Did Vikings Use Hallucinogenic Drugs: The Evidence and the Myths

[@aprildriesslein5034]

Speaking as a person with a degree in medical anthropology, I can confidently say that humans love doing funny things to their brains. 😄

[@an_evening_star_rose5991]

Starting from childhood when your realize spinning makes your loopy lol. Just takes off from there

[@bugrilyus]

How did you get into that area? started as a med student? I want to see my options If I can do a similar thing. I am asking because I am halfway through med school and I am interested in the subject.

[@mathematics117]

Just finished a seminar on altered states of consciousness and I concur. Humans love messing up their brains

[@msb4838]

Oh man medical anthropology. That's fascinating. Could you possibly recommend anything to read on the topic that's appropriate for a layperson? Two masters and I've a background in the Classics, the socio-historical side rather than the literature side (of course literature tells us about ancient history and society...but, anyway). And one of my favorite topics is ancient magic and religion. Ancient magicians, as well as the roles of these early practicioners as proto-doctors, is always been interesting. (Night's Black Agents by Daniel Ogden is good on this topic, in case anyone's interested.)

[@MrToradragon]

@@mathematics117 Not just humans.

[@Bildgesmythe]

As an old lady I assure you, all my plants are for fiber and my tasty liquor is medical. Now run along Sonny, Granny needs her medicine.

[@angelcollina]

You are the most awesome person 😲

[@mrmadness2699]

There was an incident in my town where a little old lady was found growing opium poppies in her (very lovely) flower garden. She stated she didn’t know. She had gotten them from her Grandmother, and they were pretty and SO easy to grow. There was no evidence that she was processing opium, so she didn’t get in trouble. Still I wonder if she was REALLY only using the poppy seeds for baking 🤔!

[@mountainmolly2726]

Now I'm picturing Vikings hanging out by a fire, getting high and reciting poetry like a bunch of dark age hippies. :)

[@msoneill358]

I've done something similar. It sounds more whimsical than what actually happened lol some friends and me drinking beer and smoking pot around a bonfire. I'll save you the time dear.

[@jockjammer3443]

Well what do people do now around a campfire? Get drunk/high tell stories, play music, and talk about deep stuff. Why would it have been any different 1000 or even 3000 years ago? That's just what people do. 😉

[@skjaldulfr]

You've heard of murder-hornets, but have you heard of the murder-hippies?

[@ItsDaHoots]

@@jockjammer3443 it's something all humans share. We all did it in ancient times in all places.

[@unakamillasteinsen4817]

Didn't expect this week's history lesson to make me sad about berserkers with PTSD, but then again I never know what to expect.

[@Bluebelle51]

In some native cultures, including mine, we use peyote and sweat lodges for vision ceremonies. I had mine when I was 15

[@archaeologydad3761]

archaeology student here: Delphi is built on top of a natural source of ethylene. simply put, the oracle was huffing glue

[@cesar_145]

That's a proven fact

[@WARLORD626]

But the question is did the Vikings use drug's for WAR.

[@traccas01]

I've heard that before as well

[@jennifercourtemanche9793]

As an 80s and 90s kid in the US we had D.A.R.E. which told us not to do drugs most of us had never heard of until they told us about them.

[@ashleejones1690]

Yeah, all those D.A.R.E. videos were the reason I thought drugs would be a fun thing to try😂

[@hockeygrrlmuse]

There's a lovely You're Wrong About episode on DARE and how it was a complete failure of a program

[@braydicus]

Makes me think of that South Park episode 😂

[@woochles]

D. A. R. E., Drugs Are Really Expensive

[@SewBiased]

Trippy old lady who gets high by the fire. Ok, got my retirement plans ready!

[@codename495]

This man is so many things, scholar, craftsman, and apparently life coach because that sounds amazing.

[@angelcollina]

Excellent idea! How do I sign up? *takes notes for the future*

[@C.G.Hassack]

PTSD paired with spontaneous analgesia, AKA battlefield bravery, ,a condition were people feel no pain for sometime after suffering an injury, would make a Berserker formidable enough without the need for any drugs. Having experienced spontaneous analgesia on more than one occasion I can say it would be bl**dy useful in a battle.

