Altered States of Consciousness During Ceremonial San Pedro Use
Arne Bohn, Michiel H. H. Kiggen, Malin V. Uthaug, Kim van Oorsouw, Johannes G. Ramaekers, Hein T. van Schie
International Journal for the Psychology of Religion December 5, 2022 DOI: 10.1080/10508619.2022.2139502 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractSan Pedro, a cactus containing mescaline and used for millennia, is now popular in European ceremonial retreats. In a study of 42 participants at such retreats in the Netherlands, questionnaires measured 11 dimensions of altered consciousness, ego-dissolution, mystical experiences, and challenging experiences. Results indicate San Pedro produces deviations from normal waking consciousness on all 11 subscales, moderate ego-dissolution, and a complete mystical experience in two-thirds of participants. Spiritual experiences are strongly expressed, while disembodiment, anxiety, impaired control, and transcendence of space are low; physical distress and grief can occur during challenging experiences. Network analysis revealed two separate networks of positive and negative altered states.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 42 |
| Population | Participants who joined ceremonial psychedelic retreats in the Netherlands |
| Intervention | San Pedro |
| Topics | Mysticism Shamanism |
| Keywords | Consciousness Magic telescope Psychoanalysis Altered state |
| Citations | 10 |
| Key finding | San Pedro produces deviations on all 11 subscales of altered consciousness, moderate ego-dissolution, and a complete mystical experience in two-thirds of participants, with spiritual experiences strongly expressed and low levels of disembodiment, anxiety, impaired control, and transcendence of space. |
Abstract
San Pedro, a mescaline containing cactus, has been used for thousands of years and is currently popular as a psychedelic substance in ceremonial retreats in Europe. The current research investigates the consciousness altering effects of San Pedro. Forty-two participants who joined ceremonial psychedelic retreats in the Netherlands were investigated with questionnaires probing 11 dimensions of altered states of consciousness (11D-ASC), ego-dissolution, mystical experiences, and challenging experiences. Results tentatively demonstrate the status of San Pedro as a psychedelic, revealing deviations from normal waking consciousness on all 11 subscales of the 11D-ASC, moderate scores of ego-dissolution, and a complete mystical experience in two thirds of the participants. Furthermore, a consciousness profile of San Pedro was constructed, which revealed that spiritual experiences are strongly expressed in ceremonial San Pedro use. Furthermore, the San Pedro experience is characterized by low levels of disembodiment, anxiety, impaired control and cognition, transcendence of space, and relatively higher levels of physical distress and grief in case of (incidental) challenging experiences. Finally, graph network analysis indicated two separate networks of positive and negative altered states of consciousness. Possible interpretations of these findings are discussed in relation to the ceremonial setting, sympathomimetic effects of San Pedro?s alkaloids and variations in affective valence.