How to Disappear Completely

An interview study of 37 people recruited from online forums describes a wide range of self-dissolution experiences induced by entheogenic or psychedelic drugs. These ranged from disruption of self-related illusions to bodilessness and total immersion in another reality. Several interviewees reported a temporary transformation of identity, from seeing themselves as a separate individual to experiencing oneness with all of humanity or a transcendent force. Some reported telepathic contact between friends or partners who used entheogens together, and in their most intense form, these involved a mind blending where the usual sense of selfhood dissolved into telepathic unity.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article presents an interview study of self-dissolution experiences induced by entheogenic or psychedelic drugs, with the aim of broadening our understanding of the nature and characteristics of such experiences. Respondents (N=37) were recruited at various online fora for individual interviews via private messaging. They reported a wide variety of experiences that involved some form of self-dissolution, ranging from the disruption of self-related illusions to experiences of bodilessness and total immersion in another reality. Several interviewees also reported a temporary transformation of their identity, where they went from seeing themselves as a separate individual to an experience of oneness with all of humanity or with a transcendent force. There were also reports of telepathic contact between friends or partners who used entheogens together, and in their most intense form, these experiences involved what was described as a mind blending where one’s usual sense of selfhood dissolved into the telepathic unity.