In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores Soma and its traditional role in Vedic ritual and transformation of consciousness.

Soma first appears in the Vedas. There are many Soma sacrifices, and Soma is a substance that is prepared, offered in the sacrifices, consumed by the participants, and said to assist one in becoming exhilarated and entering the astral world. It appears to have been one of the substances used by the rishis to help them perceive the richas, the hymns of the Vedas, and bring them down into our world so that others could use them.

Over time, Soma became associated with the Moon and with the nectar of immortality. But when we think about Soma itself, we should probably understand it in the context of this substance that was used to transform consciousness and awareness.

Because of this, many people have concluded that Soma had some kind of entheogenic quality, similar to substances used today such as psilocybin mushrooms, Amanita mushrooms, Ayahuasca, and others. They suggest that the Vedic people were using something that assisted them in entering the astral world in this way. However, nobody actually knows the complete truth about this.

Vimalananda told me that, in his opinion, the original Soma was something extremely difficult to obtain. Therefore, most people used other strong substances, including alcohol. There is at least one Vedic yajna, the Sautramani, in which alcohol is the primary offering substance.

Vimalananda’s view was that each person who wishes to work in this way must find the substance or substances that function as Soma for them. The important thing is not simply identifying Soma as one universal substance, but discovering what serves that purpose for the individual.

The purpose is not merely to create hallucinations. Rather, the purpose is to create a condition in which a person can more effectively enter a state of awareness that allows better alignment with ethereal beings, gods, goddesses, angels, or whatever beings one may be working with for spiritual development.

Soma was always used within the context of Vedic sacrifice. Therefore, any entheogenic substance, whether San Pedro, iboga, or something else, should be approached within a ritual context. It is generally best to initially use such a substance within the ritual tradition in which it developed.

If a person establishes a healthy relationship with that substance, and if that substance is able to assist in the way Soma assisted those who used it in ancient times, then over time a careful and deliberate ritual relationship can develop.

However, time must be taken, and the seriousness of the situation must always be remembered. As Vimalananda emphasized repeatedly, whether it is whiskey, which was one of the substances he used as Soma, or any other substance or practice used for transcendence, one must always know whether one is consuming the substance in the right way.

The question is whether you are drinking the drink, or whether the drink is drinking you. If you take too much, if you lose control, or if you become consumed by the experience, then the thing you are consuming has begun to consume you. That will not lead to a beneficial result.