Psychedelics, Mystical Experiences, and Meaning Making: A Renegotiation Process With the Challenges of Existence

Benjamin Hearn

doi:10.1002/johc.12164

Psychedelics, Mystical Experiences, and Meaning Making: A Renegotiation Process With the Challenges of Existence

The Journal of Humanistic Counseling ◽

10.1002/johc.12164 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 180-196

Author(s):

Benjamin Hearn

Keyword(s):

Meaning Making ◽

Mystical Experiences

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Out of Body, Loss of Self: Spiritual or Scary?

Religions ◽

10.3390/rel11110558 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 558

Author(s):

Elpine M. de Boer

Keyword(s):

Meaning Making ◽

Self Concept ◽

Spiritual Experiences ◽

Body Experience ◽

Making Sense ◽

Loss Of Self ◽

Out Of Body Experience ◽

Mystical Experiences ◽

Bodily State

The main aim of the present study is to investigate when “loss of self” results in scaredness or anxiety during or after an out-of body-experience (OBE). An OBE is an intense form of (bodily) self loss in which people have the impression that their self is located outside their body. In a sample of respondents reporting to have had an OBE (n = 171), anxiety and different conceptualizations of “self loss” were assessed. In addition, questions were asked about meaning making processes after the OBE. Results show that there was no relationship between anxiety and self loss with a relational component (i.e., mystical experiences, positive spiritual experiences). However, there was significantly more anxiety in respondents who (1) (have) experience(d) ego loss/deconstruction, (2) have difficulties to (re)turn their attention to an internal bodily state (low mindfulness) and/or (3) experience a lack of self-concept clarity. Respondents who did not succeed in making sense of their OBE experience more anxiety, more ego loss/deconstruction, lower mindfulness and higher self-unclarity. Finally, the article examines how respondents explain their OBE (by using, for instance, medical, spiritual or psychological explanations) and how and why respondents do (not) succeed in making sense of the OBE.

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