Animals are definitely more connected with the natural world and they understand the plant kingdom a lot better than modern man for sure. If we observe how animals function in the wild, we will be surprised to notice how animals understand plants and how each plant holds specific healing or curative properties as simple as which grass or leaf to chew to fix their gut / health issues. In the wild Animals have an innate understanding of plants and their benefits. Almost like they're accessing some deep knowing that's imprinted in their DNA. Its hard to explain how things in our world seem to connect despite all the gaps in space time we observe from our limited perspectives. Somethings we experience are hard to understand through logical reasoning, hence seem beyond all logic ! This mystery is what keeps consciousness seeking itself ... :) We're all in here just for a ride and if we can stay connected with our roots, this ride could be a lot of fun, and the animals know it ! As per Wikipedia, "Several non-human animal species are said to engage in apparent recreational drug use, that is, the intentional ingestion of psychoactive substances in their environment for pleasure, though claims of such behavior in the wild are often controversial." HAHAHAHAHAHA :D As found on ForbesIndia .... "There are countless anecdotes involving animals and substances that have a hallucinogenic, intoxicating or sedative effect. For example, it's common knowledge that cats love catnip for its soothing and euphoric effects. The herb is sometimes referred to as "meowie wowie," as it's compared to marijuana. Surprisingly, wildcats and big cats do not seem to be very sensitive to it. Jaguars seem to prefer banisteriopsis caapi, a species of liana endemic to the Amazon. This plant is rich in beta-carbolines, a type of alkaloid responsible for hallucinogenic effects, which explains why it is used in the composition of ayahuasca. In 2014, a jaguar was filmed while experiencing hallucinations after eating banisteriopsis caapi leaves. However, scientists do not know if the feline knowingly ingested the plant, or if it was an accident." LOL :D ... Some Scientists never seem to be sure of anything ... :P Similar behaviors have been observed in wild bighorn sheep. Bighorn sheep have been known to veer off course and walk across dangerous mountain ridges in search of psychotropic lichen. Like many deer, reindeer are fond of hallucinogenic mushrooms, their favorite being fly agaric. They love this red magic mushroom with white spots so much that they don't hesitate to dig them up even when frozen under winter snow. After having eaten them, the reindeer demonstrate some peculiar behavior. Some have been observed running aimlessly, shaking their heads vigorously, or making noise for no reason. They sometimes break away from their herd after eating fly agaric, making them easy prey for their predators. Astragalus, narcotic plants, hallucinogenic mushrooms... Anything that alters our consciousness and sensory perceptions is likely to be appreciated—and sought out—by animals. Just like alcohol. Several African mammals, including elephants, like to feast on the yellow-orange fruits of the marula tree. And for good reason: these fruits ferment in the sun and produce ethanol. Primates like to get drunk just as much as pachyderms do, especially vervet monkeys. These little monkeys are particularly fond of drinking, as a 2002 study by the Medical Council of Canada revealed. Researchers placed a thousand vervet monkeys living on the island of Saint Kitts (Caribbean) in captivity and gave them several beverages, some of them alcoholic. They were surprised to find that only 15% of the monkeys preferred fruit juice to alcohol. The majority were occasional drinkers, more or less. Its about time we take cue from our fellow mates we share this abundance with and learn to truly live connected with our natural world in harmony as it was always meant to be so. This is our unalienable right on Earth and no one can control what mother provides freely and abundantly ! Let's grow our food our own medicine and beat a system that seeks to govern us through lies and deception !

