Nelumbo nucifera / Sacred Lotus / Nymphaeaceae (Water Lily family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Bunga Telpok, East Indian Lotus, Egyptian Lotus, Fève d'Egypte, Hasu, Kamal, Lian, Lin Ngau (China, Taiwan), Loto Sagrado, Lotus Root, Lotus Sacré, Nelumbium, Oriental Lotus, Renkon, Rosa del Nilo, Sacred Lotus, Sacred Water Lily, Teratai, Teratai/Seroja (Malay).

Description

Nelumbo nucifera, the Sacred Lotus, originates from Indonesia to India and Egypt, also grows abundantly in Surinam. Sacred Lotus possesses great significance in Eastern religion, like Buddhism and Hinduism, signifying vitality and purity. Apart from its majestic beauty, the Lotus is held sacred because of the mystical effects it can produce. It was used as a traditional relaxing and inebriating smoke, similar to a mild cannabis or was brewed into a delightful tea with the idea that it would create a feeling of joy that permeated the mind and body. Sacred Lotus is also often steeped in wine. The flowers are edible, the petals often placed in soups and used as a garnish. The Lotus is the most important object of meditation in Tantric Buddhism.

Scent

Exotic floral aroma with slightly herbaceous and medicinal top notes.

Aromatic Properties

Lotus sweeps you off your feet like a young bride and carries you far and away, to other dimensions, other realms, places of infinite beauty, places of the soul beyond the living. It is excellent for people who are afraid of life, or of death; brings respite to the sick and suffering; is a beautiful meditation and prayer lifting device as well as soothing on the most profound levels.

Historical

The Lotus is one of the world's most celebrated flowers. From time immemorial to the present day, it has always been in folklore, religion and the arts in one form or the other.
Sacred Lotus is much more than a flower for Hindus. It is symbolic of all that is good and beautiful. Scriptures tell us that it first bloomed with the creation of the universe. Over the centuries it has lost none of its allure. Lotus blossoms are sacred to Hindus and Buddhists because of their ancient shamanic function. The plants are commonly grown in Asia for the rhizomes and seeds. This species is intimately linked with the Buddhist religion, symbolizing vitality and purity. Along with its ornamental value, this plant is cultivated for food and traditional Chinese medicine. Virtually all parts of the plant are edible. Its seeds are roasted to make puffs called makhanas. The plant's rhizomes are a source of lotus meal which is rich in starch. A number of wild animals feed on the plant. Fish find refuge in its underwater stalks.
Indians believe that Brahma, creator and God of the universe, sprang from a lotus blossom. And the Buddhist prayer "Om! Mani padme hum!" translates as "Oh!, the jewel of the lotus flower!" The term lotus is applied in general to several species of plants. About 100 lotus species are found in temperate regions of Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. The pink and purple coloured variety found in the country and widely used in religion is called Nelumbo nucifera. According to Yoga and Tantra there are seven lotus wheels in the human body. The lotus is the object of meditation in Tantrik Buddhism. The lotus motif has also been extensively used in shrines, art, architecture and sculpture of the Jains. The Ionic order of architecture of the ancient Greeks is an offshoot of the Assyrian and Phoenician forms which have the lotus as their basis.
One of the oldest seeds that have yet been germinated into a viable plant was an approximately 1,300-year-old lotus fruit, recovered from a dry lakebed in northeastern China.

Plant Description

Originally from Indonesia and India, Sacred Lotus was brought to China and Egypt thousands of years ago. From China it was taken to other parts of Asia including Japan and northern Australia. This wonderful plant is a perennial water plant, long grown in Oriental countries both as an ornamental and for its edible rhizomes and seeds. Rhizomes are thick and tuberous and creep in the earth at the bottoms of ponds or slow moving streams. The leaves are nearly round, large and long stemmed. They may float on deep water, but rise high above shallow water. It has large flowers up to 25 cm across and leaves 60 cm across. Both flowers and leaves sometimes grow up to 1.8 m above water. The fruit is an enlarged receptacle, in which the many seeds are embedded.

Articles

Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites, is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.

Nelumbo nucifera - Wikipedia
Psychoactive Lotus / Lily - The Vaults of Erowid

Nelumbo nucifera / Sacred Lotus / Nymphaeaceae (Water Lily family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Bunga Telpok, East Indian Lotus, Egyptian Lotus, Fève d'Egypte, Hasu, Kamal, Lian, Lin Ngau (China, Taiwan), Loto Sagrado, Lotus Root, Lotus Sacré, Nelumbium, Oriental Lotus, Renkon, Rosa del Nilo, Sacred Lotus, Sacred Water Lily, Teratai, Teratai/Seroja (Malay).

