Use Of Hallucinogenic Drugs In Religion

There is a long and continuing history of the religious use of plants that contain psychedelic substances. Scholars such as Osmond (1957b), Schultes (1963), and Wasson (1961) have made valuable contributions to this intriguing field.

In some instances, such natural products were ingested by a priest, shaman, or witch doctor to induce a trance for revelatory purposes; sometimes they were taken by groups of people who participated in sacred ceremonies. For example, the dried heads of the peyote cactus, whose chief active ingredient is mescaline, were used by the Aztecs at least as early as 300 B.C. and are currently being employed by over fifty thousand Indians of the Native American Church as a vital part of their religious ceremonies.

Both ololiuqui, a variety of morning-glory seed, and certain kinds of Mexican mushrooms (called teonanacatl, "flesh of the gods") were also used for divinatory and religious purposes by the Aztecs. These practices have continued to the present among remote Indian tribes in the mountains of the state of Oaxaca, in Mexico.

Modern psychopharmacological research has shown the active chemicals to be psilocybin in the case of the mushrooms, and several compounds closely related to LSD in the case of ololiuqui. Amanita muscaria, the mushroom that has been used for unknown centuries by Siberian shamans to induce religious trances, does not contain psilocybin.

The most important psychologically active compound from this mushroom has not yet been isolated, but promising work is in progress. Other naturally occurring plants, which are used by various South American Indian tribes in a religious manner for prophecy, divination, clairvoyance, tribal initiation of male adolescents, or sacred feasts are: cohoba snuff, made from the pulverized seeds of Piptadenia; the drink vinho de Jurumens, made from the seeds of Mimosa hostilis; and the drink caapi, made from Banisteriopsis.

These last three products contain various indolic compounds that are all closely related to psilocybin, both structurally and in their psychic effects (bufotenine,
dimethyl-tryptamine, and harmine, respectively). Both LSD and psilocybin contain the indolic ring, and mescaline may be metabolized to an indole in the body.

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Aldous Huxley's book was "The Doors Of Perception" the title taken from a line of William Blake's.

"If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear as it is,infinate."

Jim Morrison later took his bands name in homage to both Blake and Huxley.

[Edited on 12-5-2003 by John bull 1]

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The religious use peyote is very ancient. One cache of dried peyote found in a Texas cave, has been dated at approximately 7000 years old. The use of peyote in ceremonies among Mexican tribes was a well established tradition by the time of the European entrance into the continent. This pre-historical religious use eventually diffused into the North American regions. Along with this evangelistic migration came changes in the basic ceremonies associated with peyote.

Mexican peyotism is perhaps best typified by the traditional practices of the Huichol tribe of the Sierra Occidental, along the pacific coast of Mexico. Annual pilgrimages to ritually hunt the sacred cactus are still a central part of tribal myth and ceremony. A group leader, or Mara- a-'kame leads the humble seekers in their mythical quest "...to find our life.", as it has been said. Only peyote gathered in this ceremonial way is suitable for the spiritual requirements of the tribe.

The Cora and Tarahumara are related groups of people who use peyote in religious ceremony. Cora people are known to trade for, or purchase peyote from their Huichol neighbors, as their own traditions do not require the desert pilgrimage to collect the sacrament.

In the mid 1800's, simultaneous with native genocide, the peyote religion spread north, arriving at a time when indigenous people were badly in need of spiritual uplifting and cultural strength. In the last 100 years, the spread of peyotism has been prolific. The peyote ceremony which was introduced to the American Plains Indians is a formalized, all-night prayer meeting, usually held in a tepee, hogan, or peyote house especially set aside for that purpose. Christian elements are often significantly present, depending on the particular tribe or group leader.

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The Church of Gnostic Luminism will recognize the sacredness and spiritual efficacy of certain herbs and chemicals that can be used to expand human consciousness, enhance intuition, awaken the creative Imagination or Genius, and facilitate the inward focusing of the attention that is the prerequisite for Gnostic Illumination.

Religious use of psychedelics

From the beginning of recorded history, religious traditions throughout our planet have known of and used psychedelic plants and chemicals as material aids to religious practice, or sacraments.

