Psychedelics turn racists into humanitarians and suppress the ego in the "ultimate reality". Are these substances the universal path to "world peace"?
Psychedelics across the ages
Whether it's the plant mixture known as ayahuasca, which has deep roots of use in South American indigenous cultures, peyote, a cactus that contains mescaline and whose use is closely associated withindigenous tribal rituals of the original inhabitants of North America, or psilocybin, classically contained in loquats and used in rituals leading to deep spiritual enlightenment, substances with psychedelic effects have been used by humans since ancient times. The goal was clear: to reach a state of altered perception, or to bring the individual to a deep understanding of himself and his existence in the universe.
To a certain extent, in the context of the use of psychedelics, one could speak of spiritual or psychological healing through finding meaning in life and connecting with higher entities or nature. In fact, psychedelics can change the way we perceive time, space and our identity in quite significant ways. "There are a number of ways we can change our perceptions. Meditation, yoga... But psychedelics differ significantly in their mode of action. It's like comparing a gradual ascent to the top of a mountain and an instant catapult to the top. Then you have a heightened ability to understand a level of complexity in life that you didn't even know you had," is how the world's leading psychedelic specialist James Fadimanexplains it.
Ultimate reality as a path to better mental health
Of course, when it comes to the use of psychedelics in shamanic rituals, no one has given much thought to exactly how these substances affect people. Interestingly, however, although we now know that compounds such as the aforementioned psilocybin bind to serotonin receptors in the central nervous system, neuroscientists still do not understand what links the resulting hallucinations and feelings of a different perception of reality toa kind of spiritual experience that some even describe as an "encounter with God" or tapping into a higher "ultimate reality".
The aforementioned research team from Johns Hopkins University has focused on this particular issue and has also investigated the therapeutic effect of these experiences. "Experiences that people describe as encounters with God have been reported for thousands of years and probably form the basis of many of the world's religions. Although modern Western medicine does not usually consider spiritual or religious experiences as one of the tools in the fight against disease, our findings suggest that these experiences often lead to improved mental health," specialist Roland Griffithssummarised the findings to date. It is no coincidence, then, that some psychedelics are already gradually being used to treat persistent clinical depression, etc.
Zdroj: Giphy
The death of the ego and unity consciousness
A rather specific experience that is also associated with the use of psychedelics is the experience of the 'death of the ego', where in a sense the personal identity is 'lost'. It is the death of the ego and the associated unity of consciousness that are two key concepts that are considered in many cultures to be deeply transformative experiences closely related to the use of psychedelics. This is because the boundary between the individual and the outside world is blurred, and one can cease to be bound by one's roles, habits, and even traumas - eventually coming to the conclusion that one is "just" part of a larger whole. It is thanks to this that many can subsequently change their outlook on life, the meaning of their existence, and their relationships with others. In 2023, the leader of a white supremacist group was part of a scientific experiment at the University of Chicago and was given MDMA. "This experience helped me to solve a debilitating personal problem," said the man who soon left racist ideology and said that love was the only thing that mattered after his psychedelic experience.
In 2020, targeted research also focused on the issue of ego suppression with psychedelics, and brain scans showed that those who took psychedelics showed a "ego centre reversal", or a 15-30 per cent reduction in the activity of the associated brain centre. And while this may sound overly scientific, the short explanation is clear: people who take psychedelics often experience a higher level of connection to the outside world and less sense of self or ego because of it. "Psychedelics can help us share a unified consciousness," so says clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research William Richards, who believes psychedelics convey a sense of unity that transcends space and time.
Unified consciousness and love for everyone?
Ultimately, then, it would seem that psychedelics are a great "cure" for today's pain. And not only on an individual level, but also on a societal level. After all, it would be fantastic if everyone who expresses anger or hatred towards others, for whatever reason, could be given psychedelics - and they would soon see the light and see only love all around. Unfortunately, it won't be that easy. Although psychedelics can indeed help in opening the closed shells of consciousness and can effectively change it, it is not necessarily for the better. In particular, when used carelessly, the effects can be rather harmful - and irresponsible use of psychoactive substances has also already been shown to be associated with dangerous behaviour due to disrupted thought processes. This is also why, for example, Fadiman consistently urges that psychedelics be administered under the expert supervision of a therapist or other competent professional who can then help the person understand his or her experiences.
