Mushrooms… some like to fry them, others like to get fried up by them. They aren’t vegetables, nor are they plants. They aren’t animals either — though they look like it when you speed up the time-lapse of their growth.
Mushrooms are part of a fungus. Fungi are their own kingdom of life, totally apart from plants and animals. From a culinary perspective, mushrooms are one of my favorite dishes to experiment with. Sadly, I am not here to share recipes with y’all.
On the contrary, I would like to talk about the other side of mushrooms that people like to experiment with, a.k.a the hallucinogenic one. We, humans, have a long fascination with the ‘magic fungi.’ Maybe that’s why so many people like to get a mushroom tattoo — because they make you trip balls, not because they are so damn delicious.
Still, this isn’t the time to jump to conclusions. To understand what exactly mushrooms are and why are they such a popular tattoo choice, we first must learn about their magic abilities. Once done, you’ll be awaited by some of the best tattoo designs ever made. So, let’s start the trip, shall we?
Magic Mushrooms 101
Mushrooms are truly amazing, some are even magical. Before you take a trip down to Wonderland or to the tattoo studio for a custom tattoo design, here are some facts about magic mushrooms that you may find interesting:
- Street names — Psilocybes popularly known as magic mushrooms are known by many names, like mushies, shrooms, liberty cap, boomers, etc.
- Lots of variety of species — Around 200 species of mushrooms can be classified as a magical dye to the mutual ingredient psilocybin, which is responsible for its mind-altering effects.
- A wide spectrum of habitat — Mushies grow naturally in various habitats, ranging from grasses and gardens to rotting woods and animal feces.
- An old companion of humans — Archeological evidence from the Sahara desert suggests that humans have been tripping on hallucinogenic mushrooms for more than 9,000 years. Extensive use of magic mushrooms has also been reported in the Mayan and Aztec cultures of Mesoamerica.
- Ritualistic use — Shrooms were widely used in Central America during religious ceremonies. The Aztec called magic mushrooms “flesh of gods” or teonanacatl.
- The Christmas connection — According to a theory, mushies might be behind Christmas cheers. The theory says that Siberian shamans used to gift hallucinogenic mushrooms every winter to the region’s tribesmen.
- Have magic mushrooms & be open-minded — Researchers suggest that one trip on mushrooms may have lasting positive and psychological effects on the user’s personality. It can make an individual more open-minded.
- Potential medical use — Research suggests that mushies might be helpful in overcoming nicotine addiction and also treat many diseases like anxiety, OCD, headaches, and post-traumatic stress disorders.
- Shroom tea — Mushrooms can be eaten fresh, dry, and brewed as tea. Sip the tea, spill the tea & enjoy the trip!
- No physical addiction — Though magic mushrooms are psychologically addictive, researchers suggest that they aren’t physically addictive.
- Start dreaming — A typical trip on magic mushroom leads you to a sort of transitory state. This is a state between sleep and wakefulness, commonly described as the dream state. Some studies suggest that a mushroom trip is neurologically similar to dreaming.
- Bleeding brain — There are many myths that mushies cause stomach bleeding, brain bleeding, and kidney failure. However, there is no evidence that shrooms are responsible for any of these.
- It’s illegal — Psilocybin mushrooms have been classified as a schedule 1 drug in the United States, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and it’s not accepted in medicine.
- Are they really poisonous? — Well, it depends how you define ‘poisonous.’ If you categorize a substance that alters your state of consciousness, induces an intoxicated state, and brings some psychological changes as poisonous, then not only mushies, but every drug is poisonous. Better yet, studies suggest that magic mushrooms cause no major health effects.
How Does the Trip Work Exactly?
Psychedelic or ‘magic’ mushrooms have been ingested by humans for over 9,000 years. Even today, this naturally grown fungus is commonly used as a recreational drug causing hallucinations. But how does the hallucination work exactly?
Well, the main psychoactive ingredient in shrooms is called psilocybin. When ingested, the body breaks it down into the active drug psilocin, which makes its way to the brain. And here, it begins to prevent the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin, increasing its activity. On top of this, psilocin actually has a similar chemical structure to serotonin, meaning it can also bind to and stimulate receptors in the brain. This amplified stimulation causes us to perceive and experience things without any real stimulus — also known as hallucination.
Mushroom hallucinations can be of varying nature, from visual to auditory sensations, to mystical and insightful feelings. The experience can be quite enjoyable, however, some people can be prone to unpleasant episodes. The hallucinations can last between 3 — 8 hours but could feel much longer as the drug alters your sense of time. The thing that separates a good trip from a bad trip is your state of mind — so make sure you are in a good one.
Mushroom Tattoo Designs
The main thing I like about magic mushrooms is that they trigger creativity like no other. As a tattoo, mushies can be made using any tattoo style, from American traditional to geometric tattoo style. Below are some of the best designs which I find fascinating. The tattoos are divided depending on where they stand on the body. Some of them may hurt more than others, but you can always use the body pain chart if you can’t handle the pain, yet still want to get inked.
Mushroom Calf Tattoo
Mushroom Foot Tattoo
Mushroom Butt Tattoo
Mushroom Head Tattoo
Mushroom Rib Tattoo
Mushroom Outer Forearm Tattoo
Mushroom Inner Forearm Tattoo
Mushroom Sternum Tattoo
Mushroom Stomach Tattoo
Mushroom Wrist Tattoo
Mushroom Back Arm Tattoo
Mushroom Arm Tattoo
Mushroom Ankle Tattoo
Mushroom Knee Tattoo
Mushroom Inner Bicep Tattoo
Mushroom Hand Tattoo
Mushroom Leg Tattoo
Mushroom Side Thigh Tattoo
Mushroom Thigh Tattoo
Final Thoughts: Are You Ready for a Mushroom Tattoo?
All in all, I think that mushroom tattoos look fantastic on the skin. They are easily customizable pieces of art, yet look so delicate on the skin.
I myself am also planning on doing a mushroom tattoo and writing this post has made me want one even more. I’m not sure what it will look like, but seeing these brilliant tattoo artists has given me some ideas.
What about you? I would love to hear your magic mushroom experience, tattoo design, or general opinion on this topic! Meanwhile, here’s another interesting article of mine. Apart from mushrooms and tattoos, I am also a fan of anime — so here’s the story and meaning of Gaara tattoo.
