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NUMINOUS adj. /ˈnuːmɪnəs/ A term derived from the Latin numen, meaning "arousing spiritual emotion; mysterious or awe-inspiring."

Exploring Psychedelic "God" Encounters

Article Title: “Survey of Subjective “God Encounter Experiences”: Comparisons Among Naturally Occurring Experiences and Those Occasioned by the Classic Psychedelics Psilocybin, LSD, Ayahuasca, or DMT”

Authors: Roland R. Griffiths, Ethan S. Hurwitz, Alan K. Davis, Matthew W. Johnson, Robert Jesse

Publication Date: 23, April, 2019

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214377

Background

The concept of encountering a higher power or ultimate reality has shaped spiritual and religious traditions throughout history. Such experiences can occur spontaneously or through the use of psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT. While both pathways can lead to intense mystical experiences, this study sought to compare these two routes—naturally occurring and drug-occasioned experiences—by analysing the subjective encounters of over 4,000 participants.

Study Overview

The research involved a large international online survey of 4,285 participants who reported their most memorable “God encounter” experiences. These experiences were either naturally occurring or facilitated by one of the four classic psychedelics: psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT. The survey collected detailed demographic data and compared the subjective nature of these encounters across various dimensions, including emotional, sensory, and psychological impacts.

Key Findings

Commonality of Mystical Features: Both naturally occurring and psychedelic-facilitated experiences fulfilled criteria for mystical encounters in around half of the participants. The most frequent descriptors for what was encountered were “God” (for natural experiences) and “Ultimate Reality” (for psychedelic experiences).

Impact on Atheism: More than two-thirds of participants who identified as atheists before their encounter no longer identified as such afterwards, illustrating the profound impact of these experiences.

Psilocybin and LSD Similarities: Among the psychedelics, psilocybin and LSD experiences were remarkably similar in their reported emotional and sensory impacts.

Ayahuasca’s Unique Influence: Ayahuasca users reported the highest levels of positive attributes and enduring personal meaning associated with their experiences.

Life-Long Effects: Both naturally occurring and psychedelic-occasioned encounters resulted in enduring changes in life satisfaction, purpose, and meaning, with many participants ranking the experience as one of the most meaningful in their lives.

Discussion

The study’s results suggest that both types of God encounter experiences—naturally occurring and psychedelic-induced—can be incredibly transformative. The intense emotional and sensory nature of these experiences, as well as their lasting impact, highlights the deep human capacity for spiritual connection, whether through spontaneous or induced means. Notably, participants from both groups rated these experiences as being more “real” than everyday life, which may explain the profound personal shifts observed.

 

Implications

For those exploring spiritual or personal growth through psychedelic retreats, these findings affirm the potential of substances like psilocybin and ayahuasca to facilitate transformative, mystical experiences. Psychedelics could serve as a valuable tool in spiritual practices, helping individuals unlock deeper meaning, resolve existential questions, and experience profound emotional healing. Understanding these encounters in a structured setting can enhance the therapeutic outcomes for participants, particularly when guided by professionals in psychedelic retreats.

Potential Application

The implications of these findings stretch beyond personal transformation. Therapeutic applications of psychedelics are being increasingly recognised, especially in treating conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The spiritual aspect of these encounters could be integrated into psychedelic-assisted therapy to help patients gain a deeper sense of meaning and purpose, offering holistic healing that combines emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth.

Conclusions

This landmark study provides compelling evidence that both naturally occurring and psychedelic-occasioned God encounters have the potential to create lasting, positive changes in individuals’ lives. For those considering psychedelics, these findings highlight the profound potential of these experiences in deepening personal meaning, spirituality, and overall life satisfaction.

Reference:

Griffiths, R. R., Hurwitz, E. S., Davis, A. K., Johnson, M. W., & Jesse, R. (2019). Survey of subjective “God encounter experiences”: Comparisons among naturally occurring experiences and those occasioned by the classic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT. PLOS ONE, 14(4), e0214377. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214377

 

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