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or more learnedly...
The Shaman of Siberia and the Russian icon, St. Nicholas, both play parts in the tale of Christmas, providing clues as to where Christmas came from and why there are certain symbols associated with the holiday.
Siberian Shaman used/use the Amanita Muscaria (Mushroom) as a religious sacrament. They enter through an opening through the rooftops, traditionally, and bring these mushrooms with them in sacks.
They traditionally wear Red and White (The colors of the Mushroom).
Reindeer are native to Siberia, and eat these Entheogenic Mushrooms, which grow is a symbiotic/mycorrhizal relationship under... ready? Christmas trees.
Under the Christmas Tree, in nature, is the present. The Christmas tales showed us right where to look and even how to use this gift. These mushrooms MUST be dried or cooked before you eat them. There is an (Al)chemical reaction that takes place in the drying or cooking process. The Siberians (and others) used a fire to complete this necessary process. So if it is a necessary process there must be something in the tradition that tells us this. I did say that the traditions told us how to use them. The Siberians would string them up like popcorn on a string and hang them across the hearth of the fireplace to dry. So even the red and white stockings we put over the fireplace have a secret meaning.
One that along with the stringed popcorn lets us know that the presents need to be heated, dried or cooked.
Yes, this is only the tip of the proverbial iceburg.
These mushrooms have an incredible history, one that involves most of the world’s religions, mythologies and gods. In fact they are so significant that they may have over a thousand names attributed to them. They are anthropomorphised as many many gods, heros and mythical figures throughout history. Shrouded in mystery and obscured by secrecy these mushrooms have now found their way to the paper you are reading, and what a mystery it is.
The discovery was made through a synthesis of Theology, History, Biology, Botany, Mycology, Anthropology and simply a lot of curiosity. So now you know. Love it or hate it (Mycophile or Mycophobe) the present is revealed. There is much much more to the story, and it just gets better from here.
The Pharmacratic Inquisition must end. The War On Drugs is a modern-day witch-hunt.
What has happened to our country and the world for that matter? The established regime that would have you believe that spending all of your money and paying your churches to save your souls is what Christmas is all about are those same people who would not have you able to recognize what you have just read. These are not the only plants that have amazing connections with spirituality and religious/mythological history. There are many many more. The very culture that these original traditions which you have just read about came from use/used these gifts and many others, sometimes even combining them, and there is nothing wrong with that. The consciousness provided by these things is not something to be scoffed at and discarded. And it is certainly not something to be demonized or made illegal. It is in point of fact a matter of freedom, and even a matter of religious freedom to have the right to experience those plants that have been used by the many various cultures around the world throughout history. When these “presents” of nature and even these ‘Gifts from God’ are outlawed, mankind suffers. Nearly every Priest, Sage, Mage, Shaman, Medicine Man and Healer of an indigenous culture would be considered a criminal and imprisoned by today's standards. When those very things mankind has looked to for answers throughout its history are discarded and even criminalized there is something seriously wrong. When the truth is replaced by dogma there is alienation, sadness, despair and even suicide rather than happiness, compassion and real understanding.
Fortunately you are able to read this story, there are laws in the house getting ready to pass right now which could make this very article illegal. This means that the true meaning of Christmas may be lost forever to all future generations. That would indeed be the crime of the age.
Merry Christmas, James Arthur
(Some parts excerpted from the book “Mushrooms and Mankind” by James Arthur; published by: The Book Tree)
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Happy Winter Solstice to all my Pagan brethren!!
