The article examines the vestiges of ancient shamanic worldviews within the structural and semantic framework of Azerbaijani magic tales, focusing specifically on the archetype of transformation and shape-shifting.The shaman and the dervish figure in magic tales are genealogically and functionally sacred mediators originating from the same mythic root, representing two distinct historical...
AbstractPsychedelics often produce a rich, intricate, and dynamic experience that is challenging to capture effectively. This chapter explores the essential phenomenological features of psychedelic experiences, emphasizing elements with potential implications for religious practices. I will start by highlighting the key aspects of mystical experiences commonly associated with psychedelic use....
Visual stimuli-induced "narrowband" gamma oscillations (30-70 Hz) are generated due to excitation-inhibition interactions and are linked to attention/binding. These oscillations attenuate with aging and neurodegeneration, potentially indicating declining inhibitory function. In contrast, meditation enhances endogenous stimulus-free gamma (power in a broad frequency range above 25 Hz). However,...
Altered states of consciousness range from psychotic disintegration to mystical union, with oceanic affectivity - experiences of ego dissolution, boundlessness, and affective merging - constituting a central feature. While such states can be induced by psychedelics, they also occur through trauma, meditative practices, or within compulsive addictive cycles. In addition, oceanic states may offer...
This chapter explores the transformative power of philosophical wonder and its potential to foster a deeper connection with the world and the self. It examines the role of wonder in philosophical practice concerning figures such as Socrates, Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and Buber understood from an “apophatic” perspective. From this perspective, the chapter distinguishes between different forms of...
This article proposes a dual-self states framework in which reflective and experiential modes of consciousness are understood as dynamic configurations along a processing continuum. The reflective/experiential self-state corresponds to narrative, denotational, and self-referential consciousness underpinned by default mode network activity. The experiential self state is characterized as an...
Data from previous psychedelic trials suggests that the intensity of mystical experiences positively impacts treatment outcomes. However, not many conceptual frameworks are available to measure how this seems to be the case. According to Yogic and Buddhist philosophies, Kleshas are considered obstacles to self-realization, inner peace, and liberation. Using validated questionnaires, we accessed...
We developed and validated the Nature of Mind Scale (NOMS), a 24-item measure assessing lay beliefs about eight distinct philosophical positions on the mind-body relationship. Given the limitations of existing measures and the theoretical diversity of mind-body positions, our goal was to develop a comprehensive yet practical scale that could capture the full range of philosophical stances...
Psychedelics induce transformative experiences leading to lasting changes in attitudes and behaviour, with outcomes depending on both pharmacological factors and the context of the experience ('set and setting'), marking a paradigm shift in mental health treatment. As psychedelics transition from traditional contexts to clinical settings, tension emerges between authenticity and...
We argue that the powerful transformative effects of mystical-type experiences can be understood using the same machinery that underlies insight problem solving, and that both mystical experiences and insight are species of a genus of “realization experiences”: experiences wherein some phenomenon or piece of information becomes suddenly experienced as real or true. Specifically, we argue that...