The origins of cannabis smoking: evidence from the first millennium BCE (2019)

Re:The origins of cannabis smoking: evidence from the first ... by codetrotter on Friday November 12, 2021 @04:57AM (#29197769)

Also, does anyone else think that Seraphs and Ophanims must surely have been seen by someone who was either under the influence of drugs, or who was hallucinating for other reasons?

> A seraph (/ˈsɛrəf/, "the burning one"; plural seraphim /ˈsɛrəfɪm/) is a type of celestial or heavenly being originating in Ancient Judaism. The term plays a role in subsequent Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seraph

> The ophanim (Hebrew: אוֹפַנִּים ʿōp̄annīm, "wheels"; singular: אוֹפָן ʿōp̄ān), alternatively spelled auphanim or ofanim, and also called galgalim (Hebrew: גַּלְגַּלִּים galgallīm, "spheres", "wheels", "whirlwinds"; singular: גַּלְגַּל galgal), refer to the wheels seen in Ezekiel's vision of the chariot (Hebrew merkabah) in Ezekiel 1:15–21. One of the Dead Sea scrolls (4Q405) construes them as angels; late sections of the Book of Enoch (61:10, 71:7) portray them as a class of celestial beings who (along with the Cherubim and Seraphim) never sleep, but guard the throne of God.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophanim

I mean, look at renditions of what those beings would look like.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ophanim&tbm=isch

https://www.google.com/search?q=seraph+bible+accurate&tbm=is...

Lots of geometric repetition and shapes that all seem like they were taken straight out of a DMT trip or something.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:The origins of cannabis smoking: evidence from the first ... by Loveaway on Friday November 12, 2021 @05:23AM (#29197884)

My hunch is Acacia trees as a source of DMT, which are common in the region. Many mosques in particular are also decorated with colorful geometrical patterns all over. It's a bit of a mystery though, mushrooms have been pretty much ruled out, but Ancient Greeks speak of some sort of psychedelic wine, which is not much known about. Ergot from agriculture could be another suspect, but Ergot isn't exactly a great psychedelic by itself.

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Re:The origins of cannabis smoking: evidence from the first ... by mizaru on Friday November 12, 2021 @06:03AM (#29198081)

In case somebody wonders, the Greek drink in question is Kykeon [1] which was consumed during the Eleusinian Mysteries [2].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kykeon

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleusinian_Mysteries

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Re:The origins of cannabis smoking: evidence from the first ... by znowcone on Friday November 12, 2021 @05:24AM (#29197892)

Absolutely. For example people who have taken 5-MeO-DMT report having profound religious-like experiences. Some say if there's a god then you can talk to him through tryptamines.

I'd really like to know how much of religion comes from psychedelia.

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Re:The origins of cannabis smoking: evidence from the first ... by celticninja on Friday November 12, 2021 @09:48AM (#29199732)

Religion, probably very little. Religious experiences probably very many.

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Re:The origins of cannabis smoking: evidence from the first ... by quantified on Friday November 12, 2021 @01:03PM (#29202485)

Santa Claus coming down the chimney has been suggested to be a metaphor for the shaman with his Amanita Muscaria entering your yurt around the firepit at its mouth.

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Re:The origins of cannabis smoking: evidence from the first ... by rfd4sgmk8u on Friday November 12, 2021 @04:45PM (#29204906)

One probably does not want the raw agarics without passing through a reindeer bladder first. Which is why Santa has 7 of em! Always found this metaphor quite funny.

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