Ritual Chalice Use

A Chalice, also known as a Chillum Chalice, is a smoking pipe used most often by members of the Rastafari movement. It is a sort of water pipe with a hose, or draw-tube, for inhaling. The water cools and filters the smoke and the hose provides additional cooling.

Not to be confused with the chillum a narrow funnel originally fired of clay. Chillums were to have originated in India or South America. Chillums were orginally used in a spiritual manor by Hindu priests.

The Lion Marley Reasoning with Chalice

The Nyabinghi Rastafarians engage in an activity called "Reasoning.” This reasoning helps them shape attitudes towards “politics, theology, repatriation, and reparation.” Participants discuss personal issues, but the focus is on the interaction of individuals and society, as well as issues such as ecology.

Reasoning sessions include use of ganja intended to put participants in touch with feelings of unity, and “consciousness.” Rasta philosophy describes Ganja-Conscious humans “as temples of God, within God dwells.” Using ganja is said to stimulate this inner being through spiritual communication.

Rasta farmers grow special ganja for use in “binghi” rituals, which sometimes last as long as 12 days. This ganja is known as Lambs Bread.
The High Priest burns ganja on the altar and keeps it burning during each night of the ceremony. The elders and matriarchs smoke sacred ganja.

Before smoking senior elders pray by invoking the name of Haile Selassie while sprinkling the herb with water. The gathered sing psalms during this part of the ritual. Ritual ganja is sometimes mixed with tobacco because pure, or “ital” herb, is too strong for some participants.