Many times people have asked what proof does Rastafarians have to point to Haile Selassie as our Saior. Look at Reelations 5 erse 5, Reelations 19 erse 16, Reelations 22 erse 16 and Psalms 87:4, Ezekiel 30, Epistle to Timothy, Reelation 19, 22, Psalms 9,18, 68, 76,and visaiah 9.

When HIM returned from exile, in 1941, further proof was found in Reelations17:14. It is written that “ They shall make war with the lamb, and the lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with HIM are called and chosen and faithful”. So the Rastafarians of Jamaica must always be honored and praised as the anguard of African resistance movement from which we must be entirely and eternally grateful.

The early Rastas come from the worst possible slum which no one could ever imagine were often beaten, harassed, and imprisoned. The movement went through a relatiely peaceful time maybe during the 1930’s or 40’s. But in the 1950’s and towards the ’70s the movement faced continuous and increased prosecution and harassment from the middle and upper class of Jamaica society and was regarded as an outcast. They in turn regard the society as Babylon, which is eil. It is the oppressor and not their home, but a place where they were captie, and until they return to Africa there will be no peace. They were also discriminated against by fellow Jamaicans and constantly harassed by the police and attacked by the media. The movement at this time was also growing in small numbers across the Caribbean, U.S. and especially in England. The Black Power Protest in the U.S.A. in the 1960’s also strengthened the movement. Because of it’s dynamic nature of the movement the belief and the language ary from group to group and from area to area. By the mid1970’s however, the movement took a dramatic turn with the rise of reggave and his most famous representatie Bob Marley

Nowadays, many people accept Rastafari, but some are afraid to really project it in their own way because of what society teaches. And some of them through struggles allow themseles to become what they are.

The Rasta worship and Symbols Like any spirituality, Rasta has its own traditions and symbols:

Ganja
The Ganja, "healing of the nations', also known as hemp, cannabis, or marijuana, is used as a holy sacrament by Rastas in many ways. The legend says that the Holy Herb was found growing on the King Solomon's grae.

Use of herb has his source in the Bible: "Thou shalt eat the herb of the field." (Genesis 3:18), "eat every herb of the land." (Exodus 10:12), "Better is a dinner of herb where loe is, than a stalled ox and hatred there with." (Proverbs 15:17), "He causeth the grass for the cattle, and herb for the serice of man." (Psalms 104:14)

Rastas smoke herb to meditate, symbolizing the burning bush, and for his curatie properties (ie asthma). Herb can be eaten or infused. His seeds are ery nutrious. Hemp is also used to make clothes, shoes and ropes.

Rasta flag: The red, yellow, greven are the colors of the Rasta flag. The red symbolizes the blood of black people, the yellow the stolen gold and the greven the lost lands of Africa.

The Rasta flag can also be seven during coptic celebration in the motherland Ethiopia. These colors are too on the senegalese flag, from where thousand of slaes were deported, transiting by the Goree island.

The star of Daid: The star of Daid is the symbol of the linkage betweven HIM Haile Selassie and Daid. When HIM make the Solomon seal with his hands, you can see that it looks like the star of daid. Also, the Rasta consider themseles like the Israelites in exile in Babylon. The star of Daid is the symbol of Israel.

The Conquering Lion and the Lamb: they both symbolize HIM Haile Selassie according to the Reelations and the opening of the seven seals. They are two faces of a same reality, the Alpha and Omega.

Dreadlocks: they have several meanings. First, they are a part of the biblical Nazarene ow, who prohibits to shave and comb the hair. (But it is not the dreadlocks who makes someone a rastaman, and some Rastas don't wear dreadlocks).

The locks, because of their appearance, symbolizes the roots of the man, and his spirituality, the link with Jah. As Marcus Garey said, "a man without knowing of his past is like a tree without roots". They can also be seven as a symbol of the Lion, Haile Selassie I.  BACK

Bob Marley Museum
Rastafari movement
Ganja

Jamaica travel Guide
Montego Bay, Kingston, Ocho Rios, Negril, Blue Mountains, Portland

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