I’m a planner and a travel junkie. I’ve got a dual personality when it comes to just about everything, so my trips are usually a blend of free spirit and control freak.
Most of the friends I meet up with on my travels are more relaxed than I am. One of my friends has never made a meal reservation in his life. Another friend will purchase tickets for local events but likes to keep everything else flexible. The first time we traveled together he went along with my detailed plans, but he asked if it was all right to surprise me.
I took a leap of faith and said “yes”, and the surprises turned out to be amazing experiences I would never have sought on my own. Even more surprising was the fact that I enjoyed giving up control and being open to the unknown. I enjoyed it so much that I declared him the entertainment director for any future get-togethers.
When we met in Denver, I found myself in front of a church, which isn’t too unusual, lots of people tour famous churches when they travel.
But this was the International Church of Cannabis. At first, I thought it was some type of museum but it’s an actual church. I did some research and learned that the members are called elevationists, and practice a religion devoted to self-discovery. Cannabis is part of their religious practice, although it isn’t sold on the premises or used during public hours.
I knew that throughout history, mind-altering substances have been used as part of spiritual and religious ceremonies, but it’s not something I ever expected to encounter.
I grew up in the 70s and was one of the first generations of kids exposed to anti-drug education in school. I remember doing craft projects involving construction paper pictures of amphetamines and barbiturates and watching videos of people on bad trips. The videos were scary to the point of traumatizing.
I’m probably the program’s biggest success story. As I got older, I avoided any type of drug and even shunned legal drugs because I’m so sensitive to chemical substances. A half dose of cold or allergy medication will make me feel uncomfortably stoned for hours.
One of the drugs they warned us most about (marijuana) is legal now in most states, but I’ve never given it much thought.
It was a surprise to find out how many people I know partake occasionally, some for recreation, a few for the health benefits. Thanks to them and to a lot of reading on the topic, I have become better informed and know that marijuana is nothing like the substance we were warned about in school, but I hadn’t heard of it being used as part of a spiritual practice.
As we climbed the steps of the church, I marveled at the unexpected twists and turns of life and how far I’d come from the freaked-out kid in that classroom to a church that incorporates cannabis.
It was a surreal experience to enter the traditional structure (which was once a Lutheran church) and be treated to eye-popping displays of art and funky furniture. There were video games and a ping pong table and fun merchandise for sale. I was absolutely delighted and couldn’t stop laughing with the joy of discovery.
For anyone who might say that real churches don’t have games, I have a one-word response, “Bingo.”
The main attraction was the light show which takes place in the large portion of the church. Every inch of space is a spectacular work of art, and I spent several minutes rotating in circles, angling my head in every direction so I could take it all in.
The light show was stunning. It was accompanied by music from groups like Pink Floyd and Jefferson Airplane and a soothing voice uttered bits of philosophy that resonated with me.
Music provides a profound way to tap into our memories, and as I gave myself up to the experience, I found myself reliving the early years of my life from childhood to young adulthood. The experience was especially surprising because I wasn’t under the influence of anything other than coffee.
I flashed back to the delight I felt when reading Alice in Wonderland for the first time, and the sense that there were secrets in that book that were just beyond my reach.
I relived an intense moment from my early twenties, a time of devastating loss and the comfort that came from an unexpected source.
I could feel myself back in those times as my younger self when the world lay ahead of me, and I could choose who I wanted to be.
Recently I had begun making some changes to my life and reaching for something different without knowing exactly what I was searching for. The experience in that church seemed to shine a light on the path I was finding and encouraging me to follow it.
I entered the church laughing. I left smiling and feeling a sense of peace, clarity, and self-awareness.
I’m grateful to my friend for introducing me to new and wonderful experiences and I’m grateful to the International Church of Cannabis for delighting and inspiring me.
