#63 Cannabis - The Lost Sacrament of the Ancient World - Chris Bennett

What this episode covers

Chris Bennett has been researching the historical role of cannabis in the spiritual life of humanity for more than a three decades. He is co-author of Green Gold the Tree of Life: Marijuana in Magic and Religion (1995); Sex, Drugs, Violence and the Bible (2001); and author of Cannabis and the Soma Solution (2010); Liber 420: Cannabis, Magickal herbs and the Occult (2018); and Cannabis: Lost Sacrament of the Ancient World (2023) . He has also contributed chapters on the the historical role of cannabis in spiritual practices in books such as The Pot Book (2010), Entheogens and the Development of Culture (2013), Seeking the Sacred with Psychoactive Substances (2014), One Toke Closer to God (2017), Cannabis and Spirituality (2016) and Psychedelics Reimagined (1999). Bennett’s research has received international attention from the BBC , Guardian, Sunday Times, Washington Post, Vice and other media sources. He currently resides in Nova Scotia, Canada. Summary Chris Bennett discusses his extensive research on cannabis and its historical, spiritual, and cultural significance. He critiques contemporary narratives surrounding psychedelics, particularly the mainstream acceptance of works like ’The Immortality Key,’ while emphasizing the overlooked role of cannabis in ancient religious practices. Bennett shares his personal journey into cannabis research, the impact of monotheism on ancient practices, and the Gnostic perspective on spirituality. He reflects on the nature of consciousness, the influence of belief systems, and the future of cannabis in spiritual contexts. He describes his newest book Cannabis - The Lost Sacrament of the Ancient World.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Chris Bennett and His Work 03:30 The Immortality Key and Its Controversies 06:19 Cannabis in Ancient Cultures and Religion 09:15 Personal Journey and Early Experiences with Cannabis 12:18 The Historical Context of Cannabis Use 15:24 The Gnostic Perspective on Spirituality 18:07 The Role of Cannabis in Early Christianity 21:28 The Nag Hammadi Library and Its Significance 34:20 The Sacred Feminine and Cannabis in Ancient Myths 37:12 Cannabis and the Goddess: A Historical Perspective 40:13 The Gnostic Texts and Their Implications 42:29 Collective Consciousness and Spirituality 47:10 The Role of Cannabis in Modern Spirituality 51:31 The Dangers of Righteous Belief Systems 54:51 The Nature of Reality and Consciousness 58:19 The Influence of Religion on Society 01:01:02 Final Thoughts and Legacy 01:04:53 Podcast exit terence  - 8:9:24, 8.01 PM.mp3 Chris Bennett’s New Book- https://a.co/d/i3py0eO https://www.instagram.com/chris_bennett420/?hl=en Keywords Chris Bennett, cannabis, spirituality, ancient religions, Gnosticism, monotheism, consciousness, healing, historical context, belief systems, Marijuana, Ancient civilization, Psychedelics, Psychedelic, Hidden history, Ancient History, Music for every episode  Intro and exit music used: Strange the dreamer by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@savfkmusic   Connect with Ryan Anderson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awonderjunkie/ awonderjunkie.com Breathe4Flow.com Rumble https://rumble.com/user/awonderjunkie Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@awonderjunkie iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-wondejunkie/id1739838765 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1CcQXpxfV9P89IrKmtV2hS?si=6519a88aef444ba0