[@beth7935]

That's a really good point! I walked through a glass door & didn't even notice I'd cut my leg deep enough for stitches- it hurt later, but at the time I was on an adrenalin high & giggling cos it was so ridiculous that it didn't hurt. I don't think it's even that unusual, hey? Brains can do some seriously weird shit all by themselves.

[@MrToradragon]

@@beth7935 I would say that it is not unusual, i sometimes find that i have some scratches and cuts which I do not know where I have had suffered. Our brains have to do plenty of stuff and taking care of any minor injury would be detrimental to survival.

[@solveigw]

I was always told the berserkers used liberty cap as their drug of choice, they obviously knew the fly agaric would give a bad trip ... Your theory of PTSD and henbane is more realistic - as it should be! You are the historian here ;)

[@DoinItforNewCommTech]

Yeah, I've seen how quickly Vietnam/Iraq/Afghanistan veterans can change (and by how much) when they're hit by one of their triggers. Berserkers being career soldiers with PTSD makes so, so, so, so much sense.

[@idasvenning3892]

I haven’t heard much about berserkers before but this approach struck me as much more humane than any heroic/madman/whatever version could ever be.

[@JH-lo9ut]

I have tried to have this theory confirmed, but found no credible evidence for it. According to Ethnobothanist Dennis McKenna, he has found no hard evidence at all for the use of psilocybin mushroom use anywhere in the old world (thereby sort of debunking the "stoned ape theory" put forward by his brother Terence) The only proven shamanistic use of fly agaric was by east siberian reindeer herders. (As described by R. Gordon Wasson) There is a lot of mythologizing and wishful thinking when it comes to psychedelics and hallucinogens. Yes, it would be awesome to know that the Vikings used liberty caps as an intoxicant. But there is no evidence they or anyone else in europe did.

[@sophieinspired]

So we’re not talking about a magical future seeing vulva? No just me who understands it every time as vulva? Okay cool 😂

[@mcwjes]

"We're gonna have to up our game, pal," I whisper helpfully into my pants. There's no reply. Yet.

[@eivor9097]

I mean they are pretty magical :P

[@Nyctophora]

I believe it's volva but I kind of like your version!

[@TheWelshViking]

*Walks in* Ah. Um. *Walks out*

[@aprildriesslein5034]

Yes! Took me forever to figure out that he wasn't saying vulva. 😄

[@katecapek3116]

Thought from an old broad: the old broad with the staff might have wanted cannabis seeds for her old joints.

[@anna_bales]

As Detritus says: "Slab: Jus' say 'AarrghaarrghpleeassennononoUGH'"

[@peterszeug308]

I have tried taking henbane for shamanistic/pagan ritual purposes, and in low amounts it has the potential to make you quite aggressive and reckless without causing significant impairment beyond minor far-sightedness/blurred vision. It can also raise blood temperature and greatly reduces sweating which could come in handy when fighting in blistering cold. Overall, I would recommend it as a potential performance enhancer in battle only, but I do not recommend fighting a battle anyway, lol. Peace.

[@caspakirby6270]

I think my favourite anti-drugs slogan was South Dakota's 'Meth: We're On It'. It just... It just.

[@eazy8579]

Well, having been to South Dakota, they certainly are

[@TorraKimbul]

The next three videos I watched after this all had ads for Volvo and every time the emblem popped up I got an extra giggle. Thank you!

[@johnsahin5496]

Love your description of Viking warriors and specifically berserkers, so often people find interest in the romanticized Viking image and honestly I would like to see a truer representation of these professional soldiers. It would be so much more interesting, exploring a more human story of those Vikings. Great Video btw, enjoyed it very much

[@ladyliberty417]

I love your seeking truth about Vikings and your thinking about PTSD as a real issue/ good stuff ❗️

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

Jimmy: “Henbane makes you see things.” *camera goes out of focus and starts zooming in* Jimmy: “So was she taking henbane?” Me: “dunno, but I think your camera might be.” 😜

[@lordofuzkulak8308]

As for favourite Animorphs - not sure, don’t really remember what the characters were like; umm, think when I was reading them as a kid, maybe Jake or Tobias. As was good too I think. Also, cute fox postcard on your wall. 🦊

[@szasstam204]

Thank you for yet again dispelling myths about these people. Your highlighting of the Berserkers probably just being professional soldiers hit home. I have met a few people from my time in the military that feel they are only at home while deployed, and feel that they have nothing to live for at "home". Great videos and wonderful educational content! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@TransTess]

Henbane sounds like a magic sword you use to slay chickens.

