Ethnobotany & Initiation Rites ~ A Mother’s Perspective
Jane Straight© Jimson Weed ~ Datura stramonium
In light of the most recent, devastating mass shootings in the U.S., I feel compelled to update and offer this piece on initiation rites that I wrote many years ago as part of my CAADE (California Alcohol and Drug Educator) certification. It was originally written as more of an interesting historical piece but today I edit it as more of a plea for finding ways to work with the plight of our modern youth. Recently, on the 4th of July 2022, there was yet another horrendous shooting that took place while families were peacefully watching a parade in an affluent neighborhood outside Chicago. At least 7 people will have died and dozens more injured during the attack. However, the psycho-spiritual trauma for the survivors and witnesses will possibly last a lifetime. Nina Turner, former Ohio state senator says “mass shootings in the U.S. are partly fueled by racism, sexism and “toxic masculinity” that equates gun ownership with manhood.” We have neglected to deal with a violent past and a violent present in the United States of America,” says Turner. The following is food for thought though I hope to be planting some seeds as well.
I have been a devoted single (mostly) Mother for over 50 years, and each of my sons has provided both immeasurable joy and serious pain in my life. They have individually escorted me to the precipice and back countless times. During those times I endured restless nights riding the wave of parental anxiety while simultaneously praying for their safety. Some classic questions always lingered for me: how could I have been a more effective parent? What have I learned that I can ultimately share with younger parents? Try as I might, I always knew that I could never fill the void of not having a father as mentor and guide for my boys and unfortunately our culture does not support the need. So, what to do?
To set the record straight, I am not presenting this with a vengeance to highlight poor fathering. Quite the contrary, as the lack of male modeling I refer to goes back generations. Rather, I am simply trying to shed light on a very serious cultural deficit. I compare our lack of healthy initiation process to other global practices, many of which are enlightening and highly effective. In the U.S. the statistics of young incarcerated men coming from ‘broken’ homes and separated from one of the parents are staggering. Though in truth, most often the absent parent is indeed the father, and there are many reasons why that might be the case. It has been documented that 1 out of 3 children grow up without their biological father, presenting a myriad of psycho/spiritual problems down the road. Once again, this is not to thrust blame on fathers, as many don’t want to leave their families. Culturally we have hit a major roadblock in targeting our youth with essential practices to help them evolve in a positive, healthy manner. For more reading see: “the fatherless generation”.
My research took me into the realms of young male (and less often female) initiation rites around the world. My particular focus has been on some of the rituals associated with these rites, and the medicinals that have been utilized to enhance them. I currently cultivate all of the plant species I am writing about which makes it all the more interesting to me. I then compare some of these rituals with our own rites of passage, or lack of, and find the cross-cultural examination interesting but alarming.
The term “Initiation Rite” itself was coined in 1909 by a Belgian anthropologist. He defined the process as one that people from many different cultures experience in moving from one stage in life to another. He explained that there are two major transitions 1) from childhood to adolescence and 2) from adolescence to adulthood. It is the 2nd phase, from adolescence to adulthood, that I was always the most interested in. This is the phase where young unguided youth, all too often, are left to figure things out for themselves with many ending up in troubling circumstances. We find that these two distinct levels of existence (boyhood & manhood) are very clearly indicated in any study of ancient societies. 1 However, it did not take a Belgian anthropologist to define what tribes the world over have embraced as an essential process in their adolescent’s lives. We as a nation are in trouble now, and will continue to be until we find genuine ways to help our troubled youth.
From my understanding there is only one place on the planet that does not have a species of plant that alters consciousness. Antarctica is this only exception, and climate is the reason why. I have always felt that there is a divine purpose for these consciousness altering species and the human/non-human interactions that have developed around the world since the beginning of time. I take heart that there are volumes now that speak truth to my beliefs. Do we not need all the help we can possibly get?
Throughout global history people have revered their plants. They were necessary for every aspect of tribal life including food, shelter, and medicine. Medicine people utilized the sacred plants to provide the vision necessary for tribal harmony. Some plants even served as major components of religious ceremony such as the use of the Peyote cactus as a sacrament in the Native American Church. What I found was that some of these highly beneficial plants even served to facilitate rites of passage, and there is ample evidence to confirm this.
