Figure 1 – Amanita muscaria, Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge, Sudbury, MA. (c) DE Wolf 2016.

Mid October is fungus time in the woods. As I walk about I am intrigued by the mushrooms which take so many forms. Particularly beautiful are the lemon yellow Amanita muscaria, the Fly Agaric, of Figure 1. The photograph is meant to be more of a record than a work of art. I have tried most to capture its appealing color and the little warts on its surface. This is a highly poisonous mushroom. It is referred to as a Fly Agaric because people would cut pieces into a bowl of milk to attract and kill flies – hence the muscaria.

But it’s history is even more interesting than the mere killing of insect pests. We are told that in Siberia it was used to make a hallucinogenic tea. Here is where it gets even more bizarre, some people would actually drink the urine of those who drank the tea. Yum!

But let’s talk about the Viking Berzerkers. These were warriors who were so taken by the blood-lust that they would kill uncontrollably in battle. I have read that sometimes the only way to stop them was to kill them. But what does that have to do with Amanita muscaria? Well, apparently there is evidence that berzerkers also made use of the mushroom’s halucinogenic properties to induce a state of trance and blood-lust.

I’ll ask of the berserks, you tasters of blood,
Those intrepid heroes, how are they treated,
Those who wade out into battle?
Wolf-skinned they are called. In battle
They bear bloody shields.
Red with blood are their spears when they come to fight.
They form a closed group.
The prince in his wisdom puts trust in such men
Who hack through enemy shields.

The Hrafnsmál Ninth Century Norweigen skaldic Poem