Background: Psychedelics induce profound changes in perception and thinking; however, little is known about the neural mechanisms and prediction of these effects. Aims: Investigating ayahuasca-induced experiences, mind-wandering, and electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillations, beyond the prediction of subjective experiences by baseline EEG. Methods: In a randomised, double-blind,...
This article is an introduction to a philosophical approach termed “panspiritism.” The fundamental principles of this approach are summarized, with discussion of how it links to earlier (mainly Eastern) philosophical perspectives, how it differs from panpsychism and its relationship to idealism and theism. Issues such as the relationship between mind and matter, the relationship between the...
A review of spiritual experience centered on a framework of spirituality developed by the author identifies implications for the disciplines of science, philosophy, and theology, presenting specific questions to be considered. A general introduction clarifies the terms and limits of the discussion and the focus of the requested commentary prepared for the Institute on Religion in an Age of...
The recent mainstreaming of psychedelics has distanced itself from the countercultural image of the past, yet the question of whether psychedelics are political remains pressing. What happens when psychedelics meet politics?On one hand lies the politics of the unitive mystical experience: harmony, beyond good & evil, beyond space & time, and with love to all. Studying ayahuasca groups of...
The study aimed to explore the impact of Arabic Sufism on Western literature by analyzing the thought of the Arab Sufi poet Ibn al-Fāriḍ and comparing it with the works of the English visionary poet William Blake, highlighting the points of convergence in their philosophical and spiritual visions—particularly regarding divine love, unity of existence, and annihilation in the Beloved—while also...
McCullough is an assistant professor of practical theology and spiritual care at the University of Toronto. He offers a detailed and engaging study that connects early modern mysticism with the foundations of modern psychotherapy. By positioning the seventeenth-century German philosopher and Christian mystic, Jacob Boehme (1575–1624) within a longer intellectual lineage reaching back to Saint...
This article contributes to the literature by (a) providing evidence of benefits of awe-inspiring interventions for a vulnerable population (i.e., residents of a homeless shelter), (b) reporting the development and validation of two new psychometric instruments that fill a significant void in the assessment of awe, and (c) providing recommendations for future research examining the use of these...
Griffiths et al.'s recent "Effects of Psilocybin on Religious and Spiritual Attitudes and Behaviors in Clergy from Various Major World Religions" is an important study in the literature on psychedelic medicine and religious experience. In this commentary on the study, we argue: (1) The study design's implicit presupposition of perennialism in its conception of mysticism burdens it with...
TeosofiDecember 1, 2025Muhammad Ahmad Ibrahim Aljahsh
Classical Sufi manuals present the spiritual stages achieved through disciplined Sufi practice. This article argues that the seventh/thirteenth-century mystic Muh}yī al-Dīn Ibn ‘Arabī reimagined the spiritual stations as ontological realities rather than behavioral achievements. Through a systematic reading of the twenty-second chapter of his Meccan Revelations in dialogue with his fellow Sufi...
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition leading to significant personal and societal burden. Standard treatments frequently demonstrate limited efficacy, leading to persistent symptoms and high dropout rates. Psilocybin has shown promise in treating depression, a condition that is often comorbid with PTSD. We aimed to explore participant experiences of psilocybin...