Jesus of Nazareth...a Healer of the Shamanic Tradition?
A Christmas Edition of the Psychedelic Blog.
In his widely acclaimed book, 'The Immortality Key,' Brian C. Muraresku delves into the intriguing role that Psychedelics played in the early days of Christianity. This fascinating history, shrouded in secrecy & concealed by the Vatican for centuries, prompts us to contemplate a thought-provoking question: Could Jesus have been a Shaman?
In his 1970 book, 'The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross,' John M. Allegro presents a provocative theory regarding the origins of religions. Allegro suggests that ancient cultures often turned to visionary plants, a practice that may have influenced the formation of religions. Surprisingly, even Christianity is not exempt from this notion. According to Allegro, he posits that the Eucharist, a central sacrament in Christianity, might have been connected to Amanita Muscaria, a psychoactive fungus. Additionally, Allegro speculates that the people of Nazareth during Jesus's time might have been using Psilocybin.
Meanwhile, in ancient Greece, the use of Psychedelics was not uncommon. They employed a psychoactive beverage known as the 'Kykeon.' Notable figures such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle participated in Psychedelic ceremonies called 'The Eleusinian Mysteries.' These rituals spanned from 1450 BC to 392 AD, overlapping with the era of Jesus.
The question arises: Was Jesus solely the son of God, or could he have achieved a heightened state of consciousness through the use of Psychedelics, facilitating a profound connection with & inspiration for his community? Could it be a combination of both divine calling & altered states of consciousness? Dr. Gabor Mate’s insights from his 2022 book, 'The Myth of Normal,' offer an intriguing perspective on this complex matter.
Upon his arrival in Peru, alongside two dozen other Physicians, to embark on an Ayahuasca journey with the Shipibo tribe, Dr. Mate received unexpected & disheartening news. The Shamans approached his tent & delivered a rather somber message — they informed him that his energy was too dark to participate in the Ayahuasca ceremony alongside his fellow physicians. They believed that his presence could adversely affect the collective experience with the sacred plant medicine.
Dr. Mate's own life story adds depth to this intriguing encounter. Born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1944, he carried the heavy weight of family trauma from a very young age. At just five months old, his maternal grandparents were tragically killed in Auschwitz. His father, meanwhile, was subjected to forced labor by the Nazi party, and his aunt mysteriously disappeared during the war. In these formative years of his life, he contends, he absorbed the profound pain & fear that his mother was enduring, resulting in incessant crying & distress.
Here's the enigma: The Shipibo Shamans had no knowledge of Dr. Mate's personal history. All they knew was that he was a doctor from Vancouver. Yet, they possessed an uncanny ability to perceive something within him, a darkness or turmoil that was not immediately apparent. What was it that they sensed? What energy or resonance did they detect that would elude almost all of us? Could it be that Jesus, in his time, possessed a similar intuitive capacity, one that was perceived as something godlike due to the limited understanding of such abilities during that era?
Consider the profound impact of embarking on a Psilocybin journey 2,000 years ago. Picture yourself living a nomadic existence, engaged in the ceaseless struggle for survival — hunting, foraging, and striving to ensure the continuation of your lineage. Each day, you confront the stark realities of violence, predation, hunger, and the capricious forces of nature. Yet, your understanding of the world is limited; you lack explanations for the daily rising & setting of the sun and the mysterious appearance of a myriad of bright celestial bodies in the night sky.
Now, imagine a scenario where a trusted & seemingly wise member of your community offers you a mushroom, all while expounding upon the word of God. Within the span of just an hour, your perception transforms. Your senses are inundated with mesmerizing geometric shapes & intricate patterns. Motor function eludes you, and you find yourself surrendering to the experience, rolling around on the ground beneath you. You enter a trance-like state, shedding the boundaries of your own identity. The fear of imminent mortality, which had been an ever-present companion, temporarily gives way to sensations of bliss, interconnectedness, and profound love. In this transcendent state, you feel the palpable presence of the divine.
Now, consider your return to objective reality. What conclusions might you draw from this extraordinary journey? How would your relationship with the individual who bestowed this mystical experience upon you be transformed? It stands to reason that you would regard this person as a savior, someone who possessed knowledge beyond the earthly realm — a conduit to a higher power, offering answers to the enigmatic questions that have long perplexed humanity. Naturally, you would be inclined to believe & embrace anything this extraordinary figure had to convey. I suspect gifting someone a mystical experience would be an incredibly effective mechanism in converting them to your belief system.
I want to make it abundantly clear that I am not proposing that Jesus was not the son of God; I do not possess the knowledge to confirm or refute such an assertion. However, it is plausible that Psychedelics played a role in his spiritual journey, which ultimately contributed to his significant influence and, subsequently, his untimely demise. I speculate that he may have lived life in a heightened state of consciousness, akin to the intuition demonstrated by the Shipibo Shamans — an intuition that would have been incomprehensible to the people of his era. In that different time & cultural context, such exceptional qualities could indeed have elevated him to a status perceived as godlike. What do you think?
Hope everyone reading this enjoys a Holiday Season full of love, bliss & connection!
-AW
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I am thoroughly intrigued by the provocative perspectives you offer in your weekly blog. Peace to you during this holiday season!
Felix Navidad!