Cannabis in Rituals of Modern Paganism and Neo-Druidism

The history of using cannabis in Pagan traditions spans thousands of years. In ancient China, cannabis was used in shamanic rituals and was believed to possess mystic properties of revelation. In India, it is associated with the god Shiva and considered a holy plant. Cannabis was also put into use in ancient Germanic Pagan traditions where it was burned as an offering to the gods.

Many Pagans and Neo-Druids rediscovered the spiritual potential of cannabis in the modern age. According to them, it represents a means of accessing alternative states of consciousness and relates them to nature. Others used it in ritualistic ceremonies dedicated to gods identified with nature itself, like the Horned God or the Green Man.

Neo-Druidism is the contemporary spiritual movement inspired by the ancient Celtic Druids. Many Neo-Druids include cannabis in their rituals as a deepening agent of nature and the divine.

Several techniques have been used involving cannabis in Neo-Druidic rituals:

• Smoking or vaporizing cannabis while meditating or working rituals for heightened focus and spiritual awareness
• Burning cannabis as an offering to the gods/desses or nature spirits
• Application of cannabis-infused oils or tinctures for ritual anointing or blessing
• Incorporating leaves or flowers into ritual garlands, wreaths, or other decorations

Some Neo-Druids consider cannabis a sacral plant, introducing the spirit of the Green Man—a nature deity living inside the plant, who possesses powers of growth and fertility. This vision holds that cannabis use puts them more in touch with this profound life force and in a better position to attune their lives more intimately with the rhythms of Nature.

Another use of cannabis has a history within Wicca and other forms of modern witchcraft in ritual and spiritual practice. To many Wiccans, Cannabis is a holy herb of Air and Venus. They could use it in spells for love, creativity, and inspiration.

Cannabis can be used in Wiccan rituals either as an offering to the gods and goddesses or for divination purposes. There is also a belief that smoking cannabis enables people to access psychic abilities and therefore communicate with spirits.

However, the use of cannabis in Wicca and witchcraft is not universal. Some traditions shun the use of mind-altering substances because it is believed that these drugs may interfere with spiritual growth and personal responsibility.

Shamanism represents a form of spiritual practice spanning time and space associated with entering altered states of consciousness in view of communicating with the spirit world. Cannabis has had a very long history of application in shamanic traditions around the globe.

Some indigenous shamans use cannabis to induce visions and communicate with spirits. They may smoke cannabis in sacred pipes or brew it into teas or other concoctions.

Modern shamans today use cannabis to access the spiritual realm for healing purposes. They believe it can open up the mind, letting in communion with the divine.

Many Pagans and Neo-Druids report deep spiritual experiences while using cannabis ritually. They describe, among others, feelings of unity with the divine—a sense of connection with nature and heightened awareness of the present moment.

Some users view cannabis as a de-egoizing tool, capable of facilitating, therefore, a sense of oneness with the universe. Some users use cannabis to augment meditation or induce mystic experiences.

However, it should not be forgotten that the spiritual effects of cannabis vary wildly from person to person. It is some people who find cannabis does wonders to their spiritual practice, others where it is simply an absolute distraction or damaging.

In addition to spiritual, cannabis is known for several physical and psychological effects. Some Pagans and Neo-Druids believe cannabis can help to relax, relieve stress, and thus alleviate physical discomfort.

But a word of caution is always advisable, along with being ever conscious of the risks arising from cannabis use. Cannabis affects judgment and coordination; it has negative effects on mental health, especially for people with a history of anxiety or depression.

The use of cannabis in such Pagan and Neo-Druidic rituals has not been without controversy. Some hold that a real need for the use of mind-altering substances, especially as a spur to spiritual growth, does not exist—stagnation or hindrance. Others indicate that the use of cannabis is still illegal in most countries of the world, raising questions about the legality and morality of using it within religious and spiritual contexts.

Despite all this, many modern Pagans and Neo-Druids now explore the spiritual potential of cannabis. They view it as a sacrament that will help them feel the divine within themselves and in the world around them.

The role of cannabis within modern Paganism and Neo-Druidism is, at best, a complex and shifting issue. Some embrace the herb of cannabis as holy; others may view it skeptically or even with alarm. In the final analysis, using cannabis within a spiritual context will be a personal decision each person must decide for himself or herself.

As legal and social landscapes around cannabis change, it will be interesting to note how this development affects its place in Pagan and Neo-Druidic traditions. Now, most of its adherents just continue to discover the spiritual potential of this ancient and enigmatic plant.