[@Ace-dv5ce]

Shit you’re right

[@merindymorgenson3184]

That’s what I thought too! Death to hens! 🤣 just kidding, I like hens.

[@archygirl1750]

That is hysterical! and you are absolutely right.

[@aimeemorgado8715]

I was thinking about it being used for slaying mean girls. But I am an old bog witch who no longer tolerates mean folk.

[@BrotherJing1]

Jimmy: *Goes on major Downer about very likely PTSD in veteran Vikings* ....ANYWHO HOW BOUT THEM DRUGS EH??

[@WantedVisual]

Jimmy: Don't use drugs. Me, tablet dispenser in hand, about to take my first round of medication: Um...

[@Skyx5m50]

Me hitting the weed pen in the car on my lunch break watching KZbin: 👁👄👁

[@someoneinoffensive]

Herodotus is 110% bulls**t Had me on the floor 😂

[@sisuguillam5109]

He sucks so much there is even merch who says he does!

[@MsSteelphoenix]

Came here to make this comment, very pleased someone else agrees...

[@DaisyGJ]

Phrase of the week reminds me of the Groucho Marx quote: Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read

[@timebemyfriend]

Stinking henbane sounds like a Shakespearean insult. I love it. Great video!

[@WantedVisual]

The stories of old ladies buried with hemp seed amuses me, mostly because I grew up in an area where a lot of old ladies spent their golden years feeding birds in their gardens with birdseed. A lot of these old ladies accidentally grow these lovely plants with pretty, palm-shaped leaves. The plants get tall and full very quickly, and, for some reason, local police occasionally get very curious about which garden center sold them non-industrial, female hemp plants. Maybe the volva were growing rope. Maybe they were growing their own weed. Maybe they were feeding birds. Ornithomancy is a thing.

[@davepunkt1232]

Interesting theory.

[@SomeoneBeginingWithI]

If it's reasonable to think she might be taking hemp seeds into the next life in order to grow hemp for the fibre, maybe she was taking hemp seeds into the next life in order to grow them for ritual purposes.

[@spiritualtruthseeker1947]

70s era anti drug meme - “This is your brain on drugs” video clip of egg frying.

[@carriescostumescrochet]

That's the one I grew up with. "This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs." And the splatter of the egg as it hit the pan. That stuck with me.

[@euansmith3699]

Sunny-side up? Mmmmmm lovely.

[@indigohalf]

The trouble with that is, I love a fried egg! And they're even better when you're stoned.

[@rin_okami]

That one lasted into the late 80's at least, because I can remember it too.

[@richmcgee434]

Not the Seventies. Those PSAs didn't start until 1987, and there were updated variants in 1997 (aka the heroin-specific one where the gal trashes the kitchen with the frying pan) and 2016 (where the "any questions?" bit is followed by a slew of kids asking questions and advice to be prepared with answers). There was also a pro-legalize-cannabis version in 2018 but that didn't get as widely shown. Also about a kajillion parodies, of course.

[@eleanormawer1225]

Animorphs?! The one that turned into a falcon! Also - magic mushrooms? They get you moderately happy in a forest so I hear...

[@ashleejones1690]

I don't remember the specifics of the book where they turned into Peregrine falcons, though I do know they did it for (non-drug) speed reasons. lol If you mean Tobias though he was the one who got stuck as a Red Tailed Hawk. I'm a big nerd and he was probably my favorite. Well, him or Ax but I'm not sure if he counts since he was an Andalite and not a human....😅

[@ChristheRedcoat]

Wait, you mean there aren't giant ants in the desert that poop gold? My life is a lie...

[@TheWelshViking]

We'll go on a sacred quest to find them, but we'll really find... ourselves.

