Cannabis and other psychoactive plants held a vital role in the Occult arts of Alchemy and Magic — and were employed in ritual initiations of certain secret societies. Cannabis also played a pivotal role in medieval and Renaissance magic, appearing in many grimoire recipes. Earlier in history, magical herbs were a cornerstone of ancient shamanism, Jewish & Persian mysticism, and even Classic Gnosticism (perhaps later surviving in the Knights Templar and Assassin traditions). We thread the entheogen needle through all these movements and understand why orthodoxy has suppressed psychedelic experiences. Astral Guest — Chris Bennett, author of Liber 420: Cannabis, Magickal Herbs and the Occult. This is a partial show. For the second half of the interview, please become a member: http://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ More information on Chris: https://www.cannabisculture.com/content/author/chris-bennett Get Chris’ book (and support him and Abraxas): https://amzn.to/2kXQ8b0 Download these and all other shows: http://thegodabovegod.com/ Become a patron and keep this Red Pill Cafeteria open: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyte