Divine whisperings to Santa

Origins of Father Christmas

This was originally published last year for paid subscribers only but as an early Christmas present to you all and due to me struggling to write anything whilst trying to wrap presents, I have made it available for everyone.

Merry Christmas!

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It’s the end of December and everyone is excited. They know it’s time when they hear reindeer making noises outside. A man, dressed in red with white fur cuffs and a pair of black boots, can be heard on the roof. He checks his sack full of delights before he prepares to climb down the smoke hole and descend into the dwelling below. Once inside, he hands out bright red presents to the inhabitants.

Sound familiar?

Whilst the description above would be recognised as Santa nowadays, I was actually describing a Siberian shaman. At the pinnacle of the Winter solstice festivities, the shaman would fill his sack with a mysterious mushroom, climb through the smoke hole and down the central wooden support pole of a yurt and distribute his goods to the inhabitants inside.

Once consumed, the villagers would experience visions, gain new knowledge and feel like they were flying on the reindeer.

The mushroom handed out by the shaman is called Fly Agaric and is one of the earliest sources of hallucinogenic substances, used for over 10,000 years. Its use is linked with fairy tales, elves, goblins and stories of portals to other dimensions.

Fly Agaric is so named because it is an ancient insecticide. Flies landing in milk, with the red capped mushroom powdered and sprinkled on top, become intoxicated and die. However, some believe the name comes from the ability to fly with the gods after entering a trance like state.

The white spots on the dome are remnants of the white veil which cloaks the young mushroom as it emerges from the ground.

Whilst this particular toadstool is toxic, deaths from its consumption are relatively rare (but do not try this at home!). If the mushroom is prepared in the correct way, much of the toxicity can be removed, leaving just the hallucinogenic effects. This can be done by boiling, drying, powdering or turning it into a drink. Sometime it is smoked. Celtic Druids would fast for a number of days before consuming the mushroom to intensify its effects.

The body is excellent at removing any toxicity, so much so that urine passed after eating Fly Agaric will just contain the hallucinogenic substances. For this reason, in ancient times, people used to drink the urine of a Shaman or reindeer. Reindeer love this mushroom and can sniff them out, deep under thick snow. They are said to travel for miles to find the fungus, eat it and drink their own urine before collapsing in a trance. Eating intoxicated reindeer enhances the effects of the mushroom on humans.

The effects of the mushroom vary from visions and distortions of size to incredible strength. It is believed that the Vikings used to eat it before going on ferocious raids due to its ability to inhibit fear. For many people, hallucinations are followed by severe nausea and vomiting. The ancient shamans believed this cleansed the body ready for spiritual beings to possess their bodies. They would then connect the villagers with spirits in other dimensions.

'Who are you?' said the Caterpillar. This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, 'I — I hardly know, sir, just at present — at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'

'What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar sternly. 'Explain yourself!'

'I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice, 'because I'm not myself, you see.'

I don't see,' said the Caterpillar.

'I'm afraid I can't put it more clearly,' Alice replied very politely, 'for I can't understand it myself to begin with; and being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.'

“Keep your temper” and “One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter.”

This symbolic toadstool is connected with ancient mythologies and rituals from the earliest times and from all around the globe. It is believed to have been used for well over 10,000 years and can be found in texts such as the Hindu Rig-Veda, where it is referenced as Soma.

6,000 year old rock paintings in Spain

Due to the visions people see when eating this archetypal mushroom, it is often associated with the divine and communicating a secret wisdom to humans (either by thunder or fire). The Mayan’s called it the Light of the Earth, whilst in India, it was sacred to Agni, the God of fire. The Vikings called it ‘Raven’s Bread’ because it would feed the ravens who whispered secrets into Thor’s ears. The Aztecs called it the ‘flesh of the gods’.

Persephone and Demeter with the sacred mushroom

In Celtic legends, it is thought that red or one legged entities that provide mystical experiences or knowledge from the gods are references to the mushroom. Often there are tales of red, sleep-inducing apples that provide sacred wisdom, which, again, academics believe to be referencing Fly Agaric. Where else have we heard a story like this before?

Another oddity is that people who eat the mushroom often report seeing gnome like men. Weirdly, in Siberian folklore they also talk of ‘mushroom-men’ who guide the imbibed to other dimensions.

In modern medicine, Fly Agaric has been used for epilepsy, tick bites, depression and even Parkinson’s disease.

So, when you look at your tree this evening (Fly Agaric grows under pine trees) and leave a mince pie and some sherry (hallucinogenic urine) for the white-bearded fella, remember that, in the past, the shaman would be making you drink that yellow liquid, before a spiritual journey into another dimension.