In the ancient Fire Temples of Persia the priests (called the Magi -root of the word magic-), would serve Haoma before the sermons. Haoma, the drink of the God’s was the Persian equivalent of the Indian magical potion the Soma and was known to cause profound hallucinations and experiences of Oneness. In an ancient Persian book the story has been recorded of the interdimensional travels of a high priest who consumed a huge dose of Haoma and lay in ceremony for 7 days and nights to explore the other realms. 

Although the recipe for this brew has not been mentioned in history books, evidence based on ancient imagery suggests that it may have contained a magical mushroom, Syrian roe (Peganum Harmala) and/or Ephedra.

From times immemorial and in all cultures around the world, psychedelic plants have been used to gain insight, receive visions and healings and to celebrate and worship life. The ancient healers or shamans would use the power of these powerful plants to cure their patients from both physical and psychological ailments. 

The Indians revered Cannabis as did the Siberians and Mongols the magic mushrooms. The Native Indians and Mexicans used mushrooms and the cactus Peyote, as did the Andes cultures use the San Pedro cactus. The Maya build massive architecture and created art inspired by the use of mushrooms, while the tribes in the Amazon harnessed the healing powers of the Ayahuasca brew. Some African people discovered the healing properties of the Iboga tree root whilst the Egyptians used the Blue Lotus. Ephedra, and mushrooms were used historically in ancient Persia and Greece while the use of cannabis in the form of hashish is evident in ancient Israel and the Middle East. 

In the beginning of Christianity, the sacrament that was served in churches is known to have been a psychedelic brew and the use of psychedelic Mead was wide spread in all of Europe until the 1700’s. 

It is only through the dogmatic rule of the patriarchal religions that the use of (psychedelic) plant medicine (or medicinal plants) was halted worldwide and banished from people’s memories. 

In the last decades much evidence has come to light through archeological and genetic research indicating that the use of psychedelics has always promoted growth and learning of humans and has inspired them to discover new things. The most recent example of this is the cultural, artistic and technological revolution that was brought about by the use of LSD from the 1950’s onwards. 

Currently humanity is on the brink of yet another cultural and psychological leap as more and more people are discovering and REMEMBERING  their natural heritage. The scope of healing and clearing of the debris in the collective subconscious that is happening on earth right now, is unprecedented and it seems that Gaia herself is making sure her plant emissaries are spreading wide and free to bring the much-needed healing to our planet. 

The Fire Temple Netherlands has been inspired by the sacred sacraments of ancient Persia, Mexico and the Amazon. It is our firm belief that plant medicine offer the key to the growth spurt we need as we need to act fast to save humanity from our eminent extinction. This is no time for slow processes through daily meditations or years of psychotherapy. This is a times for action and plant medicine help us do just that!