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Psychedelic Telepathy: An Interview Study

Petter Grahl Johnstad

Journal of Scientific Exploration September 15, 2020 DOI: 10.31275/20201747 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Qualitative study Peer reviewed
Sample size 40
Population Psychedelics users recruited from online forums
Keywords Telepathy Feeling Psychic Parapsychology
Citations 4
Key findings 16 of 40 psychedelic users reported telepathic experiences, categorized into three types: information-exchange, telempathy, and telepathic unity with self-dissolution.

Abstract

This article presents an interview study of telepathic experiences induced by psychedelic drugs, with the aim of broadening our understanding of the nature and characteristics of such experiences. Of 40 psychedelics users interviewed about their experiences, 16 reported some form of psychedelic telepathy. Respondents were recruited at various online fora for individual interviews via private messaging. They reported three main types of telepathic communication: 1) an information-exchange type of telepathy that often enabled people to communicate in images as well as words; 2) a type sometimes referred to as telempathy that allowed for the direct exchange of feeling-states; 3) a state of self-dissolution and telepathic unity where one could not differentiate one’s own thoughts and feelings from those of the friend or partner. Some participants complained about the lack of privacy especially in the more intense forms of telepathic states, and were hesitant to repeat the experience, while others claimed they had become accustomed to such states and experienced them regularly. The article concludes that further studies are warranted, and suggests a research design for an experimental study of psychedelic telepathy. Keywords: psychedelic, interview, qualitative, telepathy, self-dissolution