Why Is Cannabis Called “Santa Maria” In Medicine Circles?
It's simple to understand the link between cannabis and spirituality. The physical feeling of a marijuana buzz, or “high,” can accompany a spiritual experience, and vice-versa. For some, being high is a purely physical experience, and for others, it's a way of connecting with the divine. Here's my thinking.
Bob Marley's music was my introduction to Rastafarianism, one of the religions honoring cannabis as a sacred plant medicine.
If you haven't been “high” before, you might imagine a butterfly emerging from its caterpillar state.
According to a friend I know who studies the Rastafarian religion, ganja is celebrated as a sacred plant medicine that “reveals us to ourselves.” These are her words. She also told me that the youthful Rastas are the ones who integrate cannabis, because they're getting to know themselves, whereas the elders are already self-aware. To them, using marijuana to get high is condemned, because it is called the holy herb or the wisdom weed.
I resonate with these ideas. To me, cannabis shows me my Nature. It reminds me of who I am. It lightens up the Higher Self in me. I feel blissful, in these instances. I feel light-hearted, excited, and filled with wonder, like a child. I often have the inclination to express joy through singing, or going outdoors, or roller skating through a grocery store. ;)
“Santa Maria”
The Story
I remember my first time being high. A friend and I were on a roadie, driving on a 50 mph country road, having a great conversation. And eventually, my friend asked me, “Aren't we driving a little slow?” I checked the speedometer. We were going 15 mph! LOL! I asked this friend if I could pay him something in exchange for the fun time we had, and he said, “Nah, man, it's like the grass. It grows freely. It's a gift.”
As a marijuana enthusiast, I've ripped the bong, inhaled the Volcano vaporizer, smoked two joints before I smoked two joints, waked and baked, hosted a pot luck with incredible edibles... I even worked a few days as a marijuana haircutter. Eventually I found my way to the medicinal tincture, which I love! And nowadays, I always consecrate this medicine as “Santa Maria,” because I believe the herb is a gift from her, and it's a symbol of her love.
I drew her once, and I'll draw her again.
There's something very angelic in this Saint Mary person, as well as in this sacred herb.
Willie Nelson and his music opens hearts here in Austin, Texas, just as his marijuana advocacy does the same.
This thinking is in alignment with another worldwide religion I'm aware of, called Santo Daime, in which the cannabis is treated as a sacred plant medicine, often called Santa Maria. This is one of the Amazon Rainforest's ayahuasca religions, incorporating elements of Christianity along with other spiritual traditions. Of course, Santa Maria is the Portuguese and Spanish term for Saint Mary, who is also understood as Mother Earth, or Pachamama.
When a shamanic leader named Padrinho Sebastião was first introduced to cannabis, he understood how to consecrate this herb, meeting “her” with firmness in the mind, relaxing into her peaceful and loving medicine. In doing this, Padrinho essentially lit a torch of inspiration that continues to pass forward as more people begin a relationship with this ancient spiritual ally.
We can all learn something from this. Like anything in life, there's an art to it. There's a refined way of doing it. There's a way of respecting it, growing it cleanly, consuming it consciously, experiencing it tastefully, and sharing it lovingly. We are all aware of the gifts marijuana gives to us, from the ease we feel mentally to the uplift we feel emotionally, and I trust we can all imagine the blessing we can feel spiritually. That's what I feel.
I can't say for certain, but I believe cannabis can help us all to see the world like children again, with tremendous curiosity and fascination. I believe cannabis can also help us to express ourselves artistically, like Louis Armstrong and Willie Nelson. I believe cannabis can help us to be more consciously aware, which makes us better able to serve others and stand for what we believe, just like two of our most popular Presidents: George Washington and Barack Obama.
The Vision
Today, I envision a future world where our gardens flourish with all the herbs God gives us. I see myself and my family consecrating Santa Maria for our health and wellbeing in body, heart, mind, soul, and Spirit. We pray with this medicine, and we receive its gifts with gratitude. We smile together, we laugh together, we sing together, we dance together, and we grow together, in harmony. We do this responsibly and safely.
Once in a while, in this same world, we might also listen to Michael Jackson's Bad, and sing along to the lines, “I'm bad, I'm bad, really really bad. Who's bad?” knowing he's singing about being a badass, and we're all badasses, after all. We might also also watch the movie Spaceballs or The Last Unicorn, because we appreciate brilliance and beauty. We might also also also enjoy a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate-covered cherries on top, just for the fun sake of celebrating the 4/20 holiday.
Happy Holidaze To You And Your Loved Ones!
This post contains 100% original content by @cabelindsay.
A true art his drawings, as for marijuana is effective for the treatment of pain. Especially in the case of chronic pain, opiate narcotics such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone and methadone are often used, which are highly addictive and to which patients can develop tolerance to their effects.