[@mercianthane2503]

Winners don't do drugs? But I wanted to establish my own Danelaw, here, in México, on drugs.

[@Like4Hurricane2]

Did you know the original Pilsner beers were brewed with dried henbane stalks, leaves and flowers? Also have you checked out the Experiences under the Henbane section on Erowid, because it's a fascinating collection of anecdotes about people trying to get high off of henbane and succeeding in some ways (it's surprisingly hit or miss with the seeds, compared to brewed drink with leaves added, be it an herbal tea or something more boozy). It's a pretty easy plant to germinate, but keeping it alive to get big enough to harvest a decent amount of leaf material takes some time; Due to freak weather situations, I've yet to grow plants quite big enough to harvest more than pretty flowers from, which I do not consume. I'll keep trying; I rather like them. But yeah don't consume the roots. Just don't. The rest of the plant can be cooked or brewed into non poisonousness.

[@ringobach6036]

Hey Jimmy, we have a very similar phrase here in Germany. We just say "dunkel wie in einer Kuh" (dark like in a cow) or "Kuhnacht" (cow night). The explanation I heard is that the whole thing is not about a cow, but about a Kau/ Koje (which is a old Germanic word for a prison).

[@tolveor]

Thats interesting, in modern norway a koje is a hunting cabin

[@annasstorybox7906]

@@tolveor well that can make sense... If it originally comes from an even older word meaning a small room... As in modern German "Koje" is also a (shelf like) bunkbed/ berth on a ship... Those often look like tiny chambers or boxes one crawls into as well... So this 'family' of words are all describing small rooms

[@tolveor]

@@annasstorybox7906 I can't really remember what i wrote or what you responded to, but to expand on that: Køye means the same thing in norwegian basically. You also have koje in swedish/norwegian which means a small cabin (in the woods specifically)

[@l.m.2404]

More fascinating information that I didn't know I needed. Once again, you entertain, enlighten and engage. Bravo, Jimmy.

[@danielthompson6207]

I can't speak for ancient Scandinavians, but I do know that we've got incontrovertible evidence of me smoking a bowl whilst watching this. It seemed appropriate at the time.

[@historiansrevolt4333]

It makes sense, as we know so many other cultures used various substances for religious or coming of age stuff. Also, another theory I have heard for the Delphi Oracle was actually gasses seeping in through cracks in the earth in her caves. Not sure if it has been debunked, but I always thought it was a cool idea.

[@user-yo1fb1kg4omykehiggs]

@historian's revolt:. Funnily enough I had heard about it being volcanic gasses seeping into the oracle's chamber and was going to make a comment but you have beaten me to it! Well done mate, cheers!

[@canucknancy4257]

"This is your brain" - image of an egg "This is your brain on drugs" - video of egg cracked into a hot pan and frying. Somehow, that one stuck with me. Thanks for another fun one, Jimmy. Take care.

[@richmcgee434]

Always made me hungry for my brain with a side of bacon, personally.

[@SeerWalker]

good news about the scythians, we have archaeological evidence of hemp seeds for drug purposes. my favourite are the little personal hemp-burning kits some people have been buried with :)

[@TheWelshViking]

AMAZING

[@laulutar]

Is it wrong, that I might be considering getting a völva staff and finding a way to have it snuck into my coffin, just to mess with future historians? "This is odd... These staffs seem to fall out of use for about a millenium, but then start showing up again in the 21st century. And they seem to have been much more widespread in the 21st century." I wonder if the teenage Vikings who knew people who used henbane would have tried to sneak some, while the user was too busy tripping balls/convening with the gods. Not that I've ever heard modern teenagers do something similar with modern intoxicants, nope....

[@janetmackinnon3411]

Enjoyed this even more than usual! Thank you.

