Letting Go of Control and Embracing the Journey
Article Title: “Can Psychedelic Use Benefit Meditation Practice? Examining Individual, Psychedelic, and Meditation-Related Factors”
Authors: Zishan Jiwani, Simon B. Goldberg, Jack Stroud, Jacob Young, John Curtin, John D. Dunne, Otto Simonsson, Christian A. Webb, Robin Carhart-Harris, Marco Schlosser
Publication Date: 28 August, 2024
Background
Meditation and psychedelic use have gained increasing attention for their potential therapeutic benefits. Both practices alter consciousness in ways that might enhance mental health and well-being. Recently, researchers have explored whether combining these practices could yield synergistic effects, particularly focusing on how psychedelics might benefit meditation practice. The present study investigated the conditions under which meditators perceive psychedelics as beneficial to their meditation practice.
Study Overview
This study involved 863 participants who regularly meditate (minimum 3 times weekly) and have used psychedelics. Researchers employed machine learning techniques to examine individual, psychedelic, and meditation-related factors that might influence the perceived benefit of psychedelics on meditation. The study focused on identifying the most significant predictors among 53 different variables.
Key Findings
Positive Perception: The majority (73.5%) of participants felt that psychedelic use positively influenced their meditation practice.
Key Factors: The most significant predictors of perceived benefits were regular psychedelic use, intention-setting before psychedelic sessions, agreeable personality traits, and the use of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (N,N-DMT).
Consistency Across Models: The results were consistent across different analytical approaches, indicating strong links between these factors and the perceived positive effects of psychedelics on meditation.
Discussion
The findings suggest that regular and intentional use of psychedelics can complement meditation practice, enhancing the experience for many users. Participants who set clear intentions before using psychedelics and those who used N,N-DMT reported the most significant benefits. These factors might help meditators access deeper states of mindfulness, acceptance, and cognitive flexibility, which are essential elements of effective meditation.
Implications
The study underscores the importance of the context in which psychedelics are used, especially the mental and physical environment, which can significantly shape the outcome of the experience. Intention-setting, in particular, is highlighted as a critical factor that enhances the perceived synergy between psychedelic use and meditation. These insights are valuable for those considering integrating psychedelics into their meditation practice, suggesting that a mindful approach to psychedelic use could foster greater personal growth and deeper meditative states.
Potential Application
The findings could be applied in therapeutic settings, where controlled psychedelic experiences are combined with meditation training. Practitioners and therapists can use this knowledge to design retreats and therapeutic interventions that leverage the combined power of psychedelics and meditation to enhance mental health outcomes.
Conclusions
This study provides preliminary evidence that psychedelics, especially when used intentionally and regularly, can benefit meditation practice. These findings support the idea that psychedelics and meditation can work together to create deeper states of awareness and well-being. However, more research is needed to explore the long-term effects and potential risks of combining these practices.
Reference:
Jiwani, Z., Goldberg, S. B., Stroud, J., Young, J., Curtin, J., Dunne, J. D., Simonsson, O., Webb, C. A., Carhart-Harris, R., & Schlosser, M. (2024). Can Psychedelic Use Benefit Meditation Practice? Examining Individual, Psychedelic, and Meditation-Related Factors. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.27.24312677
