The curiously named "Penis Envy" psilocybe cubensis mushroom strain has developed an almost legendary status in recent years among members of the psychedelic community. With its reputedly intense psychedelic properties and the idiosyncrasies surrounding its origins, this mushroom variety has become the subject of intense fascination and inquiry. As both scientific and popular interest in the therapeutic potential of psilocybin mushrooms accelerates, the distinctive tale of the Penis Envy continues to capture imaginations.
A Potent Variant Born of Dedicated Cultivation
While the true beginnings of the Penis Envy strain remain uncertain, psychedelic mycologist John Allen is largely credited with intentionally cultivating and stabilizing the variety. According to anecdotal reports, Allen spent over seven years working on the strain in the 1970s, meticulously selecting and cloning the most potent mushroom specimens from wild patches and his own grows. This fixation on bluing psilocybin reactions and apparent elevated potency ultimately resulted in the unique Penis Envy variant we know today.
Unlike most cubensis mushroom strains that possess the typical long, slender stems and rounded caps, Penis Envy mushrooms exhibit a distinct penis-shaped form – giving rise to their provocative name. The process of rigorously homogenizing genetics and selecting for potency created mutations that manifested physically as stubby, rounded stems and elongated caps tapering to a point. Alongside these anatomical eccentricities, Allen‘s selective breeding efforts successfully concentrated the psilocybin levels substantially, making the Penis Envy one of the most potent cubensis strains available today.
With its often unreliable spore prints, the Penis Envy strain presents additional challenges for cultivators striving to maintain viable genetics from one grow iteration to the next. After finally acquiring an initial culture, the first task involves expanding and stabilizing a living spore print library on sterilized rye grains. Once sample print quality appears sufficient under a microscope, spore solution syringes can be prepared. Multiple rounds of test germinations on agar are critical to assess spore viability before investing the time and effort scaling up further.
Table 1. Typical Psilocybe Cubensis Grow Timeline
| Stage | Conditions | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Colonization | ~75-80°F, dark | 14-21 days |
| Pinning Trigger | ~65-75°F, 95-100% humidity, 12 hr lighting cycle | 5-10 days |
| Fruiting | ~65-75°F, 90-95% humidity, 12 hr lighting cycle | 10-14 days |
| Total | – | 4-7 weeks |
The actual cultivation process mirrors most psilocybin-containing mushrooms. Sterilized rye or whole brown rice flour serves as excellent substrates for the mycelium to colonize initially. Maintaining clean spawn and optimal moisture content reduces risks of contamination at this vulnerable stage. Once the feedstock jars achieve full colonization after 2-3 weeks, they can be spawned to bulk in pasteurized compost mixes containing straw, manure, coco coir and gypsum. The environmental trigger initiating the fruiting stage involves a sharp drop in temperatures and exposure to light cycles. Mushroom primordia emerge rapidly once pinning is established. Careful metering of humidity, fresh air exchange and illumination then encourages the nascent fungi to swell into mature fruits over 1-2 weeks.
Table 2. Cubensis Mushroom Yields Under Controlled Cultivation
| Strain | 1st Flush Yield | Total Yield | Potency Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| B+ | 25 g | 60 g | Medium |
| Ecuador | 30 g | 80 g | Medium |
| Penis Envy | 15 g | 45 g | Very high |
| Golden Teacher | 20 g | 55 g | Medium-high |
The rather phallic appearance of mature Penis Envy caps and stems stands out immediately during harvests. Typical cubes strains generate longer, skinnier stipes able to support proportionally larger caps. But the Penis Envy variant struggles structuring such elegant frames with its stunted stems. The blocky caps appear almost pulled down by their sheer density and mass. Within their warped structures, the elevated alkaloid budgets are evident in bluing reactions far exceeding usual cubes.
Fresh harvest weights may trail other cubensis thanks to the peculiar architecture. However the reduced biomass gets counterbalanced amply by sheer psilocybin concentrations once ingested. Dosage scales require dramatic downward adjustment for the uninitiated. It becomes easy to underestimate the potency until the Penis Envy unveils its specialty.
Psychedelic Potency Par Excellence Among Cubensis Mushrooms
Consumption of these mushrooms unleashes intense, profound trips even at moderate dosages. The quality of visuals feels unusually vibrant – undulating with iridescent hues and geometric patterns. The emotional lability and psychological insights can feel similarly amplified and exhilarating at ideal doses. However, excessive intake often augurs existentially-challenging journeys requiring fortitude to navigate.
