Getting High with the Most High: Drugs in the Bible

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices” – Song of Songs 4Nearly all of the plants listed here in the Song of Songs contain known psychoactive compounds, and the combination of some of them into the holy massage oil described in Exodus reveals that the ancient Hebrews were adept at working with synergies and enzyme-inhibition to trigger powerful psychedelic experiences.In this talk, historian Danny Nemu reveals the presence of several other mind-bending preparations in the bible. These include temple incense containing opioid-receptor and GABA-receptor agonists, dopamine boosters and other psychoactive chemicals. Lastly Danny will discuss the enigma of manna and the collective synaesthetic vision at Mount Sinai. Nemu will be giving out doses of the sacraments with messianic abandon. Danny Nemu is the author of two of the Psychedelic Press’ bestsellers – Science Revealed and Neuro-Apocalypse. He is an expert on the Bible, mining its historic, poetic and linguistic layers for all kinds of surprising gems, including sophisticated preparations of drug such as cannabis and analogues of both MDMA and LSD. He delivers talks widely and engagingly, sometimes even hotboxing the auditorium with the psychocative incenses of Exodus to recreate the tabernacle!