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Mushrooms and Mankind: The Impact of Mushrooms on Human Consciousness and Religion
by James Arthur

The following materials are presented by James Arthur and are used by his permission.

BIO: James Arthur
Having become fascinated with religions of all types at an early age James Arthur has hurtled into deep study now for 25 years. Having discovered works by such Pioneers (in ethno-Mycology) as (1) R. Gordon Wasson and (2) John Marco Allegro James set out on a quest to unravel the mysterious meanings and implications of sacramental ingestion of plants in a religious context.

In 1976 R. Gordon Wasson told James in his opinion, James was the worlds leading expert in the field of Ethno-Mycology as it pertains to Christianity. He also refered to James as his dear friend. This was over 20 years ago and James has never stopped studying since. James was saddened by the death of his Mentor and friend R. Gordon Wasson and considderes his lifes work to be "The roots for the most valuable study of all".

Mushrooms/Religion/Ethno-Mycology
James Arthur has been a long time Student of Tibetan Buddhism(under the Guidance of Lama Tharchin Rimposhee and many others) and is an AUTHORIZED reader of "The Tibetan Book Of The Dead" James' Tibetan name "DORJE DROLOD" has deep meaning in itself.

James is an ordained Priest into the Christian Religion as well.

James is/has been friends, acquaintances, conversants, and/or is associated through common friends with: R. Gordon Wasson, Terrence McKenna, Sasha Shulgin, Johnathan Ott, William Bramley, Stan Tennen, Robert MorningSky, Jordan Maxwell, Zecharia Sitchin, Neil Slade, Clark Heinrich, John Allegro, Amado Crowley, David Aurora, Paul Stamets, Wade Davis, Robert Forte, Peter Furst, Jace Callaway, Jochen Gartz, Giorgio Samorini, and others who have helped him to piece together the fabric of one of the most fascinating quilts of understanding. The meaning of life.

James has theories that have been making many knowledgeable people stand up and listen. Even if you do not agree with his findings, you will find it interesting. To say the least.

"The time has come for this knowledge to be revealed into plain sight. It is no longer the property of those few elite to keep hidden from the general population. The sleepers must awaken"
James Arthur  1998

(1) R. Gordon Wasson (author) a few of his books:
"SOMA Divine Mushroom of Immortality" "Percephonies Quest" "Russia Mushrooms and History"

(2) John Marco Allegro (philologist/author)
(first  British philologist called to oversee the translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls) a few of his books:
"The Sacred Mushroom And The Cross" "Peole of The Dead Sea Scrolls" ""Treasure of The Copper Scroll


"The True meaning of Christmas"
 What are the Origins of the Christmas Traditions?? Long lost into the Realm of simple Traditions are Very Amazing Truths that are long forgotten.  To know the Meanings behind the Traditions that as of yet have  no Explanation will be the starting point of this fascinating  discussion. Many books have been written about the Amanita Muscaria (Mushroom). This Mushroom is found  Growing under Pine trees (Coniferous trees) All over the World.

The Santa Claus (of today) is a metamorphosis from many ancient Mythologies Including THOR or Donner (German) who rides in a Golden Flying Chariot pulled by two Goats (Cracker and Gnasher). Saint Nicholas (The Russian Patron Saint of Children) is as Highly revered in Siberia as the native Shaman. In Siberia, The Amanita Muscaria Mushroom is highly regarded by Shamen and many others. This is a Large red and white mushroom Known to  produce Religious visions.

So Where does this Enter the Christmas Tradition??  Many Christian Beliefs were Borrowed (to be kind)  From the more ancient Religions. The Virgin Birth,  The Incarnation of God, The Sacrament, Etc.  It is Well documented By Fundamentalists That the  Christmas Traditions are Pagan in Origin..  Which Simply means that their origin was the Traditions  of the Country Folk (pagan).

The Siberian Shamans Used, and Still do today  (despite Governmental Oppression) The Amanita  Muscaria As a Religious Sacrament. The Value Of  the Inebriant Is Placed Highly among the  Commodities of the Natives. Fetching Reindeer  Pelts and Meats As payment. Interesting to Note  That if You aren't Quick enough, you will find only  the mushroom stubs, the rest Greedily Gobbled up  by the Hungry Reindeer!!! Hence Hmmm. Reindeer  Flying??? Hmmm Reindeer that can fly that have a  RED nose?? Well, Due to the Reverence that these  mushrooms Receive and the Ability that they  possess to Spirit the Human off to Realms of the  Angels, Gods, and Demons. Its no wonder that the  Natives would Think that the Reindeer Also have  Some type of a Similar Effect.

