Ryan Reyes is known for his unique and fun skating, like riding handrails sideways, and if you saw his last video part “The Ditch Dimension” you might be wondering why it was edited with so many psychedelic effects and mushroom clips. It turns out he’s got really into gathering mushrooms and reconnecting with the environment. He even makes music about his psychedelic healing process.

On January 1, 2018, Ryan began living on the road in a tiny home he designed and built for himself, his wife and their two pups. The tiny home allows Ryan to travel and somewhat live off the land and get his food and mushrooms for free. Watch the video to see Ryan’s process and if you really want to know more about mycology, checkout our short Q+A with him below.

[A NOTE FROM RYAN / Dumbass disclaimer: “Do not pick wild mushrooms for consumption unless you’re 100% sure of what it is. Mistaking a poisonous mushroom for an edible one can lead to sickness or even death. Psychedelic Mushrooms are to be respected. They are NOT a “party drug”, they are a Medicine for your mind. There are real possibilities of psychological damage when misused. Always be in the safest place possible, always have an experienced guide present and always approach with love” – Ryan]

Q + A W/ RYAN REYES

Did you get into foraging for mushrooms so that you never have to overpay for an eighth of magic mushrooms on the streets again?
[Laughs] I mean, in a way, yes. Mama Earth is the one who should provide, not some person trying to make some extra cash. It’s a more peaceful and respectful practice that way in my opinion.

You said you feel the positive effects of microdosing in your skating, but do think taking a full dose of something has any advantages?
Honestly, any stimulation (visual, physical, or audio) while on a higher dose just diminishes the psychedelic effects. I tend to see it as a waste of the possible time spent on self-reflection, but that’s not always the case!

The lower doses do make more sense for a physical activity like skating, because it doesn’t distort your vision and balance. It heightens those things. But heck, I’m not opposed to a higher dose skate session ceremony under the right circumstances.

Psilocybin connects dots in your brain that weren’t possible before so I think pretty much every activity could benefit from some psychedelic mushrooms added to the equation.

Which types of mushrooms do you search for more often? Psychedelic or dietary mushrooms?
I pick mushrooms for food reasons way more than I do psychedelic ones. For example the lobster mushrooms are jam-packed with crucial stuff essential to a healthy human diet. Potassium, zinc, copper, b vitamins, vitamin d, protein, dietary fiber, calcium. It’s a strong antioxidant, as well. And they are absolutely delicious!

Have you ever picked the wrong mushroom and it turned out to be something you shouldn’t have eaten?
I have been fortunate enough to have never misidentified a mushroom I am eating. Rule #1 of mushroom hunting is to never eat something you aren’t 100% sure of. It could be a matter of life and death. So I’ve never risked it. I have had issues undercooking mushrooms though. Raw they are harsh on your digestion, so make sure to always cook your mushrooms fully. I’ve been in stomach agony because of that error before.

All that the Rain Promises and More by David Arora, was the book I was using to identify the mushrooms in the video. It’s a great guide for the southwest of North America. You can get that one with a quick Google search or ask your local book store. Always support your local book store if possible!

What’s involved in a high-dose Magic Mushroom ceremony?
I took inspiration from shamanic musical Icaros ceremonies and the Terence McKenna “Heroic Dose” method.

I put them together in a way that goes something like this: I start my method a couple days before the ceremony. Then I set an initial intention to heal. The day of the actual ceremony begins 12-hours before I even ingest the mushrooms. I take my last bite of a light meal (a small salad or boiled potatoes) because psilocybin is most effective on an empty stomach.

I’ll usually have something I need clarity on, so I’ll write down a couple notes or questions to try and get that thought going. It’s also nice to have your notes by your side during the ceremony. When the time comes I take 5 dried grams of psilocybin-containing mushrooms.

Next, I set myself in silent darkness by blindfolding myself and separating myself from any activity – this is where I stay for the duration of the trip. There is no telling how each ceremony will go. I always have a guide present, checking on me periodically and making sure everything is ok and running smoothly.

I usually meditate in silence but singing and/or playing an instrument is another way you could spend your time healing.

“I usually meditate in silence but singing and/or playing an instrument is another way you could spend your time healing.”

These silent darkness trips have been responsible for my most healing of journeys, but my last couple of ceremonies I have been been alone in the wilderness (with a guide). That has been a nice change of pace connecting my inner space with the outer.

After the ceremony, I write down as much as I can possibly remember. I try to describe what I felt and experienced, and for the next couple weeks, I meditate on the lessons I’ve learned. Proper integration of the clarity you gained is key to maximizing the benefits of a psychedelic ceremony.

This can sound like woo-woo to the uninitiated, but the work is very necessary to facilitate an environment that will allow for such such intense mental healing.

Psilocybin reduces the activity in the default mode network part of your brain – the part responsible for compiling your past and current experiences into a personality or ego, while also making new neural pathways or communication pathways in your brain. Literally taking it out of whatever rut you are stuck in.

Do you have any advice for people that want to take psychedelics for the first time?
If I could give any advice to a person debating to take psychedelics or not it would be to educate yourself as well as possible. Also, wait until your brain is fully developed – like in your mid-twenties – before ever really considering ingesting any powerful mind-altering substance.

Keep in mind that psychedelics are highly illegal in most places, and I would not recommend risking the repercussions of being caught with these controversial medicines.

However it’s possible we could see psychedelics legalized for therapeutic use in the coming years.

Filmed & Edited by: Cody Long
Q+A: Larry Lanza
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