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St. Guthlac: the warrior-turned-hermit who might’ve been tripping absolute balls in a marsh??

So here’s the story: Guthlac gives up his life as a Mercian warrior, goes full hermit, and heads to the Fens. He eats no food of any kind except after sunset when he takes a scrap of barley bread and a bit of swamp water, trying to get close to God, but instead, he starts seeing 👹demons👹

We’re talking insane creatures, roaring lions, mad bulls, and serpents hissing at him like it’s the end of days.

Now, here’s the best part (imo): Some academics have theorised that the barley bread could’ve been infected with ergot—a funky little fungus that’s basically medieval LSD. You eat that, and suddenly the Fens aren’t so peaceful anymore. Guthlac’s sitting there, thinking he’s doing battle with evil spirits, when really, he’s just tripping balls.

It didn’t stop him becoming a saint though! So, maybe the lesson here is that even if you’re in a hut, off your head on bad bread, you can still achieve sainthood. Stay holy, even when you’re hallucinating. 🌀

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