Our little world of wonders has so many gifts, beautiful gems hidden in plain sight ... Some of these are magical plants and herbs that have been used ritually to invoke certain energies to further ones vision quests and develop psychic insight. Believe it or not but there are many plants growing around us which may endow its users with supernatural powers ... hence termed Psychedelic or Magickal ! Having used and abused tobacco in the form of toxic cigarettes ... also mixing tobacco with cannabis, I now realise is such a bad idea since it leads to more abuse of Cannabis as one craves nicotine every few hours however end up rolling many joints through the day to saitiate the craving. Thankfully with more awareness these days there are many herbal blends replacing tobacco as a mixer for many a pot/charas smoker around the world. Mullein and Mugwort are couple of such herbs known to be smokable with medicinal benefits and magickal qualities. In the Himalayas the locals refer to Mullein as "Wild Tobacco" which their ancestors used in their hookahs and pipes. Mullein is anti-inflamatory and is great to remove tar from the lungs, also helps with all kinds of respiratory illnesses ... either smoked or had as a tea. Verbascum thapsus, more commonly known as mullein, is a member of the snapdragon family. It’s considered a weed by some and godsent by others. Native Americans and colonists used it for various medicinal purposes, from helping with coughs and breathing to healing wounds. They used to: Smoke the leaves. Make a cough syrup out of boiled roots. Apply the leaves in a paste to the skin. Rub the leaves over inflamed skin. Mugwort is a dreaming herb, traditionally used by witches to make ointments, tinctures, brews ... also used to induce lucid dreaming and astral projection. Named after the goddess Artemis, mugwort was integral to the ancient Greek understanding of lunar cycles, fertility, divination, and protection. The Romans similarly revered mugwort, with soldiers and travelers often placing it into their shoes for safety and to ward off exhaustion. The Chinese revered this herb for its perceived ability to repel malevolent spirits, prevent diseases, and bestow blessings in the home. The Anglo-Saxons, too, considered mugwort as one of the "Nine Sacred Herbs," incorporating it into their healing charms and many other spiritual practices. In modern times, it's common to find mugwort in witches' cupboards, and understandably so. It serves a multitude of purposes in spells and spiritual practices. The plant is regularly incorporated in spells and rituals to enhance dreams, establish contact with other spiritual realms, bolster intuition, dispel negative energy, and protect against harmful influences. PROTECTION AND BANISHING Mugwort has long been considered a protective herb and is revered for its ability to banish negative energy and ward off evil spirits. It can be burned in the home to banish negative energy, or it can be burned outside the front door to create a protective barrier. Placing a bundle of Mugwort above your front door or windows can prevent negative people from entering the home. A tea made of mugwort can be lightly sprayed on personal objects you value and wish to keep protected. Magickal properties of Mugwort Mugwort is one of the most popular herbs for the Witch’s pantry. It’s known as a psychic/Lunar herb that’s also strongly protective. This article describes Artemisia vulgaris, common Mugwort. Mugwort’s magickal virtues (combined with its low cost) make it our best-selling loose herb. But how did this unassuming ditch-weed become the Witch Queen of the herb aisle? It started as long ago as the Iron Age, when early farmers gathered wild plants to fancy up their bland, grain-based diets. Certain plants became favored for their ability to prevent spoilage and repel insects—a seemingly magickal power. Almost every beer made today contains aromatic herbs known as hops. But before brewers in Britain and Europe discovered hops, Mugwort helped keep the beer fresh and provided the crucial bitter note. (Some people say the “mug” part of the plant’s name comes from its brewing history. But a more likely etymology is the Old Norse muggi, meaning marsh.) Mugwort was also used in medieval cooking to flavor fish and game dishes. Currently, Mugwort’s culinary uses have been completely overshadowed by its cousin Wormwood, the notorious herbal ingredient in absinthe. Mugwort grows abundantly in ditches and rocky soils. Mugwort has a sharp, bitter flavor and antimicrobial properties. In European folklore, Mugwort protects against fatigue, injury, and poisons. The Romans were said to put a sprig of Mugwort in their shoes to avoid tiring. Mugwort is mentioned in the Nine Herbs Charm, a 10th-century English rhyme of beneficial herbs. Later, it was associated with St. John the Baptist, and wreaths of Mugwort were worn to repel evil spirits. As a folk medicine, Mugwort was ingested, smoked, or applied to the skin in a poultice. Mugwort has anticoagulant and disinfectant properties, and has a nerve-calming effect. It was used as a poor man’s substitute for expensive tobacco, giving rise to the nickname “sailor’s tobacco.” Mugwort contains the chemical thujone, which is a mild intoxicant. (However, it’s a mystery whether medieval people would have noticed the effects of thujone, considering the amount of beer they drank!) Not many people have a taste for Mugwort brews these days. If you’re curious to try it, look for heritage recipes sold as “gruit beer” or “gruit ale.” Magickal Uses of Mugwort In modern witchcraft, Mugwort is used primarily as a visionary herb. Mugwort amplifies psychic vision and may induce prophetic dreams. An herb of the Goddess as Crone, Mugwort encourages wisdom and observation. When paired with a divinatory method of your choice, Mugwort is an excellent helper for confronting difficult truths. Mugwort appears in recipes for flying ointments, psychic teas, and divinatory incenses. Different people report vastly different experiences with using Mugwort. Thanks to internet drug culture, Mugwort became known as a “legal high,” prompting the state of Louisiana to ban possession and sale in 2005. Mugwort is not really a hallucinogen, but a way to stimulate lucid dreaming, astral travel, and visualization. The effects of Mugwort are more pronounced during sleep or trance states. But Mugwort does have real psychoactive effects. If you are very sensitive to thujone, remember that it can be absorbed transdermally (through the skin). I once found this out the hard way, when packaging up a pound of Mugwort for the shop. Witches may buy Mugwort dried (in occult and herb shops) or occasionally, fresh (in gourmet grocery stores). Alcoholic tinctures and essential oils are also available. Mugwort grows wild in many places. Be sure to get a positive ID—Mugwort looks a lot like Ragweed, a most un-magickal plant. Mugwort has a hay-like, herbal smell reminiscent of dried Sage and Chrysanthemum. When smoked, it has a tolerable aroma, but Mugwort tea is quite bitter to most people. Correspondences of Mugwort Mugwort is a member of the genus Artemisia, a group of plants named for the Greek Goddess of the moon. If that’s not evidence enough for a Lunar attribution, I don’t know what is. Mugwort also excels in the Lunar realm of divination and dreams. But occasionally someone makes an argument for Venus, the ruler of many healing herbs. This plain-looking, low-growing plant corresponds to the element of Earth. Spells and Formulas with Mugwort Hang a bundle near the front door to prevent evil from entering. Hung near the bed, Mugwort is said to aid in astral projection. Sleeping on a pillow or sachet stuffed with Mugwort (with Jasmine, Rose and/or Lavender) brings clear and memorable dreams. Burn Mugwort over charcoal as a divinatory and purifying incense. Mugwort is sometimes tied into bundles to make smudges. (It repels insects, too!) Mugwort may be prepared as an herb tea to aid in divination and scrying. A teaspoon of the dried leaves is steeped in one cup of hot water. Add honey and lemon, or combine with other herbs, if desired. From Scott Cunningham: “The infusion is also used to wash crystal balls and magic mirrors, and mugwort leaves are placed around the base of the ball (or beneath it) to aid in psychic workings.” Kindle magickal fires with Mugwort branches and stems. Mugwort may be incorporated into protective spells and charms. Gather Mugwort sprigs on St. John’s Eve (June 23) for protection throughout the year. Precautions : Mugwort is not suitable for pregnant or lactating women. Artemisia plants contain liver toxins that may build up if used in excess. If you use them regularly, take periodic breaks of at least a week. Don’t give them to young children or pets. Never ingest essential oils. That goes double for oils containing thujone. A single overdose can cause permanent damage to the liver and kidneys. Mugwort produces pollen which may aggravate seasonal allergies. The pollen is not a big problem if you plan to burn it or brew it in water. However, it’s something to think about when making dream pillows and wreaths. Some people have reported skin irritation from contact with the herb. While I don’t know if it’s possible to have a “bad trip” on Mugwort, those opposed to mind-altering substances should probably avoid it.

