What is a Mystical Experience?

Mystical experiences are profound, transformative experiences characterized by a sense of unity or interconnectedness with all things, a dissolution of the self, and a feeling of awe or reverence. They are often described as spiritual or religious experiences, but they can also occur in non-religious or secular contexts.

Mystical experiences can be difficult to define precisely, as they can vary widely in intensity and content, and are subjective in nature. However, they often involve a sense of transcending the boundaries of the ego or self, and feeling connected to something greater than oneself. People who have had mystical experiences often report a sense of oneness with the universe, a feeling of being part of something vast and infinite, and a sense of awe or wonder at the beauty and complexity of the world.

Some of the common features of mystical experiences include:

• A sense of unity or interconnectedness with all things
• A feeling of transcendence or the dissolution of the self
• A sense of timelessness or eternity
• A feeling of ineffability, or the sense that the experience cannot be fully described or understood
• A sense of positive mood, joy, or bliss, spiritual healing
• A sense of encountering the divine or being in an alternate reality

The Mystical Experience in a context of the ceremonial ingestion of a psychedelic substance as Ayahuasca or Psilocybin

Mystical experiences can occur spontaneously, but they can also be induced through meditation, breathwork, or the use of psychedelic substances. Some researchers have suggested that mystical experiences have therapeutic benefits, such as reducing anxiety, depression, and addiction, and enhancing well-being and positive personality change. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of inducing mystical experiences for therapeutic purposes.

Nonetheless, empiric evidence shows that mystical experiences considerably improve one's life quality. They can give a sense of meaning or a sense of a higher purpose. The pragmatic mind could now argue that there is no point in believing in things that can not be scientifically proven.

I would argue that maybe they are not scientifically proven yet. Where does this believe that spirituality and science contradict each other comes from anyway? In my opinion they complement each other, but that is a topic for another article.

But then I would challenge you to ask yourself:

Would you rather be right or happy?

It seems like the mystical experience is a very important part in the therapeutic use of psychedelic substances. In simple words, finding a meaning to life makes you happy.  Not only anecdotal evidence supports the benefits of mystical experiences, there is research done as well.

Some research on the Mystical Experience

1. "The Varieties of Contemplative Experience: A Mixed-Methods Study of Meditation-Related Challenges in Western Buddhists" - This study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco examined the nature of mystical experiences in a sample of Western Buddhist meditators. It discusses the different types of mystical experiences that meditators may encounter and the psychological effects of these experiences. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0176239

2. "Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial" - This study conducted by Johns Hopkins University investigated the effects of psilocybin on depression and anxiety in cancer patients. The study found that psilocybin produced significant reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms, along with increases in measures of well-being and quality of life. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367557/

3. "The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future" - This review article by researchers at Imperial College London provides an overview of the history and current state of research on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs, including their effects on mystical experiences and mental health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6007659/

4. "The Mystical Experience Questionnaire: MEQ30" - This questionnaire was developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University to measure mystical experiences induced by psychedelic drugs. It includes 30 items that assess different dimensions of the mystical experience, such as unity, transcendence, and positive mood. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269881114565653

How we use the Mystical Experience to support you

In our retreats we respect the Spirit of the plants, that are often an integral part of the participants journey. Although our approach is grounded in science and psychology, we do not disregard the mystical and the spiritual. On the contrary, we help you integrate your visions into your daily lives. We challenge you to find the meaning in your visions, help you see different approaches and help you see how most of the mystical experiences are similar to teachings of spiritual leaders from all around the world and across history. Because indeed, most of the teachings the plants/shrooms give us, have been received and recorded through the ages by many people. And that is one of the arguments why we cannot disregard the Mystical Experience!

The research for this article was done with the aid of ChatGPT