Marijuana and Mysticism

It is the summer solstice, a time to connect with the earth, the sun, and maybe a special plant…

Around the world people will be connecting with Mother Earth for the summer solstice. Some in humankind feel the pull to connect with the earth, the spirits, the sun and maybe a special plant. At Stonehenge  crowds congregate since the famous site was built to align with the sun on the solstices; it’s believed that people have gathered here to mark the summer solstice for thousands of years. The only alcohol is allowed other than ceremonial mead, but gummies could be a different story. Seattle celebrates with painted naked people riding the streets. The Danish believe the summer solstice is when witches make their way to the Brocken and create huge bonfires. In Colombia, locals dress as devils, with hundreds of teeny bells on their legs, who represent evil. They wear mirrors on their backs to harness the power of the sun on the longest day of the year. The ritual represents the fight between God and the Devil. Celebrations have gone one for hundreds of years and cannabis has usually been part of the rituals. So what about marijuana and mysticism.

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Cannabis has been used for mystical and spiritual purposes across various cultures and religions for centuries. Its psychoactive properties have allowed users to experience altered states of consciousness, facilitating introspection, transcendence, and a sense of unity with the divine or the cosmos.

The entheogenic (psychoactive substance used in a religious context) use of cannabis can be traced back to ancient civilizations in the Indian subcontinent, where it was revered as a sacred plant in Hinduism and incorporated into spiritual rituals and practices. The ancient Vedic texts, such as the Atharvaveda, mention the use of cannabis for its mind-altering effects and its ability to induce a state of heightened awareness and spiritual enlightenment.

In ancient China, cannabis was also used by Taoist priests and shamans for divinatory purposes and to facilitate communication with spirits. Archaeological evidence suggests that cannabis was burned in braziers during rituals, and ancient Chinese texts describe its ability to produce visions and a sense of lightness or levitation when consumed over an extended period.

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Cannabis has played a significant role in various mystical traditions around the world, including Sufism, Rastafarianism, and certain indigenous practices. In Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam, cannabis was sometimes used as a means to achieve a state of spiritual ecstasy and heightened awareness, facilitating a deeper connection with the divine.

The Rastafari movement, which emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s, embraces the spiritual and sacramental use of cannabis, known as “the wisdom weed” or “the holy herb.” Rastafarians believe that cannabis enhances their spiritual consciousness and brings them closer to the divine presence of Jah (God).

Indigenous cultures in the Americas, such as the Huichol people of Mexico and certain Native American tribes, have also incorporated cannabis into their spiritual practices and rituals, using it to induce visions, facilitate communication with spirits, and achieve a state of transcendence.

In recent decades, there has been a resurgence of interest in the mystical and spiritual aspects of cannabis use, particularly within the context of the psychedelic renaissance and the growing acceptance of plant-based medicines and .

Some modern spiritual movements, such as the Cantheism philosophy, have emerged, embracing the inherent religious nature of human interaction with the cannabis plant and its potential for facilitating spiritual experiences and personal growth.

While the scientific understanding of cannabis’s effects on consciousness and spirituality is still limited, anecdotal accounts and historical evidence suggest that the plant has played a significant role in various mystical and religious traditions worldwide, offering users a means to explore altered states of consciousness, transcend the boundaries of the self, and connect with the divine or the cosmic.

It is important to note that the legal status and cultural acceptance of cannabis for spiritual or religious purposes vary greatly across different regions and belief systems, and its use should be approached with caution and respect for local laws and traditions.