Humans as emotional beings go through various emotions of joy, happiness, stress, excitement and many more. We always associate emotions as a psychological thing. But, do you know that the emotions we feel are a complex play of the endocannabinoid system as well as hormones?

This article is an attempt to detail more about the endocannabinoid system, hormones and emotions and how a balance/ imbalance of these three affect the human body.

What is the Endocannabinoid system (ECS)?

The ECS is a self regulating system responsible for establishing and supporting our health. It regulates various physiological and cognitive processes including appetite, mood, fertility, pain, and memory. Its receptors are located throughout the body. Read more about how ECS works here.

The given image shows that the ECS has receptors CB1 and CB2, which are present in different areas of the body.


(Image source: CBDschool.com)

Hormones, Emotions and the Endocannabinoid System

Hormones are chemical messengers released by the body. These messengers relay messages to specific receptors in the body, which in turn triggers emotions. There are many receptors for hormones in the body including CB1 and CB2. Specific hormones act on the ECS receptors and trigger emotions. Detailed below are the actions of some of the hormones.

Acetylcholine - This hormone is produced by the neurons within the body and is the natural neurotransmitter of the nervous system. It’s job is to produce contraction of skeletal muscles and inhibit the contractions of the heart. This hormone affects the CB1 receptor and triggers the emotion of “I remember.”

Anandamide- Produced in the cell membranes, this hormone reduces hypertension, depression, fear and anxiety. It inhibits the movement of cancer cells and prevents metastasis without negative effects on the immune system. It acts on both CB1 and CB2 receptors and triggers the emotion of “I am at ease”.

Serotonin- This hormone is made in the digestive tract and the central nervous system. It is a neurotransmitter that helps in appetite regulation and bowel movements. This hormone acts on the CB2 receptor and triggers the emotion of “happiness”.

Epinephrine- Produced by adrenal glands the main job of this hormone is to create the fight or flight response. However, if the levels of epinephrine are high in the body it can raise blood pressure, heart rate, and also cause weight loss. This hormone also acts on the CB1 receptor and triggers the emotion of “fright”.

