Rastafari Holiday
Today is the Rastafarian celebration of Grounation Day, which is the anniversary of the visit to Jamaica by H.M. Haile Selassie I emperor of Ethiopia in 1966. Emperor Salassie is considered to be Jah, or God incarnate to the Rastafari.
Like all Christian offshoot religions, Rastafari has some crazy beliefs, but they also have a few redeeming qualities: Reggae music rose out of a blend of traditional Jamaican folk music, American music, and Rastafarian drumming and chanting known as nyabinghi. Reggae music helped bring the Rastafari movement into the international mainstream in the early 70's largely due to the popularity of Bob Marley.
And, then there's the Rastafari's ritual use of Ganja (cannabis).
Ganja, a.k.a. herb, kali, or lambs bread, is smoked during many Rastafarian rituals as a way to cleanse the body and mind, raise the consciousness, facilitate peacefulness, and bring practitioners closer to Jah. Rastafari's support their use of ganja as a sacrament with several passages in the Bible including Psalms 104:14 which says:
"Burning herb" is not mandatory, but many Rastafarians consider it important as a way to open one's mind to the truth. They contrast their use of cannabis to the use of liquor which they feel only makes people stupid.
So enjoy Grounation Day as you see fit.
Like all Christian offshoot religions, Rastafari has some crazy beliefs, but they also have a few redeeming qualities: Reggae music rose out of a blend of traditional Jamaican folk music, American music, and Rastafarian drumming and chanting known as nyabinghi. Reggae music helped bring the Rastafari movement into the international mainstream in the early 70's largely due to the popularity of Bob Marley.And, then there's the Rastafari's ritual use of Ganja (cannabis).
Ganja, a.k.a. herb, kali, or lambs bread, is smoked during many Rastafarian rituals as a way to cleanse the body and mind, raise the consciousness, facilitate peacefulness, and bring practitioners closer to Jah. Rastafari's support their use of ganja as a sacrament with several passages in the Bible including Psalms 104:14 which says:
"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man."(As good a use of Biblical nonsense as any I've seen.)
"Burning herb" is not mandatory, but many Rastafarians consider it important as a way to open one's mind to the truth. They contrast their use of cannabis to the use of liquor which they feel only makes people stupid.
So enjoy Grounation Day as you see fit.
posted by Chymera at 4/24/2006 04:10:00 PM
Who: Ron Nicolas
2 Comments:
I'll probably celebrate by having a beer, or alternatively by not having a beer.
Yeah, that was my probable celebration schedule. And, maybe a session of Bob Marley while I do some housework.
eatxdmmy! to us all.
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