Ash Ritter - Merry Mushroom: Ethnomycology of Amanita muscaria

Amanita muscaria holds a dual status as a highly iconic mushroom and a substance feared for potential lethality. This presentation examines the relationship between humanity and Amanita muscaria across various historical and geographic contexts. Beyond the modern focus on chemical components, it highlights how petroglyphs, folklore, and cultural iconography reveal ancestral connections to these mushrooms. The discussion touches on the role of Amanita muscaria in historical entheogenic traditions, contrasting these with contemporary, often over-simplified, interpretations. By looking at petroglyphs and mythological representations globally, it invites a deeper understanding of the mushroom not just as a plant, but as a significant cultural and spiritual driver in human history.