Can psychedelics enhance your spiritual growth?

All the answers that you wanted to know about.

Psychedelics and spirituality: perhaps one of the fastest growing topics of interest coming into mainstream culture as well as Western academia and scientific research. Psychedelic plants and compounds have been worked with for thousands of years by indigenous ancient communities across the planet. The word psychedelic comes from the Greek ‘to reveal the soul’ and can be defined as ‘producing expanded consciousness through heightened awareness and feeling’ (Humphrey Osmond, 1956). There is absolutely no doubt that psychedelic experiences have immense value and have changed thousands of lives, so let’s unpack this topic to get a good picture.

Examples of psychedelics in ancient spiritual traditions

To start with, let’s take a look at some of the main psychedelic spiritual plants across ancient cultures and how they are worked with.

1. Ayahuasca: this is a psychedelic plant drink made in the jungles of South America with leaves and roots, worked with for thousands of years by indigenous shamanic tribes for healing and spiritual purposes. The word Ayahuasca translates to ‘vine of the soul.’ This has been very popular in recent years as people make a shift away from the toxic chemical medications of psychiatry and seek ancient natural healing modalities. Ayahuasca produces a purge (comparable to the process of Vamana in Ayurvedic Panchkarma) and brings on visionary psychoactive experiences where a person enters a heightened state of consciousness. This is a psychedelic plant which should only be worked with in its indigenous ceremonial setting and never independently, safety is always important. Although Ayahuasca tourism has led to issues with fake shamans and related risks; there are good quality retreats to be found in Peru, Costa Rica and certain countries in Europe which offer this psychedelic ceremony legally and safely. Ayahuasca has been shown to have promising results for curing addictions, depression, deep-rooted trauma, physical illness and equally for those who are seeking spiritual depth. The spirit of Mother Ayahuasca is a serpent. Many people report visions of serpents in their journey. For recommendations on Ayahuasca retreats, please read to the end.

Left: Ayahuasca vine growing in Amazon rainforest, Right: Yawanawa tribe of Brazil who are one of the indigenous communities who hold Ayahuasca ceremonies

2. San Pedro: this is a psychoactive cactus which is found in South America and worked with extensively by the Inca community and other indigenous cultures. Whilst Ayahuasca is a female spirit (called the Grandmother), San Pedro is a male spirit (solar spirit) and hence Ayahuasca ceremonies are always in the night and San Pedro ceremonies tend to be during the day. This concept is somewhat parallel to the framework of Agni and Soma in Vedic culture. The original name for San Pedro (which was given by Spanish invaders) is actually Huachuma in native Quechua language. This literally means ‘to remove the head,’ symbolic of removing the ego. San Pedro opens up the heart. Once again, this is a ceremonial plant medicine only to be worked with in its native setting with trained Cuarenderos. Benefits of San Pedro ceremony can include deep healing of the subconscious mind, opening to new perspectives, mystical and transcendental experiences, communication with higher dimensional beings and more. Many tend to work with Ayahuasca and San Pedro in combination for masculine and feminine internal healing.

3. Psilocybin mushrooms: also known as magic mushrooms, these can be found across the world and tend to grow in animal dung, such as cow or elephant dung. Magic mushrooms are worked with extensively by the shamanic communities of Mexico as well as other indigenous cultures. These are relatively safe to work with independently, given a thorough understanding of preparing and navigating the journey. Mushrooms are being studied in Imperial College London, Johns Hopkins University and more institutes for their incredible results in healing treatment resistant depression and more. A Johns Hopkins study reported that participants rated mushrooms as one of the top 5 most mystical and spiritual experiences in life, being able to connect with the divine and explore their subconscious mind. These have also been used for healing social anxiety and facilitating empathy which is common across most psychedelic experiences.

Study on how psychoactive mushrooms enhance communication in different parts of the brain, Petri et al (2014).

Cave paintings in Algeria dating back to over 9,000 years depicting a mushroom shaman, mentioned in Food Of The Gods, Terrence McKenna

What actually happens in a psychedelic experience?

Is a psychedelic just a substance? Not really, because all of these plants have conscious spirits which is how indigenous cultures revered them. Across the broader spectrum of psychedelic plants and compounds, the experience has consciousness expanding properties as well as therapeutic potential.

Whilst modern science is still scratching the surface of how these mystical plants interact with the brain to produce such profound experiences; ancient indigenous traditions that work with these plants take a purely spiritual perspective and facilitate plant medicine ceremonies through years of training in their indigenous lineage.

A psychedelic experience in its essence, brings your subconscious mind to the forefront. It is said that humans only use a small percentage of their brain capacity. And indeed, a lot of what we call ‘reality’ is happening beyond the gross material world. Psychedelics open you up to perceive subtle energies and realities, and can relate with the pineal gland which is the gateway between the material and spiritual world. The active compound contained in Ayahuasca is also naturally produced in the brain, yet through centuries of colonisation, most of humanity is shut off from their extra sensory perception. Psychedelic plants can heal this core spiritual disconnect when approached in their safe, indigenous and respectful context.