Description

Nelumbo nucifera, the Sacred Lotus, originates from Indonesia to India and Egypt, also grows abundantly in Surinam. Sacred Lotus possesses great significance in Eastern religion, like Buddhism and Hinduism, signifying vitality and purity. Apart from its majestic beauty, the Lotus is held sacred because of the mystical effects it can produce. It was used as a traditional relaxing and inebriating smoke, similar to a mild cannabis or was brewed into a delightful tea with the idea that it would create a feeling of joy that permeated the mind and body. Sacred Lotus is also often steeped in wine. The flowers are edible, the petals often placed in soups and used as a garnish. The Lotus is the most important object of meditation in Tantric Buddhism.

Scent

Exotic floral aroma with slightly herbaceous and medicinal top notes.

Aromatic Properties

Lotus sweeps you off your feet like a young bride and carries you far and away, to other dimensions, other realms, places of infinite beauty, places of the soul beyond the living. It is excellent for people who are afraid of life, or of death; brings respite to the sick and suffering; is a beautiful meditation and prayer lifting device as well as soothing on the most profound levels.

Historical

The Lotus is one of the world's most celebrated flowers. From time immemorial to the present day, it has always been in folklore, religion and the arts in one form or the other.
Sacred Lotus is much more than a flower for Hindus. It is symbolic of all that is good and beautiful. Scriptures tell us that it first bloomed with the creation of the universe. Over the centuries it has lost none of its allure. Lotus blossoms are sacred to Hindus and Buddhists because of their ancient shamanic function. The plants are commonly grown in Asia for the rhizomes and seeds. This species is intimately linked with the Buddhist religion, symbolizing vitality and purity. Along with its ornamental value, this plant is cultivated for food and traditional Chinese medicine. Virtually all parts of the plant are edible. Its seeds are roasted to make puffs called makhanas. The plant's rhizomes are a source of lotus meal which is rich in starch. A number of wild animals feed on the plant. Fish find refuge in its underwater stalks.
Indians believe that Brahma, creator and God of the universe, sprang from a lotus blossom. And the Buddhist prayer "Om! Mani padme hum!" translates as "Oh!, the jewel of the lotus flower!" The term lotus is applied in general to several species of plants. About 100 lotus species are found in temperate regions of Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. The pink and purple coloured variety found in the country and widely used in religion is called Nelumbo nucifera. According to Yoga and Tantra there are seven lotus wheels in the human body. The lotus is the object of meditation in Tantrik Buddhism. The lotus motif has also been extensively used in shrines, art, architecture and sculpture of the Jains. The Ionic order of architecture of the ancient Greeks is an offshoot of the Assyrian and Phoenician forms which have the lotus as their basis.
One of the oldest seeds that have yet been germinated into a viable plant was an approximately 1,300-year-old lotus fruit, recovered from a dry lakebed in northeastern China.

Plant Description

Originally from Indonesia and India, Sacred Lotus was brought to China and Egypt thousands of years ago. From China it was taken to other parts of Asia including Japan and northern Australia. This wonderful plant is a perennial water plant, long grown in Oriental countries both as an ornamental and for its edible rhizomes and seeds. Rhizomes are thick and tuberous and creep in the earth at the bottoms of ponds or slow moving streams. The leaves are nearly round, large and long stemmed. They may float on deep water, but rise high above shallow water. It has large flowers up to 25 cm across and leaves 60 cm across. Both flowers and leaves sometimes grow up to 1.8 m above water. The fruit is an enlarged receptacle, in which the many seeds are embedded.

Articles

Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites, is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.

Nelumbo nucifera - Wikipedia
Psychoactive Lotus / Lily - The Vaults of Erowid

Santalum album / Sandalwood / Santalaceae (Sandalwood family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Sandalwood, White Sandalwood, Sandal.

Description

The value of Sandalwood lies in its lovely fragrance. This aspect of the Sandalwood represents the divine qualities found in godly people or Gurmukhs. Being one of the oldest incense materials, Sandalwood has been in use for at least 4,000 years. According to mythology, Sandalwood originally grew only in heaven’s gardens. Temple gates and religious statues are carved from the wood because of this spiritual association and because of the exquisite scent. Sandalwood scent is believed to transform one's desires and maintain a person's alertness while in meditation.

