - - - -Julemanden

France - - - - - - - -Pere Noel or le petit Jsus

Germany - - - - - - - Saint Nicholas or Weihnachtsmann

Greece - - - - - - - -Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus

Iceland - - - - - - - Jolasveinar. (13 of them) Stekkjarstaur, Giljagaur, Stufur, Thvorusleikir, Pottaskefill, Askasleikir, Hurdarskellir, Skyrgamur, Bjugnakraekir, Gluggagaegir, Gattathefur, Ketkrokur and Kertasnikir.

Italy - - - - - - - - Babbo Natale

Japan - - - - - - - - Hoteiosho

Netherlands - - - - - Sinterklaas

Norway - - - - - - - -Julebukk

Russia - - - - - - - -Saint Nicholas

Scandinavia - - - - - Julenisse

Spain - - - - - - - - Balthazar

Sweden - - - - - - - -Tomte

Wales - - - - - - - - Tad nadolig

United States - - - - Santa Claus

This list is by no means complete; it was partially obtained from The World Book Encyclopedia.

Figure 8.   A sacred meal setting and service

This place setting and service was contributed by a very Laurence Stickney, he has been always an inspiration to me. It is certainly a real fine example of what a truly enlightened Christmas meal is all about. You don't have to read very far into this symbolism to realize what the table is saying about dinner. The idea of a "Sacred Meal" is incorporated into many ancient traditions that also celebrated the birth of the God on December 25th. The Sun, as it reaches the winter Solstice, ends its course across the heavens and appears to stop for 3 days, then it begins anew its trek across the heavens towards the Northern hemisphere. This 3 day "stoppage" was mythologized as the death of the Sun of God on the cross of the celestial 4 points, and after the 3 day waiting period as it began another precession across the sky, it was thought to return to life. Later mythologies transfer the death on the cross to a hanging on wood, and the 3 day death to the Son (Sun) being locked inside a tomb. The fact that the mushrooms must be dried before consumption is another euphemism of the god needing to die, or sacrifice himself, to save mankind through atonement (at-one-ment).

  This is only the beginning: only a few of the associations between this mushroom and Christmas traditions; there are more. Here are some synonymous names and/or terminologies given to this mushroom throughout history, many of which we will be exploring further. In fact, there are so many that expounding upon them could take a lifetime, therefore, obviously, this list is not all-inclusive. The Egyptian term; "the God of a thousand names" begins to make sense as this research begins to encompass so many other traditions, mythologies and religions.
 
 
1. SOMA (Hindu plant-god). Soma is also Greek for "body".
2. Amrita (Buddhist Magical Sacrament).
3. Ambrosia (Greek, "Food of the Gods").
4. The Holy Grail (note the Grail-like shape of the upturned muscaria mushroom; "Vessel containing the blood of the God").
5. Fruit of the Tree of life: Fruit of the Tree = the mushroom; the main body (mycellium) growing underground in a Symbiotic relationship with the Pine tree.
6. The Golden Fleece
7. The Fountain of Youth: Ponce De' Leon is likely to have unknowingly kicked over the very thing for which he was searching; the red muscaria grows under Longleaf Pine in northern Florida in December.
8. Haoma: Islamic Sacrament.
9. Manna: There are two kinds in the Bible; see John ch. 6 to 14. Manna means "mushroom".
10. Bread of Life: Yes, it's the "Loaf of Bliss".
11. Fountain of Living Waters: Its alive, 90% water, and shaped like a fountain.
12. Hidden Manna: See Rev. 2:17
13. The Cosmic Egg, The Easter Egg (What are we really mimicking at Easter? The mushroom hunt, OF COURSE).
14. The Prima Materia/Philosophers stone: The secret substance of the Alchemists (Get Clark Heinrich's book "Strange Fruit" for this one; fascinating!).
15. Soma: The Hindu plant God and elixir of immortality.
16. The Flesh of the God: The mushroom is very flesh-like and is depicted so.
17. The Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge/Life.
18. The Flesh of Jesus, and other Gods (Take and eat. This is my "body" [Greek, "SOMA"]).
19. The Hammer of Thor: The shape is obvious. Thor throws his mushroom-shaped hammer to the ground in a bolt of lightning and a mighty thunderous CRACK. Lightning is the mythical creator of the mushroom.
20. The Small White Stone: The infant state of the mushroom resembles a small white stone.
21. The Elixir of Immortality: The churning-of-the-milky-ocean myth describes this in a phenomenal way.
22. The Feathered Serpent: From its first egg-state to its snake-looking second state, then shedding its universal veil (shedding its skin) and finally upturning its cap (gills resembling feathers). The feathered serpent is cosmopolitan in its symbology.
23. The Phoenix: From the ashes (spores) the egg appears. Then comes the upturned cap resembling a gold and red colored bird (the gills as feathers). Then the heat (sun) burns the mushroom and it dissolves, once again leaving only ashes (spores), and finally repeating the whole cycle.
23. Ankh: Waters and life, or the waters of life in Egypt.
24. Rudra: The Hindu red god of the forest.
25. Djed: The phallus or pillar of Osiris.
26. The One Eyed Howler: The round eye shape which represents the vision of the universe.
27. The Eye of Horus: (Djed-Eye) Sound familiar?
28. The World Tree: The mushroom is thought to be the creator of the world, in many cultures.
29. Celestial Food: The food of the Gods in the Egyptian "Book of the dead".
30. Aten: The Egyptian winged-disc.
31. Fly Agaric: Although "Fly" is commonly thought of in association with the "House-fly", there is also evidence that it refers to the act of "flying", as in taking spiritual flight.