Taoists of ancient China, Hindus of India, and the ancient religions of Ethiopia and Egypt are known to have honored and used Cannabis and other sacred herbs.

Other ancient Cannabis users included the Persian Zoroastrians (a/k/a the Magi), and the Scythians, whose use of Cannabis in funeral rites is described in the Histories of Herodotus.

The Sanskrit Vedas, among the Earth’s oldest extant sacred scriptures, speak of Soma, a psychedelic elixir which may have contained Cannabis and/or psilocybin or other psychedelic mushrooms.

The ancient Greek Initiate movements, including the Dionysian, Elusinian, and Delphic, combined “secret herbs” with their ceremonial wine, perhaps including ergot, the source of lysergic acid (from which LSD is made).

The ancient Hebrews evidently knew of the spiritual uses of Cannabis, and in fact the Greek word cannabis may ultimately derive from the Hebrew kanneh bosm, literally “sweet cane”, given in the Bible as an ingredient of Yahweh’s “holy anointing oil” (Exodus 30:23).

Many of the indigenous religions of the Americas used peyote (mescaline), “magic mushrooms” (psilocybin), and certain types of Morning Glory plants, which contain forms of lysergic acid.

In the early centuries of the common era, the Buddhists of Tibet honored Cannabis and used it as an aid to meditation and illumination, as did the Sufi and Ishmaili sects of Islam.

In India, Patanjali cited “the yoga of light-containing herbs” as one valid path to mystical attainment in his Yoga Sutras (recognized by our Church as being among the cannonical scriptures).

In the medieval and renaissance period, many of the persecuted “witches” were users of the sacred herbs, including the hallucinogenic daturas and nightshades as well as Cannabis and many others.

The alchemists of Europe respected the Elixirs of Light, and Paracelsus places Cannabis at the head of his list of spiritually efficacious herbs.

The Coptic Christians who fled to Egypt to escape Roman persecution in the first century used Cannabis as a sacrament from the beginning, and still do to this day.

There are a number of other extant religions that recognize the spiritual use of psychedelics, some officially incorporated and recognized by the State, and others awaiting relief from persecution to take their rightful place in the public forum.

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Deep waters do you personally know what your talking about.

Maddas, your question is a bit vague.

If you're asking whether I've ever been associated with a religious group that uses hallucinogenics as part of their religious experience - the answer is no.

If you're asking whether I've ever used organic psychedelics - the answer is yes.

Thanks for the correction, J-B.
Blake is an interesting case in that he was quite clearly a "mystic" but there's not so much as a suggestion that he ever indulged in hallucinogenics.
A "natural high" as it were.

Deep im glad you have touched on this topic because over the years ive met all kinds of people over the U.S. and in my travels and journeys Im sure no one wants to know my LOL (background or history) but i have ingested LSD and other hallucinogenics. I started at the age of 15 which was........uh 1985 when my parents left town for the weekend and i had the house all to myself (and they had a bitchin stereo system) plus it was spring break But I lost count of the doses in the year 1992 which at time i was upto 350 hits, at that point in time in my life i decided to quit counting....... hehe....but yes i think using hallucinogenics has really helped me to understand myself as a person and people even more the way life works around me and i wouldnt ever for a minute want to take back those times and wish that i hadnt............lol just my ramblings lol...Im sorry my roomate just got back transporting some 6pt. beer from Houston tonight and im feelin a little tipsy now !
cheers!!





lol i almost feel like im trippin now lol



[Edited on 13-5-2003 by thehippiedude]

Huxley's conclusions were of some interest.He believed that our brains have a sheild which stops us from being conscious of reality which would stop us from functioning efficiently.He believed that in some individuals including Blake and Van Gogh the shield was not as strong and their perception was clearer.He felt that hallucinogens artificially brought the shield down allowing reality to be perceived.

His book was basically a recording of a number of experiments he did on himself using an hallucinogen derived from cactus,he used LSD only once on his deathbed.In these experiments an assistant would read questions that Huxley had specified and then write down Huxley's responses.Then ,after he had reviewed his previous responses, he developed new question for his next trip ,probing into areas that interested him.Time and how it is perceived was of particular interest to him.When asked his perception of time he replies "It is there".This was back in the early 1950's.
Today scientist are still interested in time and it's properties.Recently an ancient Greek's(sorry I can't remember his name)idea that time does not,infact,exist in the flow we perceive was re-examined,begging the question that if time did not flow would humans have had to evolve a mechanism to perceive it as flowing to be able to function?