Scent

Sandalwood essential oil provides perfumes with a striking wood base note. Sandalwood smells not unlike other wood scents, except it has a bright and fresh edge with few natural analogues. When used in smaller proportions in a perfume, it is an excellent fixative to enhance the head space of other fragrances.

Aromatic Properties

Sandalwood is balancing and stimulating to all of the Yin meridians in the body. It can be used for protection. It stimulates greater concentration in any activity. Sandalwood fragrance is believed to bring about calmness and serenity. Some traditional uses: to lift melancholy, enhance meditation, heal the skin, help breathing, for calming and reducing stress, restful sleep. Emotional profile: to relieve possessiveness, lack of forgiveness, cynicism, insecurity, loneliness, nightmares, dwelling on the past.
It is said that individuals who use any form of touch to heal will increase their ability to channel energies through the hands by anointing the palms with a drop of sandalwood oil.

Contents

Chemical constituents: 3% to 6% essential oil, resin, tanins. The essential oil contains high amounts of alpha- and beta-santalol.

Synergic Combinations

Blends well with: Cypress, Frankincense, Lemon, Myrrh, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Spruce

Historical

In Hinduism, sandalwood is often used for rituals or ceremonies. Its use as an embalming paste is used in temples on idols. A vast majority of hindus wear a small mark of this paste on their forehead right above the middle of the eyes. It is supposed to keep cool the body and the mind. Sandalwood is considered in alternative medicine to bring one closer with the divine. Sandalwood essential oil, which is very expensive in its pure form, is used primarily for Ayurvedic purposes. It is said to have been used for embalming the corpses of princes in Ceylon since the 9th century. In Buddhism, Sandalwood are considered to be of the Padma (lotus) group and attributed to the Bodhisattva Amitabha. Sandalwood scent is believed to transform one's desires and maintain a person's alertness while in meditation. Sandalwood is also one of the more popular scents used for incense used when offering incense to the Buddha. Sandalwood, along with agarwood, is the most popular and commonly used incense material by the Chinese and Japanese in worship and various ceremonies. It is also used extensively in Indian incense, religiously or otherwise. Firekeeping priests, who have maintained sacred fires for centuries, accept Sandalwood twigs from Zoroastrian worshippers as their contribution for sustaining the fire.
Sandalwood oil is used in rituals for converting to Wicca.

Plant Description

It is a small evergreen tree with slender drooping branches, the sapwood is white and odourless, the heartwood yellowish brown and strongly scented. Leaves elliptic lanceolate, sub-acute petioles 1-1.3 cm long slender, flowers brownish red, inodourous, in terminal and axillary cymes shorter than leaves. The fruit is a drupe.

References

Database on Medicinal Plants Used in Ayurveda: Vol.3., Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (Govt. of India)

Articles

Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites, is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.

Santalum album - Wikipedia

Santalum album / Sandalwood / Santalaceae (Sandalwood family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Sandalwood, White Sandalwood, Sandal.

Description

The value of Sandalwood lies in its lovely fragrance. This aspect of the Sandalwood represents the divine qualities found in godly people or Gurmukhs. Being one of the oldest incense materials, Sandalwood has been in use for at least 4,000 years. According to mythology, Sandalwood originally grew only in heaven’s gardens. Temple gates and religious statues are carved from the wood because of this spiritual association and because of the exquisite scent. Sandalwood scent is believed to transform one's desires and maintain a person's alertness while in meditation.

Scent

Sandalwood essential oil provides perfumes with a striking wood base note. Sandalwood smells not unlike other wood scents, except it has a bright and fresh edge with few natural analogues. When used in smaller proportions in a perfume, it is an excellent fixative to enhance the head space of other fragrances.

Aromatic Properties

Sandalwood is balancing and stimulating to all of the Yin meridians in the body. It can be used for protection. It stimulates greater concentration in any activity. Sandalwood fragrance is believed to bring about calmness and serenity. Some traditional uses: to lift melancholy, enhance meditation, heal the skin, help breathing, for calming and reducing stress, restful sleep. Emotional profile: to relieve possessiveness, lack of forgiveness, cynicism, insecurity, loneliness, nightmares, dwelling on the past.
It is said that individuals who use any form of touch to heal will increase their ability to channel energies through the hands by anointing the palms with a drop of sandalwood oil.

