Benders Poetry Gear – Notebooks, Backpacks and Tshirts

Writing gear for the conspicuously literary

Menu
  • Home
  • Poetry gear
    • Poetry backpacks
    • Poetry bags
    • Tshirts
    • Poloshirts for men
    • Poloshirts for women
  • Collections
    • Castles get kicked in the bricks series
    • Philosophy Shirts
  • Languages
    • English books
    • Dutch books
    • Deutsche bucher
    • Livres Francais
    • Poesia Espanol
    • Libri italiano
    • Livros portugueses
    • Russian books
    • Books in mandarin
    • Books in arabic
  • Blog posts
    • Philosophers notebooks
    • Writers and poets
    • Castle stories
    • Weblog
      • Psychosupersum
      • Mushroom philosophy
      • Literature vault
  • Music
    • Music
    • Mantra Dance
    • Spotify Lists
      • Top 200 of Modern Hip Hop – Global Chart Curated by Diskjokk Murtunutru
      • Alien Music from Other Planets
      • 34 Hours with Feargal Sharkey Striking at Wonders
      • German NDW & New Wave Essentials
      • German Songbook – The Best Tracks and Lyrics
      • Anarcho Punk: Raw Power, Pure Energy
      • Psychedelic Peace – The Final Hippie Selection
      • Top Reggae from the Gamma Quadrant
  • Literature in
    • English
    • Italiano
    • Nederlands
    • Deutsch
    • Turkish
    • Russian
    • Spanish
    • French
    • Chinese
    • Arab
    • Portugese
Menu

Amanita Muscaria: the Book of the Empress

Posted on May 9, 2023June 13, 2023 by admin

During one magical winter night, after first experimenting with this mushroom, I was transported through a dimensional portal and received an incredible download of information. This left me questioning why I, a writer of some reputation, was singled out for such a unique experience.

So I began to read all the literature available on this mushroom, and I began to see what the real problem was.

There are two types of books on the market:

  • Popular science – the first type are types that depend on a popular science type narrative. They repeat stories that are ‘known’ about the mushroom and quote a few ‘research papers’ that can be summed up in one line: not much research has been done and more is needed.
  • Mystery ingredient books: Quite a few of these: the whole book is about speculating whether Amanita Muscaria was the mystery ingredient in some ancient drink.

This may surprise you, but neither of these approaches is actually good. They form a false duality between which reality bounces back and forth, but there is a third perspective that can be invoked: the philosophical/literary one.

That’s why the mushroom contacted a writer, so I took on the phenomenal task of really investigating what is true and what is disinformation when it comes to this mushroom, its history, its practical and shamanic use.

My book is not simply an overview of the history and uses of the mushroom. Rather, it is a deeply personal account of my own experiences with the mushroom and the knowledge I have gained from my interactions with its spirit. One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is its focus on debunking many of the myths and misconceptions surrounding Amanita muscaria.

For example, many people believe that the mushroom was used by ancient cultures for its psychoactive effects. However, I argue that this is simply not true. Instead, I suggest that the mushroom was used more for its healing properties and… even as currency.

From its traditional uses to its inclusion in modern art and literature, the mushroom has played a significant role in many different cultures. I explore the symbolism and significance of the mushroom in these contexts, providing a rich and detailed exploration of its cultural impact.

I also show you exactly why its important.

Perhaps the most striking feature of ‘Amanita Muscaria: The Book of the Empress’ is its beautiful and evocative presentation. The book contains a wealth of artwork, illustrations and poetry, all of which work together to create a vivid and immersive reading experience.

The use of these different media serves to underline the book’s central message: that the Amanita muscaria mushroom is not just a demonized mushroom, but she is a teacher that played a central role in human evolution and experience. Reading my book will offer you a significant edge that is of vital importance when using this wonderful mushroom, for both normal users and those that wish to explore the shamanic side.

Martijn Benders – Amanita Muscaria, The Book of the Empress – available in all bookshops 24th of May 2023.

The book can be pre-ordered here for dutch or flemish people

There is an amazon pocket version for international audiences.

If you prefer the hardcopy, full colour version I can send you one with Fedex
for 60 dollars. Go to my contact page for that option.

Post Views: 2,652
Category: Psychosupersum

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Castles Get Kicked in the Bricks each Summer

Let’s face it: some backpacks just carry your stuff. This one tells your entire life philosophy in one ridiculous, multilingual joke. Imagine strolling into a museum, a bus stop, or your ex's new wedding—with a bag that declares, in ten languages, that castles are always the losers of summer.

Why? Because deep down, you know:

  • Tourists always win.
  • History has a sense of humor.
  • And you, my friend, are not carrying your lunch in just any nylon sack—you’re carrying it in a medieval meltdown on your shoulders.

This backpack says:

  • “I’ve been to four castles, hated three, and got kicked out of one for asking where the dragons were.”
  • “I appreciate heritage sites, but I also think they could use a bit more slapstick.”
  • “I’m cute, I’m moopish, and I will absolutely picnic on your parapet.”

It’s absurd.
It’s philosophical.
It holds snacks.

In short, it’s not just a backpack—it’s a mobile monument to glorious collapse.

And honestly? That’s what summer’s all about.

Philosophy thirts

Feeling surveilled? Alienated by modernity? Accidentally started explaining biopolitics at brunch again? Then it’s time to proudly declare your loyalties (and your exhaustion) with our iconic “I’m with Fuckold” shirt.

This tee is for those who’ve:

  • Said “power is everywhere” in a non-BDSM context.
  • Tried to explain Discipline and Punish to their cat.
  • Secretly suspect the panopticon is just their neighbour with binoculars.

Wearing this shirt is a cry of love, rebellion, and post-structural despair. It says:
“Yes, I’ve read Foucault. No, I will not be okay.”

Stay tuned for more philosophical shirts and backpacks, as we at Benders are working on an entire collection that will make even the ghost of Hegel raise an eyebrow.

Curious about the intersections between poetry, philosophy, and machine learning?

Explore a collection of notes, reflections, and provocations on how language shapes — and resists — intelligent systems like Grok

© 2025 Benders Poetry Gear – Notebooks, Backpacks and Tshirts | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme
Scroll Up