Many times these representations are used severally in one depiction.

"THE HOLY GRAIL" Mushroom symbology in popular myth.
 

Figure 9.   The Holy Grail

Amanita muscaria, long associated with the "Flesh of the God" in religious sacraments, was and is the true Holy Grail. The Grail cup, holding the blood of the god, is an obvious analogy for the shape of the fully-grown specimen and its juices. Note the look of the fully grown specimen. The imagery of a cup or fountain are two of the more pronounced symbols used to keep the understanding of the true nature of the sacrament a secret from everyone but the "Elite". In its infant (button) state, the muscaria resembles a small white stone. The pulling of the sword from the stone (a symbol of wielding the power), is another Arthurian legend connecting the mushroom to the myth. The quest for the Grail itself is the quest for the knowledge of the mushroom. The Parcival myth depicts paths (traditions), which are to be explored (but not adhered to), in order to complete the quest. This quest is described in the myths as a journey into the forest (the world) and finding paths (systems) which one may follow, for a time, but ultimately one must blaze his/her own trail in order to truly reach the final goal, the Holy Grail (the discovery and usage of the mushroom).

The search for the Holy Grail is a mythology that has become, through adaptation, a part of the story of the Crucifixion. Some of the stories incorporate a cup which was used to catch some of the flowing blood of Jesus as he died on the cross. This cup, like many other relics, was thereby thought to possess magical powers. Historically, the mushroom has been the container for the juice of the "elixir of immortality", or the "blood of God", in many myths. The final shape of the muscaria, with its inverted cap, is the reason that the cup/fountain/grail symbology is used in the stories. King Arthur, as a child, gained his rightful place as King by pulling the sword from the stone. This is symbolic for wielding the power of the mushroom. The stone is a metaphor for the mushroom, and pulling the sword from it is symbolic of being able to crack the code and possess the power of the magical plant. After Arthur took ill (in his later years) he was told that he must seek and find the Holy Grail to renew his strength and re-acquire his power.

"Christianity" The popular western religion.
 
Christianity is a religion with a dubious history, yet many of the doctrines and stories are worth study. It is a religion which was created for political reasons. Constantine, The Emperor of Rome, knew one of the most basic tenets of government was the control of its people. The governmental control of people becomes much easier and effective when that government is able to also assume a "divine" authority. Although Rome holds no exclusive right to this idea, they certainly have etched their mark on history, enforcing their particular political machine. Christianity is the product of a governmental council acquiring and examining as many of the world's religious doctrines they could find; in order to create a "One World Religion". They took ideas and doctrine from Egyptology, Mithraism, Hinduism, Buddhism, the Torah of the Jews, and many others, picking the parts they wanted to include, altering them as they wished, discarding the parts they did not want included, and finally compiling their own plagiarized (and altered) writings to create the new Catholic (one from all) Bible. Since this was a plagiarized AND altered conglomeration of many older works, many symbolic tenets have managed to retain their original meanings.
 
