Psychedelics are known in our Western culture under two names: the mostly used is psychedelics; the other is: entheogens.
“Psychedelic” comes from ancient Greek “psyche” and “deloun” and means manifesting, revealing the mind. “Entheogen” comes from ancient Greek “entheos” and “genesthai” and means inspired by the divine.
You can derive their benefits from these two termini: they reveal what is in the mind; and they access a consciousness which transcends our daily consciousness, which Indigenous cultures call spirit or soul.
I’ll address both domains.
1) Benefits of the mind revealing psychedelics.
Psychedelics amplify, magnify, intensify whatever is in our mind, both conscious and unconscious.
Nowadays intense research is going on at tens of universities worldwide to treat with psychedelics mental problems, like depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, end of life distress, and certain addictions.
Psychedelics influence the serotonergic system in the brain, as antidepressants also do. Yet, psychedelics seem to be more effective, to have less side effects, and to be less addictive.
Another difference, a fundamental one, is this: when taking allopathic Western psychofarmaca, our mind stays a black box.
We need a psychotherapist, or a strong meditative practice to look into our mind. Present Western allopathic antidepressants do not unravel the roots of our distress, or how to process it. They do not help us to know ourself better and what and how to change. Neither do they carry us through the transformation process needed in order to heal.
Psychedelics seem to do all this. They seem to reveal to you your own mind. Under the right conditions, this can be beneficial.
Research shows that they help you to solve issues you have with yourself, and in extension, with others and life in general.
By revealing yourself to yourself they help you to grow as a person.
By revealing other ways to perceive life, they help you to create a more meaningful life for yourself.
Your outer life is a mirror of your inner life.
The separation we bring between inner and outer is artificial. If your inner life is more harmonious and fulfilling, it will show in your outer life.
If you perceive more beauty, meaning, love in your outer life, it will seep into your inner life, balancing and beautifying it.
According to academical case reports, if taken well prepared, with the right intention and under right conditions, psychedelics can help you heal, balance, grow, and create for yourself a more harmonious, satisfying, beautiful life.
2) Benefits of the spirit revealing entheogens.
People who took entheogens in indigenous cultures ceremonies report that entheogens plunged them in an awe and wonder inspiring state of consciousness.
They left the mundane world behind, and entered another dimension, which filled them with trembling reverence or with deferential terror.
In this state of consciousness it is seemingly possible to encounter and interact with deities and demons from different cultures, to meet own previous incarnations, re-live the time spent in mother’s womb, travel to other times in history, and to other corners of the Earth and of the Universe.
It may be possible to experience the deep meaning and true power of love, of compassion, and of the evolution of the soul.
Whatever the experience is, it is important to comprehend what it means for who you are in this life, in this phase of your life, and what you have to do further with the time left for you on Earth in this life.
Taken well prepared, with the right intention and under the right conditions, entheogens can seemingly reveal to you the journey of your soul through many incarnations, your ultimate goal, and how to reach it.
The revelations of the mind and of the spirit can blend into each other. Research shows that the occurrence of a mystical experience can speed up and complete a mental healing.
What psychedelics / entheogens are is a mystery. We don’t really know. Even if they are synthesised in a LAB, like LSD, they are still a mystery. Every explanation resembles the description of an elephant groped by blind people: a pillar, a long pipe, a huge flat cushion. They are all right, and none is right.
In order to benefit from them, your mindset, preparation, intention, the safety of the setting you choose, and the integration afterwards are crucial.
Last but not least: the more you have worked out for yourself a coherent psychological and spiritual cognitive framework, the more you can have meaningful journeys towards healing and self-actualisation.
Published end of 2020 on my YouTube channel
Disclaimer: I do not administer any psychedelic substances in my practice.
