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Originally Posted by eeyore  I would suspect that he meant the possible drug / hallucinnegenic etc possibilities (but this is just my own opinion) - i'm not aware of any religious issues attaching to Fly Agaric except for its use by druids to get high |
But some mushrooms that grow naturally have these effects. It is apart of nature, I do not think its wise to suppress these facts, but it is wise to make clear the dangers. This mushrooms (because of its hallucinogenic properties) has influenced society, literature and religion more than most of us realise.
Also, the Druidic shamans did not take the mushroom to get "high" as such, although in a sense that’s what it did. They believed by consuming the mushroom, they used a part of the brain that they would not morally have be able to use, causing them to be able to communicate with the "otherworld" and gain knowledge and blessings from the spirits that dwelled there, normally their ancestors. The shamans of them times were seen as wise men and women, who were the pillars of their community and important to their survival. Whether the visions were really spiritual or just the product of their brains is irrelevant, it shaped the Celtic society and what it was, which is why I find this subject so fascinating.
FA