  The primary purpose of this investigation is to explain these hidden meanings in as simple a form as possible. Much linguistic evidence, thoroughly covered by John Allegro in SACRED MUSHROOM & CROSS, clearly demonstrates that mushrooms played a huge role in the written word. I will try to shed light on the basic philosophical nature behind the religion by examining and explaining the hidden symbolism in the doctrines themselves, opening up a deeper (though simplified) meaning to the texts. Keep in mind the particular points I will deal with, for now, will be those which have survived the cutting-room-floor, and simply because these things are to be found within should not imply that this compilation of altered works is, as a whole, something I consider a true religious document. Once you understand where to look, the ideas presented here will unlock the secret meanings of the book we know as the Bible. Then I will point out the same ideas and symbols, as they are found in the pre-Christian world, which gave birth to these myths, in an attempt to trace them to their eldest source.

Political and even Fascist elements, in the book, will be explored later. These elements are the result of corruption of the original source-documents, as well as the re-incorporation of older Patriarchal systems.

Figure 10.   The Christian MANNAS revealed

John Marco Allegro, one of the worlds leading philologists, put his neck on the line when he wrote his book, "The Sacred Mushroom And The Cross", which made numerous connections from sacred doctrinal enigmas and sacraments to the Amanita muscaria. He fearlessly attempted to expose the reality of the mushroom symbolism throughout the Bible, Apocryphal writings, and The Dead Sea Scrolls. He was fully aware of the criticism his book would draw, yet as a true scholar, knowing the importance of the information, he put self aside for the good of all. Most criticism surrounding Allegro is a remnant of the fundamentalist bashing he took for exposing the Jesus Myth. Jesus IS the mushroom Anthropomorphized just like Santa, Mithra, Chrishna, Rudra etc.

Allegro linguistically linked the SOMA (Greek=Body), the Manna (Sumerian = Mushroom), (of which there are two kinds), the names Jesus, James, and John, the Fruit of the tree of Knowledge, and the symbol of the cross, to the Amanita muscaria, by stating that all of these names and terms (and others) were synonyms and wordplay for the hidden identity of the mushroom. Needless to say, he had the religious scholars doing flips. The biblical apologists instantly jumped on the bandwagon of attempting to disprove anything he said. Although he did stretch the boundaries (at least twice) of some established scholarship, the proof is in the pudding (so to speak) and most of his associations are beyond repute. Besides it is apparent to me that anyone who is afraid to challenge established authority and scholarship would not produce or expose most of the things which I find of value. Love him or hate him, he pioneered the field wherein most scholars and lay-people alike are afraid to even think about stepping in.
 
  Even though it was the linguistic links that first brought this to light, it was the understanding of the symbolism that drove it home. Once you know where to look, and that was well revealed in the writings of Allegro, deciphering the mythologies unfolds into a whole new level of comprehension.
 
  The Manna the Israelites ate in the desert is presently defined as a question. It is not ordinary for a word describing bread to be thought of in this context. Manna is defined in this way: (Manna="What is it?") a Biblical description of this mystical substance will toss the reader some clues.
 
  1) Manna was a small round thing that appeared on the ground after the dew had fallen.
 
  2) If it was left to the warmth of day it would breed worms and stink.
 
  3) Manna was thought of as being produced miraculously (IE: birth without seed). This is a perfect botanical description of a mushroom. Birth without seed (miraculous) is due to spores being microscopic and not visible to the naked eye.
 
  The Mannas are described in detail by Jesus in the book of John. In this story Jesus attempts to make clear; of manna, there are two different ones/kinds. He describes the manna that he is giving the disciples (last supper) as the Manna that bestows immortality. His statement, unless you have eaten his flesh/body (Soma/Manna), and drink of his blood (Soma Juice), you have no life in you, takes on a whole new meaning in light of this discovery.
 
  The Manna is directly associated with the fruit of the Tree of Life in the 2nd chapter of the book of Revelation. It is the reward for those who overcome (the lies of the world). The "Fruit of the Tree", the "Hidden Manna" and the "Small White Stone" are spoken of separately, but in the same context. All of these are symbols for the Amanita muscaria.