There is now proof that some elements at a quantum level appear to exist in different places at the same time.Originally it was thought that man's consciousness was responsible for making these elements appear where the scientist were looking but then an astounding idea arose.what if that particular element existed everywhere at every time?What if there were no time at all but just a Now?Containing everything with only the chemical makeup of our brains dividing us from a deluge of imformation which would surely drive any individual towards insanity.

[Edited on 13-5-2003 by John bull 1]

JB1, very interesting contributions about Huxley. I'm familiar with the name and believe he was an author, but have no further awareness of the man.

It's often said that hallucinogens produce a mind-expanding experience. One very common experience amongst experimenters is a religious or mystical one.

I assume that you're aware that Lewis Carrol's story about Alice in Wonderland appears to have an hallucinogenic connection. The famous picture of that figure sitting on top of an Amenita Mascaria mushroom smoking a hooka pipe is pretty obvious.

I was thinking about M.C. Escher the artist. His art seems to convey some personal experience with hallucinogens.

Musically, Jimi Hendrix was light years ahead of his time. He was known to ingest large quantities of hallucinogens also - but probably the synthetic variety, LSD.

[Edited on 13-5-2003 by deepwaters]

Here's an article I came across yesterday:

Since mankind decided to inhabit this green earth he has organized himself into religious communities which, have gone forth and and multiplied. a common link has been in seeking to understanding our connection to the "Universal Oneness" or "God Consciousness". It seems that the reason for this quest may even be embedded into our genes.

The Relationship between "psychoactive plants" and "mystical experience" Have been well documented. Surly altered states of mind have "great value" to the psyche and do appear to be opening canals to High States of Mind.

To summarize the use of "sacred herbs", "holy smoke", "ascending smoke" and "sacraments" has reference as far back to Mesopotamia the use of the "The Tree of Life" and "Soma". Exploration and experience of Religious and Spiritual awakenings were aided by the use of various "sacred herbs", "psychoactive herbs"

As human beings earthbound and without spiritual thought our feet firmly on the ground. But our minds reach out and up towards a high, higher or altered state of mind in connection with others a Collective Meeting of Minds, Spirit and Soul.

Buddhists (Tibet, China and India) Since the 5th century BC, Cannabis has formed an integral part within many ceremonies and is considered by many to be a most holy plant. Within many Buddhist scriptures are claims that the Buddha himself used and ate nothing other than Cannabis and it's seeds for six years before discovering his truths and becoming the Buddha.

Like the Tree of Life, the Tree of Knowledge was a symbol associated with the Goddess. The rites associated with her worship were designed to induce a consciousness open to the revelation of divine or mystical truths. In these rites cannabis and other magical plants were used, and women officiated as priestess's.

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Eye Mydriase.

The christallin of the retine dilates, which increase the luminous persistence retinienne causing hallucinations(LSD, Psylocibine).

I might be one of the only one on this board who have still "experience" hallucinogens drugs.

But I had an experience of meditation and zen before, so they didn't influence on my mind too much.

The celts and the gaelics are supposed to used the psylocibine mushroom in decoctions, to make a sort of "magical soup", in initiations rituals and before they go to battles also.

Some encense also, in the bible, are supposed to put the religious in a sort of transe.

Ascetism also put peoples in a sort of transe and also is hallucinogen...

Some peoples, also eat rotted fruits and vegetables to getting also in a sort of transe.

You see, there are many ways to having halucinations...

But the most powerfull one remain the LSD. The most dangerous also because LSD is not a drug for morons.

The LSD really increase the psychics abilities and peoples under that drug really can have telepathy.
I understand why the CIA was interested about the LSD in military and intelligence.

Yes, true but we mostly used Woad. And lots of it!

If you are interested in this subject I recomend a book called "Food of the Gods". I read it about 10 years ago while doing some research on shamanism. It's quite extensive in the entire history of the human race and psychotropics. i must admit it gets a bit dry at times but still very informative.