The Jedi Mind-Fuck[i][ii] is a Psilocybe cubensis strain that has become very popular based on its reputation for high potency—with a name like that, how could it not be super-potent?
Easy.
Turns out, anybody can name anything anything. The Jedi Mind-Fuck is basically your average cube. Of course, and average cube is still something pretty special.
Identification and Description
Jedi Mind-Fuck looks like the vast majority of all other members of its species, with pale stalk and a golden-brown cap that starts out bell-shaped and then opens widely out. Some people say it tends to be a bit bigger than average, but cubes are generally pretty variable, so it’s hard to be sure.
There are stories about the origin of this strain, but they are undocumented and contradictory, with some people staying it was stabilized from a wild variant, and others saying it is descended from Z-Strain—which itself has a vague and undocumented origin story.
Basically, this is a cube.
Look-alikes
The only cubes Jedi Mind-Fuck doesn’t look like are the really distinctive ones, like Penis Envy. There is no real way to tell that the mushroom you just bought is genuine JMF as opposed to some other generic-looking cube, except by trusting the seller. But since having a trustworthy seller (or growing your own) is an absolutely required safety precaution for any magic mushroom use, that’s not really a problem.
Do not harvest mushrooms from the wild thinking they “look just like Jedi Mind-Fuck.” Those aren’t the shrooms you’re looking for. While it’s true that Psilocybe cubensis grows wild in many places, including the southern part of the United States, there are lots of little, brownish mushrooms that you really won’t be able to tell apart unless you have real experience with wild mushroom identification. Whether there really are “easy, beginner mushrooms” is debatable, but Psilocybes are not it. Some of their look-alikes will do nothing other that possibly taste good, but others will kill you if you eat them—and poisoning from the little, brownish, but aptly-named Deadly Galerina is particularly hard to diagnose. And without the right diagnosis, you don’t stand a chance. Death takes about a week.
Effects
The effects of JMF are those of Psilocybe cubensis in general. There is no reliable evidence it is distinctive. But there are lots of trip reports claiming otherwise. What gives?
The thing is, mushroom trips are variable. Your physical state, your expectations, your mood going in, your surroundings, and other factors can all have a huge impact on where you go and how you get there. Most trip reports are reports of single trips–”I used this strain and here is what happened.” or perhaps “my boyfriends and I both took this strain and something similar happened to both of us.” There is no way to draw meaningful conclusions about the entire strain from just one or two experiences, even if you can find similar stories online.
A cube is a cube, with rare exception, and JMF probably is not an exception. All is does is change your mood, your perceptions, and your entire way of thinking, and if you are able to integrate and learn from the experience, it could change your life. Yeah, that’s it. Nothing special.
Potency and Dosage
Jedi Mind-Fuck has been tested for its psilocybin and psilocin content four times. All four times, it came up towards the low end of average. That’s why we don’t credit the claims of high potency—the numbers just aren’t there.
But you can still have a really intense trip, if that’s what you want. Just take a little more. An average cube is nothing to sneeze at. It’s still a cube!
Growing
Jedi Mind-Fuck is not a picky strain. While they prefer rye grain as a substrate, they will grow on virtually anything that normally works for cubes, by any method, Shoebox, PF Tek, Uncle Ben’s, what have you.
It is, though, a strain that is vulnerable to contamination and a bit slow to fruit. For these reasons, it is considered more of an experienced-grower’s strain, only likely to perform will for people whose sterile technique of bomb-proof.
Toxicity, Safety & Side Effects
Jedi Mind-Fuck, like any other source of psilocybin, has side effects. These range from trivial and common (excessive yawning) to very rare but very serious (convulsions). The more serious side effects get more likely at higher doses, and some are a particular problem at unexpectedly high doses, such as if you ate more than you intended to. You can minimize your risk of serious side effects by always erring on the side of too little rather than too much, and by following other safety procedures such as making sure you are mentally prepared going in. It’s also a good idea to have a companion who is not tripping and who can deal with any emergencies that come up. Psilocybin is not an especially dangerous way to alter the mind, it’s just not risk-free, and that must be respected.
Also, the stuff is illegal in most jurisdictions. Don’t get sent to prison.
References:
[i] Lubiano, K. (2023). Jedi Mind Fuck Magic Mushroom Strain: Everything You Need to Know
[ii] Bermejo, R. (2023). A Misnomer in Mushrooms: The Jedi Mind Fuck Strain.
