Psilocybin

It is said that magic mushrooms (mushrooms containing the entheogenic chemical Psilocybin) have been used since time immemorial. The earliest evidence of their use is a mural that was found in Northern Australia which depicts mushrooms and psychedelic illustrations. Archeologists have dated it back to 10,000 BCE. 

Some scientists suggest that because humans have been consuming psilocybin our brains developed more rapidly and we became evolutionarily distinct. This is in part because other species, like dolphins and jaguars, seek out and consume psychedelic substances.

Ethnobotanists, researchers, and advocates of plant medicine argue that magic mushrooms may have expedited human evolution by creating a state of hyperconnectivity between brain networks, doubling the size of human brains, facilitating technological innovations, and igniting ideas like religion and language.  The ancient civilizations that most famously used psilocybin were in Central America. In the Nahuatl language, which was used by Mayan and Aztec people, entheogenic mushrooms were called Teonanácatl, which translates to “flesh of the gods.” Because of this, psilocybin was used in religious and spiritual ceremonies for mental and emotional healing, physical well-being, spiritual exploration and celebrations.

At Reunion we respect the ancient traditions around this healing and enlightening plant medicine, and welcome you to join a journey.

What is Psilocybin? 

Psilocybin is an entheogenic chemical found in certain mushrooms that grow in Europe, South America, Mexico, and the U.S. Psilocybin is converted to psilocin in the body and is believed to influence serotonin levels most often in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, leading to altered states of consciousness. The prefrontal cortex affects mood, cognition, and perception. Entheogens also work in other regions of the brain that regulate arousal and panic responses.