We know the adolescent soul hungers for challenge, needing something definitive to direct the wild and restless energy experienced at this time in their lives. Wise Native Americans recognized this stage and created the “Vision Quest.” These indigenous communities send their pubescent boys off into the wilderness to experience their source of power and wisdom. They believe adolescents need to experience time away from the comforts of the village, and motherly love to be able to detach from their childhood. Often they are led to the woods, or an isolated mountaintop to be alone to reflect. It is at this time that they will experience their own true nature and the meaning of their lives. Under the guidance of elder men, and often with the help of poisonous herbs and empowered by fasting, pain and deprivation, the boys everyday consciousness dies.” 2 The initiates often encounter teachers from beyond the physical realm they are familiar with. The jewel is the connection with their own primal, wild nature that has been untouched by society. Other instincts are often awakened, sometimes that of a warrior, great thinker, or healer. A strong self-confidence is said to emerge which is a huge attribute moving forward in their lives. Other indigenous elders instilled socio-religious values by administering botanical sacraments to amplify suggestibility (in young folk). Ceremonies such as our high school graduation generally have little meaning in today’s culture and draw a rather pale comparison.
Many of these complex initiations are facilitated by psychoactive alkaloids found in plants. The young men are taken on a journey by means of a death and rebirth process that is enhanced by the local medicine they consume. Many of the visionary plants are quite toxic, and the toxins are responsible for producing the extraordinary visions. Elders, who have experienced this type of initiation during their own youth, are now called upon for guidance each step of the way. What follows are a few of the well-documented practices.
Ayahuasca, known as the “Vine of the Soul” is a great example. The late Richard Evans Schultes reported that “Ayahuasca was used in the northwest Amazon to fortify the bravery of young male adolescents who must undergo the painful “yurupari ceremony.” Among the Kofan, boys may begin drinking ayahuasca as early as age 6, and a “youth will drink yaje at puberty, when his nose and ears are pierced and he obtains the right to wear the tail feathers of the macaw”. In the Amazon cultures, young men experience these traditions as an integral part of their religious heritage. It is a cultural norm and part of the way they become familiar with their societal view of the world. The ayahuasca brew serves as a window of enlightenment and clear portal to divination, a catalyst to their awakening. 3
It has also been well documented that Brazilian Mothers drink ayahuasca during pregnancy with no adverse effects. Anthropologists who study these South American cultural traditions say they personally know many 10 – 12 year old children who have had this medicine in their systems since before birth and attribute it to the fact that they are unusually radiant, responsible, and sensitive. 4 The Supreme Court recently ruled unanimously in favor of allowing this plants’ religious use within the UDV Church, of Brazilian origin. This ruling has been a giant step in the direction of the pursuit of religious liberties. About time, wouldn’t you say?
The genus Datura is said to be the most widely used hallucinogen in the world, so it stands to reason it would hold an important place in the realm of initiation rites. It too was widely used by North American tribes to initiate their young men. The Algonquin Indians of eastern North America administered an intoxicating medicine containing Datura stramonium (aka Jimson Weed) to youths about to undergo initiation into manhood. The boys experienced a kind of madness lasting for days where they lost all memory involving their former lives and started adulthood by forgetting whom they had been. Once again we see the death/rebirth scenario played out. 5 Primitive cultures have always struggled to survive, and it was imperative that young males learn responsible ways. Every able body was integral to their collective existence. There was no time or place for immature activity. However, some tribes did use the seeds of the Datura as a correctional measure for particularly unruly children. The seeds were crushed and added to some sort of corn to produce a mild intoxication at which time the children were effectively admonished.
The use of the Peyote cactus by the Huichol Indians of northern Mexico is also of significance. Children are introduced to the alkaloids in the cactus before birth while still in the womb (like with ayahuasca in South America), then through their Mothers’ milk while nursing, and finally by ingesting the sacred cactus itself. As with ayahuasca, it is believed that this practice has a strong effect on the way these children view the world. When planning the rituals to ensure the best outcome, each individuals’ maturity is taken into consideration. Combined with this is the actual Peyote Pilgrimage that is known to have a very powerful influence on the unity of the family. It is common knowledge that strong families equate to strong communities.
Years ago, the famed anthropologist Stacy Schaefer, delivered a presentation entitled “Pregnancy, Children and Peyote in Huichol Culture.” She provided her audience with an interesting perspective of women’s roles with the use of entheogens based on her work with the Huichol Indians of Mexico. Besides the biochemical aspects of Peyote consumption during pregnancy, she discussed the beliefs and personal experiences of the Huichol women who take Peyote throughout their pregnancy. Sometimes the women described fascinating accounts of unique communion with their unborn children.
