Soma: The Divine Hallucinogen [Hardcover]

David L. Spess (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2000

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"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."
(

Peter T. Furst, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Author of Flesh of the Gods: The Ritual use of Hallucinogens; Hallucinogens & Culture; and People of the Peyote: Huichol Indian History & Religion

)

"Spess makes a daring thesis--that Indo-Aryan ritualists created an entheogenic ceremony that eventually spread throughout all of Eurasia--and he argues cogently that soma and its rituals reached all of the great civilizations, creating alchemy and magic. This book reveals the history of the divine soma, not just in India, but in all subsequent searches for the golden germ and the elixir of immortality. A well-argued and convincing book, worth reading many times over!"
(Willard Johnson, Professor of Religious Studies, San Diego State University
Author of Poetry and Speculation of the Rg Veda and Riding the Ox Home )

"This fascinating tour de force of impeccable scholarship, written with enviable elan, succeeds brilliantly in disclosing the elusive identity of the soma plants of India and their impact on the cultural history of China, Europe and the Near East. Provocative, intriguing, and sure to generate scholarly debate, this seminal work is absolutely essential for anyone interested in soma and hallucinogenic plants."
(Frank H. Lipp, Ph.D., Author of New Plant Sources for Drugs and Food and Herbalism: Living Wisdom )

"Soma brilliantly completes the enquiry on the scientific and botanical aspects, as well as the anthropological and cultural development, of this very important subject. A magnificent book destined to become a classic."
(Oscar Ichazo, author of Psychocalisthenics and Between Metaphysica and Protoanalysis )

"By far the most thorough survey of both the botanical and the psycho-spiritual aspects of the soma plant that I've ever seen. All I can do is congratulate the author."
(Wendy Doniger, coauthor of Soma: The Divine Mushroom of Immortality )

"A noteworthy addition to the research on hallucinogens."
(Joan Halifax, author of The Fruitful Darkness and Shamanic Voices )

"This book comes highly recommended by Dr. Willard Johnson-my college professor of religious studies-and I second the vote for anyone interested in history, plant drugs, and the origins of Eastern Religion."
(American Herb Association, Vol 16:4 )

About the Author

David Spess has a master's degree in microbiology/mycology and studied Sanskrit at the Naropa Institute. David has traveled throughout India and the Middle East researching this book. He was formerly a research mycologist for the FDA and has taught at the University of Colorado. He lives in New Mexico.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Park Street Press (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892817313
• ISBN-13: 978-0892817313
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,543,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS THEORY DESERVES SERIOUS ATTENTION, July 29, 2002

By 

Rajan Bhattacharyya (Berkeley, Ca., USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soma: The Divine Hallucinogen (Hardcover)

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 the
largest 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 states
similar 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.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from Peter T. Furst, Ph.D., University of Penn., September 19, 2000

By 

Peter T. Furst (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soma: The Divine Hallucinogen (Hardcover)

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.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy Journey to Other Planets, September 8, 2000

By 

dzango "dzango" (LONDON United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soma: The Divine Hallucinogen (Hardcover)

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. [e-mail]