Entheogens and spiritual seeking: The quest for self-transcendence, psychological well-being, and psychospiritual growth

Among 684 international online participants, classic psychedelics were the most common substances used for spiritual or entheogenic purposes. Entheogenic classic psychedelic users scored higher on measures of spiritual seeking, self-transcendence, psychological well-being, and psychospiritual development compared to both non-entheogenic users and non-users. The findings suggest entheogenic spirituality can be understood as a practice of spiritual seeking or implicit mysticism—a quest for self-transcendence and personal growth.

Study at a glance

Abstract

AbstractBackground and aimsAlthough numerous cultures have used psychoactive substances for spiritual, or entheogenic, purposes, little is known about contemporary entheogenic spirituality, particularly outside of the few traditions that retain sacramental drug use practices.MethodTo better conceptualize contemporary patterns of entheogenic drug use, an international, online study of entheogenic drug users was conducted (n = 684). Hierarchical regression analysis was used to explore entheogenic drug use in relation to measures of spiritual seeking (importance of spirituality in life, mediation practice, openness to experience), self-transcendent experiences (awe-proneness, mystical experiences), psychological well-being (psychological distress, subjective and eudaimonic well-being), and psychospiritual development (quiet ego, self-transcendence/wisdom, and spiritual development). ANOVA was used to compare entheogenic drug users with non-entheogenic drug users and non-drug users to assess differences across these psychospiritual variables.ResultsOf the 12 drug categories assessed, the classic psychedelics were most commonly used as entheogens. Entheogenic classic psychedelic use was associated with all of the assessed psychospiritual variables; entheogenic classic psychedelic users showed higher levels of spiritual seeking, self-transcendence, psychological well-being, and psychospiritual development compared to non-entheogenic classic psychedelic users and non-users.ConclusionEntheogenic spirituality may be conceptualized as a practice of spiritual seeking or implicit mysticism–the quest for self-transcendence and personal growth.