It is the inherent nature of human beings to desire a state of altered .
consciousness and alternative perception. Throughout history, this .
fact has been exemplified and documented within all cultures and .
societies, from the Native Americans to the Chinese to the Catholic .
priests. Moreover, homeopathic remedies and herbalist practices remain .
the laid foundation for modern medicine. Despite the undisputable .
evidence that "drugs" have played a natural, pivotal, and essential .
role in the existence of man, society, through the centuries, has .
attempted to demonize these substances and their potential as destructive and .
demoralizing forces as well as extirpate their influence in a blind and .
hypocritical effort of control. .
Paganism, even today is associated heavily with the use of drugs and .
herbs, and, since the rise of Christianity, Paganism has been portrayed .
as the religion of the devil. The example of original sin, where Eve .
was seduced by the serpent to eat the apple from the tree of Knowledge .
is demonstrative of subliminal forces to vilify pagan ways, as the .
serpent and the apple are both seen as powerful symbols in pagan .
religions. In addition, women are continuously identified with .
paganism, as they are, by custom, the cooks and healers. They, .
throughout history, have been generalized as working with herbs for the .
purposes of healing and cooking, and associated with Mother Nature, .
Gia, traditional pagan gods and fundamental beliefs. .
Interestingly enough, these stereotypes, that have served the purpose .
of degrading certain ways of life for social and political motives, .
have carried on through modern times. One of the most remarkable .
events in history, the Salem witch trials, is a perfect example of how .
subliminal conditioning and prejudices can be rooted deep into a .
society and hundreds of years later still weak havoc. Ironically .
enough, historians now believe that the witch hunts and hysteria were .