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One of the most diverse forms of practice shamanism conjures images of witch doctors, voodoo priest and barbaric rites. More clearly defined as a tradition than a pagan path shamanism has a very long history and is the heart of all pagan magicks. Shamanism is a ancient and natural form of magick untouched to some extent from modern day magick and neo pagan influences.

The heart of a shaman is personal experience learning to battle demons personal and spiritual to gain knowledge both personal and spiritual as well as learning magick skills that are taught through communion with higher spirits and deities.

Shamanic practices are present in all pagan path that being said a large number of pagans are now choosing to call themselves simple Shaman and to follow a shamanic path.

Shamans will often spend a majority of their time seeking visions in solitude mostly in natural surroundings commonly known as vision questing, during which time a shaman will gain spiritual knowledge of plants and herbs through communion with plants, they will even meet guides and totems to aid them in magickal workings.

The central belief of shamans is that everything contains a spirit from the smallest grain of sand to the largest mountain, animals, plants even the elements have their own spirits and through training a shaman will be able to communicate with these spirit to gain alliances, gain information or do battle and defeat said spirits. The trained shaman will act as an intermediary between the earth realm and spirit world he or she will act as guide for others, healer or diviner.

It is common for shaman to use mind altering substances to help lift them into the spirit world, the term “mind altering substances” may include ritual herbs with psychotropic elements but more likely to dancing and drumming, fasting or sweat lodge

A quote from Shamanic Voices by Joan Halifax

‘Shamans are healers, seers, and visionaries. .. They are in communication with the world of gods and spirits. Their bodies can be left behind while they fly to unearthly realms. They are poets and singers. They dance and create works of art. They are familiar with cosmic as well as physical geography; they know the ways of plants, animals, and the elements. They are psychologists, entertainers, and food finders. Above all, however, shamans are technicians of the sacred and masters of ecstasy.’

Due to the rise in the interest in Shamanic Practices more information has become available and there has been a huge rise in the numbers of Shamanic groups offering training.

Since due to shamanic practices are in there purest form are part of tribal culture and accessibility due to culture and location are limited making pure shamanism much less accessible as a pagan path, Modern shamanic paths are based from known shamanic practices from sociological and anthropological studies as well as reconstructions from historical accounts from traditional cultures such as The Native tribes of America.

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Originally posted 2011-04-05 02:39:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Mind altering substances and practices have always been a part of paganism from the earliest of times, ancient pagan mixed herbs and plants for ingestion or application or even as incense.

These herbs and plants where used by priest, priestess, and shamans too help encourage visions or change their mental state so that they could directly contact the divine source, Higher spirits or spirits on who they could call on the aid in their works.

Many of these herbs and plants where hallucinogenic or have psychotropic properties. These mind-altering substances are used today as recreational drugs or as pharmaceutical drugs to treat illness.

The big question regarding drugs and legal or illegal in neo pagan paths is a matter of ethics. Although as part of reclaiming our heritage we have to understand that these herbs have benefits and a uses.

According to Carlos Castaneda in his books he spent the beginning of his training under Yaqui shaman Don Juan Matus using drugs so that he could learn what is was like to connect the forces and forms of the divine, he claims that the drugs where used just to shift his perception just enough so he could see, after he new what he was looking for drugs where no longer used as he could then reach the state of mind where he could recall the feelings and senses that he experience. He claims that each hallucinogenic induced session was like gaining the pieces of a map to the available natural spirits and powers and once the map was completed the hallucinogens where no longer need to see the pathways.

The oracle of Delphi who was one of the most famous and accurate Oracles is claimed to of gained her insights from hallucinogenic vapours, which emanated from the 2 faults under the temple. There is academical evidence to support the fact that the Oracle was tripping comes from a reported in Geology magazine, which reveals that two faults intersect directly below the Delphic temple and the study also found evidence of hallucinogenic gases rising from a nearby spring and preserved within the temple rock.

It is also claimed that the much of the witchcraft hysteria during the burning times could have been a result of ergot a fungus produced on Rye and other cereals which produces Ergotism in humans and animals.