Tobacco is known as the most highly revered sacred plant in the New World so it is not surprising that it is also used in male initiation rites as a means for giving advice. Blessings are chanted while tobacco smoke is blown through the hair of young initiates. Fresh tobacco leaves are often used as an offering, and tobacco smoke is utilized to carry one’s prayers to the Creator. 6
Various African tribes utilize a relatively unknown but mysterious and powerful plant, Tabernanthe iboga, in ceremonies of initiation. Young males participate in nocturnal rituals that resemble a form of baptism. This process, known as the Bwiti initiation, reprograms a new ego corresponding to the cultural norms of the tribe. Through the communion with iboga, the initiate is allowed to see more than the ordinary world and to reconsider his present life. He/she will be born, die, and be reborn anew with outstanding clairvoyance. I recently read there has been an “Iboga Youth Movement” created so that the new generations will be better acquainted with the older traditions. Brilliant! 7
I am not an anthropologist, and my focus is really on the plants themselves, therefore I do not have a follow up on whether any of these practices are still being used today. Unfortunately there have been many attempts to try to erase indigenous history but my guess is that these important rituals have survived the test. May it be so.
Now, there are many ‘hungry souls’ in North America. Some look to other cultures for answers in deciphering the meaning of life. Our “American Dream” seems like a sick joke historically and many of us cannot relate to it at all. Some, within what I have always referred to as a sub-culture, try experimenting with plant medicine from other parts of the world while seeking another glimpse of reality. However, sometimes using medicine out of cultural context can have extremely negative consequences. There was a report of a case some years back of a young German male who literally cut off his genitalia while under the influence of the tropane alkaloids in the Datura plant.
So, just what are the initiation rites of young American males? Alcohol? Sports? Long ago Joseph Campbell said “U.S. youth severely lacked initiation rites that were the advantage of older tribal societies”. Young men are rarely introduced to their proper roles in society and this has become a huge dilemma. American teenagers have no clearly marked rituals to make a successful transition to young adulthood and are making it up as they go. 9 There is no system in place encouraging a dramatic shift in consciousness sometimes necessary for real change.
Although there are no longer any general traditions for this moment in our society, some remnants can be found. The last main group in western society to continue such a tradition is also one of the most law-abiding and mature. In the Jewish religion there is the Bar-Mitzvah, marking the moment a Jewish boy becomes a man. The Christian confirmation practice would be considered a parallel.
Some contemporary families understand that most indigenous peoples created ways in which to ensure the maturity of their youth. They have puzzled over how to go about this. There was a time in the 1980’s when it was thought essential to send young men off to expensive male initiation weekends to discover themselves. I could never comprehend parents turning their vulnerable sons over to others they did not personally know, to be re-programmed so to speak. Perhaps out of desperation? The facilitators of these programs probably had the right idea, and probably based their programs on other traditions, but I believe they missed the mark in some ways. At least that is what I have been told. When initiation is done within the confines of the community itself, there can be essential follow up which would be lacking if youth were sent away. Serious reintegration is essential.
Remember the romantic comedy “Failure to launch”? It’s the story of a 26 year old male that simply won’t leave home. This lack of self-confidence in males is really not so funny at all and has been considered a phenomenon that crosses all demographics. Data shows that every ethnicity, religion, and prosperity level has been affected recently. It has even been suggested that there may be environmental toxins affecting only the male population. 10 Now that’s a thought!
It seems obvious that we need adolescent initiations that meet the needs of our modern youth. It is possible to draw on tribal rites that are feasible within an urban culture. Thousands of young men are incarcerated, could it possibly be associated as a result of that void in our culture? The plight of the African American male is deepening and should concern us all. A 2000 study found that a black drug defendant is 48 times more likely to be jailed than a white man with the same record. Now that’s a statement! 48 times! And there is more: According to “The Real War on Crime: The Report of the National Criminal Justice Commission” blacks account for 13% of all regular drug users, but 35% of those arrested, 56% of those convicted, and 74% of those imprisoned for drug possession. Unfortunately this is only a part of the story.
Just a few generations back, kids growing up on ranches and farms in the U.S. knew what was expected of them. They had chores that were essential to the family’s livelihood and well-being. But somewhere along the line kids learned about other exciting places, and got bored with their chores. They began leaving the ranches and farms they were raised on to go to school or to learn other trades away from home. Sometimes they joined the military. This became a large part of the demise of rural families and communities.
There are still some apprenticeship programs, and some of the parents in our local community created apprenticeships for our youth in what is considered middle school, the 6th to 8th grade prior to high school. All and all those were great experiences but only happened occasionally. Educators I’ve spoken with attest to the fact that kids in middle school are somewhat bored and in need of creative guidance in a field they are interested in. There are still the Boy Scouts, (along with their sick pedophiles) with sexual abuse currently termed an “unspoken norm” (no thank you) and of course, the gangs. The gang association offers validation, wild and dangerous energy, community support and ultimately initiation. But it is a frightening proposition, with ramifications unknown at the time of joining.