Figure 11.   The Fruit of The Tree

This 13th Century Fresco from France shows the Amanita muscaria as the "fruit" (of the Tree) of the "knowledge of Good and Evil". Adam and Eve had their eyes opened. The Gods looked down and said "Behold, they have become as one of us".  Contemporary Scholars and researchers have since uncovered many such representations. The Mushroom as the Fruit of the tree is actually pretty common among esoteric circles.

The knowledge of good and evil seems a strange thing to condemn someone for, unless the Gods wanted to dictate what was right and wrong, rather than have them know the difference for themselves. Imposing their will (and law) upon mankind is not so easy when people can think for themselves, especially if it becomes obvious that what you are being told is right and/or wrong is in direct opposition to what actually seems to be good and bad (The BIG Knowledge).
 
  What we have here, may be the future as we were never to know it to be. The "Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge" is the same thing as the "Fruit of the Tree of Life". The fruit of the tree that is to come down out of heaven and line the streets in the city of the "New Jerusalem", the city of the new "Golden Age". The same, of which, when you partake imparts direct communion with, and the direct knowledge of, God.
 
  The Cuneiform clay tablets of Mesopotamia (at least 4,000 BC/CE) tell the oldest known tales of Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden, eating of the fruit stories. But they tell a different tale than what is in the Bible of today. Zechariah Sitchen has been very foremost in the dispersion of what these tablets say. The gods came to our planet in Space/Time/Dimension ships from the star Sirius. Finding Neanderthal Man a bit primitive, they manipulated the DNA to produce the Homo-Sapien. In the stories, The Father God, "Anu", remained on Sirius, while two Brothers, Ea and Enlil, were the stewards of the new colonization. Enlil, wishing to Control the population, and Ea, wanting to expand man's consciousness. The High Council, and Anu, leaned towards the Enlilian point of view. But Ea, was determined to multi-dimensionalize (open/wake-up) the minds of his creations. This will be dealt with more fully in the section on Mesopotamia. But, for now, suffice it to say that the earlier stories portray the eating of the fruit in a completely different light, in fact the whole concept is flipped one hundred and eighty degrees. What was originally a glorious and incredible story about the hope and potential of humanity has become a primary story of a horrible fall-from-grace and even condemnation of the entire race.

Figure 12.   The Last Supper (The sacramental ingestion of the body of God)

The concept of the literal ingestion of the body of God is highly downplayed by religious scholars of today.  The body (soma) being a fleshy Mushroom  is much more palatable than trying to stomach cannibalism or the  transformation of ordinary substances.

Many questions should be asked about this cosmopolitan idea of the "Sacramental Substance". Unfortunately, the religious experts shun the notion, insisting that the entire idea is nothing more than symbolic. A symbol points at something else, not usually at another symbology. The Catholic church, in the early 1100's, decided to have the final word on this subject by establishing (under Emperor/Pope Innocent III) the "Doctrine of Trans-Substantiation". This it whereby, the Priests, by their assumed holy power, claim to be able to say some magical words, and turn ordinary bread into the literal "Body of God". This event is one of the biggest evil deceptions of all time, is an undermining of the basic esoteric aspects of the religion, and is, arguably, the most horrible and damning event to ever happen to Christendom, and as such the entire human race. Jesus clearly describes the Manna that he calls his body in the book of John. Repeatedly describing the "Thing/Manna" as a substance hidden from the world, but revealed to his disciples. Understanding the last supper story becomes as simplistic as it gets, if you know how to decipher the event. Adamantly; Jesus says, "Take and eat, This is my Body". This is the TRANSFORMATIONAL and MAGNIFICENT event. By intentional misrepresentation (by self appointed or politically correct AUTHORITIES) it has been stripped down to rhetorical run around and ridiculous dogmatic interpretation by enthusiastic religious stumbling-block-throwers.
 
