Psychedelics & Spirituality

Psychedelics

A class of psychoactive substances that produce non-ordinary states of consciousness through changes in perception, mood, and cognitive processes.

Non-ordinary states of consciousness

Privileged sites of knowledge historically and cross-culturally, cultivated in all known religious traditions.

Sacred knowledge

The striking correspondence between key qualities of classical mystical states of consciousness and states that arise from psilocybin.

Healing outcomes via spiritual experiences

Awe, the ineffable, and mystical experiences that can lead to a change in worldview and a sense of divine okayness.

Plants as Teachers

The belief among healers that they learn their practices from plant teachers, often through apprenticeship or direct experiences.

Essential Competencies

The necessary skills and knowledge for therapists working with psychedelics, including empathetic abiding presence, trust enhancement, spiritual intelligence, knowledge of the effects of psychedelics, therapist self-awareness, and ethical integrity, and proficiency in complementary techniques.