Both mindfulness and mystical experiences from psychedelics independently predict substantial increases in psychological wellbeing. Psychedelics moderate the link between mystical experience and wellbeing, amplifying its positive effects. These findings come from a large sample of 1,219 people who engage in both meditation and psychedelic use, providing some of the first naturalistic evidence for a strong relationship among personal mindfulness practice, recreational psychedelic use, and overall wellbeing.
People who both meditate and use psychedelics recreationally report greater wellbeing, and the effect is partly explained by mystical experiences. In a survey of 1,219 individuals who engage in both practices, higher levels of mindfulness and more intense mystical experiences were each linked to substantially higher wellbeing. Psychedelic use itself strengthened the connection between mystical experience and wellbeing, acting as a moderator. These findings are among the first to show a strong, naturalistic link between personal meditation, recreational psychedelic use, and psychological wellbeing.