amanitadine
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2009
- Messages
- 1,317
"In Ploughing the Clouds, Peter Lamborn Wilson suggests that the ancient Celts of Ireland may have possessed a “Soma” ceremony similar to one described in the Rig Veda, one of the oldest scriptures in the world. Written in India in 1500 BC, the Rig Veda praises a holy plant called Soma or “magic mushroom” that grants the drinker enlightenment and ecstasy. By comparing Celtic myth and folklore with the Rig Veda, he uncovers an Irish branch of the great Indo-European tradition of psychedelic (or “entheogenic”) shamanism, and even reconstructs some of its secret rituals. He uses this comparative material to illuminate the deep meaning of the Soma-function in all cultures: the entheogenic origin of “poetic frenzy,” the link between intoxication and inspiration."
I read this book years ago. IIRC, it was quite speculative, but interesting nonetheless.
No disrespect Dondante, as I've always really enjoyed your posts, but that book was a load of gobshite IME. And I still think wasson was off with soma being muscaria. For so many reasons. People get fixated on an idea, and ignore all evidence to the contrary. For example, soma was described as a branching plant. . .
Good post ismene.