Re: Cannabis and does BardonPraxis combine with shaman rituals?

["metaphysics0000" <crispinp@...>]

Dear Rawn,
Thank you for your reply, it's very enlightening. I must confess that
planetary associations (to do with Quaballah I presume) confuse me -
but I can now tell people knowledgeably that they are smoking Venus
and Mercury Marijuana :) It is also interesting to learn that the
plant is particularely sensitive and intelligent.
Thanks,
M

P.S. Thanks to everyone else for your responses aswell

--- In BardonPraxis@yahoogroups.com, "Rawn Clark" <rawnclark@n...> wrote:
> Dear M.,
> 
> >> Does this mean that at some stage in your development you turn onto a
> permanent cannabis like trip? <<
> 
> ;-) Not exactly, no. One distinct difference is the fact that with
> cannabis (or any other such mind altering substance), you can't turn the
> heightened perception and mental functioning, on and off at will.
> Unless, that is, you've developed very strong mental discipline.
> 
> >> Also, does anybody know how this plant could help Magic studies? - I
> am thinking about trying it. <<
> 
> The planetary associations of this herb are Venus and Mercury, which
> well describes its ability to pleasantly ease open the mind and create a
> certain harmony between emotion and rational intellect. This can lead
> to either positive or negative effects. For example, it can inspire
> your mind or it can put you in a stupor.
> 
> Which pole it manifests depends upon many factors, foremost of which is
> the nature of the individual ingesting it. The effects of cannabis upon
> the human body vary greatly from person to person and from strain to
> strain. Some strains of cannabis WILL put you in a stupor, no matter
> what! ;-) And other strains will barely effect your body, while vastly
> liberating your mind.
> 
> The living cannabis plant itself is very intelligent and highly
> sensitive to the "vibe" surrounding it. It has a great affinity for
> humanity and has been used by human beings for unknown thousands of
> years, as everything from food, to clothing, to medicine. It's only
> been over the past several decades that it has been grown under some
> pretty bizarre conditions and often with all kinds of nasty chemicals
> involved. All of these things change the herb from its pristine state
> due to its intelligence and sensitivity. [The primary psychoactive
> parts of the cannabis flower are housed in a crystalline form, which is
> ideal for capturing "vibes", so to speak.] So it's important (for
> magical use) to ingest only organically grown cannabis, preferably grown
> outdoors with loving care.
> 
> While cannabis offers many good attributes, the main negative in terms
> of magical training, is the issue of not being able to turn its effect
> on and off at will. During the training, it's *vitally* important that
> you learn how to reach the mental states you need to reach *on your own,
> by your own will and not become dependant upon cannabis as a crutch to
> reach those states*.
> 
> This is especially important during the Step One mental exercises. If
> you do these while you still have the effects of cannabis in your
> system, then you will not be observing your *normal* state of mind in
> the first exercise; will not be gaining control over your *normal* state
> of mind (which has a few different rules than the mind on cannabis!) in
> the second exercise; and will not learn how to reach a VOM from a
> *normal* state of mind in the third exercise.
> 
> It can also interfere with the development of the Step Two, sensory
> concentrations. These exercises really must be mastered with the
> normally functioning mind, otherwise a dependence upon the cannabis can
> easily develop and you'll find yourself unable to visualize, audiolize,
> etc., when you're not high.
> 
> But once you've achieved strong mental discipline, this is not so much
> of an issue so long as you do learn to master the exercises without the
> help of the cannabis.
> 
> I find Cannabis to be a very friendly, pleasant and beneficial herb. It
> is not however, a replacement for hard work, nor is it a short cut.
> 
> My best to you,
> :) Rawn Clark
> 03 Jul 2003
> rawnclark@n...
> rawn@a...
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