Among the earliest collections inscribed on Cosmos Hub, few have caught the attention and imagination of the Asteroid Protocol community like the first: Cosmos Shrooms. In this interview we had a rare opportunity to speak with the creator about his influences, inspiration and vision for the project. As we dive into the wonderful world of these captivating shroomies we reflect on the cultural parallels between the Hub and Bitcoin, the embracing of psychedelics, and the nurturing of a vibrant and dedicated community within the Cosmos Hub. We hope you enjoy!
Interviewing Cosmos Shrooms
Being the earliest inscription collection on Cosmos Hub, what are your thoughts and feelings about this groundbreaking achievement?
It feels strangely marvelous. There are all sorts of weird parallels between the rollout of Asteroid inscriptions and inscriptions on bitcoin. Examples: Inscription #1 on bitcoin was a cryptodickbutt. Inscription #1 on Asteroids is an astrodickbutt! I got in touch with the astrodickbutt inscriber, and they had no idea that the first public inscription on bitcoin was a dickbutt, too. It was simply fate! Arguably, the first collection on ordinals is bitcoin shrooms. And the first collection on Asteroids is Cosmos Shrooms. Destiny rears its head again. It feels like there’s a lesson in these synchronicities… we all imagine we’re so creative and unique… but us humans have very similar interests no matter where or what century we’re born in. We like dick jokes. We like gambling. We like psychedelics and booze. Inscriptions now give us a way to immortalize our morbid fascinations for eternity.
What inspired you to create the collection? Is there any connection to the Bitcoin Shrooms ordinal collection?
I was definitely inspired by the Bitcoin Shrooms collection. I’ve always wanted a shroom, but Bitcoin Shrooms literally never had a way for early ordinals fans to get their hands on one. The first opportunity was in a six-figure Sotheby’s auction. I want Cosmos Shrooms to be something that us regular mortals can get our hands on and enjoy. We’re the people’s shrooms.
What has the response been to Cosmos Shrooms so far? What has been your strategy for distributing these coveted shroomies?
I don’t really have a strategy beyond wanting the majority of shrooms to go into the hands of true fans for free. I’d like to keep some of my favorites, and maybe sell some one day, but for now, I’m just sending shrooms to people who are contributing to the Asteroids ecosystem. So far, I’ve given away 37 of the 311 shrooms (just under 12%). If you’re creating value for the Asteroids ecosystem, chances are you’re going to get a shroom. For this platform and all of our artwork to become successful, we have to support each other and we have to keep innovating here.
Zooming out, magic mushrooms and psychedelics are having an significant cultural moment. In healthcare, therapy, creativity and so much more. The conversation around them is an important one in our time — laws and popular perception are changing as a result. What is your stance on psychedelics and the impact of microdose or macrodose culture?
I love everything about psychedelics and their widening acceptance. I don’t dose on a regular basis, but I’ve definitely had some experiences with them, and I’ll remember them until the day I die. Actually, the last time I took Shrooms, I thought I was dying lol, but that’s another story. In general, shrooms help us peel back the veil. They remind me most of culture is just a mirage or collective delusion. Once you feel that in your bones, you realize two things: 1. You hone in on what’s really important (what stays true across time and across cultures) 2. You can construct whatever sort of reality you want for yourself.
What are your long-term goals for the Cosmos Shrooms collection? How do you see it evolving within the Cosmos ecosystem?
I’d love to see lots of the OG Asteroids community rocking shrooms as their PFPs and posting little shroom emojis 🍄 in their usernames. Just like cryptopunks inform the world that you were there in the beginning on Ethereum, I’d like shrooms to be that cultural cornerstone for Asteroids. Sometimes, I think about doing a 10k lil shroomies collection, too, because there are just so many cool permutations you can make of the shrooms. I just need to somehow summon more free time from the universe.
As the creator of the first collection on Cosmos Hub, what personal learnings or insights have you gained from this experience, and what advice would you give to aspiring creators in the Asteroid Protocol community?
I’ve been astounded by the communal vibe on Asteroids. We’re a small, committed community who is very early on something that – to me – feels profoundly big and important. A lot of people think inscriptions are a gimmick and that they’ll never be as cool or powerful as “NFTs.” I think we just might prove them wrong. For all the aspiring creators out there, I’d recommend that you start small and start experimental. Don’t tie your name to the artwork if you’re nervous… and whatever you plan to do, just get started. I’m a firm believer that the universe always nudges us in the right direction on our journeys, but it’s us who have to take the first step.