The experience can involve closed eye visuals and geometric patterns, open eye visuals, intense feelings that are coming to the surface, deep spiritual insights, communication with people who are passed away in spirit, communication with ancestors and more. The experience may not always be pleasant, so scroll to the end to read about risks and challenges with psychedelic healing modalities.

Because the psychedelic experiences open up your energy, it can also bring up repressed emotions and trauma. This is why it is so important to have an experienced and trusted facilitator to support you through difficult emotions; and with Ayahuasca and San Pedro, to sit in a ceremonial setting with an genuine Cuarendero/shaman. It can bring up resistance as the ego struggles to comprehend what is happening; yet with proper preparation (set, set and setting) along with spiritual tools to navigate this energy, it can be a life changing healing experience for many. One may see visions, see their childhood, be able to communicate with plants. This is why one of the most important things for a psychedelic journey is to a) be very clear about your intention or purpose for approaching it and b) surrender, accept and breathe through the process. Having said this, psychedelics may not be suitable for everyone which will be noted at the end. For more resources on navigating psychedelic states, subscribe to stay updated here by clicking the button at the end.

Another way to understand the psychedelic experience is that it opens up your whole chakra system (energy system) and can be compared to the rising Kundalini Shakti. In Vedic Hindu scriptures, Kundalini is the energy which sustains our whole life, yet it is dormant. The system of kundalini yoga, however, should only be approached with initiation from a traditional guru or it can involve large safety risks. Because a psychedelic experience opens you up so widely, energetic protection becomes important. This is why preparation is so key for navigating psychedelic states.

What is the relation between psychedelics and spirituality?

Now here comes the main topic. What is the relation between psychedelic experiences and spirituality, and how do we understand them?

a) the first thing to note is that life itself is a psychedelic experience; because our senses and higher perception are dulled through our modern artificial lifestyles, pharmaceuticals, toxic patterns and centuries of spiritual disconnect, we don’t perceive the higher states of consciousness we can see otherwise. Certain breathing techniques open up the energy system and create psychedelic experiences by themselves too. Psychedelic plants have their own validity and place in ancient cultures, yet psychedelic experiences are not limited just to plants.

b) If we understand spirituality as a way of accessing our source, this necessarily involves healing our trauma. Psychedelic plants when worked with in their indigenous and safe context can hugely catapult this process of healing. For example, if someone has suffered deep levels of trauma this causes blockages in the energy system. Whilst allopathic medicines only suppress symptoms, consciousness based healing modalities clear issues from the root in the energetic body. By helping to heal toxic patterns, plant medicines can help us elevate to a higher state of consciousness and gain deep healing which may not be achieved by other means. The caveat here is that the inner work is still an individual effort.

c) As an antidote to the consumerist artificial lifestyles of the modern world, psychedelic ceremonies can serve a powerful function of a connecting a person back to their spirit and the spiritual nature of reality they have forgotten. This has ecological as well as spiritual repercussions. For example, many people report turning vegan or vegetarian after a psychedelic experience. Some have turned from being atheists to non-atheists overnight from a single psychedelic plant medicine ceremony. And we can see that mystical and transcendental experience in some form or the other are included in all ancient cultures for the purpose of connection. From ancient shamanic drumming techniques to dance, all of these activities serve the purpose for the person to reconnect with their spirit.

d) Psychedelics are often used to venture into the subconscious and gain insights that may not be accessible in ordinary states of consciousness. Because this is not just about accessing our own consciousness, it’s a communication with the plant spirit when understood in its indigenous context. Many people approach the plant medicine teachers for clarity, guidance, healing and other reasons.

e) Psychedelics give you a direct experience. A person can read books and be in the intellectual mind their whole life but never truly grasp the essence. Psychedelic plant medicines open up this experience in a way that it changes your perception and understanding of life. You can directly perceive subtle energies and understand the science behind ancient rituals. Although transformation is not guaranteed, a large proportion of people do take a spiritual turn. Even looking at the events of the 1960s (which were not necessarily the same as the plant medicine ceremonies referred to here) they still sent a lot of westerners on the path of seeking spiritual origins in India for example.

f) Because psychedelic medicines can serve the function of de-addiction and eradicating toxic habits and behaviours, they can help a person to clear deep rooted patterns and habits if they are prepared to do the inner work. It’s fairly obvious that if a person has a destructive drinking habit, this hampers their spiritual progress. Psychedelic plant medicine ceremonies on the other hand are not a daily occurrence - they are contextual for healing purposes. Likewise, they bring up toxic patterns very strongly to the surface which gives a person to resolve them and ascend into their higher nature through the organic intelligence of the universe.

What are the caveats with psychedelics and spirituality?

