Pot Smoking and Other Spiritual Hazards (Page 5 of 6)

This is why I pretty much gave up psychedelics at the beginning of last year. From about the middle of 2003 until the end of 2004 I was using magic mushrooms fairly regularly (about 2 or 3 times a month). But by the end of 2004 my experiences were getting less and less useful and I realised there was little point in carrying on with them other than for fun and recreation. I used psychedelics about half a dozen times in the whole of 2005 and I haven't used anything for about 6 months now.

I think it was Alan Watts who, although a proponent of psychedelic usage, said  "When you've got the message, hang up the phone." Well I definitely felt I'd got the message, at least from mushrooms anyway.

I definitely would like to experience ayahuasca several more times because I know she's got a lot more to teach me, but that would mean going to South America, something I can't afford right now, and I have little desire to make my own because I consider that too risky.

Personally I think anyone who uses marijuana every day for "spiritual purposes" is essentially lying to themselves. If you're using it every day then it's effectively an addiction that isn't doing you a great deal of good no matter how aware you think you are.

I know for a fact that Stuart's comments are not aimed at people who have smoked in the past or even still smoke it occasionally. He's talking to the people who smoke it by habit with little or no intention of ever stopping because he's very adament that prolonged usage of marijuana damages your etheric body. I don't personally know if he's right or not, but I do believe that Stuart is perceptive enough to know what he's talking about in this area.

I think the reason why Stuart singles out marijuana as opposed to other harmful things like McDonalds, Taco Bell, Mountain Dew and tap water etc, is that no one ever claims they're using those other things for spiritual purposes.

He also doesn't think that all drugs are bad. Most people here should be aware he was in Brazil last year facilitating Heart of the Initiate ayahuasca workshops and he's also written about it several times on his website. Although I'm quite certain he wouldn't recommend regular use of ayahuasca either.

Drugs can certainly be a useful tool and they've helped my journey immensely, so I would be the last person to condemn anyone who uses them. However, I would strongly caution against using anything by habit as I think you're doing yourself a lot more harm than good.

Mmm. . . yup you are totally wrong! OK well not totally wrong, but mostly wrong.  I know much better than to put anybody on a pedestal.  We're all on the same field here (though perhaps not all playing the same game).  I do understand the dynamic you are referring to, and I can understand how you may have thought that's what was going on. 

I was just surprised to see him expressing that particular view, considering that he is generally on the fringe of the fringe, and tends to see past even the dogma of free thinkers.  And of course, he is free to change his mind, express a view he doesn't fully agree with just for effect, or to wholeheartedly believe that pot smoking completely eliminates one's chances of "escaping the sphere."  Though in my opinion out of character, I by no means would expect him to always act in character, especially what I believe would be in character because well, I don't even know the guy.

It would kind of be like if I logged on NR during a full moon and I found that you had posted something declaring that all Noble Realmers were idiots and that anybody who didn't agree with G.W. Bush's war strategy was a communist and a traitor. 

I would certainly be surprised, and probably think "Holy crap, the full moon madness has even got to Lyra this month!"  I would be confused.  I would probably ask you to clarify your views and state that they seem rather distorted to me.  But I wouldn't be disappointed in you, or mad at you, because I don't have a vested interest in you showing up a particular way.

I wasn't writing with sarcastic intent, but my apologies if it appeared that way to you.  It was an attempt at humor.  And I know you would never "high five" me on a post, because that's not your style.  That's kind of the point I was trying to make.  Similarly, it's not my style to say anything in a post with the intent of cutting anybody down, making them feel "less than", or baiting them into a flame war.  You know that.  So breathe easy, I'm not gearing up for another Lyra bash.  If anything I'd be one of the first to jump in and defend you against those kinds of attacks, if it weren't for the fact that you seem to defend yourself quite well without my assistance. 

I know you did.  Actually I'm not quite sure what we are in disagreement about, other than the validity of certain argumentative strategies.

Yes, I plucked one little statement out and made a huge example of it.  But I still believe that saying "If you smoke pot you've got no chance."  is irresponsible, dogmatic, and just plain incorrect.  But whatever, that's just my opinion.  Except on the incorrect part.   

But I don't believe you were ever arguing that the statement was correct.  Were you?

Maybe if you believe in it with enough conviction, it will become true.  YCYOR, you know! 

Well in any case I hope this thread serves as an example of how two very opinionated people can argue about a topic without taking personal offense or cheap shots or getting their feelings hurt, and still like each other in the end.

Well I won't speak for you, but I still think you're swell. 

. . . and Montalk's down in the basement fastidiously working on his latest science project. .

"Dude!  Put the subspace resonance-adjusted gravity modulator down already and come have a beer!"

"Hold on!  I'm just running a few more tests. . . and I don't drink beer it makes you heavy!"

[Everybody laughs]

"That's it!  I'm coming down there with the bong then."

"Oh no you're not!"

[Goes to get up from the chair, but realizes that his body suddenly weighs 6 tons]

"What the f*ck?!"

"See I told ya so!"

[Lyra giggles and shakes her head]

"Not funny man!"

Now, I may be completely wrong.  I'm ready to face that with evidence to the contrary.  Until then, this is how I see it.

