Shamans, Witches, and The Psychedelic Origins of Religion

Religion functions as a psychological impulse rooted in early human attempts to access and understand perceived ultimate reality through altered states of consciousness. These ancient traditions utilized ritual and psychoactive substances, such as those found in prehistoric fermentation sites like Raqefet Cave and Göbekli Tepe, to facilitate numinous experiences. Historically, these early practices were stigmatized and suppressed by established institutions that sought control over religious experience. The archetypal figure of the wise old woman, or crone, became associated with forbidden knowledge of these substances and techniques, often leading to cultural marginalization as organized institutions consolidated power.