Episode 18 - Amanita Muscaria

In this episode of Herby at Heart, we step off the well‑worn path and into the dappled light of the forest, where one of the most iconic and misunderstood fungi is waiting: Amanita muscaria, the fly agaric. Red‑capped, white‑spotted, and wrapped in myth, this mushroom has long been branded as poison—yet it’s also bound up with stories of luck, ecstasy, danger, and deep initiation.Amanita muscaria lives in the liminal spaces where fear and fascination meet. It doesn’t ask to be casually consumed; it asks for respect, questions, and a careful relationship. In its presence, we’re invited to slow down, sharpen our senses, and remember that not all medicine—or magic—is meant to be easy or tame.To guide us through this terrain, we’re joined by wild food and fungi educator Courtney Tyler of Hips and Haws Wildcrafts, who has spent years wandering Irish woodlands, learning from the mushrooms and teaching others how to meet them with humility and skill.Together, we explore:The myth, folklore, and cultural symbolism of Amanita muscariaHow fear, taboo, and misunderstanding have shaped its reputationThe chemistry, risks, and cautions around fly agaricTraditional and emerging ways people are working with this mushroomHow to approach powerful fungi with respect, discernment, and an open heartWhat it means to be in relationship with a being that is both teacher and tricksterThis conversation isn’t a how‑to guide—it’s an invitation to curiosity, reverence, and responsibility in our encounters with potent plants and fungi.Guest – Courtney Tyler (Hips and Haws Wildcrafts)Website: ⁠https://hipsandhaws.com⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hipsandhawswildcrafts⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/hipsandhawswildcrafts⁠Music in this episode“Amanita Muscaria” – Alex AtlantisMani Neumeier, FungleYour hostsTashWebsite: ⁠https://www.avantgardenlife.com⁠Instagram: @avant.garden.lifePhilWebsite: ⁠https://www.hp-phildius.de⁠Instagram: @power.plants.berlinFind our Praxis in person at:Mommsenstraße 55, 10629 BerlinTune in, slow down, and meet Amanita muscaria with us—one careful step into the forest at a time.