Soma: The Divine Hallucinogen

By David L. Spess

The definitive work on the ancient Hindu soma rituals mentioned in the Vedas and debated by scholars for decades. - The first book to identify the mysterious soma plant. - A breakthrough book that reenvisions the role of psychoactive plants in religion. Soma has been shrouded in mystery for centuries. It is simultaneously a sacred hallucinogenic plant used in secret rituals, a personified God, and an important cosmological principle. Summarizing all previous research on the subject, David Spess goes far beyond his predecessors and shows that soma provides an important key to the understanding of the earliest systemized methods of medicine, psychology, magic, rejuvenation, longevity, and alchemy. Most significant is that his intensive research provides the most compelling case yet for actual identification of the plants that served as the basis for the divine hallucinogen Nelumbo nucifera , the sacred lotus of India, as well as some members of the Nymphaea genus. With the renewed interest in the ritual use of psychoactive substances, shamanism, psychic phenomena, and alternative modalities of healing, Soma provides a much needed bridge between Eastern and Western esoteric traditions. Contained within the enigmatic verses about soma in the Rig Veda is a secret about ourselves and the nature of our relationship to the world and cosmos. Soma makes this knowledge available to us once again.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0892817313
• ISBN13: 9780892817313
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: Park Street Press
• Length: 198 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

THIS THEORY DESERVES SERIOUS ATTENTION

A recent theory by David Spess proposes that the Soma plant is Nymphaea and Nelumbo (water lilies and the lotus plant) deserves attention. Spess begins with the fact that India has thelargest variety of water lily and lotus plants in the world, and that some of these were known as Soma and called so in Sanskrit texts. The psychoactivity of these plants is discussed, and although certain books and articles claim that these plants are not psychoactive, Spess asserts that they are (Spess, 2000). Certain indigenous varieties of the plants are known to be visionary and auditory entheogens when properly processed. In particular, the flowers of Nymphaea induce ecstatic statessimilar to those from MDMA. Interestingly, the Rig Veda indicates that the deity Indra is initially stimulated, and then sent into entheogenic states by different preparations of Soma, which is a well known property of libations created from both water lily and lotus plants. Another aspect of the evidence provided is the medicinal properties of the plants, which is a key component in the description of Soma found in the Rig Veda. As described earlier, the hymns in the Rig Veda specifically speak of Soma's incredible rejuvenating and healing powers. Both lotus and water lily plants have historically been used to promote long term health in India, and have a special name for this property (rasayana) (Spess, 2000). The Rig Veda also speaks of Sura, a fermented alcoholic drink which is distinct from Soma and causes inebriation rather than entheogenic states. Some preparations of Soma did call for mixtures, which is further discussed in post-Vedic texts. Specific alkaloids found in Nelumbo block receptors that cause alcohol induced stupor, thus a mixture of Nymphaea and a fermented juice frees alcohol soluble alkaloids and increases the entheogenic potency of the drink while decreasing the alcoholic effects of it.

Very interesting and unique work.

I truely enjoyed most of this book. The amount of speculative information was beyond what I expected. I found the arguments for the Lotus/Lilly being an ingredient of SOMA plausible. But only as one possible "ingredient", certainly not the main one. Being an avid reader of R. Gordon Wasson and his protegee, James Arthur, i find it surprising that Spess just doesn't get it as far as the Mushroom/Soma connection goes. I like his concepts regarding the Lotus/Horse hoof and even the speculative rants but he is biting off more that anyone can chew if he thinks that his concept of Lotus/Soma will ever replace the Amanita muscaria. There are just too many connections which cannot be ignored. If he had presented the case that he has discovered another ingredient used in soma rather than trying to dispose of previous research this book would find a welcome spot in the A shelf of my library. It rates a B- just because Spess misses the bigger picture. It is still a worthwhile read.

Review from Peter T. Furst, Ph.D., University of Penn.

