WEED SHAME

Have you grappled with shame about using cannabis for spiritual pursuits?

Does cannabis-enhanced yoga seem at once the perfect pairing, but also an unlikely match?

Would You Prefer If The Others In Your Yoga Studio Not Smell The Dank Kush You Puffed Before Class??

If you answered yes to any of these, you are so not alone! In this issue of the GY Blog, we’re going to discuss the shame we might feel about using weed, and how to say farewell to that feeling once and for all.

The Green Closet

I definitely felt ambivalent about adding cannabis to my wellness routine when I started Ganja Yoga back in 2009, but even today, there are still many folks yet to come out of The Green Closet, and many who still unfairly judge others for using the plant.

The Shame (Or Fear Of Judgment) We May Feel Boils Down To The Power Of Anti-Cannabis Propaganda.

When propaganda is powerful, people’s ignorance about cannabis isn’t their (our) fault, - and unlearning biases takes time.

And, - because the US government spent millions on the campaign to make us feel ashamed and afraid of cannabis, - this unlearning may take a lot of time. Having said that, - it’s worth shedding shame and feeling free, even proud, of using cannabis as a super food and medicine (and then use our privilege to fight for those imprisoned for the same thing!).

Unlearning begins with education.

Let’s take a quick history lesson, for those that haven’t taken the Ganja Yoga Teacher Training!!

Our beloved cannabis was a huge part of humanity’s evolution, and it’s far more ancient than human-kind. Artifacts show cannabis was used by our ancestors for tens of thousands of years. It played an intricate role in the formation of not only yoga but spiritual practices around the globe.

Little Known Fact: Cannabis Was Around When Humanity Developed Its Spiritual Practices, And There Is Evidence Of Its Ancient Use In Every Major Religion (Yes, Even That One…!).

This isn’t taught in our college-level anthropology classes or our yoga teacher-trainings, (again, propaganda), - yet once we become aware of how our ancestors used cannabis for spiritual and medical purposes, we can drop shame we may carry about our own such use.

It’s like, wait, - but our ancestors used it…

Like wait, … it was mentioned in early yogic texts…

Wait, It Was Used In Early Christianity, Judaism, And All Over The Ancient World For Spirituality And Medicine…

… Kinda thing.

Plus, when we start to learn cannabis’ therapeutic qualities, it’s like, - the opposite of shame.

You’re proud, because your choice is right for you.

And, - you don’t need to put other people down or judge them when you’re on your path, in your lane, with your truth.
What about: “I don’t need cannabis for yoga.”
Maybe you’ve heard people say, “I don’t need drugs, I’m high on life,” or “If you were really spiritual, you would be in deep, natural, intoxication all the time.”

To Me, These Perspectives On Spiritual Cannabis Use Can Set Us Up For Unhelpful Comparisons.

After-all, we are each on our own path, and what serves someone else’s wellness, healing, and enlightenment journey may not serve you.

We don’t all have to eat kale just cause it’s healthy, it’s just one of many ways to be healthy.

We Are All Doing Our Own Thing, Choosing From The Tools And Medicines Out There In Ways That Suit Us Best. 

Traditional yogis believe we all have different karmas from past lives, different physical and mental constitutions (“doshas”), different astrological boons and challenges, so naturally our paths will all be different.

I love that approach - many paths!! : )

Many Paths

Once we realize there’s not a cookie-cutter one-size-fits-all to spirituality, we automatically release the lower vibrations of shame and judgment.
We begin to fully embrace our individual choice to mindfully use cannabis to elevate our minds and bodies in conjunction with spiritual and wellness practices if we darn-well choose to! 
Cannabis use can have its pitfalls, but if you’re intentional, most of these negative aspects can be overcome.
(We’ll talk about those in a later blog, and I discuss them at-length in my book and in the Ganja Yoga Teacher Training.)

Moral Of The Story??

Shine on you (amazingly unique) diamond, - your path is yours, so just stay in your lane and don’t let anybody say nothing about it!! Please drop a note below if this resonated!

APPRECIATE YOU!
XO D.