  The Bible, as we have it today, should not be regarded as a historical document. This is not to say that it is not very interesting, but it must be read keeping in mind that it is a re-translation, of a re-translation, of a re-translation, of an initially altered plagiarism. The book itself (viewed in light of the possibility of what could have been) is a complex document that must have required some pretty intelligent minds to conceive. It is this complexity which so overwhelms those of limited intellect that it convinces many that it could only have been written by the hand (or direct inspiration) of God. Yet the Bible pales drastically in comparison to the thousands of Hindu or Buddhist writings in complexity and substance. Most who read it never know this because they are instructed to steer clear of any other religious writings, lest they become deceived. Those who become "completely blown away" by the conceptualization of what it must have taken to write such a document have never seen or attempted to really look at anything else similarly complex. Therefore, they have no point of reference, other than their own intellect, and the one book they believe to be the only true word of God. There is enough written there to speculate in awe, what those who wrote it were all about. Meaning; had we been there, at that time (6000 years ago), to read the original text (Cuneiform), and were reading it in our own native language, AND had been partakers of the heavenly gift (the mushroom), it must have been an incredible thing indeed. It is important to note, just briefly, that the concepts and doctrines which specifically referred to reincarnation in Biblical texts were extricated from the cannon by ecumenical council. This is another corruption which has obscured the understanding of life in general for all those believers who will never know this happened.

"Manna" means "Mushroom". However, if you reject the philological (linguistic) evidence proposed by Allegro and others, perhaps a simple read of the relevant scriptures will sway you towards the possibility, and perhaps you may also begin to understand how the mushroom, anthropomorphically, can become the body of the God.
 
  Exodus 16-14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. Exodus 16-19 And Moses said, let no man leave of it till morning. Exodus 16-20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it till the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.
 
  Mushrooms grow from moisture, such it is that they grow after the dew falls. They appear miraculously because they grow from spores (which are microscopic) and have no seed. In fact, they seem to disappear as mysteriously as they appeared, leaving no visible trace. Mushrooms, as any mycologist can tell you, left in the sun, or otherwise left to their natural process, begin to rot, breed worms, and also begin to stink. Manna means mushroom philologically, linguistically, and, as you can see, mushrooms physically fit the description given of the substance in these texts.

Figure 13.   Manna in the Ark of the Covenant

Moses built this elaborate device to carry the Manna through the wilderness. To look inside the ark was punishable by death. The box itself is of little import, or spiritual value. What IS important, is what was INSIDE the ark. The Long and tedious search for this artifact, shows either a complete missing-of-the-point, or a deliberate mis-direction of attention.

According to the Bible there are TWO Mannas, the one the Israelites ate in the desert, and the "Hidden Manna" alluded to within the book of Revelation.
 
  To know about the mushroom is to have the key to unlock the doors of scriptural interpretation. An "opening of the seals of the book" could be another way of looking at it. Without the understanding of the hidden meanings behind the symbolism the texts lose their full significance. For instance, reading in the Book of St. John, connect the dots and see what it seems to say (with this in mind). Biblical scholars know that reading the reference (center) column, between the columns of scripture reveals hidden connections between symbols, and clarifies their meaning. I will follow these references to help guide the context of this exploration.
 
 
St John 14-6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father but by me.
ref:John 10-9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
ref:John 14-4 And wither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
John 14-16 And I will pray the father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you; and shall be in you.
ref:1John 2-27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in it.
 
  There are many layers of interpretation of scripture, and those that have special understanding get into the deeper meanings. This particular text may first be understood by thinking about what has been said at the surface level, and then looking for connections to the mushroom proposal. There is no way to go to the Father but by him, the door, through which you can go in and out. He will not stay on earth, but leaves behind a comforter, that will dwell among us, and be in us. If something is dwelling with you, and can be in you, you must be eating it. It is the door, the comforter, and will be in you. Going in and out means after ingesting you multi-dimensionally go into the spiritual realm. It will teach you all things. This is a description of the substance that you eat, which opens the doorway to the place where you are taught all things.
 
  Understanding this interpretation of deep level symbolism opens up whole new vistas and possibilities for the individual. Perhaps the direct communion with God, sometimes referred to as Gnosis, is not an impossibility if one can get past the alien and unfamiliar concept of the mechanics of it. It must be considered that there may be a deeper level to communion than that communication or dialogue which people can perceive of (or imagine) within their own minds. This is telling us that there IS something here that IS available to us right now. Understood at the surface level this just points at something in the future that (hopefully) is to be revealed. If the conditioning can be broken, and the realization of this hidden thing achieved, then glory to we upon the earth because the time is at hand. Otherwise, it is simply obscured in apologetic runaround by supposed authorities who frantically try to explain why it is not this literal and obvious "THING". This also describe an ANOINTING (Greek; Chrisma) (close to Christmas again). We go right back again to the special holy substance endowing one with the gift of the holy spirit, the door, the comforter, which will dwell with you, and will be in you. The comforter (it says) the world does not see, or know, but those specially gifted (whom Jesus is speaking to) know, and see, and will have it inside of them. The Manna, the door, the comforter which will teach those who know. Even to the point they have no need to be taught by anyone. And this, of course, would mean that there is no need for the intercessory function of a priest.
 