The etheric is not the soul.  It's energy.  But it's still physical.  There seems to be some agenda coming from 4d (I suspect) that is getting those of a spiritual orientation to focus on 4d as the heaven to look to.  Which is still concentrating on the physical just the next level of it.  Further, it might give those already in 4d, status of "masters" or "gods" in the eyes of us poor little physical creatures.  That's one of my main concerns with new-age.  It's just a replacement of concentration from one physical realm to another.  Don't get me wrong.  You won't find too many instances where I'm going to even mention it much less hold it against anyone that may be concentrating on that.  That's all their choice.  However, it is my duty/responsibility to mention it when "asking" is taking place.  That's the whole STO thing.  Although I can't really say with all certainty, I do consider the participation in a forum such as this as "asking".

All that being said there is something else I think should be addressed.  It doesn't matter what you do to your etheric.  It's created by the soul's interaction with the 3d body.  The thing is energy, it's physical and can be healed quite easily.  It's the same with these physical bodies.  The only reason we are all not super-healthy people is because we have 3d/4d morons controlling things right now.  It would be quite easy to cure every disease mankind has ever known.  There's no control in that though.  In 4d it will be just as easy to have a super-healthy etheric body.  We'll heal each other or use technology.  No big deal.  It's not the bodies that are important.  It's the lessons.

If you are living from your soul, that is, seeking out lessons and concentrating on learning, then anything that no longer fits with your path will be dropped when it's time to drop it.

If weed is being used as an temporary escape from being stuck in excrutiating slavery then I see nothing wrong with that use.  It's all a matter of choice.  Certainly, I'll smoke and watch a movie to esacape.  But I'll also smoke and go off into a bunch of spiritual related questions of discovery.  I've had quite a few epiphanies while using the substance.  So, it makes it a bit easier.  The fact of the matter is, either I'm here in 3d to see my choice (STO or STS) or I'm here to wake up to what I already know in order to assist others that may ask.  I either belong here as part my lessons or I'm here on a mission.  Giving what I know about myself I'm leaning heavy to the latter.  Therefore, whatever helps me wake up and achieve my mission is within the realm of what I'm going to do.  And I'll tear my etheric from limb to limb if it helps me achieve my mission.

Now, that's where I'm coming from.  I can't pretend to know where anyone else is coming from.  That is for their discovery.  So I will not judge if someone is concentrating on the physical or the etheric.  Well, I'll do my best not to.  If I do, that's something I need to work on.  Anyway, I won't judge others based on what they do with their bodies either.  Only the individual can judge if something is beneficial to their spiritual quest.  If injecting heroin is beneficial then by god here's a clean needle, have at it.  If the level of hell achieved from heroin is needed to wake up to life, then who am I to attempt to persuade another from that experience?  That is my stance.

Thanks, an interesting article indeed !

I am neither drawn to it, though it could be a way of getting into contact with ayahuasca...

Greetings, interesting post. The one thing that has not been mentioned, is the unfairness involved with marijuana. Even though it is a simple plant, it is an expensive, illegal one at that. So there is an active agenda that is both preventing, and allowing people to smoke marijuana. Growers that are able to manifest large grow rooms, easily grow pounds of marijuana that is sold for very high prices. This is where marijuana is contributed to evil powers. It is evil, that a simple, healing plant, should be put through such a process. This should be a plant, that if anyone was interested, they could easily grow in their own garden. And use their own plants to their own moderation, at will. Instead, we have a limited system, that prevents people from doing such, and only large growers are the ones who are able to grow at all. So, I can state that it is evil, that a simple plant can be sold for very costly prices, and then the smokers who are again, only wanting to briefly heal themselves, have to pay that price. I honestly think that it could have positive qualities, though I think the first thing that would need to change, is that it was a legal plant. People would not question it so frequently if it was something that was legal, in fact, we can all state that it would probobaly have become some sort of 'herbal shaman blend,' sold for about half the price it is, at boutique health food stores if it was legal. Look at how simple herbs like ginseng are put into everything! But no one ever pays hundreds of dollars a pound for ginseng!

Even classifying this herb with other drugs, does limit it entirely. I remember being a school girl who was told about mind expanding drugs. Most of those drugs were made in labs, by people with an even more deceptive agenda, than probobaly those wealthy pot growers. It would be exciting, to live in a space where you could explore the region and find healing plants and smoke them in such a way. Or cook them in such a way. Many documents have been written about the healing properties of this herb, though it has always been held at a distance to the general public.  I personally believe that this is why people have so much hesitation about using it. Why would one want to knowingly pay anything for any sort of mind altering experience, when we already have a mind? Right? But then again, people use mind altering drugs all of the time, and Satanists drink the blood of dying humans, and that gets them excited. So I do think that the potential to influence the mind, (postive or negatively) can be made by a choice. And you can make that choice and then decide what to do after that.

Peace! Tracy

Yes!  This is why I think this plant is a positive force overall, despite some of its negative effects in some circumstances.  It heightens certain awarenesses (for some) and these can range from groovy sensory input to paranoia about your surroundings, possibly enhanced by negative entities.  I've experienced plenty of both, and I wonder how awake I would be now if I had never touched the stuff.

And I also agree about its control and distribution for profit.  I've seen it up close and of course it gets more and more disgusting as you go up the chain.  Good people are debased and forced to do disgusting things like in any control paradigm.  This should be the number one argument for legalization regardless of how one feels about the effects of the plant.