[@Amun_Proxy]

The henbane bit I can agree with 100% but as someone who's taken different species of psychedelic mushrooms multiple times, I can tell you from experience your mindset can change so quickly and your senses can too, like for example your sense of touch. Not only are amanitas not as trippy as what people make them out to be, especially when compared to other mushrooms like liberty caps for example but you can also still move the same as you would when you're sober, it mainly just changes your perception of reality in the sense of it being mainly a mental high so if you think you're the biggest baddest guy on the planet and you've got people around you encouraging you to convince yourself of that then you will genuinely think that while you're tripping, and if you're a raging religious fanatic(by modern standards) like the berserkir and ulfheðnar were, who were part of a Pagan sect or cult dedicated to Óðinn then yeah I can see how amanitas may have been used by berserkir and ulfheðnar. Plus as far as toxicity goes there's been multiple cases around the world of people finding was of making amanitas less toxic so people can consume them, from drinking urine of a person or animal that has already consumed amanitas to brewing them with alcohol. Also not all psychedelic experiences are like what you see in anti-drug propaganda and in pop culture films.

[@lizzyrbits1283]

Gently high in a forest with sleipnir stories sounds delightful! Haha

[@beth12svist]

There was someone who explained the idea of Loki giving birth to an eight-legged horse as "people having too much time on their hands on long northern winter nights" and that fits into this narrative perfectly. :D

[@horseenthusiast9903]

Lol, coming from the famous Humboldt county, I always love a good historical drug discussion! The bit at the end about like. Viking lads getting a liddol high and telling fun stories really reminds me of some of the folks I went to high school with, getting just a liddol high and having funny arguments about memes or like whether lava is wet. Anyways, I don't like having them myself, but the history of drugs is just. Really fascinating. Also, for silly anti-drug phrases, you missed D.A.R.E.! I got handed so many random dare erasers in like 6th grade on bad field trips. And that was a very fun phrase of the week, I'll definitely be saying that in the future!

[@shawnagoddard4999]

As a kid in the 90s in Canada the anti drug slogan I remember is "Don't put it in your mouth." The advert use to scary me and well still kind a does.

[@lynn858]

My mom repeated that to me a lot, in the late 80s early 90s. But mostly because with Dad selling scrap, recovering lead, burning the casings off copper wires, caps from things like oil and anti-freeze... I guess she was concerned that my love of sticking things like my marker caps in my mouth, might lead to me picking up something in the yard or the basement and deciding to try it. Which, ewww, no.

[@natmorse-noland9133]

Hanging out around a fire, getting gently high, and telling stories about Sleipnir sounds like a grand old time.

[@Lalaithlen]

I really love how you explain things, specially haw much you avoid absolutes. Not even when one is certain about something one can't be absolute, there are always exceptions and human beings love to be exceptions, that's how we progress.

[@lakibjornson281]

My high school had these anti-drug posters kicking about that had ‘if you don’t know what it is, just take half” printed on them😂

[@Murky_Heron]

What a delightfully questionable advice 😂

[@Madsen-by1hy]

I love the fact that you keep showing that Volvo logo and crossing it over😂🤣

[@bnhietala]

My grandparents used to have a refrigerator magnet that said "Say nope to dope". In hind sight, it seemed kind of random, but whatever. LOVE the Volva cartoon, by the way! Totally the sort of seer I would've been!

[@gudnisnaer8171]

in iceland there are and have been a type of mushrooms growing that if dried and eaten/put in a tea it would cause hallucinations and an Adrenalin rush

[@aidakopmels9307]

A well researched "maybe" is always better than a sensational but fake "conclusion". So I'm happy to see you conclude "maybe" :)

[@hoonopsa1116]

I’m under the impression that poppy seeds in themselves aren’t psychoactive, although the pods are. The claim is still passed around quite regularly. Thanks for the great video!

[@Neophoia]

the "getting slightly high and telling tales of Sleipner" made me laugh because yup. some people getting high and talking about magical horse sounds 100% like a human thing.

[@howardhavardramberg333]

Great video Jimmy!

[@jorenbosmans8065]

Kind of weird that you have to include that alcohol is a drug too. But you are correct and are right to add it.

[@abysswarlock]

In my ancient greek magic and religion class last year I learned theres also a theory that the fissures in the ground around the temple of apollo with the oracle of delphi that release natural gasses were altering her perception in high doses

[@LanaKephart]

The Animorphs graphic made me grin like a loon :D ("he's only human when he wants to be") I love the thought that the use of hallucinatory plants may have contributed to the mythology they (Viking culture) created.

