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

Blog Archive

The Potential Benefits of Psychedelics for Autistic People

Autistic people are often missing from conversations about psychedelic therapy, despite growing evidence that these substances may help ease the emotional distress many experience. While autism is not something to be cured, emerging research and first-person accounts suggest psychedelics may support autistic people by reducing co-occurring anxiety, depression, and social isolation—opening new questions about inclusion, ethics, and care in psychedelic research.

Sam Woolfe 22 January 2026

Illustration of a person meditating with thoughts and nature elements surrounding them.

From Anxiety to Alignment: How Psychedelic Therapy in the UK Is Helping People Find Their Inner Calm

Anxiety isn’t just a clinical label. For many, it’s a persistent hum in the background of daily life: that tension in the chest, a constant sense that something is off. In today’s high-performance culture, anxiety is often seen as the price of ambition. But what if anxiety is actually a signal, not of failure, but

Simon 10 November 2025

The Potential Benefits of Psychedelics for Gay People

Just as psychedelics can help straight people address issues of shame and depression, for reasons unrelated to sexuality, they can also be helpful for gay people in processing similar issues, but specifically tied to their gay identity. This article will delve into the benefits that psychedelics have provided to many gay people, which will include a more detailed picture of why they’ve proven to be so helpful in this context.

Sam Woolfe 8 November 2025

New Study Suggests Psilocybin May Promote Longevity

A new study reveals that psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, may extend cellular lifespan and improve survival in aged mice. The findings suggest exciting potential for psilocybin as a geroprotective therapy targeting biological ageing.

Samira Ghofrani 23 October 2025

How Psychedelic Coaching Helps High Performers Break Through Mental Blocks

A large-scale study of over 2,500 adults finds that psychedelic use, especially microdosing, is strongly associated with improved health behaviours such as better diet, reduced substance use, and decreased impulsivity. These findings suggest psychedelics could catalyse meaningful lifestyle changes that enhance individual and public well-being.

Simon 13 October 2025

How Psilocybin Therapy Enhances the Emotional Power of Music

This study found that psilocybin-assisted therapy not only reduces anhedonia in depression but also heightens emotional responses to music. The brain’s reward network becomes more receptive, suggesting a powerful synergy between psychedelics and music for healing.

Samira Ghofrani 10 October 2025

Can Psychedelics Spark Healthy Habits?

Samira Ghofrani 28 September 2025

Tripping, Healing and Children

A mother–daughter story of addiction, estrangement, and repair. Fiona and Ellie trace their paths through sobriety, foraging, and intentional psychedelic work—finding each other again through laughter, listening, and new boundaries.

Fiona Cooke 23 September 2025

Silhouette meditating in lotus pose with vibrant swirling energy aura background symbolising mindfulness and inner peace

What Is Psychedelic Coaching? How It Complements Psilocybin Therapy

Simon 15 September 2025

The Joy of Tripping

Psychedelic research can overlook the joyful, life-enhancing aspects of recreational use. This paper explores how LSD and mushrooms evoke profound pleasure, connection, and emotional transformation, urging us to reconsider the value of these experiences beyond therapy.

Samira Ghofrani 12 September 2025

How to Prepare for a Psychedelic Experience: A Guide to The Right Mindset and Setting

At Numinous Ways, we understand that each person’s journey into transforming their mind is unique. Whether you’re seeking fresh insights, healing or personal transformation, the preparation you do before a psychedelic experience can profoundly influence the outcome. That’s why we offer first-class preparation and integration therapy. After all, the moments before and after the experience

Simon 20 August 2025

Psilocybin Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder and Depression

A recent French clinical trial explored the use of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in people with severe alcohol use disorder and depression. The study found psilocybin to be feasible, safe and potentially effective as an add-on to standard care, with promising results for abstinence and mood improvement.

Samira Ghofrani 16 August 2025

Finding Meaning Through Psychedelics

A new study found that psychedelics like psilocybin can profoundly enhance our sense of meaning in life. Research spanning retreat, laboratory, and clinical settings found that psychedelic experiences consistently increase feelings of purpose and fulfilment, with benefits lasting up to six months. These gains were strongly tied to improvements in well-being and reductions in depression. The quality of the experience, particularly mystical and emotional breakthroughs, was key, highlighting the value of supportive, guided contexts for lasting personal growth.

