Growing Shrooms Through the Ages: Prehistory - 1989

A History of Clandestine Psychedelic Mushroom Cultivation from ancient Aztecs to Terence McKenna and Paul Stamets' first cultivation books

Psychedelic mushrooms have long held a mystical and controversial place in human history. From ancient shamans communicating with spirits to counterculture hippies seeking enlightenment, these fungi have been both revered and outlawed. But behind the veil of prohibition, a secretive industry has thrived, one dedicated to growing, spreading, and sometimes even smuggling these magical fungi.

The underground world of psychedelic mushroom cultivation is a wild ride filled with eccentric pioneers, covert operations, law enforcement stings, and some truly bizarre innovations. Buckle up as we take a trip (pun intended) through the fascinating history of clandestine mushroom growing from ancient times to modern legalized grows.

This is Part 1 of a two article series. Part 1 covers ancient use of psilocybin mushrooms up to the 1980s. Part 2, 1990 through present day, will be released later this week.

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Ancient Mycelium: pre-colonial era through the 1930s and 1940s

Long before modern science took notice, psilocybin mushrooms were deeply woven into the ceremonial life of Mesoamerican societies. Indigenous cultures such as the Aztec, Mazatec, Mixtec, and Zapotec revered these “magic” mushrooms as sacred. The Aztecs, for example, knew them as teonanácatl, a Nahuatl term meaning “divine mushroom” or “flesh of the gods”, and consumed them in religious rites to induce visions and commune with the divine. High priests and nobles would fast, then eat the mushrooms (often with honey or chocolate) during night-long ceremonies to seek prophecy, healing, and spiritual ecstasy.