Marijuana and the the influence of nature on conciousness, sacrament or sacrelidge ?

[Marc]

Many have found epiphany in what the plant kingdom has offered us, but for others it can become a limiting cloud. What roles can the offerings from our natural surroundings play in our awakening ? What are your life experiences that inform this line of contemplation ?

[James Murff]

Bob Marley," Herb? herb is the healing of the nation, seen? Once you smoke herb, you all must think alike. Now if you thinking alike, dat mean we 'pon the same track. If we 'pon the same track, that mean we gonna unite."

Not trying to bust on Marley, but I don't believe that everyone can have the same mind, even if they are smoking a bowl of the finest hashish known to man. If they did it would be a boring world. I live in the south, and I have to hear racism on a daily basis, almost. But I can't tell them they should think like me, and not be racist. I can only try myself to have a balance for my own little place in the world. I don't follow any particular way, except my own. I think that this is our problem in the world as people. We try and change each other too much. This is why I was shunned from 7 churches, because I didn't want to follow their path to righteousness. The hippy ideals were cool to think by, but I have to live in the real world and pay bills, do taxes. I write music, and I write poetry about a better world, and hopefully this website is my key to letting some of that out, but I don't expect to try and change anyone. Think for yourself.

[Emilio J]

I'd like to make this comment on the use of Marijuana. I'd hate to sound like an advocate for it's use, but ever since, I took my first toke, which was in my late teens, as a member of a NYC Street Band, I found it's use to increase my musical creativity and awareness. I've yet to meet a musician, that hasn't experimented with it's use !

[Marc]

Thanks for your input Emilio, I hope you got read everyone else's comments too.

[James Murff]

Legality is the only real concern to me about any drug or plant. Why should the government tell us what is good or bad for us? As adults we are responsible for our own actions.

I agree totally with this statement. There should be no laws against people smoking it. That is a fact. The laws regarding victimless crimes are abhorent, misguided, and uncalled for.

[Marc]

As I see the comments here slow down, and the ideas expressed come into focus for many of us, I am going to close this discussion. thus, in the next several days I'll look again and then close it.

[Lil]

I happen to think this one is a very slippery slope. I used to include it in my day everyday and I didn't feel it limited me or kept me from achieving my goals in any way. Then the tides changed..or my body did...and it gave me horrendous anxiety attacks. I had to stop but still judged no one who used it. But I have seen that some people who include as a part of their daily ritual have other negative side effects. A good friend of mine gets positively nothing done when he smokes, another just gets positively stupid. For others the positive aspects of it are great. An extremely hyper friend of mine is able to relax and travel at a much slower pace than she would if she didn't. And then there are also the medical benefits for those with serious illnesses and diseases. There's pros and cons to it. I think it's a personal issue for those who wish to include it in their lives. But the question is can everybody be honest enough with themselves to see how marijuana effects them? Because one a person can't do that then i think it leans more towards the sacrilege.

[Lil]

Good point Anne. In all honesty for the most part I'd say no. For the simple that a good majority of the people whom I personally know who did get or still do get dont necessarily have the super sharp eagle eye needed to watch younger children. Again there are those select few for whom the effects of marijuana are helpful and don't "dull the edges" that I could still trust to do a wonderful job. But those people seem to be the minority in my sphere of knowledge.

Another thing I'd like to bring up that I mentioned to somebody earlier is that it is actually a shame that marijuana has the reputation that it does. I think if scientists put as much energy into studying it as the do the worlds "modern" and "miracle" drugs some very useful and enlightening information might possibly be found. But again that's just my personal thought. I'll probably never smoke or otherwise ingest again yet I can't help but think it is indeed a plant from the earth...and if positive uses could be found from it as opposed to other chemical options I think it would be a nice option for people to have.

[Marc]

Dear Lil and Anne,
my intention in this discussion is to bring about a kind of unified understanding, of the benefits and detriments of this activity. This is in my heart, because I believe that we need a clear message for the future. Part of architecture is creating instructions or a blueprint for how we can build this together. Do either of you think it is possible for you to weave together a kind of message, that places this plant in it's proper alignment with our movement?

If we had a manual for how to design a better future, what would the chapter on marijuana or other plants which influence our consciousness say ?

I have a understanding forming for myself, which I will ultimately weave together here, but I feel we all have something to contribute. so I am interested in what you might say.

Do you, either of you, feel like you could come up with such a chapter, or message which is comprehensive?

[Lil]

I've pondered that Marc. And I honestly think that any substance plant or otherwise that alters one's consciousness is so personal to the person using it that it would be close to impossible for any one person to create a comprehensive chapter about them. Such things effect every single person differently and even then at different phases of their lives it effects them differently then it did before. I think all anybody can do is offer their personal experiences, pros and cons.

As I've said before I think marijuana has its positive uses and its negative uses. And again these vary from person to person. Having said all of that I have reached a point in my life where I wonder why with the exception of grave illness or disease one would want to alter their consciousness. Life may have its ups and downs but it is truly an amazing experience with so much to teach us if only we'd open our eyes, ears, and hearts and learn. Standing at the top of my summit looking down at the mountains, trees, lake, and sky around me does so much more for me than any conscious altering plant ever could. It makes me feel blessed and I wonder if I could feel that way if I were anywhere else than truly present and inside myself.

I do appreciate what you are trying to accomplish here though and it was nice to have something to give my brain something to work at. I will definitely keep reading to see what else others...who may definitely be more wise than I am...have to say.

[Dawn]

This is a serious subject and going to take more study. And I am fully prepared to do that. I am going to go catch a buzz and get back to you on this. :)

Peace, Dawn

[Claudine Sada]

The plant kingdom offers a diversity in beauty-medical-nutritious plants- The Creator made it all to be used not abused. It becomes a limiting cloud when your "nature" depends on it to function or even to enlightment. I get high or I rather say exalted under a starry Caribbean night. At the sight of a spectacular sunrise or sunset, at the sight of a school of dolphins swimming by... Take time and listen to the grass grow. Lie down on the earth and search the bluest part or the grayest part of the sky. Cry for your bethren's pain, laugh at yourself and at the innocence of mankind. Shake your head in disbelief at those who think they are mightier than Mother Earth or Father Sky. But hey sometimes I use the plants (only natural plants-no man-made chemically changed) to meditate and fly higher. The moment you find yourself needing more than 2-3 puffs. Stop! rethink! You have lost your natural - that inner power to Peace, Love and Light!

[Dawn]

I couldn't have said it better. That was beautifully put. :)

Peace, Dawn

Claudine Sada said:

The plant kingdom offers a diversity in beauty-medical-nutritious plants- The Creator made it all to be used not abused. It becomes a limiting cloud when your "nature" depends on it to function or even to enlightment. I get high or I rather say exalted under a starry Caribbean night. At the sight of a spectacular sunrise or sunset, at the sight of a school of dolphins swimming by... Take time and listen to the grass grow. Lie down on the earth and search the bluest part or the grayest part of the sky. Cry for your bethren's pain, laugh at yourself and at the innocence of mankind. Shake your head in disbelief at those who think they are mightier than Mother Earth or Father Sky. But hey sometimes I use the plants (only natural plants-no man-made chemically changed) to meditate and fly higher. The moment you find yourself needing more than 2-3 puffs. Stop! rethink! You have lost your natural - that inner power to Peace, Love and Light!