Oxytocin- This hormone is produced in the hypothalamus. Its main job is to stimulate uterine contraction during delivery and stop post-partum bleeding. Research says that lack of oxytocin can also be responsible for autism, eating disorders, social anxiety, schizophrenia and depression. It acts on the CB1 receptor and causes the emotion “I feel for you.”

These are just a few that have been detailed. Conditions like parkinson's, ADHD, autism, depression, insomnia, anxiety, schizophrenia and many more have also been linked to emotions and hormones. Well, it is obvious that our emotional condition not only determines our mental state but also the physical state.



How can this knowledge help us ?

Understanding the interplay of emotions, hormones, and illnesses can be a beacon of light for many (especially the layman). When we experience too many negative or stressful emotions, one need not panic. It helps us interpret that the negative emotion that we are facing is indicative of something not being right.

What is important is that we do not ignore our emotions when they linger for long especially the negative ones. It is best to deal with them and seek help at the right time.


Can Cannabis Help ?

The logical mind will question if cannabis can help treat any of the above-mentioned health problems. The answer is yes! Cannabis can help.

Depression, anxiety, insomnia, Parkinson's are some of the conditions where research has proven that Cannabis can make a difference and reduce the symptoms. Read more about how cannabis can help treat depression.

Conclusion

Unraveling the endocannabinoid system will help us interpret the changes in our body and mind and deal with it appropriately.

Always take Cannabis under guidance from a medical practitioner. For prescription, support from an Ayurvedic doctor and understanding more about Cannabis visit here.

Source : Vedi Herbals ; Shop : Infused Cannabis Products


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Mushrooms are a form of intelligence unlike anything we know of on this Planet. The mycelium network helps communication or transmission of information between trees, the soil and all who ingest these miraculous mushrooms that envelope the entire planet. Many who have ingested the Psilocybin Mushrooms have reported experiencing clairaudience or telepathy of some kind, clairvoyance and other abilities that are usually considered superhuman or mystical in nature as they are not easily understood within the scientific and rational paradigm that governs most of our intellectual understanding of the Universe.







We've all seen the 'Amanita Muscaria' toad stool mushrooms while growing up in cartoons, comic books, artwork etc., mostly associated with the so called mythical creatures of ancient folklore such as Elves and Fairies. I remember wearing a woolen sweater with the Amanita Muscaria stitched on it when I was very young. The white spots on the red caps all seemed very familiar even then in a strange and magnetic way.


Some interesting videos on Mushrooms and the Mycelium Network !










After dabbling with Cannabis and psychedelics such as LSD and MDMA, I came across Mushrooms first in tons of visionary artwork on the Internet. Mushrooms always made me curious to look deeper into the magical world of fungi and the benefits of using these to attain spiritual insight into ourselves and the world we live in. My first experience with Mushrooms was in Kodaikanal where the Psilocybin Mushrooms grow wild. Some have also reported seeing the Blue Meanies or the Blue Amanita Muscarias growing wild in these parts. However, not very common to find those as compared to stumbling upon the Golden caps mushrooming all across the forest floor in the Nilgiris. 'Nilgiris' literally translates, the 'Blue Mountains' ! :)

The effect was mild compared to my previous psychedelic journeys on other tryptamines, however it was very pure and organic in its feel. It was very grounding and pleasant as I felt more connected with everything around me and at completely at peace. This was an initiation for me into the world of shrooms and was as gentle as it gets. My next adventure on shrooms was unlike anything else I have experienced before. I did about half a dozen of the golden caps if i remember correctly :) ... and then began the roller coaster ride which was like sailing on the edge of lucid dreaming and wakefulness. Going in and out of visions I couldn't make complete sense of ... it was more like watching Mickey Mouse or something in animation with your eyes closed. After a while when I opened my eyes and tried to 'get back to normal' by doing the usual ... streaming music on YouTube while rolling some nice Mango Sativa bud. Couldn't keep my eyes open for too long though ... and as I closed my eyes ... a vision came to me of someone I was supposed to meet in the next couple of hours. However, in the vision I saw this lady say 'Police Police' in her odd russian accent. I wondered why I was seeing her say Police Police ... perhaps I would be cracking a joke or two about her accent to my friends later ... and I let the thought/vision slide not paying much attention to it. Couple of hours later as I was meeting this lady, I had a brief encounter with some plain clothes policemen who jumped us while we were talking somewhere outside, assuming something odd was happening between us since they saw me handing over some cash to her. HAHAHAHA :D Anyway, I got out of the situation without much trouble (they found some Cannabis on me after I gave them permission to search me) since I happen to know some influential people around here and perhaps the shrooms helped me stay calm and composed through the experience. I was shaken up a bit after this experience and kept wondering why I didn't pay attention to the vision I had. Perhaps, it was my first lesson in clairvoyance and knowing that it's possible to know more than what's here and now if one is tranquil and at peace. We become open channels when we are completely and totally silent ... devoid of all that mental chatter that takes away most of our time and energy.