[@knightsmarshall1]

As a person who has instructed soldiers for a few decades, I can imagine Beserkers would be an absolute pain to use in a shield wall. What do you do with the psychopath who wants to kill but can't stand in a shield wall? Maybe generate a group of shock troops with a large amount of prestige and mysticism and launch them into your opponent's shield wall to create a gap that your shield wall can exploit? Maybe give them some drugs as a bonus? There's always more psychopaths. :)

[@paleratlydia5097]

I never thought in a million years I would ever hear you say vulva, and I’m here for it!

[@kitdubhran2968]

Berserkers probably got pumped up the same way footballers do today, except in an old way, which has a bit more ritual and a bit more rhythm/henbane smoke/chanting/etc. You can put yourself into an altered state using physical activity, or rhythmic music like drums, or a certain kind of rhythmic breathing. And it would’ve been old tradition by that point, related to culture, and religion.

[@GA1313E]

PTSD, and other effects of historical battle are very fascinating to me! It's so easy to imagine that this started with shell-shock and modern warfare. But why would it? Most historical battlefields maybe weren’t the hellhole we imagine WWI to habe been. But for some people or some times when it went from: The two shield-walls, a few javelins, some close up scary fighting. Some of your friends getting seriously hurt but mostly making it, and then you or the enemy running off. The event you expected, that you knew how to handle and talk about. Into something else, something people wouldn't speak of or spin into verse, that must have have had the same effect on people then as now. Interpreting Berserkers as experienced warriors who sometimes did incredible acts of bravery, but also were haunted and shaped by their horrible experiences makes a lot of sense. And it is interesting how the sagas portray berserkers as a frightening thing, not only in battle, but also in civilian life. But we somehow imagine them as some sort of super-heroes, transforming themselves into victoria-cross/medal-of-honour level "good crazy" on command, and ask ourselves, how could they do that? Did they take drugs?

[@CollinMcLean]

If I may Jimmy. You forgot another application possibility of Henbane... topical... Henbane has a historical use as an analgesic, a medicine that provides relief from pain and it's side effects do match a lot of the described characteristics of berserkers such as the agitation, the flushed and swollen face, and it's use in pain relief would also explain the pain tolerance characteristic of berserkers. It was ingested in witches brews and probably smoked as you've mentioned but if you ground it up into a paste or extracted the oil from the plant you could possibly create some sort of salve, ointment, or cream that would produce the effects of a violent and unnaturally resilient warrior. This could also account for the "bare chested" image they're famous for. Now I am not an archaeologist but my field of study is nursing and plenty of patients who have histories of drug use have a not uncommon reaction where they are compulsively undressing. When they're under the influence or in periods of withdrawal they start feeling incredibly warm so they start stripping off their clothes to cool off and breathing fast and hard to evaporate off all that heat. Breathing incredibly fast also blows off CO2 so they start becoming alkalotic which further contributes to their agitation.

[@lucie4185]

So now I feel the need to ask: How much hen bane do you need to plead with 'Pissinia', goddess of sudden inconvenient showers of rain.

[@DoinItforNewCommTech]

Burn seeds one at a time until the rain goes away on its own If you get impatient it's because the gods will it to be so--in which case burn two

[@user-zb9px4fg7f]

So glad you went with the car picture!

[@bonniegraves123]

Another amazing video!

[@breec]

I remember a theory I heard years ago about the Oracle at Delphi also being that, since it's around a cave system, that it could be volcanic gases, CO2, and/or CO venting out through the cave that could have contributed to the visions. There's nothing quite like toeing the line of death and drugs to make the gods speak to you haha

[@Daria-ew5gs]

A great subject plus marvelous editing. 👍 I enjoyed it very much

[@Entiox]

Anybody who thinks berserkers took amanita before a battle has clearly never taken amanita. Amanita, as you said can cause stomach cramps, especially if fresh, less so if dried, but it also makes you lethargic and uncoordinated. Vomiting, sleepy and clumsy is really not how you want to go into battle if you want to have a chance of surviving that battle. Uh, don't ask how I know amanita makes you lethargic and uncoordinated.

