Mystical Mushrooms
Discover the Magic & Folklore of Fantastic Fungi
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- $17.99
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- $17.99
Publisher Description
Mystical Mushrooms defines the beauty of mushrooms by focusing on their magical connections and symbolic meanings through folkloric tales and superstitions throughout the world.
Go for a walk in the woods on any given summer day and you may find yourself surrounded in fungi galore as they lay nestled among the ferns and trees. After a rainstorm, peek out in your backyard and you may see tiny spores sprouting from the grass, forming what is known as a fairy ring. Mushrooms grow in all shapes, sizes, and colors and—depending on where you live—you might find some that are conducive to magic practice. Mystical Mushrooms enters this realm, exploring the magical properties, mythological connections, and symbolic qualities of the fungi that so intrigue us.
Author Mandie Quark takes you on a journey through the mystical universe of mushrooms. From Buddhist traditions to the concept of fairy rings, Quark reveals how mushrooms have long been entwined with the supernatural in art, literature, and religion. This includes topics surrounding:
Magical History Spells Symbolism Spirituality
Coupled with stunningly depicted artwork, Mystical Mushrooms explores the qualities of over 75 species of mushroom, displaying a range of compelling subjects surrounding the true power of these fabulous fungi.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This bewitching survey by Kane (Moon Spells) offers a spiritual perspective on the "history and lore" of mushrooms. Providing an overview of how different cultures have used fungi throughout history, she notes that Aztec ruler Moctezuma's coronation in 1502 was celebrated with a feast of "magic" mushrooms and English Druids "consumed the fly agaric as part of their religious ceremonies in order to commune with the Universe." Mushrooms have historically been associated with witchcraft in Europe, according to Kane, who explains that women herbalists with extensive knowledge of fungi's healing properties were accused of "turning food into toadstools" or making potions from puffball mushrooms. Profiles of 43 mushrooms accompanied by lush illustrations from Sandberg capture the diversity of fungi; for example, puffballs (Lycoperdon perlatum) can grow up to three feet across, and "zombie fungus" (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis) latches onto ants' bodies and takes control of their muscular system, directing their behavior and "eventually killing the ant by feeding on it." The trivia fascinates, but a concluding section on how to use mushrooms to manifest (bring "about change and desired outcomes... through our focused beliefs and actions") will most interest the new age set, with instructions detailing how to enhance intuition by gathering amethyst deceiver and improve one's luck by finding a fly agaric mushroom. Readers will be enchanted by the blend of science and cultural history. Illus.