Contents

Chemical constituents: 3% to 6% essential oil, resin, tanins. The essential oil contains high amounts of alpha- and beta-santalol.

Synergic Combinations

Blends well with: Cypress, Frankincense, Lemon, Myrrh, Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Spruce

Historical

In Hinduism, sandalwood is often used for rituals or ceremonies. Its use as an embalming paste is used in temples on idols. A vast majority of hindus wear a small mark of this paste on their forehead right above the middle of the eyes. It is supposed to keep cool the body and the mind. Sandalwood is considered in alternative medicine to bring one closer with the divine. Sandalwood essential oil, which is very expensive in its pure form, is used primarily for Ayurvedic purposes. It is said to have been used for embalming the corpses of princes in Ceylon since the 9th century. In Buddhism, Sandalwood are considered to be of the Padma (lotus) group and attributed to the Bodhisattva Amitabha. Sandalwood scent is believed to transform one's desires and maintain a person's alertness while in meditation. Sandalwood is also one of the more popular scents used for incense used when offering incense to the Buddha. Sandalwood, along with agarwood, is the most popular and commonly used incense material by the Chinese and Japanese in worship and various ceremonies. It is also used extensively in Indian incense, religiously or otherwise. Firekeeping priests, who have maintained sacred fires for centuries, accept Sandalwood twigs from Zoroastrian worshippers as their contribution for sustaining the fire.
Sandalwood oil is used in rituals for converting to Wicca.

Plant Description

It is a small evergreen tree with slender drooping branches, the sapwood is white and odourless, the heartwood yellowish brown and strongly scented. Leaves elliptic lanceolate, sub-acute petioles 1-1.3 cm long slender, flowers brownish red, inodourous, in terminal and axillary cymes shorter than leaves. The fruit is a drupe.

References

Database on Medicinal Plants Used in Ayurveda: Vol.3., Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (Govt. of India)

Articles

Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites, is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.

Santalum album - Wikipedia

Sitting Buddha Statues

Skull Bone

Description

Miniature human skull made from cow-bone. Approximate size 1cm. Handmade in Bali, Indonesia.

Historical

Historically, sculls have been used for different purposes by man. In medieval times and even nowadays scull cups were simple reminders of human impermanence (momento mori). Just a symbol or ornament which tells you: "Dear old friend your time will come earlier or later".

In Indian shamanism (1) a widespread use of different ornaments, totem items, plants, rocks, sculls, bones etc. is common. A shaman travels between the two worlds, the world of the living and the mystical world of spirits and ghosts. In a state of trance the two worlds might melt together to form one. Totem items are used as the linking elements between the two worlds. They serve as the telephone line to the astral world. Shamans have even worn totem items as part of their clothing. Some Indian tribes believe all human beings have a totem, usually an animal or other naturalistic figure, which acts as a spiritual guide, a kind of a father figure determining a persons character or protecting the person.

In some cultures one of the shaman's duties is to bring over the souls of dead people to their final destination. In North-European shamanism the folks collected the sculls of the killed enemies in war times and gave them to the shaman. The shaman placed these sculls around his home. This way they believed that even after the enemies were dead they would have power over them and could avoid the return of their souls.
In Buddhism the skull of a murder or execution victim is believed to possess the greatest tantric power; the skull of one who has died from a violent or accidental death, or from a virulent illness, possesses a medium magical power; the skull of a person who died peacefully in old age has virtually no occult power. The vital force or potential of the skull's 'previous owner' is embodied within the bone as a spirit, rendering it as an effective power object for the performance of tantric rituals. (2)

Probably the most impressive and bizarre collection of multiple thousand sculls can be found in the Sedlec Ossuary, a chapel in the Czech Republic (3). This is an extraordinary example of a christian death cult.

References

(1) Shamanism, Wikipedia
(2) Skeletons, Skulls and Bones, Khandro.Net
(3) Sedlec Ossuary , Wikipedia

Skull Buffalo Horn

Description

Miniature human skulls made from black buffalo-horn. Approximate size 3 to 4cm. Handmade in Bali, Indonesia.

Historical

Historically, skulls have been used for different purposes by man. In medieval times and even nowadays skull cups were simple reminders of human impermanence (momento mori). Just a symbol or ornament which tells you: "Dear old friend your time will come earlier or later".