[@horseenthusiast9903]

Lol yeah, *definitely* a great pre-athletic try-not-to-die activity kind of drug...that theory cracks me up. Also, I come from Humboldt county, and thus spend a lot of time around moderately stoned people, and the idea of a berserker even using cannabis before fighting seems silly to me. Like, yeah I suppose it doesn't make you as lethargic, but what's he gonna do, complain about the munchies mid-fight? Jimmy's likely right with his sad traumatised berserker theory (which tracks, y'know, with him being the Viking historian and all)

[@morriganharker8655]

This has funny editing and an interesting subject matter! Great job on this video!

[@mrmadness2699]

This is your brain 🥚. This is your brain on Berserkergang 🍳.

[@grayfox1748]

"Yo kid, come here. Wanna see some gods?"

[@northerlyartemis]

‘Trip buddy’ sounds so wholesome!

[@MonaSkovJensen]

This was so interesting and fun! Thank you

[@NicholasKonradsen]

what's this music in the background??? i very distinctly hear a hurdy gurdy's trompette (i play hurdy-gurdy so i would know!)

[@darklymoonlit]

All I can think of now is the RiffTrax of Drugs are Like That which has lived rent-free in my head for many years. (Drugs are also like weasels, celery, and the presidency of Millard Filmore.)

[@WillowTDog]

"Like a cow's stomach" is a fantastic phrase.

[@supergroveraap]

Being experienced, psychedelics are absolutely a lovely way to hang out with the gods 😂

[@gelflingmama]

Can confirm! lol

[@jwolfe1209]

I recall seeing a history channel show (before it turned to aliens and WWII as it's entire focus) and one of the archeologists was theorizing about the Delphi Oracle chamber being over a natural vent of gas. It was quite a few years ago but I believe they said it was ethelyne or ether... They also mentioned with that theory the reason the Oracle stopped was an earthquake caused the vent to close up

[@curiouslywoven9737]

Am wondering about your take on the whole hallucinogenic seaweed theory? So pleased to see more people coming around to the idea of berserkr state being bit more like PTSD - you should have heard some of the responses to my paper on the topic at Kalamazoo in 2007. On a side note concerning historical PTSD, you should look into the one-man play “Cry Havoc”. I got to view it on Vimeo about a month ago as part of a Shakespeare and disability conference from Emory and the Folger Library. It is a truly thought provoking performance and had me thinking about some updates to my former research.

[@tiffanytomasino335]

Thank you for sharing

[@oskoldir]

I'm glad you're not sensationalizing things and focusing too much on the possibilities of the more glamorous berserkers being high, pointing out how that would be kind of silly, and demystifying and deromanticizing the berserkers- the role of hallucinogenics in oracles and diviners is much more interesting to talk about, anyways. (As is the actual possible psychology behind the berserkers) Oh, and- 10:00 Gotta go with Tobias. Related to him too much when I was a kid

[@anneagasster9714]

It is possible that you are right that the vulva used this in Denmark. In Norway you will not find traces of this until the 12th century. The first finds of the plant in seed form are in the excavation. During the archaeological excavations of the Old Town in Oslo, three seeds of the plant were found between soil layers from 1150 and 1175. Medieval monks and nuns cultivated it in the monastery gardens, and it is among the medicinal herbs found on Hovedøya. We had contact with the Persians and it is not unlikely that the seeds found in Osbergskipet originated from Persia. There are no other finds like this outside the osberg ship. In the same way as we find silk in the ship, it does not originate from Norway. There are no silkworms in Scandinavia. Very often foreigners think that berserkers were a separate race, but in Norwegian it is still called "going berserk". berserk is something you do not something you are. To go berserk is to be completely clear in your head, know what you are doing but lose all empathy. You can not be high during a fight because then you do not see the difference between a friend and a fo. A warrior must trust his neighbor. Plain fungus (Psilocybe semilanceata, in norwegian Fleinsopp), on the other hand, grows in Norway and is something we have used for ages. The substance can cause visual and mental hallucinations, intense feelings of happiness and exhilaration, spiritual experiences and a disturbed perception of time and the environment. On the negative side, the drug can give you nausea and anxiety attacks

[@DawnOldham]

I really enjoyed this video! I do remember way back when there was an advertisement on TV re: using drugs. They showed an egg and said, “this is your brain”. The egg was dropped and splatted into a greasy frying pan. They voice over then said, “this is your brain on drugs” and left you staring at the bubbling, splattered egg.

