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OVOID is a short film that follows the paths of three people who have benefited from psilocybin containing mushrooms. The film highlights Washington, D.C.'s common psilocybe mushroom, psilocybe ovoideocystidiata; also known as "ovoid."

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"11 years ago, I became interested in mushrooms. The leaves were turning green and I was in high school. I suddenly started to pay attention to all these mushrooms that were popping up from the ground. I was immediately fascinated by them and started collecting specimens to make spore prints. I quickly learned basic identification practices. 

 

It was around this time that I also became interested in ethnobotany.  I was specifically interested in entheogens, or plants that have spiritual and and/or psychedelic qualities. 

 

My first psychedelic mushroom that I found was Amanita muscaria (fly agaric). It was such an exciting experience to find this mushroom and brew it into a tea. Red with white dots, this little mushroom which flys hate is surrounded by volumes of folklore. 

 

Then in spring 2020, I became involved with Decriminalize Nature DC. This is when I learned about ovoids, the psilocybin containing mushroom of Washington, DC. I was lucky enough to be invited to learn how to forage for them. This was yet another incredible experience being able to forage for them. 

 

Psychedelic mushrooms have been a part of my life for a decade now. At first I used them for mind expansion and for exploration. But now I use them as a tool for healing. They help me see the world clearer and allow me to work on my problems through a different angle. Mushrooms don’t give me the answers, they make new neural connections which provides me with the ability to come up with solutions. 

 

My new film, ovoid, follows the paths of three people who have benefited from psychedelic mushrooms. It also talks about their experiences with ovoids. I wanted to make this film to show my appreciation to Washington, DC’s trippy mushroom: ovoid."

 

-Gabriel Cowan