Onset of effects is rapid, beginning as early as 15-20 minutes post-ingestion. I recall being initially overwhelmed during my first 2 gram dose, astonished it could manifest so quickly and powerfully. After adjusting set and setting accordingly in subsequent sessions, the trips became highly valued learning experiences. I discovered the ideal range for me around 1.5 grams, engendering dazzling sensory enhancement and mystical awareness without totally compromising functional mobility.
As a computer programmer turned underground mycologist in the mid 2000‘s, I became determined to get my hands on the penis envy spores after years of fascination from trip reports. A like-minded mycologist friend would periodically gift me prints he selectively created, but they degraded quickly or failed to germinate effectively. Maintaining personal spore prints proved an exercise in patience and discipline for this capricious strain. I eventually discovered a technique involving multiple dilution and regeneration steps on sterilized rye grains. This process kept a stable supply of viable spores for long term agar culture and grow operations.
The most memorable and unsettling trip occurred when I took a high 2.5 gram dose of dried penis envy mushrooms alone in my apartment. As I closed my eyes while peaking, I witnessed myself floating up and out of my body. Then suddenly demonic entities surrounded my disembodied perspective, violently shaking my energy body. I resisted initially but eventually surrendered, only for the writhing darkness to transform into a portal of sublime white light. An intense catharsis washed over me, somehow purging lifetimes worth of suppressed grief and trauma. I then drifted gently back into my physical vessel, feeling renewed with tears still wet on my cheeks.
While such intensely visionary and purgative journeys may prove too much for novice or unprepared psychonauts, research demonstrates that psilocybin can deliver profound mental health benefits when administered carefully. Recent clinical trials revealed rapid reductions in treatment-resistant depression and end-of-life anxiety for terminally ill patients after guided therapy sessions with synthesized psilocybin. As these remedies continue transitioning from the underground to acceptance in mainstream psychiatry, legal access to psilocybin-containing fungi will expand.
The Re-emergence of Psilocybin into Mainstream Medicine
Table 3. Selected Recent Psilocybin Clinical Trial Results
| Study | Participants | Doses | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griffiths et al. 2016 | 29 cancer patients | Single 22 or 30 mg | 83% reported increases in life meaning and optimism. No serious adverse reactions. |
| Ross et al. 2016 | 29 cancer patients | Single 22 or 30 mg | Reduced depression and anxiety in 60–80% lasting 6 months. 30% showed complete remission. |
| Carhart-Harris et al. 2016 | 12 patients | 10 mg + 25 mg | Reduced symptoms of stubborn depression over 3 months. All patients responded positively. |
| Moreno et al. 2006 | 9 OCD patients | Multiple 0.3-0.5 mg/kg | Marked improvements for all subjects lasting 24 hours. No serious adverse reactions. |
The current resurgence of psilocybin as a potential legal medicinal treatment carries significance for the legacy of the penis envy strain as well. As decriminalization efforts slowly gain momentum globally, the secrecy surrounding clandestine cultivation and usage continues fading. The veterans of past battles for cognitive liberty – mycological pioneers like John Allen, Terrance and Dennis McKenna, and Alexander Shulgin deserve recognition for laying the foundations for today‘s burgeoning industry with their underground research.
The future will likely see dedicated investigations into specific psilocybin mushroom species and isolation of key compounds for therapeutic applications. Strains like the penis envy – despite their unconventional origins – may provide vital keys towards unlocking psilocybin‘s vast healing potential. Clinical access to psilocybin therapies appears highly likely within 5-10 years.
While human ingenuity continues probing ever deeper into psychedelic frontiers, conservation of sensitive mycological ecosystems remains paramount as well. Education on careful identification and harvesting protocols ensures preservation of threatened wild psilocybin populations. Part of the magic arises from the mysterious underground networks which have threaded through Earth‘s biomes for millennia. The mushrooms beckoning from forest floors and pastures represent just a fraction of those extensive filamental matrices supporting all life on this planet.
As research on psilocybin therapies progresses, equitable access to the demonstrated benefits emerges as another ethical necessity. Marginalized communities have endured disproportionate suffering from problematic substance control policies historically. Part of atoning for past policy failures involves meaningful inclusion and empowerment for these groups in emerging industries. There are promising signals with reform campaigns led by veterans, people of color, and other underserved populations.
By honoring mushroom fruits as the sacramental gifts they are, the vast symbiotic networks flourishing underground remain available to nourish all species dependent on them. Whether for spiritual communion or medical treatment, the fungi have much wisdom left to teach for those who walk gently enough beside them. And the penis envy variety certainly represents a uniquely captivating ambassador from psilocybin realms to reignite humanity‘s desire for exploration and healing.