The symptoms of Ergotism symptoms include painful seizures and spasms, diarrhoea, paresthesias, itching, headaches, nausea and vomiting as well as hallucinations similar to LSD. All these symptoms at the time would have been seen as bewitchments. It is also believed that the reason why many of the accounts of flying of to Sabbats and having orgies with the devil and demons share similar traits is due to the fact that a similar concoction was used similar to a flying ointment, Flying Ointment a highly dangerous concoction of poisonous plants which was mixed with fats and applied to the body and broomstick would give the ware power of flight, In experiments where these potions have been used researchers and have been tested on live subject whom in questioning on their experiences have expressed the feeling of flight or flying or of travelling also they experienced vivid feeling of sexual arousal (this is likely to be due to the fact that this ointment would be applied to or come in contact with the genitals). It was found that subject reports showed similarities to some confessions gained during the witchcraft trials.

Even today many tribal cultures where magicks still has a place in the day to day the shaman / shawoman or holy man or woman will often ingest herbs which will cause a psychotropic effect which when mixed with ritual and drum beat will help the sha-person or holy person reach a state where they are able to communicate with the spirits.

The states that are created when natural drugs (legal and illegal) are used can be recreated to some extent without the help drugs, Things like fasting, cord magicks and dancing to exhaustion can raise the spiritual conciseness to a higher plane in the same sense as drugs.

Drugs play a major part of modern witchcraft and the reclaiming of the traditions and before everyone goes all Mr Mackey (Drugs ‘R’ bad) they bring about change whether as mind altering substances or a healing cures and medicines or poisons. A good witch will know how sometimes by instinct, which plants, or mix of plants should be used for healing purposes.

It is very important for any pagan, neo pagan, witch, Wiccan or any one dealing with plants for healing and other purposed to understand the law and let deal only with natural drugs or what I consider to be a natural drug.

So lets start with natural drugs: what is a natural drug? It is a plant which only requires chopping, blending with other plants,being dried, boiled or burnt / heated to release it benefits an un Natural drug is something that has been chemically reproduced or is designed some drugs can fall into both categories.

Examples

Name	Natural version	Unnatural version
Aspirin (legal)	Willow bark	Aspirin tablets
Cannabis (illegal)	Cannabis herbal such as Weed, grass, sensi etc	Cannabis resins such as soap bar, leb, rocky etc
nb. Legal issues if you prescribe a drug without correct legal right to do so will open you up to prosecution

Each country has its laws on drugs and no matter your views on drugs you will have to abide by that countries laws if you live or visit that country.

Since I live in the UK I will look at the law and it interpretations so let start with a definition:-

1. Drug

a. A substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or as a component of a medication.

b. Such a substance as recognized or defined by the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

2. A chemical substance, such as a narcotic or hallucinogen, that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in behaviour and often addiction

In the UK we have 2 laws that cover drugs the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and The Medicines Act 1968 and without knowledge a witch can end up breaking the law and find themselves open to prosecution and a jail sentence. In the UK as far as the drug laws go there are huge loopholes, which can turn into a noose. Magic Mushrooms! There is not law preventing you picking them but dry them out and you could face 7 years in prison and a fine if you have too many your sentence could be life under the Misuse of Drugs act 1971 and with the same silliness you have a friend who is stress you say drink camomile tea nothing but say I would prescribe camomile tea in the morning and evening one cup when you wake and one before retiring you can face prosecution under the Medicines Act 1968.

When you deal with herbs plants etc for healing purposes you have an obligation not just to the people that visit you but also to your self to be aware of the law ignorance is not a get out.

I hope that this will encourage all you that read that plants have benefits as well as their flaws and the issues of drugs and magicks are not as simples as they seem.

The issue of drugs in the community has an impact on life and that is an issue that should hit every heart.

On a serious note if your casting a circle with a joint rather than a wand you have a problem! drug issues can effect everyone around you and the more you connect with a drug the less you connect with the magicks Carlos Castaneda explains this in his books.

If you need help or advice on drugs in a pagan life or daily lifecontact:-

Frank http://www.talktofrank.com/section.aspx?ID=108

Pagan federation http://www.paganfed.org/ (sorry can only give home page but call you local group and I am sure that someone will be able to put you in touch with someone one)

The priory http://www.priorygroup.com/

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