Unlocking Traditions: The Versatile Roles of Fly Agaric in Native Siberian Cultures
The significance and extensive utilization of Amanita muscaria in indigenous Siberian traditions can be traced back to at least the 17th century. While widely employed, it is crucial to emphasize that the mushroom is not mandatory for ceremonies. Instead, it was typically employed by less experienced individuals and shamans to amplify the effects of more essential elements such as rhythmic music, singing, and dancing, which were much more important. In contrast, those proficient in conducting ceremonies without relying on the mushroom were regarded as stronger practitioners.
With that said, when Amanita muscaria was used, there traditionally existed four main categories of its utilization across diverse indigenous Siberian groups:
Sacred and Magic Activities:
Communication with the dead
Communication with spirits
Treatment of diseases
Giving a name to new-born children
Determining the cause and solution to dangerous situations
Interpreting dreams
Prediction and fortune-telling
Seeing into the past
Visiting different worlds
Seeing other parts of the world
Recital of Epics: Helping with singing and passing on stories through oral tradition
Work and Physical Effort: Helping strengthen an individual so they can perform incredible feats, such as walking long distances in deep snow, harvesting hay with the efficiency of multiple men, or carrying heavy loads.
Social and Recreational Purposes: Used during social events such weddings or after a successful day of hunting.
Image of 7th generation sibirian shaman Tatiana of the Tungusic people
Use in Eastern vs Western Siberia
While its usage has varied among different communities, the most notable distinctions emerge between those residing in the western and eastern regions of Siberia. In eastern communities, individuals are noted for being in earlier stages of animistic beliefs, resulting in a diminished emphasis on the presence of spiritual leaders (Shamans) to guide trips. This makes it more common for individuals to self-administer the mushroom or have another family member provide it. Consequently, this has led to more instances of eastern Siberian groups consuming the mushroom in social and recreational settings. Additionally, eastern communities have maintained a consistent and diverse use of the mushroom for various purposes, in contrast to western groups that have witnessed a decreasing utilization of the mushroom over the past century, resulting in its overall prevalence diminishing.
This difference is intriguing and warrants further exploration. In a paper titled "Russian post-Soviet history of fly-agaric" by Giorgio Samorini, the author delves into the "moralization" of the fly-agaric, referring to the stripping of its power and magic and the portrayal of it as bad or poisonous. The paper also sheds light on the persecution of Siberian shamans during the 1930s and 1940s, as they were deemed "non-productive elements of Soviet society." This era witnessed Stalinist purges, leading to the deaths or internment of these shamans. Given my limited understanding of the USSR's distribution of control, I am further intrigued to explore whether these purges more heavily impacted central groups (the western Siberian people) than their eastern counterparts. Such insights could contribute to a deeper understanding of the decline in the Fly Agaric's usage. Nevertheless, this calls for a more in-depth investigation on another day.
Image showing soldier arresting mushroom, circa 1935
Sources
- Saar, M. (1991). Ethnomycological data from Siberia and North-East Asia on the effect of Amanita muscaria. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 31(2), 157-173. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(91)90002-U
- Samorini, G. (2022). " Lenin was a mushroom": Russian post-Soviet history of fly-agaric. Antrocom: Online Journal of Anthropology, 18(1). PDF
- chinaqat. (2009, February 3). Tatiana explains the mushrooms [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oFlXHUUmXg
