Psychedelics and Mysticism: Mapping Cultural Approaches

The authors argue that the recent biomedical and psychotherapeutic focus of psychedelic research overlooks cultural dimensions of mystical experiences. Analyzing research on psychedelics and mysticism over the past three decades, they propose that cultural approaches can complement biomedical research and introduce the concept of "mystical consciousness" as a key framework. The chapter contends that clinical, instrumental approaches neglect new findings on mysticism and the diverse cultural realities and practices underlying it.

Study at a glance

Abstract

West in the 1950s shared the view that psychedelic experiences culminate in “mystical experiences” of union. However, the recent “psychedelic renaissance” emphasizes biomedical, neurological, and psychotherapeutic explanations. These clinical, instrumental approaches overlook both new research on mysticism and many cultural realities and practices behind it. Analyzing key research on psychedelics and mysticism over the past three decades, this programmatic chapter investigates how cultural approaches may complement biomedical research and proposes the concept of mystical consciousness as a key.