This is from a rather old book, my New Larousse
Encyclopedia of Mythology, 1968, from the chapter by a certain G.
Alexinsky, "Slavonic Mythology", p. 287. This was the first hardcover book I
ever bought just for my own self, and not because it was a required
textbook.
Apparently, the Russians are being spoken of, in the present
tense, but I think the 19th century is more like it.
--start quote--
In certain regions in the month of August the peasants arrive
in the fields at dawn with jars filled with hemp oil. Turning towards the east
they say: 'Moist Mother Earth, subdue every evil and unclean being so that he
may not cast a spell on us nor do us any harm.' While they pronounce this prayer
they pour the oil on the ground. Then they turn towards the west and say: 'Moist
Mother Earth, engulf the unclean power in thy boiling pits, in thy burning
fires.' Turning to the south they pronounce these words: 'Moist Mother Earth,
calm the Winds coming from the South and all bad weather. Calm the moving sands
and whirlwinds.' And finally turning towards the north they say: 'Moist Mother
Earth, calm the North Winds and the clouds, subdue the snowstorms and the cold.'
After each invocation oil is poured out and finally the jar which contained it
is thrown to the ground.
--end quote--
Hemp oil? Why? You'd think Moist Mother Earth would prefer
milk or beer.
I know an edible oil can be efficiently processed from hemp
seed. I don't know if hemp seed oil has a narcotic effect, at least for those
cultivars containing THC, but I don't think so.
EIEC mentions that hemp seed impressions are found on pottery
at scattered sites all through N. Europe, mentioning especially some Linear
Ware pottery found in Moldova. This article, 'Hemp', p. 266-7, also says
this:
As cannabis can also be infused, i.e., served as a component
in a drink, it has also been suggested that the spread of cord-(hemp?)
decorated pottery from the steppe westwards may also have been part of the
same complex.
Ahem. Is the cord used to decorate corded-ware funeral
deposits part of a cultic set involving the drinking of THC tea?
Mark.