Rastamani, or smoking herbs and beads in dreadlocks

Almost everyone associates Rastafarians as people who listen to Bob Marley's music and act against all kinds of rules. Reggae listeners wear dreadlocks, smoke marijuana and value freedom above all else. Is there a bigger mystery behind this stereotype? Do all Rastamans smoke weed and wear dreadlocks? Find out who Rastafarians really are!

Dreadlocks in Rastafarians. Where did the fashion for such hair come from?

Rastafarianism is a millenarian-messianic movement - that is, a religious movement that originated around the 1930s in Jamaica. The Ethiopian emperor Haile Silassie was an extremely important figure who influenced the birth of the movement. However, it is easier today to say something about Rastafarianism itself than about the style of its followers. Namely, the thing about hair - dreadlocks, with which almost all Rastafarians are distinguished.

The history of the wearing of dreadlocks by Rastafarians is not entirely clear. However, it is assumed that it was the Kenyan rebels of the Mau Mau movement who inspired modern Rastafarians to wear dreadlocks - often adorned with beaded jewelry. The inspiration for wearing the distinctive dreadlocks may also have come from Old Testament verses proclaiming Nazireth - that is, total devotion to God. According to these verses, a person making vows before God could not cut off either his beard or his hair.

There is another story that may have contributed to the wearing of dreadlocks by the Rastamans. The felted hair was worn by Hindu wandering ascetics, or sadhus. Of course, the genesis may go much deeper. Before our Era, dreadlocks appeared in India, Egypt, the Celtic peoples or the Vikings. They are also popular with the African Masai or the Himba people, inhabiting Namibia.

Yes, there were indeed many inspirations. But regardless of the inspiration or the beginning of wearing dreadlocks, the truth is one. Rastafarian dreadlocks are a symbol of defiance against Babylon, as well as an expression of strength. Dreadlocks are meant to indicate a person's fearlessness and fight against evil.

Beads in dreadlocks, or ethnic Rastaman jewelry

Today Rastafarians proudly accentuate their dreadlocks, for example, by weaving ornaments into them. In particular, special beads for dreadlocks, which most often have green-red-yellow colors, are very popular. Such beads look unique and are not difficult to put on - just pull the chosen bead through the dreadlocks. Alternatively, this kind of oriental jewelry can be adjusted in the process of making dreadlocks in order to make them stick better to the hair. This allows you to match the beads to the appropriate sections in the dreadlocks.

The Rastafarian herb, or why do Rastamans smoke marijuana?

Medical marijuana is the herb (cannabis) that Rastamans smoke. It's a kind of symbol of the Rastafarian religion, and a permanent part of Rastafarian life. Why do Rastamans smoke marijuana and does it have any connection to their religious movement? Rastafarians believe that Jah himself has allowed them to smoke the herb, by which they worship the Most High in the best possible way. When they smoke marijuana, they pay homage to God and worship him better. The Rastamans believe that medicinal marijuana is an herb of wisdom, through which a person opens his mind, as well as his feelings.

Cannabis was once found on King Solomon's tomb. Since then it has become an integral part of Rastafarian life. Smoking marijuana has become a kind of ritual. The first followers used it in Jamaica during rituals to put themselves into an altered state of consciousness. With the medicinal herb, they could meditate, produce visions or have mystical experiences, bringing them closer to Jah. Marijuana is still called a "sacred herb" by many Rastamans today.

However, it should be remembered that smoking marijuana currently is not a religious precept, and many Rastafarians do not use it at all. So it is wrong to think that the Rastafarian movement promotes only smoking pot.

Do Rastamans smoke weed every day?

Most Rastafarians do it every day. However, this happens mainly in Jamaica, which is now the largest producer of pure marijuana. That's where medicinal herbs are grown in gardens - quite like fruits and vegetables in Poland. The areas where marijuana is grown in Jamaica are fields hidden in the mountains. Interestingly, possession of marijuana is illegal in Jamaica.

Do Rastamans plant weed in Jamaica just to smoke it? Not necessarily. People in Jamaica are not among the richest, and medical marijuana - medicinal marijuana allows them to earn at least some money so they can... live normally.