The first time I tried magic mushrooms was when I was 23, in the early 2000s. It was a time when they were legally available to buy, and my housemates had bought some on Brick Lane in London. I took a couple of tiny mushrooms washed down with beer, but instead of feeling happily high, I felt woozy and my girlfriend's face turned lurid green. I can still remember her looking like a cartoon character. So, I went to lie down, and I didn't try mushrooms again, putting them down as a 'been there, done that' life experience.
A Second Chance with Mushroom Oil
That is until 2019, when I was a 41-year-old mother-of-three. It was a sunny bank holiday, and I was offered a drop of mushroom oil at a gorgeous pool party BBQ hosted by a neighbour in Somerset. The 'oil' was a mushroom tincture a friend had bought from a shaman in Glastonbury, which was brown liquid in a tiny brown glass bottle. The sun was blazing, spirits were high, the organic pool was cool, and my midlife school-run parent friends, who had taken drops in front of me, looked like pleasure personified. I wanted what they were having, so I said, 'Why not?'
My friend told me to put out the back of my hand, and on it he put a tiny brown dot of 'mushroom oil' with a pipette from a glass bottle. He told me to lick it off, and it tasted so bitter and earthy that I immediately washed it down with wine. This time, nobody's face turned green. On the contrary, as the afternoon wore on, everyone took on a hazy glow. I kept laughing a little more than usual and felt lightly buzzy. This was a nice experience, one that I found myself repeating again and again during the summer of 2019.
Finding the Right Balance
It was a brilliant summer, tinged with a mushroom glow. Most times the experience was slight, gorgeous and warm-feeling. There was only one time that I took too many drops, at a mini festival, and my husband ended up having to look after me like I was a fourth child. Yes, my kids were present at the festival too. I clung to my husband like a koala as the funfair around me became menacing, and I sat mute on the way home. I now know my limits, but people often say that doing mushrooms is all about 'set and setting.' Set is who you are with, and setting is your location. One needs to get these right to really enjoy them.
My preference was to do a drop of mushrooms at home or at close friends' houses. I have taken a drop of mushroom oil many times when my kids have been around, or even a drop before sitting down and watching TV. To those who haven't done mushrooms, this might sound wild, since they are a class A illegal drug, but I can attest that I am a switched-on, hands-on mother to my three kids ages 15, 12 and eight. My kids are all happy and thriving, and yes they know about mummy's past habit.
The Trend Among Midlife Parents
I am not the only one. There is a trend for midlife parents to dabble with mushrooms in London, Bristol, and even over in the US, where there is a community called Moms on Mushrooms. While gin has been nicknamed 'Mother's Ruin,' it turns out mushrooms are far less potent than alcohol if taken in moderation. In fact, I preferred doing mushrooms to drinking wine during the week, as a drop of mushroom oil gives a nice little buzz but is far healthier and better on the liver. So, in summer I often kept a bottle close at hand so I could microdose instead of consuming alcohol. Personally, I am amazed alcohol is still legal, but that is an issue for another time.
Benefits of Microdosing
Microdosing means taking a small amount, and if you take a drop every few days, it can bring a sense of calm and happiness. I certainly noticed myself worrying less and being more attuned to the beauty of nature and the world. I found myself walking along smiling as I looked at tree canopies rustling in the wind or a bee buzzing around a flower. I felt tuned into my kids' moods and often just found myself looking at the beautiful creatures I birthed. This might sound hippy, and maybe it is the Somerset ley-lines, but a drop of mushrooms helped me slow down and enjoy life instead of rushing ahead and being non-stop busy. To this mother-of-three, that is worth its weight in gold.
How to Tell If Someone Has Microdosed
Microdosing mushrooms has quietly become the new mummy drug. Many claim they put it in their morning juice or smoothie before starting the day. Mothers as a community are becoming more and more informed about mental health and what they can do with natural products that help them bring a state of calm and anxiety reduction in their lives. Telling if someone has microdosed can be tricky because the effects are usually subtle, but if you pay close attention, there can be some telltale signs. There are no single signs, but grouping together changes shows you a pattern over time that should allow you to put the pieces together. You are looking for inconsistency in behavioural traits without reason. For example, someone who is naturally calm then overreacting to small things, or people overcommunicating when they are usually shy and quiet. You might also notice they are more patient in stressful situations than before and far less reactive to things they would have reacted to previously. They can also appear more upbeat on the school run or at school functions. However, these changes are not unique to microdosing and could just as easily be linked to improved mental health, therapy, lifestyle changes, reduced stress, better sleep, medication, hormonal changes, or simply a better time in their life. Because of this, it is important not to jump to conclusions based purely on behaviour alone. Offering good, friendly counsel regardless of what is happening in their life is a foundation to build from.