Although there are non-addictive synthetic analgesics (for example, acetaminophen), these are not strong enough to relieve this type of pain, and some of these drugs pose a serious risk of liver damage in excessive doses.
It seems that smoking marijuana can completely eliminate the need for the most harmful drugs such as narcotic opiates.
Cannabinoids such as THC induce sleep and extend the time in which you are in deep sleep. Deep sleep occurs during the third and fourth sleep cycles, and it is at the moment when the body is repaired. That is why it is called a restorative sleep, in which the immune system is revitalized and recharged.
Eating: Sometimes people when they are not well have less appetite. Marijuana, by stimulating receptors improves appetite. Although the entire mechanism is unknown, it is known that there is a high density of CB1 receptors in the paraventricular and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus, brain areas involved in the regulation of appetite, greetings
Thank you for your thoughts here. Yes, in my experience, marijuana brings physical ease to my gut. I can understand how a person with chronic pain will have some alleviation with this medicine. I'm also impressed by the CBD oil, as an effective treatment for epilepsy, although I haven't experienced this remedy first-hand. It's good to know of the virtues of this medicine plant, and I trust we will continue to learn and grow alongside cannabis as we also learn and grow to know ourselves.
A true art his drawings, as for marijuana is effective for the treatment of pain. Especially in the case of chronic pain, opiate narcotics such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone and methadone are often used, which are highly addictive and to which patients can develop tolerance to their effects.
Although there are non-addictive synthetic analgesics (for example, acetaminophen), these are not strong enough to relieve this type of pain, and some of these drugs pose a serious risk of liver damage in excessive doses.
It seems that smoking marijuana can completely eliminate the need for the most harmful drugs such as narcotic opiates.
Cannabinoids such as THC induce sleep and extend the time in which you are in deep sleep. Deep sleep occurs during the third and fourth sleep cycles, and it is at the moment when the body is repaired. That is why it is called a restorative sleep, in which the immune system is revitalized and recharged.
Eating: Sometimes people when they are not well have less appetite. Marijuana, by stimulating receptors improves appetite. Although the entire mechanism is unknown, it is known that there is a high density of CB1 receptors in the paraventricular and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus, brain areas involved in the regulation of appetite, greetings
Good post @cabelindsay! Very sincere.
I like your vision about the fact that the plant can give us back a lil of our childwood.
Your panting are so sweet, full of joy and harmony!
Thank you <3
Ah, your words are music to my ears. Thank you. Yes, I really feel that the medicine reminds me of who I am in the deepest sense: a child of Light, a child of Love, a child with a divine origin and a purpose and a plan and a destiny.
The vision is spot on! Far from my days in college of wanted to get high just to go out and be a silly kid (which is a wonderful thing in and of itself), it would be really wonderful if I could just legally grow a few plants at my house for my own little supply to share/trade with friends and use to alleviate some anxiety from time to time (or just to help open a momentary channel of thought which may spark a new story idea!). One day we will be free :)
Thanks brother. I really appreciate you for sharing this vision with me. Feels really good to express my gratitude in words like this, and to be accepted and encouraged. Thank you so much. Yes, cheers to the freedom that is coming soon!
I loved reading this post @cablindsay, so inspired and inspiring. Your passion and heart come through, as always...
I enjoyed learning a little more about the rasta religion, as I'm none too familiar, although I've always appreciated the simple living, ital eating guidelines and of course ganja as a sacrament. She has helped a lot (especially during my youth may angst and confusion). A warm welcome love fuzz sprit hug is always welcome in my book, and with quality herb and conscious consumption often brings this.
I can totally relate to your vision of being a free plant able to bestow her blessings on all. It really is an AMAZING plant that deserves our respects. Indeed I have always remember childlike wonder with her advice and guidance.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful words and artwork. So much do I love intaking your content.
Thank you again, again. Really good of you to encourage me to speak up about this side I don't often share. Glad to feel this kinship with plants. Do you ever feel like maybe humanity is evolving toward becoming plants? Sometimes I wonder if they may be the higher intelligence.
Glad my words felt supportive, Happy to hear it.
I’ve thought this too after pondering the immaculate sensitivity and telepathic connections plants have. Certainly a unique wave length they embody. As for us becoming plants, I feel like fungi is a more likely trajectory for our evolution... but I suppose it’s all interconnected perhaps a fusion akin to lichen may emerge as humans evolve...
Yes, indeed, I am completely sure that marijuana has a beneficial effect on the body as a whole. I can say that this is the real cure not only for mental ailments, but also for physical pain. For a long time I could not cope with the constant pain in my head due to migraines, until I came across a website stateofmindlabs.com where you could buy great marijuana. And what effect it causes when listening to music is a pure buzz. My creative abilities opened up in a completely different way. I think it's a whole culture.