  Here again we see that those who know have no need for a church, pastor, prophet, or authority figure here on earth as they have direct communion. Consider the Manna (bread) that comes down from heaven, and see if it becomes a little more clear. Especially in regards to this being a synonymous (one and the same) substance that is inside of you. This part expressly stating that you should take and eat.
 
 
John 6-27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the son of man shall give unto you; for him hath God the father sealed.
John 6-31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
John 6-32 Then Jesus said unto them, verily verily I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
John 6-34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
John 6-35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life.
John 6-41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven.
John 6-43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
John 6-48 I am that bread of life.
John 6-56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
John 7-38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
 
  I will deal with the rivers of living water that will flow out of the bellies of those that eat the Manna later (Hinduism, Buddhism), prepare yourselves for more need to break the taboos and conditioning that bind you. The meat, the manna, the door, the comforter, the bread, the living waters, the blood, are all synonymous for that which will dwell with you, and you will put "in" you, which will teach you all things through direct communion. For those who ascribe to the "OFFICIAL" accepted explanation: namely that Jesus alone is the substance, and that everything else is merely symbolic for him, in the next part we will explore the book of Revelation, where (as in John) it says that the world does not see, because it does not know, as opposed to those who know, and see, and will have it in them. Something that the world does not know, because it does not see, is certainly "Hidden" as in the "Hidden Manna".
 
 
Rev 2-7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Rev 2-17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
 
  Manna, as it has already been expressed, in ancient tongue (which this was translated from) means mushroom. It has also been explained that the mushroom is the fruit of the tree of life. In the next chapter it will be shown that the mushroom is also referred to as a small white stone. The mushroom, the manna, the white stone, the comforter, the door which you will have in you which you can enter in and out of, which will show you all things.
 
 
James 2-14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he have faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
James 2-15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
James 2-16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; What doth it profit?
 
  The things which are needful to the body, if we follow the thread of this discourse, are that which will be in you. The door, comforter, manna, blood, bread, stone, works (being tangible). It can be argued that all is well and that the body needs nothing. Yet there seems to be direct discrepancy to this supposition.
 
 
John 6-53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
John 6-5 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6-55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
John 6-56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
 
  This is saying pretty clearly that the eating and drinking is physical. My body is flesh indeed, and my blood is drink indeed, and the added statement that when you eat, it is inside of you leaves little room for debate that this is a substance, not a phantom symbol alone. For those who choose to debate this I ask that they show me their substance because according to Jesus' words unless you eat and drink of "IT" you have no life in you. By the way, do I really need to mention that this is not some strange reference to Cannibalism? I sure hope not, if you still think this, read on. Somewhere, some of this MUST convince you that he is not saying to take a bite out of his arm, or any other piece of his actual anatomy.

Figure 14.   The Fountain of Living Waters

The God of the Bible says "I am the Fountain of Living Waters". If we are to understand this statement on a level of literal translation, then this means alive, made of water, and in the similitude of a fountain. This describes a mushroom. The Waters of life is an ancient term linked to the living waters, and the Waters of Immortality. The waters one drinks to receive the gift of immortality and transcendence. Soma, and Amrta (Hindu/Buddhist), are also considered the waters of life. The attributes of which bestowed enlightenment. The churning-of-the-milky- ocean is to (metaphorically) produce this substance. The waters of life are also synonymous with the blood of the god in the sacramental analysis.

