By Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris

Although the intake of mushrooms was required to complete her Shamanistic studies, she had to admit she felt very uncomfortable about it.

The key element to ingesting them safely, she could hear her spiritual advisor or guru stating to the small group; was to remember to drink lots of liquid before, during and after the ceremony

She expected the mushrooms to be dirty, unspoiled by human hands. Yet, they were washed clean, not a scar visible from the picking of or slicing of the coveted fungi.

It was her turn. She opens her hands from their lotus-like position in order to receive the solid piece of meaty, highly-hallucinogenic material. Her guru looks deeply into her amber eyes, then flicks the slice expertly onto her outstretched palms and motions to her to eat. She eats.