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Editorial: Freedom of Religion, a Response |
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Written by Icaro
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Sunday, 21 December 1997 |
Greetings Brothers and Sisters, it is timely to me that you should discuss Freedom of Religion because right now I am going through an intense feeling of persecution and alienation because of my faith. I am a white male, of European descent, but I consider myself a shaman - that is my faith, but it goes far deeper.
It is what I am. To the very core of my being. It began years ago, this pull toward the archaic. Fascination with tribal cultures, study of ethnobotany, fierce love of plants, and eventual experimentation. I now have relationships with several “teachers”. Many people say “you are not a shaman! you are a white man” (it is mostly ignorant white people who say this) but I disagree. A shaman by my definition is one who uses plants or substances, dancing, singing, fasting, or any of the other millenia-old techniques employed worldwide, to reach a state of ecstasy or communion with spirits, or energy, or their gods, or whatever the experience means to them. See, the beauty of shamanism is that it is tailored to the individual tribe or person. I have no true tribe, no true culture, and in shamanism I learned that I could and had to make my own culture. Over the past four years I have formed my own beliefs, my own rituals. And it has brought me peace and a sense that I have found what I was meant to find - that I have reconnected with my elders, with my tribe.
Recently I had the most intense experience I ever had with a teacher. I have logged many, many journeys, but this time I was with Teonanacatl. Somewhere in the neighborhood of eight grams and I can tell you it was like nothing else I've ever experienced. I hadn't been able to cry for the last six years and I cried for a half hour. The connection was so strong to this spirit, the “other” as Mckenna calls it. That was a month ago, and the connection is still strong today. It opened new vistas within myself, as if the spirit teaches you how to live and how to think, the right way. It makes me happy...I love it and always will. It is like a god to me, this Teonanacatl. And who is to judge? My religion is far older than christianity...
I feel persecuted. I feel a connection to my persecuted brothers and sisters. I have been alienated from the white christian race. I see them as wicked intruders, persecutors. destroyers. I relate to the American Indian. Hopi. Pueblo. Maya. Australian Aborigines. African Tribesman. The shamen of South American, and all the others. SLAUGHTERED! and for what? FOR WHAT? BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT BE CONVERTED. BECAUSE THEY WERE “SAVAGES”! This practice continues today, but it does not stop with the colored tribesman, it extends to you, the white, the American, the “free”. For you will be persecuted as well, thrown in prison to rot, declared a criminal.
These drugs are illegal out of ignorance, but I disagree when you say they are not illegal out of hate. Do not ever make the mistake of thinking those in power don't hate you. You are their worst enemy - they fear you more than anything. Who have they spent the most time and money trying to stop for the last forty years??? Those interested in expanding their consciousness... Religion and society have always about been about control. And if you are a shaman you have no need for religion or society. You have no need for greed and consumerism. They can't sell you anything. THEY CAN'T ENSLAVE YOU ANYMORE... and that folks, is simply unacceptable to the dominators. But myself, I am growing more and more restless, angry, and active. I hope you will all do the same. Talk to everyone - explain the injustices- if they can be swayed to see the truth - sway them.
No matter what however, it doesn't matter, for we are on the verge of a tremendous change, something so incredibly big that all of our lives will be forever changed. This the mushroom has shown me and told me, and of this I have more faith then anything else. VERY soon too I might add, I am willing to say that by 2015 all this will be academic. Mark my words my friends... big things are afoot. The end result will be wonderful. Prepare for flight into hyperspace.
Keep the faith - Keep fighting - Keep believing I love you all - brothers and sisters of my faith...
Keep thinking! Keep writing! Keep spreading the truth! |
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