Jesus was the revealer of the "Fountain of living waters", as in Rev. 21-6 he will give those who are athirst the living waters. Living waters, blood, manna, flesh, and all this "stuff" is the one and same thing represented in different ways. All represent eating and drinking of a phenomenal substance that produces multi-dimensionality (door), great spiritual learning, and communion, with God being inside of you. While the popular bread (or cracker) and water (or wine) do go inside the body, they certainly lack the substantive qualities which the action of ingesting is supposed to induce. In my opinion, the magical act of "Trans-Substantiation" has no merit. The statement that Jesus makes "Unless you eat and drink you have no life in you" would seem to condemn the replacement of whatever the real thing is with a placebo (substitute).
 
 
Jeremiah 3-11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Jeremiah 3-12 Be ye astonished, Oh ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord.
Jeremiah 3-13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
 
  Being astonished at this is only the beginning, being horribly afraid and desolate is what is instructed. Being desolate certainly describes the author's understanding of being cut off from the presence of the Lord (true communion). But how can his people be cut off from the Lord? The answer is apparent in this section. It is because the true fountain of living waters has been forsaken, replaced by cisterns that do not profit (substitute/placebo), and are broken. If a light bulb does not work, it is broken. If an eaten substance that is supposed to produce the described results does not produce these results, then it is broken and (mystical illusions, or delusions, aside) actually worthless.

Figure 15.   Jesus with a mushroom cap. Aura?

A common depiction of enlightenment is this mushroom behind the head of one who is a knower, often thought to be some type of glowing aura. This may be symbolic for the spiritual glow one has after the change experienced by the heavenly gift of the Holy Ghost. Many artworks show the difference between those who have "Tasted of the heavenly Gift" and those who have not. This is depicted by whether one has this glow, or does not. Often resembling the underside of a mushroom cap (gills extending outward) sometimes it is symbolized with red with white spots.

I bring this line of thinking up because it has been lingering in the back of my mind for many years. Perhaps there is a loss in translation that would make this less dire. But if we are to understand this literally, it is saying that something happens to you when you eat this. Perhaps a spiritual change that somehow saves one from the second death. This has always made me wonder just how important it really is for people to eat this. You can see how, once the suspension of dis-belief has been achieved, there is a very deep desire to share this information with others. Much in the same manner that a fundamentalist Christian feels a need to save the rest of the world from hell by delivering the message of their God to those in danger of death by disbelief. The difference being, the substance that established religion is feeding their flock does not profit. Simple bread, even after magical supposed transformation, simply does not produce the effects that are really being prescribed by these texts. This just makes it seem all that much more important. And it also brings into question the idea that those who convince themselves that they truly feel something after eating the priest-blessed bread and water, or whatever, may be creating an illusion that is eventually (although they think it wonderful) something that is damaging to them beyond comprehension.
 
  The search for a similar sense of imperative in the other religions has not produced this same urgent warning. In fact the time in my life that I have spent discussing the mushroom theory with many, many people, has turned up many other interesting possibilities.
 
  Of course I try not to just run up to people and say "Hello there, eat this mushroom because I may never see you again, and it is very important". Although sometimes I feel like it. There seems to be (as in any other field) different levels of understanding throughout the world regarding the mushroom and its involvement in all of this.
 
  Most people have never heard anything like this. In fact their whole paradigm of thought might not even allow them to consider anything like this. Then there are people who, although they have never heard anything like this, find it to be interesting yet go about their way likely to never have it enter their minds again. Some find it interesting, contemplate it once in a while, sometimes having events that remind them of the idea, like a mushroom on a postcard, but generally pass it off as not important (to them). Others find it somehow familiar, and do some research on their own. Sometimes I run into them down the road of life, and they say something like "Hey, remember when you told me about that mushroom? Well what about this, or that?" And other connections I have never run across can be made. Then there are people that have heard about this already. I like running into these kind of people, because it is always intriguing for me to find out what they know. Most of those who have heard about it, have never eaten, or even seen these mushrooms in person. [Lots of Mycologists have seen them, and some due to their interests in mushrooms, in general, have heard something about it]. Then there are those who have heard about it, and have even studied it enough to have actually eaten it at some point. Most of these did not know about the levels of effects, by dosage, and have experienced only stage 1 effects. Many of these become perplexed that they did not receive the effects they had expected and so give up on it, thinking that the identification of the substance must have been flawed, and look for something else. I've talked to many people that felt that the ecstatic effects (described in the religious texts) must have just been a myth. Some have experienced stage 2, and still fewer have been to stage 3. (see recipe page)
 
  This suggests a spiritual evolutionary process at work. It becomes more apparent when looking into the Hindu and Buddhist texts pertaining to spiritual evolution. Through the process of reincarnation advancement is made according to knowledge one gains AND the discovery and application of key tools for enlightenment found on different levels of the path. One other comment I should make before proceeding is; Many things have been written in the myths about the experience at death, where the spiritual journey takes one to the point of going onward to the next level or incarnation. This threshold (of potential achievement) is preceded by the eating of the tree of life, or the drinking of the living waters. Such as in this part of Revelations.
 