A few of the young adolescent boys in our community have spent a little time behind bars. Most are not bad kids but simply confused youth that have fallen through the cracks of our society. Most of them eventually see the light and get their acts together, but some do not. There are thousands upon thousands of friends and family members of incarcerated men all over the world who grieve in solidarity for the injustice some of these men suffer, particularly young men of color. Being incarcerated must also be a very confusing time period for many. And what happens to these kids when they emerge from their confinement and try to re-enter a society they never fully embraced or understood to begin with? The revolving door of the jail may feel safer than that foreign society they are placed back into. We know the criminal justice system is not the answer for most of these problems. The quote at the end by Francis Weller speaks to this dilemma beautifully.
The plants and ceremonies listed above are not by any means all of the rites around the globe. It would probably take an entire manuscript to do it justice. They simply serve as examples of how other cultures have dealt with encouraging and assisting youth to become integral parts of their societies.
However, within the sub-culture I often refer to, there are courageous parents who have made it a priority to take the responsibility of initiating their youth into their own hands. They have chosen not to send their children off to others, not to let them flail on their own, but to create meaningful, enlightening experiences within their family context to help move their offspring forward. Engaging in this work with the use of psychoactive medicine, even within the confines of their own homes, is illegal. There have been drug education programs in the past such as D.A.R.E. (drug abuse resistance education) that have encouraged youth to report their parents if drugs are being used in their homes. This is a serious consequence of the “War on Drugs” and the people perpetuating it. It is not really surprising that there is data documenting an actual increase in substance use of the kids that were forced to be involved with the D.A.R.E. program and their zero tolerance approach. We already know that zero tolerance only serves to alienate and scorn youth who are experimenting as a normal response to the drugs available in our society. Kids are curious and will find ways to get the substances they wish. Many years ago I heard the famed Jonathan Ott refer to this insidious campaign as the “War on People.” Thank you Jonathan! His proclamation was a great wake up call for me.
In 1983 Dr. Andrew Weil, along with Winifred Rosen, published an important drug education book entitled “From Chocolate To Morphine ~ everything you need to know about mind-altering drugs.” Many celebrated professionals contributed information, ideas, and illustrations to complete the text. It was intended to offer clear, unbiased, honest information about how drugs affect the mind and body and quickly became the definitive guide. This book goes hand in hand with the concept of Harm Reduction, which is a healthy approach to drug use that acknowledges the fact that these substances are here to stay and humans will always desire to use them. Concentration is on ways of minimizing adverse effects on individuals and society through age-appropriate information on risks and benefits. If interested in further contemplation, there is an extensive Harm Reduction movement that anyone may tap into. Check online.
In the U.S., in the last 20 years or so, there has been an increasing movement to empower girls as they come of age as well. Many have had the opportunity to sit with their own mothers in supportive prayer circles as they experience coming into their moon cycles. Even though I do not have daughters of my own, I have had the privilege of sitting in some of these circles and offering my support. But even these supportive circles don’t mean these girls won’t want to experiment themselves, they just might be coming from a more balanced and integrated place to begin with.
In summary, it is imperative we find ways to foster kind, conscious youth who are engaged in positive personal growth practices so that they are able to transition from one life stage to another as easily as possible. We desperately need young adults who ultimately know their place in our societies too as they will be needed to carry the torches into the future. It would be wise to study other traditions looking for practices we might mimic as ways to work within the context of our own cultures. Fortunately, there are some small changes occurring and I list 3 valuable resources below.
- Gabor Mate “Hold On to Your Kids ~ why parents need to matter more than peers”
The promise of this book: These writings address one of the most disturbing trends of our time: Children today looking to their peers for direction—their values, identity, and codes of behavior. This “peer orientation” undermines family cohesion, interferes with healthy development, and fosters a hostile and sexualized youth culture. Children end up becoming overly conformist, desensitized, and alienated, and being “cool” matters more to them than the advice they may be given from a parent. It has to start when kids are young.
- Francis Weller ~ “The Alchemy of Initiation”
“We are meant to cross many thresholds in our lifetime, each a further embodiment of the soul's innate character. Yet for many of us, the failure to complete the first crossing continues to affect our ability to fully show up in our lives. Many of us carry the uncomfortable thought that we are unsure of our place in the world, still anxious about our sense of value and our right to be here.”
- MAPS (Multidiciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) https://maps.org/news-letters/v14n2-html/psychedelic_family_values.html Offering many examples of historical and contemporary uses of drugs used in context of initiation