This essay explores the intersection of medieval Christian mysticism and AI-generated imagery, reflecting on a six-week online course taught in summer 2024 at Drew University. A student’s experiments with AI-generated images of texts by Pseudo-Dionysius, Bernard of Clairvaux, Jan Ruusbroec, and Catherine of Genoa prompted reflection on pedagogy, ethics, and the representation of spiritual...
This article develops a phenomenological foundation of mystical anthropology through a dialogue between contemporary Spanish philosophy and the sixteenth-century Castilian mystical tradition. Taking Juan Martín Velasco, Miguel García-Baró, and Teresa of Ávila as its main interlocutors, it explores the anthropological structure of the encounter with Mystery as an essential possibility of human...
Psychedelic-assisted therapies (PATs) can produce rapid and sustained antidepressant effects, yet variability in response remains substantial. Identifying predictors and moderators is essential for optimising patient selection, preparation, and delivery. To map and synthesise the evidence on the predictors of antidepressant response to classic/serotonergic psychedelics administered with...
BACKGROUND: Adolescents are increasingly using classical psychedelics, yet little is known about how psychedelics use is related to their mental health. Emerging evidence suggests that adolescents may be more vulnerable to adverse outcomes in relation to psychedelic use compared to adults. This descriptive and exploratory study examined differences between adolescents and adults in reported...
Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree (1964) has long been read as a simple parable of unconditional giving and human desire. This comprehensive analysis proposes a far deeper reading: the tree as an embodiment of the Shekhinah, the feminine aspect of divine immanence in Kabbalistic theology, whose boundless generosity mirrors the mystical dynamics between God and creation. By juxtaposing this...
BACKGROUND: The quality and valence of psychedelic experiences are influenced by a range of psychological and contextual factors. This study examines baseline mood and the "relational triad"-comprising social connectedness, mindfulness, and spirituality-as potential predictors of the quality of naturalistic psychedelic experiences. METHODS: Data were drawn from the Predicting Responses to...
This essay explores the influential role of pastor and writer A. W. Tozer (1897–1963) in reintroducing ecumenical spiritual resources and Christian mystical experience to mid-twentieth century conservative Protestant life in America and beyond. As a prolific writer and editor in his day, he was an important precursor to what has become known as the spiritual formation movement within these same...
Summarizes preclinical and clinical evidence on ayahuasca—a traditional Amazonian brew combining N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and β-carbolines—in treating depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use, eating, and personality disorders. Preclinical work shows enhanced neuroplasticity, reduced inflammation, and oxidative stress. Human neuroimaging reveals decreased default...
This study aims to examine the exoteric dimension and esoteric values of the pilgrimage (ḥajj) contained in Syair Haji by Sheikh ‘Abd al-Ḥamīd through Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutical approach. As a work of religious literature, Syair Haji embodies spiritual messages and mystical experiences that reflect the inner journey of a ḥajj in pursuing the divine dimension. Ricoeur’s hermeneutical method...
In recent years, for higher education—especially in the United States—spirituality has emerged as a prominent topic on campus, both in curricular and co-curricular formats. Historically, religion has played a large role in the foundations and even missions of many universities, but in the modern era, especially for public universities, personal spirituality has become the frequent way in which...