Psychedelic Mystical Experiences
Psychedelics have been hitting the headlines a lot in the last few years and for a good reason. Research shows that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is proving to be an optimal treatment for many treatment-resistant psychological problems like addiction, depression, and PTSD. Now, if you’re like me and dabbled around with LSD when you were young, you might wonder how on earth taking psychedelics can help people overcome addictions.
What the headlines aren’t shouting about is the nexus of psychedelic therapy, the mystical experience. So, what is a mystical experience? And what’s it got to do with psychedelics?
PSYCHEDELICS AND SPIRITUALITY
Psychedelics and spirituality have a long history. There’s evidence of psychedelics being used for ritualistic, religious and spiritual purposes since time began. But more recently, in the 1960s, with a growing interest in psychedelics and their potential, people in the West started to notice that some psychedelic experiences seemed to resemble the mystical state. In 1962, Walter Pahnke set out to see if mystical experiences could be engendered using psychoactive substances. His now infamous PhD study, The Good Friday Experiment, did indeed show that mystical experiences could be brought about using psychedelics.
PSYCHEDELIC MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES
Psychedelic mystical experiences are profound states of consciousness that occur under the influence of certain substances, such as psilocybin, LSD, or DMT. These experiences can mimic or even induce states of deep spiritual or mystical insight, sometimes resulting in the feeling of oneness with the universe, dissolution of the ego, or direct encounters with the divine.
During these experiences, individuals often report a sense of interconnectedness with all things, a transcendence of time and space, and a deep knowing of life's fundamental truths. The boundaries between the self and the external world may blur or completely dissolve, leading to what is commonly described as “ego death,” where the individual feels as though they are no longer a separate entity but part of a greater, unified whole. These mystical experiences are often accompanied by intense feelings of awe, wonder, and bliss, as well as a sense of profound spiritual significance.
PSYCHEDELIC SET AND SETTING
So why isn’t everyone having a mystical experience every time they take psychedelics? Psychedelics are mind-altering. You will have an altered state of consciousness, but you won’t necessarily have a mystical experience. In fact, I think they’re probably quite rare in a recreational context. However, the researchers at John Hopkins Centre for Psychedelic Research seem to bring about a mystical experience in most of their participants. How do they do this?
They use something called set and setting. This means that the set, or in other words, the mindset of the person taking the psychoactive substance, is prepared beforehand. They’re primed to have a mystical experience. Expectation plays a large part. They’re also in a good mindset going into the experience. They feel safe and secure. They trust their sitters and supporters.
Setting refers to the context and environment of the experience. At John Hopkins, a lot of attention has been put into getting the environment just right. Rather than looking like a research lab or clinician’s office, the environment they’ve created is more homely and relaxing. Everything is set up to support and encourage the mystical experience to occur.
Set and setting can’t be underestimated. The participants at Johns Hopkins report more mystical experiences than at London Imperial College, where they also research psychedelics. However, at Johns Hopkins, their intention is for a mystical experience to occur. The therapeutic effects rely on the mystical experience. In contrast, at London Imperial College, the researchers weren’t interested in mystical experiences, and as a result, their participants reported less mystical experiences.
BENEFITS OF PSYCHEDELIC MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES
Research in recent years has increasingly explored the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, particularly in relation to mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. One of the first studies investigating the therapeutic potential of psychedelic therapy showed that terminally ill people experiencing an existential crisis were no longer afraid of dying. And more recent research at John Hopkins has been investigating the use of psychedelics for people with anorexia, a psychological condition that is very difficult to treat using traditional methods.
The mystical aspect of these experiences is considered to be one of the most significant factors contributing to their positive outcomes, as it can lead to transformative insights, emotional healing, and a sense of spiritual well-being. Many people report a lasting shift in their perception of reality, often experiencing a heightened sense of connection to nature, other people, or the universe itself after the experience. This can lead to long-term changes in attitudes, such as increased empathy, a sense of purpose, or a reevaluation of previously held beliefs.
The benefits are not only felt by the participants but witnessed by their loved ones. And they are enduring.
The mystical experiences play a crucial role in the therapeutic potential of psychoactive substances. Research has consistently found that the intensity of a participant’s mystical experiences can predict its healing and transformational potential.
INTEGRATING PSYCHEDELIC MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES
To experience the full potential of psychedelic mystical experiences, integration is necessary. This involves actively working with your experience long after the psychoactive substances have left your body. Research has found that journaling and meditation can be very powerful. I guess the more we reflect on and re-visit our experiences, the more we bring that state of consciousness into our everyday lives.
As a result, research into psychedelic mystical experiences is booming.