Samira Ghofrani 1 August 2025

How Do Psychedelics Interact with Antidepressants?

If you’re considering using psychedelics for therapeutic reasons – in the form of psychedelic-assisted therapy or a psychedelic retreat – then it’s vital to know how these compounds can interact with any medications you might be on.

Sam Woolfe 26 July 2025

Gay Men’s Psychedelic Relational Retreat

Beyond the Trip: Why Psychedelic Therapy Without Coaching May Leave You Stuck

Simon 21 July 2025

The Healing Power of Mystical Experiences

Can mystical experiences predict the success of psilocybin therapy for depression? A new clinical study reveals that the intensity of mystical experiences during the first psychedelic session may strongly influence therapeutic outcomes. This research offers insights into the power of altered consciousness in healing treatment-resistant depression, suggesting a pivotal role for spiritual-type experiences in psychedelic retreats and clinical settings alike.

Samira Ghofrani 18 July 2025

Can LSD Help Treat Depression?

A new randomised clinical trial explored how LSD-assisted therapy could treat major depression. Researchers compared high and low doses of LSD in a supportive psychotherapeutic setting. High doses led to stronger, longer-lasting symptom improvements, with manageable side effects. These findings point to LSD’s potential as a fast-acting, durable treatment for depression.

Samira Ghofrani 7 July 2025

Preparing for Your First Psychedelic Retreat: A Guide for Newbies in the UK

If you’re considering psychedelic assisted therapy in the UK, you’re not alone. More people than ever are seeking the type of transformative experience, especially those who have reached the limits of conventional therapy. At Numinous Ways, we offer immersive retreats that help you explore your psychological potential like never before. We do this through carefully

Simon 23 June 2025

Are Psychedelic Retreats Worth It? A Guide to Safety, Healing, and Choosing the Right One

Psychedelic retreats offer a structured path to emotional healing, spiritual insight, and personal transformation. But how safe are they—and how do you choose the right one? This guide breaks down the essentials, from safety protocols and therapeutic support to ethical considerations and integration. Whether you’re curious or committed, here’s what you need to know before embarking on a psychedelic journey.

Dr Christoph Zwolan 22 June 2025

Tripping God and Healing

In this raw and intimate account, Fiona reflects on her April 2025 retreat with Numinous Ways—revealing how psychedelics, deep preparation, and communal support helped her confront childhood wounds and break free from a lifetime of smoking.

Fiona Cooke 21 June 2025

Psychedelic art of glowing mushroom surrounded by ethereal spirit figures

Sacred Encounters: How Psilocybin Transformed Clergy from Major World Religions

This landmark study explored the effects of psilocybin on clergy from major world religions, revealing transformative spiritual experiences and lasting positive changes in religious practices, attitudes, and well-being.

Samira Ghofrani 13 June 2025

Heal and Transform with Powerful Ketamine Therapy in Scotland

In recent years, ketamine is being increasingly explored for its therapeutic potential for a number of conditions, including anxiety and depression. If you’re interested in finding out how it can assist you and how our therapy works, this is the blog for you. Here at Numinous Ways we offer a wide range of ways to

Simon 2 June 2025

How MDMA-Assisted Therapy Boosts Self-Compassion and Eases PTSD

A new study reveals that MDMA-assisted therapy eases PTSD and depression by boosting self-compassion. Participants who became less self-critical and more self-kind saw the greatest healing, suggesting that self-compassion may be a key mechanism behind the therapy’s success. This research highlights the potential of combining psychedelics with compassion-focused practices to deepen emotional healing.

Samira Ghofrani 27 May 2025

Opening the doors of perception

Neil, a numinaut and participant on Numinous Ways retreats, shares a moving reflection on how nature, psychedelics, and deep attention have helped him dissolve the boundaries between self and world.

Drawing on the work of Nan Shepherd and Roger Duncan, Neil explores practices of full-bodied perception—walking, listening, and quieting the mind—as doorways into the living consciousness of the natural world.

Neil Spence 26 May 2025

Facing the Past to Heal for the Future

A new study reveals that reliving past trauma is a common and often healing part of ayahuasca retreats. Drawing on data from over 300 participants, the research shows that these intense memory experiences are not only widespread, especially among veterans and trauma survivors, but may also lead to lasting emotional growth.

Samira Ghofrani 9 May 2025

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