[A discussion of the place of the Acacia in Freemasonry. Acacia is mentioned in the Bible and attracts attention because some species contain the so-called “spirit molecule,” DMT. Of all psychoactive drugs, DMT can provide most convincing religious experiences, including experiences of God. Is it mere coincidence that links religion and DMT?Acacia is not a single type of plant. It’s a genus name and there are a number of Acacia plants in the world (not all of which contain DMT, and others are contested) and there are other sources of DMT, many of which are important religious sacraments for their psychoactive properties outside of Christianity.]From Wikipedia on Acacia (this information had been removed by Oct 2016. The Acacia genus has been re-arranged):
Symbolism and ritualThe Acacia is used as a symbol in Freemasonry, to represent purity and endurance of the soul, and as funerary symbolism signifying resurrection and immortality. The tree gains its importance from the description of the burial of Hiram Abiff, the builder of King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem.Several parts (mainly bark, root and resin) of Acacia are used to make incense for rituals. Acacia is used in incense mainly in India, Nepal, and China including in its Tibet region. Smoke from Acacia bark is thought to keep demons and ghosts away and to put the gods in a good mood. Roots and resin from Acacia are combined with rhododendron, acorus, cytisus, salvia and some other components of incense. Both people and elephants like an alcoholic beverage made from acacia fruit. According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, the Acacia tree may be the “burning bush” (Exodus 3:2) which Moses encountered in the desert. Also, when God gave Moses the instructions for building the Tabernacle, he said to “make an ark ” and “a table of acacia wood” (Exodus 25:10 & 23, Revised Standard Version).Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia> AlkaloidsAs mentioned previously, Acacias contain a number of organic compounds that defend them from pests and grazing animals. Many of these compounds are psychoactive in humans. The alkaloids found in Acacias include dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) and N-methyltryptamine (NMT). The plant leaves, stems and/or roots are sometimes made into a brew together with some MAOI-containing plant and consumed orally for healing, ceremonial or religious uses. Egyptian mythology has associated the acacia tree with characteristics of the tree of life (see the article on the Myth of Osiris and Isis).Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia>