Rastafarians believe that they will never die as long as they remain true and faithful to Selassie. It does not matter whether death is by accident, sickness, or by the agency of man. Rastafarians therefore do not even attend funerals. An important contribution to Rastafarian culture is the smoking of ganja. Before a Rastafari sets out on a journey he performs a duty.
Journeys begin with a ritual smoking and prayer in the yard of departure.
The chillum pipe used in these rituals should not be called a pipe, but a cup or a chalice because Deuteronomy and other sections of the bible in speaking of sending up incense to Jah were referring to the herbs. If members of the group are smoking their own spliffs, they are put out or laid aside when the chalice is ready to be lit. Caps are removed from their heads as they are about to set fire to the herbs. Everyone is silent and in prayer as the chalice is passed around counterclockwise. Journeys are taken quite seriously, if a Rasta were to stub his toe of his left foot at the start of a journey, which is a sign of bad luck, it would be enough to cause him to turn back and start again.