Mushrooms have a way to find you when you're ready like most things in life. There are no accidents and no random occurrences. The shrooms lead us on our path and help us connect with other like minded souls on their journeys as we usher in a new age of light on Earth. We are being given these powerful medicines so we can attain deeper insight into ourselves and become conscious co-creators of the new paradigm. The more I learn about Mushrooms the more mesmerised I feel about them and the possibilities they hold in changing humanity from our destructive ways by healing and nurturing us. Recently while I was watching Dr. Klinghardt's video about EMF radiation and its effects on Human health ... I came across something he mentions about eating Mushrooms that grow around these towers or radiated areas. These mushrooms build our immunity against harmful effects of radiation. I was amazed at the timing of the message reaching me ... :) while cooking some delicious Oyster Mushrooms ! I've been using Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms lately and they're so so yummy, if you haven't tried cooking them as yet, you must ! There are still some more shrooms I'd love to try like Lion's Mane, Chaga, Reishi ... all of these are known to have healing benefits with prominent antiviral properties ! More reason for us to move to Shrooms for food and for our vision quests. I believe we are being given these medicines in these times so we can build our immunity against all attacks of any kind whether its radiation sickness or a viral surge. Mushrooms are here to heal us and awaken us to our true nature by enhancing our connection with everything around us, making us more sensitive and more responsible gardeners of our home, Gaia.



Hope you liked the videos and other information shared in this post. Please share it with your community of friends and help us get the word out !

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Many long time Cannabis tokers around the world have known that mixing Tobacco with Cannabis is a bad idea hence only smoke the herb in its purest available form. This habit of mixing Tobacco with Cannabis is more of a European thing and has become popular around the world thanks to the inclusion of Charas or Hashish in the smoking scene. Although Charas and Hash both can be smoked in their pure form, many prefer mixing it with some tobacco to make the joint burn smoothly or give the experience of fullness of smoke when smoked in a pipe(chillum). This habit of mixing tobacco makes us crave something to smoke even more. For many years I was mixing tobacco with cannabis and rolling my spliffs, justifying it for all the BS reasons possible. But the truth is that Tobacco is so addictive, however is legal, so there is less of a social stigma associated with it and since its easily available and priced nominally as compared to weed prices worldwide, most people mix it up, thinking its gonna make their stash last longer, however end up smoking way too much than one needs, if one was smoking it pure.


Its been a few months now since I quit Tobacco for good and life has been so different in all ways possible. From the time I wake up ... I noticed there was no craving to smoke like its been for so many years. Even switching to cleaner tobacco like American Spirit, Pueblo or Manitou ... may seem like a healthier option, however the nicotine cravings don't go away until you just stop mixing the two. So now, its just the pure herb in a glass pipe which helped me easily transition from being a heavy roller to an occasional toker allowing me to focus on more important things in life like staying healthy following a good diet and lifestyle.

I started cycling and within no time the focus quickly shifted from chasing hits and doobies to sweating it out and feeling more power in your being accomplishing more life enhancing goals. Any kind of physical activity which makes one sweat and exercise their complete body is the need of the hour. The feeling you get after a physical workout is beyond any other substance induced high. One can still toke Cannabis occasionally to relax and chill after a long day, taking power from a habit that has been draining us for many years. Cannabis doesn't have any harmful effect on the lungs and has been scientifically proven to actually increase lung expansion and breathing capacity while easing physical pain and calming things down at all levels of our being.



We tend to follow collective habitual patterns as we usually smoke socially in closed circles and groups and the habit is self perpetuating as long as we are hanging out in the same circles. Life is all about changes and once we make those shifts with our habits, we will start to notice how we've been foolishly wasting away a lot of precious herb, time and our health along the way. I've been intending to put this out there just as a reminder to any of you who are looking to make serious changes in your life by choosing differently. All we really have in this plane of existence is our physical being and we have the power and responsibility to improve the quality of our lives by simply choosing better options.

You don't really have to wait for your body to start showing you signs of discomfort and disease before you can make the switch to smoking pure herb. Just stop mixing the two and use a small glass pipe or any other pipe that's easy to clean and toke away just like old times when we held the smoke in for a bit, for a proper hit ! :D

References : Mixing Cannabis and Tobacco

Image Courtesy : Sensiseeds


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