So why Do People Bring Pine trees into their  houses At the Winter Solstice? Placing Brightly  Colored (Red and White) Packages Under the  Boughs To give each other as a token of their love  and As a representation of the Love of God and the  gift of his Sons life?

This is Because in nature THAT is where you will  find this "Most Sacred" Substance. Big Clue here!!!  Winter Brings Rains... Rains Bring Mushrooms Go  to the Mountains around Christmas time... Look  under the Pine Trees. Because what you will find  unlocks the Key Mysteries of the Universe. This  Gnosis (joining together of your mind with the mind  of the Universal Consciousness) is What All the  Sages, Mystics, Teachers, Prophets Were talking  about. Even if only in symbolism.

  1. Saint Nicholas is the Patron Saint of Children (From Siberia)

  2. The Reindeer Eat The Mushrooms.. Hence the Flight.

  3. The Mushrooms Grow under Pine Trees in nature (nearly Exclusively)

  4. The Mushrooms are Red and White.

  5. The Mushrooms Were Typically Dried by Hanging them on the Hearth of  The Fireplaces on Strings. Stocking Stuffers anyone??

  6. They are Gathered in Sacks.. Santa's Bag.

  7. The Very Name Christmas.. Is A  Holiday Composing of the Words
           ...Christ (meaning the Anointed with the Magical Substance)
           ...Mass (a Special Service of the Sacramental ingestion of the Eucharist) the Body of Christ. In the Catholic Tradition this Substance Has been  replaced by the Doctrine of Trans-substantiation, Whereby (by magical Ceremony) The Priests Claim the Ability to Transform A Cracker into the Literal Body of Christ.. IE. Placebo.

Other areas of discussion on this topic will elaborate on some synonymous names for this Mushroom through history.

  • Soma (Hindu plant God) Soma is also Greek for Body.

  • Amrita (Buddhist Magical Sacrament)

  • Ambrosia (Greek Food of the Gods)

  • The Holy Grail (note the Grail like Shape,Vessel containing the blood of the God)

  • Fruit of the Tree of life (The main Body (mycelium) growing underground in a Symbiotic relationship with the pine tree)

  • The Golden Fleece

  • The Fountain of Youth (I wonder how many Ponce De'Leon Kicked over while searching)

  • Haoma (Islamic Sacrament)

  • Manna (two kinds in the Bible) Sanskrit: Manna means Mushroom.

  • Bread of Life (Yes its the Loaf of Bliss)

  • Fountain of living Waters (Its Alive and its 90% water, and shaped like a fountain)

  • Hidden Manna

  • The Cosmic Egg (What are we really Mimicking at Easter? The Mushroom  hunt? Of COURSE!)

  • The Prima Materia (Get Clark Heinrichs Book "StrangeFruit" for this one, Fascinating!)

  • The Water of Life (Pressed Juices of Soma. Ancient Stuff)

  • The Flesh of the God (Sure does Resemble Flesh)

  • The Fruit of Knowledge

  • The Flesh of Jesus   (Take And Eat this is my "body" (Greek "SOMA"))


Book Description (from the publisher)
For thousands of years on our planet, humanity has been involved in a symbiotic relationship with plants. Not only have plants supplied mankind with a never-ending food source, the necessary nourishment for our bodies, and life itself, but they have also served us in another way: an extremely important and intricate one, yet an often overlooked one. This book uncovers the natural link between man, consciousness, and God.

This discovery may at first seem abstract, wishful thinking, or even impossible; yet as evidence presented on these pages unfolds, you may find that its understanding does not require as much of a leap of faith as you might think. It is a bold claim, but if the pioneering research in this book turns out to be true, this may be one of the most significant discoveries in the entire field of religious knowledge ever to happen in the history of mankind.

Should people use the knowledge found in this work, it would allow many on this planet to put their differences aside and join in the understanding that each and every one of us may now experience that which has been, until this time, hidden away in the recesses of our spiritual history. We may at last be able to open ourselves to an entirely new and valuable consciousness.

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