This research aims to examine the integration of spiritual techniques in the traditions of Buddhism and Yoga with the concept of memory reconsolidation in psychology and neuroscience. The main aim of this research is to show that these spiritual techniques are not only of mystical or religious value, but also serve as psychological mechanisms for emotional and cognitive transformation that are...
Abd al-Ḥaqq Ibn Sabʿīn al-Andalusī (614–669 AH / 1217–1269 CE), also known as "Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī ibn Muḥammad ibn Sabʿīn," was a central figure in medieval Islamic Ṣūfism. Born in the city of Murcia in al-Andalus, Ibn Sabʿīn was renowned for his philosophical-mystical approach, which sparked significant controversy both during his lifetime and in subsequent eras. His thought diverged...
This essay looks into the complex philosophical connection between Nāda (sound) and Nirvāna (liberation) in different Indian philosophical systems, such as Buddhism, Vedānta, and Sākhya. It looks at how sound works not only as an audible experience but also as a basic ontological principle that connects what is real and what is not real. The study looks at the different ways Indian thinkers...
Research on the positive psychological effects of psychedelics has surged since the early 2000s, particularly regarding increased well-being. Studies have demonstrated how psychedelic-occasioned mystical experiences play a key role in their positive effects, which has prompted an interest in the emotion of awe in the psychedelic context due to its similar phenomenology and associated benefits....
Background: The Psychological Insight Questionnaire (PIQ), the Emotional BreakthroughInventory (EBI), and the Psychological Insight Scale (PIS) have been developed to assess the subjective effects of psychedelic experiences, in order to better understand the therapeutic mechanism of psychedelic-assisted therapy. This study aimed to evaluate Dutch translations of these questionnaires (the...
Spirituality and the occult represent important aspects of Maud Gonne’s life and writings, and their investigation offers an unusual perspective on this famous icon of revolutionary Ireland. Her memoir and letters to Yeats testify to a lasting relationship with “the spirit world” in as diverse forms as Celtic mysticism, occult practices, psychic phenomena, and the Catholic faith. By...
Peak and mystical experiences can be seen as states of consciousness that exist on a spectrum of varying intensity and duration. They are often described as moments of profound joy, ecstasy, and awe that involve feelings of noetic quality, decreased self-salience, and heightened interconnectedness. The renewed interest in psychedelics as a potential tool for therapeutic intervention has been...
Psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) has gained recognition as an innovative intervention in hospice and palliative care, demonstrating potential in mitigating the psychological, spiritual, and existential distress experienced by patients with serious illnesses. This article explores the role of PAT within these care settings, emphasizing its influence on various dimensions of human suffering, as...
Spanish mystic Saint Juan (John) of the Cross (1542–1591) began writing poetry while imprisoned by his own monastic order. He developed manuals for contemplation, in part, in the form of commentaries on his principal poems. Their first-person narrators were women who underwent metamorphoses in order to pursue love: one became a dove in her despair; another became flame itself; the last...
Introduction One of the main mechanisms of action of LSD in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) is the activation of 5HT2A receptors. This triggers a cascade of neurochemical processes with the release of neurotransmitters and neurohormonal substances. The release of oxytocin in this process is well documented in pre-clinical studies, with recent evidence in healthy subjects. We have no...