• Firstly, a psychedelic experience is not a guarantee of inner transformation. Enlightenment happens through the will of the divine, as does the connection to these plant medicines themselves. Many people approach psychedelic experiences expecting it to change them overnight but forget there is a long integration process to create lasting positive changes. Though people have experienced drastic healing and perceptional shifts in a single ceremony, the inner work has to come from the side of the individual. It is not a magic enlightenment pill because there is no such thing. Therefore it is important to understand psychedelic plant medicines in their appropriate context and not overplay their abilities too.
  

• Secondly, a lot of people seek psychedelic experiences in recreational and party settings. Although they may gain the experience, there are safety issues involved with taking such a powerful experience without any harm reduction education. Psychedelic plants are legal in many parts of the world including Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Canada, South America and North America. Therefore if a person is seeking healing and transformation, they must properly research credible facilitators or retreats in related countries.
  

• Sustained spiritual progress is not possible without a daily practice. Psychedelic plants can catapult you through your journey and reveal deep things. But you need a daily spiritual practice to make sustained changes. In Vedic traditions, there are a number of ancient systems for the attainment of self-realisation, including Yogic paths and the science of Kundalini. In Sanskrit, the spiritual practice is called ‘Sadhana’ and for many of these systems one requires guidance from a genuine traditional Guru for both safety and progress. Every healing modality has its own value, yet without a daily spiritual practice even be it a simple meditation, it is not possible to attain higher states of consciousness.

What are the risks associated with psychedelic plant medicines?

1. The first issue here is in the case of contraindications or not being suitable to take a psychedelic plant or compound. For example, in any credible Ayahuasca retreat they will always make you fill a health and safety questionnaire beforehand. For Ayahuasca in particular, a person needs to give up pharmaceuticals, smoking, drinking and various food items at least 2 weeks before or it can pose a safety risk. Therefore, proper research is needed and proper retreat centres need to be found to work with Ayahuasca in its safe and traditional way with native healers of the jungle.
   

2. Along the same lines, combinations of different substances can pose safety risks. For example it is never a good idea to combine psychedelics with alcohol. Due to a lack of harm reduction education, people can injure themselves without understanding the risks of combining substances in a recreational setting.
   

3. Western science now shows us that people with bipolar or schizophrenia may not be suitable to undergo a psychedelic journey, therefore it is always important to check with a trusted retreat or facilitator and do your own research.
   

4. More risks arise due to fake shamans, lack of authentic ceremony settings for plant medicines, and corruption in the plant medicine space. There have been serious concerns about cultural appropriation of Ayahuasca by westerner’s and Ayahuasca tourism. Each plant and compound is different so a person needs to research each one for themselves.
   

5. The most common risk spoken about is the ‘bad trip.’ A bad trip is essentially a challenging psychedelic experience, this can occur due to multiple reasons. For example, being in the wrong environment can induce a bad trip as can being without people who can truly support and be with you through the journey. The risks of a bad trip can be mitigated greatly by taking care of some basic preparation which is what qualified retreat centres also do. Having said that, difficult experiences are often part of the healing process with psychedelics which is why a person should have all the support in place.
   

6. Risks also come about when a person is not educated on dosages and quality, for example, taking too high of a dose of any plant or compound can create difficulties. Likewise, some plants or compounds may not be suited to everyone which is why in credible Ayahuasca retreats in South America they always offer a small dose to first check and then offer a full dose of medicine. Having said that, psychedelic experiences by nature cannot be controlled. They invite a person to surrender and trust through the process.

What are some credible resources to learn more?

If this topic interests you, you are welcome to read more on various research websites on psychedelic plant medicines or contact a credible retreat. Here are some resources:

• Chacruna.net Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines has academic research resources, books, articles and more here!
  

• Ayahuasca retreats in Peru (I have a separate article for this on my personal website which I will share again), the retreat centre I went to in the Amazon basin was called Dreamglade retreat. I also recommend Aya Madre retreat centre in Peru. Another one is Soltara in Costa Rica. For San Pedro, I sat with a trained Incan Wachumero ceremony in the Andes mountains.
  

• Entheonation.com which is a good website providing education on entheogenic plant medicines and indigenous cultures. Likewise, entheowheel.com is another one with a multitude of resources.
  

• Books to read include ‘How To Change Your Mind’ by Michael Pollan, who pulls upon a range of western scientific literature and has been a New York Times bestseller. Further resources can be found from Paul Stamets who is the world’s most leading mycologist and has devoted his life to the study of all kinds of mushrooms, including edible and medicinal mushrooms. Another book to read is ‘The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide’ written by Dr James Fadiman.

Can you share more on your psychedelic journeys?

Well, that’s a topic for another day. I watched my first Ayahuasca documentary in 2011 where I was fascinated with it’s healing potential, have had various different psychedelic experiences across time and also went to a Shipibo tribe Ayahuasca retreat in Peru in 2019. I have sat with Ayahuasca, San Pedro, Bufo, Kambo and other entheogenic modalities and learnt about the native cultures. Working with these healing modalities in their spiritual context has surely had a profound impact on my life and inner journey. I look forward to sharing more once I get my Youtube going again + personal website articles.

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