Spiritual Pharmakon of Western Spirituality

Contrary to popular belief Psychadelics have played a major role in the development of Western spirituality. Spiritualists have been using Psychadelic since the days of the Bible. Such Psychadelic pharmacon would include opium, cannabis,henbane, mandrake root, mushroom etc.  They have been used to access the divine, empower magic, cause deities to materialize you name it,

Going back to biblical times. We have Kane Bose or sweet cane being used in rituals and in healing aids. Sweet cane is Cannabis. It may well have been present in the incense they used in their rituals. Jesus used it to heal in his anointing oil. Many Christian sects especially Gnostic Christians used psychadelics in their rituals as a way to becoming closer to god. When Pagans converted to the  new faith they often brought their use of psychadelics with them. Most Christians had a taste for mandrake root as it resembled a man.

The Greeks and Romans made use of many Psychadelic plants. Most noted are the mystery traditions associated with Dionysus and Demeter. Dionysus was associated with wine and his followers were known for their drunk revelries. The Eleusinian mysteries was about going down to the netherworld in a shamanistic experience. Other deities associated with magic also had knowledge of Psychadelic plants.

Indeed Circe and Madea both associated with Hekate had knowledge of plants and how to use them. Plant knowledge most likely goes back to the first women who learned how to use them . This was feminine based spirituality. They had the access.

 Fairy women in Europe knew all about these plants and were often the village healers.

The Church when converting Pagans often used psychadelics themselves. The incense often contained psychoactive chemicals. This would make a believer out of anyone. Plus pagans brought their psychadelics with them.

Throughout Medieval times psychadelics were used in high magical rituals. Apothecaries gave magicians access to these p,us a whole lot more. The use of psychadelics only became demonized over time when it was associated with witchcraft.

This is one great book. Not only does it give the hisotry of psychadelics in western spirituality but it also teaches one different angles of the myths we know and loved. Look forward to reading more by this author.

 

African Roots of Judaism

 

This is a great book in that it gives a very thorough overview of Jewish history since the beginning and over many lands. I thought I would see more documentation of how the African continent influenced Judaism but instead I got a great over view of the beginning going through the Egyptian slavery, first and second temple periods. The survey covers some of the diasporas specially Europe and North Africa. The book finished off with discussing Jewish life in America and the lost tribes.

The only main African influence I found was at the beginning. The Hebrews or Hapiru came from Ethiopia and went to Mesopotamia and built society there. From them the Israelites evolved especially after they went back to Egypt. After being redeemed from slavery some of them went back to Ethiopia. King Solomon’s wife Sheba May have been from Ethiopia and or Yemen. Saba the kingdom encompassed both lands. Through out history humans have been going back and forth between Yemen and Thiopia . From the union of Sheba and Solomon came King Menelik. The Kebra Negast document the line of Solomon in Ethiopia.

There was a Jewish kingdom in Yemen. It was the Himyar King Dhu Nawas that converted to Judaism . He was also its last king as he died fighting against an Ethiopian invasion backed by Rome. The Persians were supposed to back Yemen but failed.

The Igbo in Nigeria claim Jewish descent. Many will tell you they Hail from Ethiopia Jews . Needless to say there were tribes that practiced Judaism . During historic progress many Jews also married people of Africa. Descent.

Many people are unaware that most Jews are dark complectjoj and not the pale skin of the Ashkenazi. Many from the Middle East hold true to their African features. Some from the Far East look Indian. The Sephardic Jews at one time had intellectual leadership over the Ashkenazi Jews .

Judaism is like a prism. It is a design comprised of many colors and shapes with plenty to explore.