In Indian shamanism (1) a widespread use of different ornaments, totem items, plants, rocks, sculls, bones etc. is common. A shaman travels between the two worlds, the world of the living and the mystical world of spirits and ghosts. In a state of trance the two worlds might melt together to form one. Totem items are used as the linking elements between the two worlds. They serve as the telephone line to the astral world. Shamans have even worn totem items as part of their clothing. Some Indian tribes believe all human beings have a totem, usually an animal or other naturalistic figure, which acts as a spiritual guide, a kind of a father figure determining a persons character or protecting the person.

In some cultures one of the shaman's duties is to bring over the souls of dead people to their final destination. In North-European shamanism the folks collected the skulls of the killed enemies in war times and gave them to the shaman. The shaman placed these skulls around his home. This way they believed that even after the enemies were dead they would have power over them and could avoid the return of their souls.

In Buddhism the skull of a murder or execution victim is believed to possess the greatest tantric power; the skull of one who has died from a violent or accidental death, or from a virulent illness, possesses a medium magical power; the skull of a person who died peacefully in old age has virtually no occult power. The vital force or potential of the skull's 'previous owner' is embodied within the bone as a spirit, rendering it as an effective power object for the performance of tantric rituals. (2)

Probably the most impressive and bizarre collection of multiple thousand skulls can be found in the Sedlec Ossuary, a chapel in the Czech Republic (3). This is an extraordinary example of a christian death cult.

References

(1) Shamanism, Wikipedia
(2) Skeletons, Skulls and Bones, Khandro.Net
(3) Sedlec Ossuary , Wikipedia

Skull Reindeer Horn

Description

Miniature human skull made from reindeer-horn. Approximate size 1cm. Handmade in Bali, Indonesia.

Historical

Historically, sculls have been used for different purposes by man. In medieval times and even nowadays scull cups were simple reminders of human impermanence (momento mori). Just a symbol or ornament which tells you: "Dear old friend your time will come earlier or later".

In Indian shamanism (1) a widespread use of different ornaments, totem items, plants, rocks, sculls, bones etc. is common. A shaman travels between the two worlds, the world of the living and the mystical world of spirits and ghosts. In a state of trance the two worlds might melt together to form one. Totem items are used as the linking elements between the two worlds. They serve as the telephone line to the astral world. Shamans have even worn totem items as part of their clothing. Some Indian tribes believe all human beings have a totem, usually an animal or other naturalistic figure, which acts as a spiritual guide, a kind of a father figure determining a persons character or protecting the person.

In some cultures one of the shaman's duties is to bring over the souls of dead people to their final destination. In North-European shamanism the folks collected the sculls of the killed enemies in war times and gave them to the shaman. The shaman placed these sculls around his home. This way they believed that even after the enemies were dead they would have power over them and could avoid the return of their souls.

In Buddhism the skull of a murder or execution victim is believed to possess the greatest tantric power; the skull of one who has died from a violent or accidental death, or from a virulent illness, possesses a medium magical power; the skull of a person who died peacefully in old age has virtually no occult power. The vital force or potential of the skull's 'previous owner' is embodied within the bone as a spirit, rendering it as an effective power object for the performance of tantric rituals. (2)

Probably the most impressive and bizarre collection of multiple thousand sculls can be found in the Sedlec Ossuary, a chapel in the Czech Republic (3). This is an extraordinary example of a christian death cult.

References

(1) Shamanism, Wikipedia
(2) Skeletons, Skulls and Bones, Khandro.Net
(3) Sedlec Ossuary , Wikipedia

Skull Wood

Historical

Historically, sculls have been used for different purposes by man. In medieval times and even nowadays scull cups were simple reminders of human impermanence (momento mori). Just a symbol or ornament which tells you: "Dear old friend your time will come earlier or later".

In Indian shamanism (1) a widespread use of different ornaments, totem items, plants, rocks, sculls, bones etc. is common. A shaman travels between the two worlds, the world of the living and the mystical world of spirits and ghosts. In a state of trance the two worlds might melt together to form one. Totem items are used as the linking elements between the two worlds. They serve as the telephone line to the astral world. Shamans have even worn totem items as part of their clothing. Some Indian tribes believe all human beings have a totem, usually an animal or other naturalistic figure, which acts as a spiritual guide, a kind of a father figure determining a persons character or protecting the person.

In some cultures one of the shaman's duties is to bring over the souls of dead people to their final destination. In North-European shamanism the folks collected the sculls of the killed enemies in war times and gave them to the shaman. The shaman placed these sculls around his home. This way they believed that even after the enemies were dead they would have power over them and could avoid the return of their souls.