In this meticulously researched, always scholarly but eminently readable study of Soma, the "elixir of immortality" and enlightenment of ancient India, David Spess takes us on a fascinating intellectual and spiritual journey way beyond Wasson's narrowly focused case for Amanita muscaria, the inebriating fly agaric mushroom of ecstatic Siberian shamanism. In a book thankfully free of both scientific and New Age jargon Spess presents convincing evidence that Soma's devotees knew of many different kinds and even colors of soma drinks with different associations and purposes, so that soma botany and taxonomy cannot be reduced to a single sacred plant species. A valuable contribution to both historical ethnobotany and comparative religion----and a good read.

Easy Journey to Other Planets

This is a fine but flawed book. Anyone with any interest in the identity of soma will have to read this book, together with two further publications promised by Spess in the bibliography. However, much fascinating historical information and speculation is spoiled by the presence of theosophical Mumbo Jumbo such as references to 'cosmic energies that operate within the universe' and frequent references to 'the paranormal'. No doubt I'll have to wait a few incarnations until that all becomes real to me. In addition there is a complete absence of any pharmacology of Spess's chosen candidates for Soma which would have helped with assessing Spess's claim to have found the true identity of Soma, though one of his pending publications promises to deal with this. This book does not match the book description... It definitely does not 'summarize all previous research on the subject'. Of the two other major contenders in identifying homa/soma Gordon Wasson gets only two brief mentions and Flattery and Schwartz are not even referenced. See Flattery and Schwartz themselves, as appended to 'The Staten Island Project', for some interesting history of the Soma debate.I suspect that this book, much delayed in publication, is a cut down version of that originally intended, coming in at 200 pages versus the advertised 400, the balance of information being due in Spess's promised publications. Another problem with Spess's book is that everthing hermetic, alchemical and mystical comes from the soma sacrifice. While I do not doubt that Spess has made the most intensive study to date of the the Vedas and other relevant scriptures and has more fascinating revelations to come, his insistence that all roads lead to Soma eventually just becomes tiresome. Still, hats off to Mr Spess for a fascinating read that leaves more questions unanswered than answered, more revelations to come, a few hints and tips for the cognoscenti who can read between the lines and bibliographical references and leads enough to keep entheogen hunters busy for the rest of their lives and maybe a few to come. musonius@hotmail.com

I eagerly await the next book by this Authur

In this book the Author David Spess, makes the suggestion that reports of extended life spans achieved by the ancients, were not mistakes of time calculation, translation mistakes or myth, but a true record. He suggests that in the not too distant past humanity had access to a powerful plant or plants which they were able to use to heal or to rejeuvenate. One reviewer, Willard Johnson, refers to this as a daring thesis, and well it may seem to some. Prior to reading this book I had encountered enough references of like nature to enable me to have formed similar conclusions. This is one of the reasons I purchased the book. unfortunately some of the references I came across, and which particularly interested me, are not quoted in the book. Anyone who is curious as a result of reading this book can be assured that there is certainly more information to be found. Mr Spess seems to be of the opinion that the psychoactive qualities of the plant are instrumental in increasing the power of the mind, therefore enabling spontaneous healing and rejeuvenation to occur. Mr Spess does, I feel, get overly euphoric about his conclusions in this regard and rambles on, sometimes for pages at a time, during which he has the unfortunate tendency to proffer his personal conclusions as fact. That he should be excited by this topic is understandable, but the lack of objectivity is sometimes annoying. I feel he would do better to provide more examples of the original materials from which he is quoting. From the reading I have done I have formed the conclusion that the soma rejeuvenation procedure was a somewhat more radical experience than the three day Soma Holiday described by Mr Spess. The accounts that I found describe and period of preparatory fasting and special diet, Collection of the plant at a particular time of year, the construction of a special sterile,light proof isolation chamber, dramatic physical consequences, and the need for months of intensive care for the process to be complete. Under these conditions death would not seem an unlikely outcome. In seems to me that advanced powers of mind control would be required to overcome the fear of the procedure. If the drug produced frightening hallucinations then it may have been important to have become accustomed to this before undertaking the full procedure. I've had a good rave but believe me there is more to say. Please read the book, and the sequel. I will definitely be giving this book to my daughter to read as an accompaniment to her studies of "Brave New World".