Initial Experiences with Mushroom Essences
Mushroom essences are similar to flower essences, yet have their own way of healing. Flower essences help us to blossom and shine bright (yang/solar energy), while mushroom essences take us deep down into ourselves and help us unravel the shadow side (yin/lunar energy).
My journey with essences began with the power of mushrooms…
I was tired of feeling sick, tired of feeling anxious, and frustrated with medicines and healing modalities not working for me. In 2022, I attended a mushroom convergence; all things related to fungi including art, talent shows, tea drinking and of course, medicinal and psychedelic mushrooms. Several speakers presented on the famous red and white mushroom, which sparked my curiosity and gave me more confidence in the idea of one day using this mushroom as medicine for myself.
Fast forward several months, after much research and preparation, I decided to order some mushrooms. I created a brew and divided it up into micro doses and gave it a try.
I won’t go into great detail about these experiences, however, this medicine reminded me in a powerful way, how potent Mother Nature is!
When I felt like nothing was working, this medicine showed me how quickly my emotions, perspective, and wellbeing can shift. I found this medicine to be extremely potent so I reduced my consumption, and still felt it was too much for my system! Diluting it further, I ended up working with a homeopathic or essence-like dosage… maybe 1/100th or even less of the original micro dose. The amount I was consuming was practically only energetic and yet it overwhelmed my system so I stopped consuming it.
Although I found this particular mushroom to be too intense for me at the time, I had been reconnected to my belief in the power of natural healing and inspired to work with energetic medicine.
Luminescent Panellus Essence
I had purchased the Robert Rogers “Mushroom Essences” book and after reading through the mushroom profiles several times I ordered several to experiment with. I began the first moon cycle by working with luminescent panellus. Fungi are considered to be a more yin energy and therefore he recommends creating and consuming mushroom essences according to the lunar calendar.
Following this inspiring protocol, I took one drop of luminescent panellus (a bioluminescent or glowing mushroom!) before bed for a month.
The first night I experienced nightmares and a stressed out sleep. By the third or fourth night I was dreaming normally and I began to notice some shifts in how I communicated. The most noticeable change was in my confidence to speak more freely about my spirituality. I had felt afraid of truly talking about how I see and interact with the world for fear of being considered woo, or flighty. As I worked with this essence I found myself opening up to others about talking to plants and animals, about intuitive dreams, synchronicities, and feeling presences. I am grateful to this mushroom for inspiring me to embody my spirituality through signing up for Asia Sulers Intuitive Earth Medicines Course. This, along with many other small signs and portents, have led me to the path where I am now, beginning to share natures healing essences with others.
Wolf Lichen Essence
For a long time I have experienced abdominal pain, particularly in my solar plexus. Wolf lichen essence was noted to have an association with the solar plexus, and was meant to help reconnect somebody to their body’s true desires.
Once more, after I began taking the essence, I experienced a night or two of stressful sleep. I was able to continue taking the essence because it felt like a therapeutic detox; a release of stored emotions.
Over the month of working with wolf lichen I felt myself more quickly responding to my body’s needs, whether it was to have a drink of water, to go to the bathroom (rather than being preoccupied with a task) or to go and rest. The need to retreat and recharge by myself also became an overwhelming urge I could not ignore- I organized a time to go out to my family cabin by myself- not a soul was allowed to join. I felt like a mother wolf defending her boundaries, retreating to a cave to heal and recharge. It was beautiful and much needed, to simply rest by the water, admire the stones, and sit under the trees.
The wolf lichen essence at times seemed to help my abdominal pain, however it was not a panacea!
I am currently working with cordyceps essence alongside some flower essences to better support my digestion and emotional health. I will report back down the line to share updates of my experience!
~ Callen