In Buddhism the skull of a murder or execution victim is believed to possess the greatest tantric power; the skull of one who has died from a violent or accidental death, or from a virulent illness, possesses a medium magical power; the skull of a person who died peacefully in old age has virtually no occult power. The vital force or potential of the skull's 'previous owner' is embodied within the bone as a spirit, rendering it as an effective power object for the performance of tantric rituals. (2)

Probably the most impressive and bizarre collection of multiple thousand sculls can be found in the Sedlec Ossuary, a chapel in the Czech Republic (3). This is an extraordinary example of a christian death cult.

References

(1) Shamanism, Wikipedia
(2) Skeletons, Skulls and Bones, Khandro.Net
(3) Sedlec Ossuary , Wikipedia

Skull Wood

Historical

Historically, sculls have been used for different purposes by man. In medieval times and even nowadays scull cups were simple reminders of human impermanence (momento mori). Just a symbol or ornament which tells you: "Dear old friend your time will come earlier or later".

In Indian shamanism (1) a widespread use of different ornaments, totem items, plants, rocks, sculls, bones etc. is common. A shaman travels between the two worlds, the world of the living and the mystical world of spirits and ghosts. In a state of trance the two worlds might melt together to form one. Totem items are used as the linking elements between the two worlds. They serve as the telephone line to the astral world. Shamans have even worn totem items as part of their clothing. Some Indian tribes believe all human beings have a totem, usually an animal or other naturalistic figure, which acts as a spiritual guide, a kind of a father figure determining a persons character or protecting the person.

In some cultures one of the shaman's duties is to bring over the souls of dead people to their final destination. In North-European shamanism the folks collected the sculls of the killed enemies in war times and gave them to the shaman. The shaman placed these sculls around his home. This way they believed that even after the enemies were dead they would have power over them and could avoid the return of their souls.

In Buddhism the skull of a murder or execution victim is believed to possess the greatest tantric power; the skull of one who has died from a violent or accidental death, or from a virulent illness, possesses a medium magical power; the skull of a person who died peacefully in old age has virtually no occult power. The vital force or potential of the skull's 'previous owner' is embodied within the bone as a spirit, rendering it as an effective power object for the performance of tantric rituals. (2)

Probably the most impressive and bizarre collection of multiple thousand sculls can be found in the Sedlec Ossuary, a chapel in the Czech Republic (3). This is an extraordinary example of a christian death cult.

References

(1) Shamanism, Wikipedia
(2) Skeletons, Skulls and Bones, Khandro.Net
(3) Sedlec Ossuary , Wikipedia

Skull Wood

Historical

Historically, sculls have been used for different purposes by man. In medieval times and even nowadays scull cups were simple reminders of human impermanence (momento mori). Just a symbol or ornament which tells you: "Dear old friend your time will come earlier or later".

In Indian shamanism (1) a widespread use of different ornaments, totem items, plants, rocks, sculls, bones etc. is common. A shaman travels between the two worlds, the world of the living and the mystical world of spirits and ghosts. In a state of trance the two worlds might melt together to form one. Totem items are used as the linking elements between the two worlds. They serve as the telephone line to the astral world. Shamans have even worn totem items as part of their clothing. Some Indian tribes believe all human beings have a totem, usually an animal or other naturalistic figure, which acts as a spiritual guide, a kind of a father figure determining a persons character or protecting the person.

In some cultures one of the shaman's duties is to bring over the souls of dead people to their final destination. In North-European shamanism the folks collected the sculls of the killed enemies in war times and gave them to the shaman. The shaman placed these sculls around his home. This way they believed that even after the enemies were dead they would have power over them and could avoid the return of their souls.

In Buddhism the skull of a murder or execution victim is believed to possess the greatest tantric power; the skull of one who has died from a violent or accidental death, or from a virulent illness, possesses a medium magical power; the skull of a person who died peacefully in old age has virtually no occult power. The vital force or potential of the skull's 'previous owner' is embodied within the bone as a spirit, rendering it as an effective power object for the performance of tantric rituals. (2)

Probably the most impressive and bizarre collection of multiple thousand sculls can be found in the Sedlec Ossuary, a chapel in the Czech Republic (3). This is an extraordinary example of a christian death cult.

References

(1) Shamanism, Wikipedia
(2) Skeletons, Skulls and Bones, Khandro.Net
(3) Sedlec Ossuary , Wikipedia