Entheogen: A psychoactive substance used
in a religious or spiritual context (ie drugs). Drug use was probably a
significant component in the 'prehistoric' cults, among 'mystics' and is still
in use in many areas of the world, found in a variety of religious traditions.
'Shamanism', a 'pagan' belief system centers around the mystical leader (the shaman) who visits the 'other world(s)', often via drug-induced states. One of the earliest signs to suggest drug usage is seen in the figure of a man in a trance-like state in a 25,000 year old cave painting in Lascaux, France.
In early Hindu literature, a drug called 'soma' was used to create mind-altered experiences. There is evidence that the Pharaonic rite of passage of the Horus (new king) involved a drug-induced 'voyage' to the 'otherworld' under the (narcotic) influence of a combination of mandrake root and the buds of the blue water lily, the ceremony directed by the high priest. Palm wine was also used as the medium in which was dissolved water lily with incised yellow poppy capsules that dripped their opium nectar into the mix.
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| Cave Painting - Lascaux, France |
'Shamanism', a 'pagan' belief system centers around the mystical leader (the shaman) who visits the 'other world(s)', often via drug-induced states. One of the earliest signs to suggest drug usage is seen in the figure of a man in a trance-like state in a 25,000 year old cave painting in Lascaux, France.
In early Hindu literature, a drug called 'soma' was used to create mind-altered experiences. There is evidence that the Pharaonic rite of passage of the Horus (new king) involved a drug-induced 'voyage' to the 'otherworld' under the (narcotic) influence of a combination of mandrake root and the buds of the blue water lily, the ceremony directed by the high priest. Palm wine was also used as the medium in which was dissolved water lily with incised yellow poppy capsules that dripped their opium nectar into the mix.
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| The Passion of Christ at Golgotha |
In ancient Greece, the priestess at the
'Oracle of Delphi' provided 'insights and revelations' probably after breathing
in naturally-occurring gases that emanated from the ground.In the
middle east, the Hebrews were known to use wine combined with opium and
there is even thought that this mixture may have been offered to Jesus as he
carried his cross to his own execution (Matthew 27:45).
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| Oracle of Delphi |
Some even suggest that Jesus' survival on the cross may have been due to the sip of the sponge ('vinegar') sedation (opium/'gall'?) given to him on the end of a spear/stick, resulting in sedation that mimicked death.
The Eleusian Mystery Cults (Greek)
celebrated Demeter and Persephone and climaxed their ceremonies with the
drinking of a sacred potion (barley wine likely tainted with the fungus 'ergot')
resulting in 'dazzling visions of eternity'. The Romans were known to
use alcohol (wine) as well as narcotics.
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| Triptolemus Receiving Sheaves of Wheat and Blessings from Demeter and Persephone |
*Drugs used in religion: subject of
research for the novel The Tao
of the Thirteenth God - Amazon Kindle.
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