Cannabis and Spirituality: How to Expand Your Consciousness With This Plant Medicine
For many, cannabis and spirituality go hand in hand. There is a growing movement that has deep roots in ancient times to combine cannabis in spiritual ritual, ceremony, and practice.
What many may not know, however, is that cannabis and spirituality have been in a symbiotic relationship for over 5,000 years. In ancient times, cannabis was a plant medicine revered for its ability to transport and transform the user beyond their immediate reality. It was not used recreationally, as it was solely a ceremonial plant.
Cannabis as plant medicine is called an entheogen, which is a plant that can expand one’s consciousness and assist in spiritual growth.
Cannabis is plant medicine. Cannabis is a teacher. Cannabis is a vehicle for expansion.
If cannabis only makes you think of couch-bound stoners with the munchies taking massive bong rips, you’re not alone. There was a large effort to stigmatize weed the world over and make everyone who used it out to be a criminal or a worthless stoner.
Cannabis as plant medicine is called an entheogen, which is a plant that can expand one’s consciousness and assist in spiritual growth.
However, we also have more legal access to this mind-expanding herb than ever before. And with the advancement of technology and the creative minds of growers, modern cannabis looks nothing like its ancient relative.
All over the world and within many religions, cannabis is revered as a complimentary accompaniment to a spiritual practice. There are even cannabis-based religions and churches including the International Church of Cannabis in Colorado, which focuses on love, unity, tolerance, equality, and kindness.
Creating a safe and intentional space to use cannabis as a vehicle to explore your spirituality is a beautiful way to deepen your connection to yourself. There is so much we can learn about ourselves, our past, our passions, our creativity, and our capacity for compassion with cannabis as a teacher.
How to Include Cannabis in Your Spiritual Practice
As Maimonides, a medieval Sephardic Jewish philosopher, said: ”In the realm of nature, there is nothing purposeless, trivial, or unnecessary.”
Cannabis can also, of course, become a toxin if abused or used recreationally as an escape from reality or as a crutch. Using cannabis wisely in your spiritual practice is key.
Yoga, meditation, ritual, ecstatic dance, sex, and so much more can be amplified by cannabis. It can also amplify your connection to yourself and the universe as well.
However, the spiritual effects of cannabis can easily be overshadowed by consuming too much, so as with everything in life, moderation is key. Mindfulness, moderation, set, and setting are all vital to have a deep and profound experience.
Additionally, physical and spiritual healing are inseparable. Working with cannabis in your spiritual practice is not only spiritual, but also very 3D and very physical. You’re a spiritual being having a physical experience, and cannabis affects both body and soul.
Strain and Dosage
This is the fun part! Choosing your preferred method of consumption is one of the most important aspects of working with cannabis in a spiritual setting.
Whether you want to smoke, vaporize, take a tincture, or eat an edible, everyone will have a different preference. Choosing between Sativa (a more heady and energetic strain), Indica (a very relaxing body high), or a hybrid is totally up to you.
The spiritual effects of cannabis can easily be overshadowed by consuming too much, so as with everything in life, moderation is key.
The dosage is also going to depend on the consumption method and your tolerance. Starting low and slow is always the best bet. Anywhere from 2.5 to 5mg of THC is considered a microdose and a great way to “get your feet wet” before jumping into the deep end with a higher dose.
If you’re smoking or vaping, a tiny hit is the best way to start. You can always consume more, but once it’s in your body that’s the ride you’re on.
There’s a huge difference between a gentle caress and a heroic dose – choosing your path is completely personal. Everyone has a sweet spot, and finding yours may take some trial and error but it’ll be worth it.
Intention
Setting an intention before anything is always a good idea. Even before you go to the grocery store. Intentions are an important aspect of yoga and working with cannabis alike.
Taking a quiet moment before consuming cannabis to connect with yourself, with the plant, and with the universe can help steer and guide your experience.
An intention can be to let go, be grounded, cultivate inner peace, or connect with nature.
Set and Setting
Set and setting are important no matter what you’re doing in life, especially if you’re experimenting with psychedelics.
Working with cannabis as a tool and a teacher is deeply dependent on the set (your mindset) and setting (physical surrounding environment, including people).
If you’re feeling wound up, stressed, depressed, or anxious, there’s a chance your experience will be distracted or not as deep as if you were relaxed. Additionally, if you’re around new people or something you’re not super comfortable with, that can also potentially negatively impact your experience.
Reverence
Embarking on a spiritual journey with cannabis is rooted in reverence – for the plant itself, for nature, and for the gravity of the experience.
Reverence can be sparked with your intention, deeped with the right set and setting, and amplified with your favorite spiritual practice. The combination of all of these will help you raise your vibration and have a deep and meaningful spiritual experience.
The Practice
Once you’ve set your intention and consumed your cannabis, you can begin your chosen spiritual practice. Allow the feelings to wash over you as you open your heart and give permission to your mind to kindly take some time off.
You can do anything your heart desires as your spiritual practice. Play with your consciousness, your creativity, and your consumption.
Cannabis and Spirituality: Use This Plant Medicine to Elevate Your Consciousness
The intersection of spirituality and cannabis is based on learning from the plant and from ourselves. You have so much wisdom within you that can easily be lost in the chatter of our modern lives.
Did you know that cannabis can be good for your mental health? Read this: The Lowdown on Cannabis and Your Mental Health
By including cannabis in your spiritual practice, you can raise your vibration while you deepen your connection to yourself and nature.
With legislation and legalization expanding nationwide in the US, we are afforded an opportunity to work with cannabis in a way that removes the stigma of it being a drug and opens the door back up to its healing potential that has been used for millennia.
All included information is not intended to treat or diagnose. The views expressed are those of the author and should be attributed solely to the author. For medical questions, please consult your healthcare provider.