 
Rev. 7-9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev. 2-17 For the lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
 
  It is interesting that even though these people have died (physically), and are before the throne of God, there is still this mention of the fountains of living waters, which the lamb will lead them to. This is done for the multitudes of all the earth. Who can know the real reason that even spiritually there is a need for this substance? At any level of understanding, it is apparent that the Lamb knows, and so guides the multitudes to the fountain which contains their reward.

Figure 16.   Jesus in a TUB of Transfiguration

This 15th Century Fresco shows Jesus with cross in a TUB that looks remarkably similar to the TUB in the central chamber in the Great Pyramid at Gizeh (This will be explored later). This shows both baptisms. 1) The baptism by water (TUB) and 2) The second by fire (Cross). The cross being a symbol for the mushroom. There are after all TWO Baptisms. The First is baptism by water. The second is baptism by FIRE. This is the transformational baptism. The death (journey to the heavens) and the rebirth experience of the God. The mushroom has a long association (largely due to its color) with fire. High on the mountain-top (where the mushrooms grow) Moses conversed with the God in the "Burning Bush".

Christianity was the first religion that I studied in depth after finding out about the mushroom. This was due to my heritage and upbringing. After four years (of knowing) I finally had my first experience. As you can see, from what I understood, I fully expected to see the throne of God and Jesus, the hierarchy of angels, and the whole works. But when I opened the door, ate the flesh/bread, and drank of the waters of life, I found much much more. There was no Jesus (so to speak) there to greet me. People have the supposition that "as they believe, so shall it be". The more proper way (to me) to look at it is this: "So as you believe, you can count on being wrong". Because not only is life NOT as easy as believing in ANY God, or anything, it is a continual learning process that seems to have no end, and therefore, becoming stagnant, as pertaining to spiritual learning, is a dangerous trap for those who think they have found the one true thing they need to know in life. The world is consumed by the huge beast/spirit of deception (remember that one? The one that everyone inside their minds believes could not possibly have gotten them). Simply believing anything is not the key to salvation. At best it would surely be thought of as "The easy way out". Neither is finding the mushroom and going in through the door, and being taught, one, two, or a hundred times going to ever end your quest for knowledge and understanding. Think about it this way, even a God must be able to evolve or life would become boring. The first thing you learn is there is no easy way out, that is if you are interested in anything beyond simply being saved (not dying the spiritual death). There are many levels of evolution, spiritual as well as physical. When you open the door, and look inside, you can see these evolutionary levels, and that they are accessible, but they require certain understandings. You see them, and visit them, and know that they are there, but due to the conditioning that has been done to you in life, you realize that you must dump allot of baggage to evolve into those levels. It is a very humbling experience indeed. Much of that baggage that must be left behind originates in the belief systems that are taught to us lowly humans by the religions on this planet. The Political/Religious organizations that alter the truth to fit their societal model, have polluted it, and thereby destroyed it. This goes beyond these systems of belief simply being a hindrance to spiritual evolution. These have become the great beasts that drag souls to destruction, by replacing truth with false morals and dogma. The Beast is camouflaged as the truth, in an a extremely diabolical and complex web. A trap, of which ESCAPE may be that very thing which human existence is really all about. Finding the way out. Each new truth dashing a dogma to the rocks. Each new revelation opening up (making accessible) another sphere/level of spiritual evolution.

The speaker panel at the Egypt in the New Millennium Conference: FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Alan Alford, Karena Bryan, Abd' El Hakim Awyan, Jordan Maxwell, Stephen Mehler, Christopher Dunn, and "Yours truly" (not pictured is Lloyd Pye)


Click here to find out more about the VIDEO of a 2 hour slide presentation given in Egypt.