[@Angel_1394]

Great advice Jimmy. Don't do drugs. Great definitive answer, it is really great and fun to think about

[@maximeouellet306]

Great Video, ❤

[@polkadot8788]

Stinking henbane would be a great heavy metal band name. Tobias was my favourite Animorph

[@eireanncarter]

Not helpful, I know, but my first thought when I saw that statuette at the beginning was that the things on her head look like antennae. But yes, they do look like poppy seed heads when it is pointed out.

[@Gilleban]

James Me, living in the California desert: "Damn those mountains look familiar..."

[@alistairdunlop9174]

"Don't do druugs, druugs are baad", councilor Mackey from South Park.

[@davepunkt1232]

Not only the Völva could had blazing on henebane. In Portuguese,Spanish, and German a common name for this plant is beleño, velenho, Bilsen-kraut. Some linguists draw a reference to Belenos. Noric god of light, wells, and medicine. Even medieval brewers adulterated beer with small dosages of henebane or bog-myrtle (When you get dehydrated you need more hydration, more beer! ). Until the common regulation on brewing, and ingredients had emerged.

[@bonelace111]

Was not expecting to be posting this on two of your videos in as many weeks but... teacher friends tell me "Na gabh dragh, na gabh drugaichean!" is a classic in Gaelic medium education haha

[@bonelace111]

("na gabh dragh," pronounced na guv drug(h), is how you'd say "don't worry!" in Gaelic but is more grammatically literally/awkwardly in English "don't take worry/don't have worry on yourself," which makes for a fun pun with "na gabh drugaichean," i.e. "don't take drugs") (I can't tell you how much I love Gaelic puns)

[@DoinItforNewCommTech]

Speaking of Animorphs and vikings, there's nobody more viking than Toby the Seer (Hey! A seer!) “The Yeerks must not be allowed to think that they can use hostages against us." "Aren't you kind of missing the point?" Cassie said quietly. "I thought the point was to save Bek." "No," Toby said. "The point is to defeat the Yeerks. We must be strong. Once we free a Hork-Bajir, he must never be taken again." "Do you think the Yeerks will respect you? They won't. They'll come after you harder," Cassie pointed out. Toby nodded. "That is true. But the Hork-Bajir will respect themselves. A fool is strong so that others will see. A wise person is strong for himself. The Hork-Bajir will be strong for the Hork-Bajir. That way, when the Yeerks are all gone, we will still be strong.”

[@samwelltarly6700]

I've heard a theory that Berserkers were a sort of warrior-shaman (I know the word shaman has its problems but bear with me) and that rather than getting high and fighting physical enemies, which like you've said is not good idea because drugs and strenuous physical activity are a terrible mix, they'd get high and fight metaphysical enemies. This would explain the animal transformations; they are taking on animal-form in the spirit-realm. After the metaphysical enemies have been defeated they can then proceed with defeating the common meat-bag variety.

[@KathrynsRavens]

There was an anti-drugs song when I was a kid. It really just relied on your parents being anti-drugs... 'drugs, drugs, drugs, which are good, which are bad, drugs, drugs, drugs, ask your mom and ask your dad'

[@Graham_Rule]

How's the training going for the 5k? Just hope that you're well enough to do it safely. Will you make a video of it or, even better, a livestream?

[@TheWelshViking]

It's ok, but I've had a minor injury. Hopefully we'll video it, a livestream is looking a little difficult to do well with our resources, alas

[@Wulfyric]

stinking henbane would be a great drag name

[@rae_diant]

me about to look up henbane: Jimmy: don't ingest henbane!!! me closing out of the tab: aww

[@HS-su3cf]

A plant that gives you visions and kills odorous poultry. Impressive.

[@eazy8579]

Ngl, I forgot that Jimmy was a nickname for James, and I was very confused when her referred to himself in third person; Also, I love the Lee Majors helmet in the thumbnail