{"product_id":"the-tawny-one-soma-haoma-and-ayahuasca-9781913274399","title":"The Tawny One: Soma, Haoma and Ayahuasca","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA modern exploration of ancient wisdom relating to psychoactive plants.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe ancient ritual drink used in religious ceremonies and known as soma in India and as haoma in the Zoroastrian tradition is praised in the highest terms - as a kind of deity - in both Zoroastrian and Vedic texts, which date from around 1,700 - 1,500 BCE.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eIt is said to provide health, power, wisdom and even immortality.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eMany theories have been published about the possible botanical identity of this 'nectar of immortality', a plant which appears to have psychedelic\/entheogenic properties.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eMatthew Clark spent several years researching and travelling widely in his quest of soma and in his fascinating, original and highly readable book, Clark reviews scholarly research, explores mythology and ritual and shares his extensive knowledge of psychoactive plants and fungi.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eThe author suggests that the visionary soma drink was based on analogues of ayahuasca, using a variety of plants, some of which can now be identified.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e1. Introduction\u003cbr\u003e 2. Soma in the Vedas and yoga texts\u003cbr\u003e 3. Haoma in the Avesta\u003cbr\u003e 4. ‘Substitutes’ for soma in South Asia\u003cbr\u003e 5. What are the effects of soma\/haoma?\u003cbr\u003e 6. The botanical identification of soma\/haoma: an overview\u003cbr\u003e 7. Cannabis\/hemp\u003cbr\u003e 8. Altered states of consciousness and demarcation criteria\u003cbr\u003e 9. Diverse theories about soma\/haoma\u003cbr\u003e 10. Ephedra\u003cbr\u003e 11. Fly-agaric mushrooms (Amanita muscaria)\u003cbr\u003e 12. Syrian rue (Peganum harmala)\u003cbr\u003e 13. Many plants are soma\/haoma\u003cbr\u003e 14. A renewed case for a psychedelic: ayahuasca\u003cbr\u003e 15. Vedic and ayahuasca rituals\u003cbr\u003e 16. Greek mystery rites\u003cbr\u003e 17. Kykeōn and the ergot hypothesis\u003cbr\u003e 18. Bronze Age origins of entheogenic cults\u003cbr\u003e 19. Rejoinders to the ayahuasca thesis\u003cbr\u003e 20. Concluding remarks\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eReferences\u003cbr\u003e List of abbreviations\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eAppendix 1: The Vedic sacrificial arena for agniṣṭoma rites\u003cbr\u003e Appendix 2: Arundo donax (giant reed)\u003cbr\u003e Appendix 3: Darbha\/Kuśa grass\u003cbr\u003e Appendix 4: Brief outline of the three largest Brazilian ayahuasca churches\u003cbr\u003e Appendix 5: States of consciousness (diagram from METZNER 2009: 64)\u003cbr\u003e Appendix 6: Pre-Columbian trans-Pacific contact?\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003eIndex\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aeon Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51043207315799,"sku":"9781913274399","price":21.38,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781913274399.jpg?v=1750957426","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/the-tawny-one-soma-haoma-and-ayahuasca-9781913274399","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}