|
Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments:
An Entheogen Chrestomathy
Thomas B. Roberts, Ph.D. and Paula Jo Hruby, Ed.D.
Author Index | Title Index
Green Gold the Tree of Life Marijuana in Magic & Religion.
Bennett, Chris; Osborn, Lynn; and
Frazier Park, CA: Access Unlimited.
ISBN: 0-9629872-2-0
Description: Paperback
original, iv + 487 pages.
Contents: Acknowledgments,
introduction, 22 chapters, afterword by George Clayton Johnson,
appendix: Tree
of Knowledge and the Sacred Drink of Immortality, The Goddess
and the Tree of Life, Better
Living Through Alchemy, Bhang
& Majoon Recipes, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, list
of illustrations, bibliography, index.
Excerpt(s): Hemp has
played a prominent role in the development of the religions and
civilizations of Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. The
insights gained from the marijuana high by the ancient worshippers
were considered to be of divine origin and the plant itself an
"angel" or messenger of the gods. The sacramental use
of marijuana predates written history and this tradition continues
with diverse tribes in Africa, certain Hindu sects, Moslem fakirs
and Rastafarians, as well
as modern Occultists and Pagans. Indeed, marijuana
has been employed for insights and ecstasy by members of virtually
every major religion in history. (page 4)
Knowledge and use of the sacred cannabis Tree of
Life predates the oldest deciphered written records. The Hindus
of India took this knowledge with them when they left the Hindu
Kush mountains. The traditions continued with the ancient Egyptians,
the Zoroastrians
( Persia revered cannabis, the
white Haoma, along with the Tree of All Seed. The Scythians,
enigmatic Magi of the North, and their trading partners the Thracians,
spread this information throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.
(page 422)
Perhaps, as Dr. Aldrich seems
to suggest, our quest to partake in the cannabis Tree of Life
unmolested, is the same story that has been told since Gilgamesh
found and lost the flower of eternity over five thousand years
ago. Perhaps it is the same story depicted on the Scythian carpet
found with two censers containing burnt cannabis residues, which
has the repeated design of a horseman approaching the Great goddess
who holds the Tree of Life in one hand. Perhaps it is the same
story as that of Parzifal's Quest for the Holy
Grail.
The collective desire to obtain the Tree of Life
is an expression of our deepest yearnings to
know the Great Mystery beyond beginnings and endings, compounded
with the desire to escape the endless cycle of titillations and
antagonisms of the senses teasing us in the Great Mysterious Cosmos
of Existence. (pages 422-423)
Compilation copyright © 1995 – 2001 CSP
|