I recently heard anecdotally that there were a group of Monks in the Lugano region (now Switzerland) that were subsequently ordered executed by the Pope. This story was related to me by someone who lived in the region, but I can't seem to find any serious reference to psychedelic use amongst Catholic Monks, nor execution of Catholic Monks by papal decree.
If there isn't any record of this happening, does anyone know what incident this anecdote may have germinated from? I'm more interested in the Monks and their possible execution than the psychedelics, if that is any help.
I can't say this is limited to monks but mediaeval people themselves had more access to day to day mind altering substances. Beer for breakfast. Whole candied nutmegs for snacking. Lettuces with a latex that could get you high. Mushrooms, enough said.
Opium was legal. Hashish was as well. I don't know if they were imported into Sweden though.
You can get high with out these things too. Breath control, flagellation, whirling like a dervish.
Rye is also prone to a mild that can make you see things if not killing you.
I've done enough food culture research that I now pictured the basic mediaeval person as ripped all the time.
I had a reference that implied a nice relaxing 'high' was something you got when your humours were balanced but I can't find it.