Silene Capensis, Ubulawu, African Xhosa Dream Root Induces Lucid Dreams

The African Dream Root : Silene Capensis

The Xhosa call the plant "undlela ziimhlophe" which translates as "white ways" or "white paths." The Xhosa use the roots of this plant to induce prophetic dreams and to communicate with ancestral spirits.

Many of the visionary plants in South Africa are oneirogenic (dream inducing). These effects have been confirmed by a number of western researchers studying South African traditional healing.

The Southern Bantu-speakers value oneirogenics and other psychoactives because of the fundamental association of dreams with the ancestor spirits in their culture. Dreams are the primary medium through which the ancestors communicate with the diviner.

Myth, like the sacred root itself, is an effect operating from outside the individual to induce a mind-altering experience within resulting in self- insight and enlightenment.

Dreams take place spontaneously in an intuitive world separated from routine reality and enclosed in the individual unconscious. However, dreams like myths and story-tales in general, by and through their narration inter-subjectively come to have significance for people and events in the real world.

The root (undlela ziimhlophe; Silene capensis) straddles the boundary between the worlds and bridges them through imagery. Ingestion of the root induces dream imagery in the novice diviner. Notably, the plant has a white flower, a rather obvious analogue of the diviner or novice who is closely associated with the ancestral spirits, the river and the liminal colour white.

Silene dream roots are not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Keep out of reach of children. Consult the disclaimer before your order.