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Many people associate Rastafari with cannabis, reggae, and freedom. While these factors are important in the religion, the belief system goes much, much deeper. From Ital diets and its different mansions to a rich history, this relatively young religion involves various spiritual practices and principles that draw adherents closer to nature.
There are an estimated 10,000 religions worldwide; aren’t humans fascinating? All of these belief systems have distinct views of reality and creation, and how people should live out their lives. Among them, Rastafari stands out as a unique worldview that has exerted a powerful influence over culture, music, and the cannabis community as a whole.
At surface value, many people assume the belief system revolves around weed and little more. However, even a brief glance under the hood reveals a rich and complex worldview rooted in an Abrahamic foundation, alongside Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Below, you’re going to discover everything you need to know about Rastafari, from its origins and practices to prominent figures and the use of cannabis as a sacrament.
Contents:
Much more than dreads, weed, and reggae, Rastafari is a monotheistic religious movement that emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s. The worldview has roots in the Abrahamic faiths and views the Bible as holy scripture—particularly the Old Testament.
However, unlike Christianity and Judaism, Rastafarians interpret the Bible in their own way and reject many of the Biblical teachings of the West. For example, many followers of the religion view themselves as the true Israelites and place a lot of emphasis on the book of Exodus as a metaphor for the mass displacement of Africans from their home continent during the Transatlantic Slave Trades.
Followers of Rastafari also hold varying views on Jesus Christ. Some view him as a black prophet who fought against oppression, whereas others reject the traditional Christian view of Jesus altogether. Instead, Rastas view Haile Selassie—an emperor of Ethiopia—as a reincarnation of Jesus Christ and the embodiment of Jah (the Rasta name for God) on Earth.
The Rastafarian use of cannabis, or “ganja”, as a sacrament has had a significant effect on various cultures. Enter any coffee shop, dispensary, or cannabis club, and there’s a high likelihood that you’ll come across the Rasta flag and blaring reggae music. But why exactly do Rastafarians smoke weed? The main reasons include:
Despite the sacramental status of cannabis within Rastafari, the herb remains controversial in Jamaica. But can Rastas smoke weed legally in the country? Things remain murky, but the government does recognise the sacramental rights of the religious group to the plant. Although Jamaicans are legally able to grow up to five plants per household for personal use, this hasn’t stopped rogue police from confiscating cannabis from Rastas and other community members.
Rastafarianism emerged in Jamaica during the 1930s, catalysed by a prophecy of Marcus Garvey several years prior. As a prominent black political leader, Garvey had a deep-set intention of unifying displaced Africans and sparking an exodus back to their home continent. As a teacher of black pride and self-determination, Garvey foretold that “a black king shall be crowned in Africa, and he shall be the redeemer.” Following the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, Garvey and others viewed his prophecy fulfiled.
With Selassie as their crowned messiah, Rastas in Jamaica started laying the groundwork for their religion. The young religion quickly adopted the traditions of rural Jamaicans, who themselves practised a form of Christianity with a focus on the connection between humans and nature.
What started as a small and humble movement, based on the prophecy of Garvey and the crowning of Selassie, evolved into a much wider religious force in the following decades. Today, it’s estimated that over a million Rastas practise the religion all over the world in countries including Jamaica, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, several African nations, and South America.
Several key figures help to propel the popularity and spread of Rastafari, from political leaders and emperors to musicians. Some of the most influential and important individuals of the faith include:
Now that you’re aware of the most prominent figures throughout Rastafari history, you’ll get a deeper understanding of the religion by grasping some of the key moments from the religion's inception to the current day. The most important events include:
Pinning down exactly what a Rasta believes can be a tricky task. Why? Because beliefs and traditions vary between different Rasta groups. However, many of them share the same core worldview, which involves the following:
Rasta teachings also emphasise Zion and Babylon as two opposing forces at work in the world. Zion refers to Ethiopia as a spiritual homeland characterised by freedom, hope, and redemption. In contrast, Babylon represents evil, oppression, and racism.
Core beliefs aside, various factions or “mansions” of Rastafari differ in other views. Some of the main mansions that make up the faith include:
The Rasta concept of livity sums up the key tenets of the religion and how they look when practised. The term refers to a way of living that strives towards love and harmony with oneself, the community, and nature. Striving for livity not only revolved around spiritual practices but also very physical ones.
Livity calls Rastas to live a simple life that is deeply embedded in nature. As well as rejecting the pull of materialism, it promotes physical activity, prayer, meditation, and other lifestyle factors.
The way of life that treads the path to livity also involves an Ital diet. So, are Rastas vegan? It depends. An Ital diet aims to assist physical and spiritual well-being, but the diet itself can differ from person to person. Some Rastas include animal products in their diet, whereas others adhere to a stricter approach that includes only organic and locally grown plant-based foods.
Many Rastas sport long dreadlocks; a hairstyle that has become iconic across the world for its association with the religion. Far more than mere fashion, Rastas grow and wear dreads as a symbol of their religion. They view the hair, just like all things created by God, as sacred. Root-like dreadlocks also symbolise the African roots of many Rastas.
What many people know as the Rastafarian flag contains three iconic colourful bands. Each of these colours represents a key part of Rasta culture. They include:
Just as many Rastas choose to adhere to an Ital diet, they also apply this concept to the way they use cannabis. The Jamaican steam chalice encompasses Ital concepts and serves as a natural way to use ganja. Made from coconut, bamboo, and clay, steam chalices are a low-tech way to vaporize buds. They deliver cannabinoids and terpenes using low temperatures that don’t combust plant material like blunts, joints, and bongs.
You took a deep dive into the world of Rastafari, and now have a better understanding of a religion and culture that has left a large and meaningful imprint on the cannabis space. Despite a relatively small following, Rasta culture has also influenced music, food, and lifestyle approaches across the entire world. The sacramental use of ganja certainly makes the religion stand out, but it’s not the only factor that makes the belief system unique. From spiritual practices and principles to diet, Rastafari features tenets that immerse adherents in the natural world.