Some drugs, such as mushrooms, not only cause hallucinations in people, but can also reduce levels of anxiety, depression, and other emotional distress. The effects of these substances can be especially powerful when the trippy experiences are turned into spiritual experiences.
When doctors told Clark Martin in 1990 that he had only a year to live because of stage four kidney cancer, they had no idea how much he would resist the medicine's predictions. «I’m still here» — he says today.
However, that statement lacks the joy one would expect from the survivor of a years-long struggle. Years of treatment and constant life-threatening treatments have left their mark on him, wearing him down and overwhelming him. «It was hard and unbearable» — Martin says.
In 2010, nearly 20 years into his battle with the disease, he stumbled across an unusual research program. Participants weren't offered miracle pills to shrink tumors. Instead, they were taking psychedelic substances: brain scientists were looking for an answer to how hallucinogens, which alter perception and thinking, might affect mental health. «I've always been interested in psychedelics, but I've never tried them. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to cope» — admits Martin, who was a retired clinical psychologist.
When doctors told Clark Martin in 1990 that he had only a year to live because of stage four kidney cancer, they had no idea how much he would resist the medicine's predictions. «I’m still here» — he says today.
However, that statement lacks the joy one would expect from the survivor of a years-long struggle. Years of treatment and constant life-threatening treatments have left their mark on him, wearing him down and overwhelming him. «It was hard and unbearable» — Martin says.
In 2010, nearly 20 years into his battle with the disease, he stumbled across an unusual research program. Participants weren't offered miracle pills to shrink tumors. Instead, they were taking psychedelic substances: brain scientists were looking for an answer to how hallucinogens, which alter perception and thinking, might affect mental health. «I've always been interested in psychedelics, but I've never tried them. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to cope» — admits Martin, who was a retired clinical psychologist.
However, thanks to the support of a mentor, participating in the study seemed less risky to him. That mentor was scientists from the psychiatry department at Johns Hopkins University who were part of the new field of psychedelic research.
In light of more liberal regulations, they have begun to study how mind-altering substances can help the human brain. Studies from around the world have shown that these drugs can break established mental patterns, help fight addictions, alleviate symptoms of depression, reduce existential fears, and improve interpersonal relationships.
In addition, scientists have noticed another interesting aspect: when people have spiritual experiences during trips, they are more likely to break addictions and become happier or more satisfied with themselves in the long run. These mystical experiences can take many forms, from feeling the presence of God or some Higher Being to a deep connection with the world around us and time from the moment of existence to the Big Bang and distant horizons.
Because of the link between mystical experiences and medical outcomes, researchers, including their colleagues at Johns Hopkins University, are trying to understand why people have these transcendent experiences, how it can positively affect our brains, and what implications it has for how we perceive the world at large.
In light of more liberal regulations, they have begun to study how mind-altering substances can help the human brain. Studies from around the world have shown that these drugs can break established mental patterns, help fight addictions, alleviate symptoms of depression, reduce existential fears, and improve interpersonal relationships.
In addition, scientists have noticed another interesting aspect: when people have spiritual experiences during trips, they are more likely to break addictions and become happier or more satisfied with themselves in the long run. These mystical experiences can take many forms, from feeling the presence of God or some Higher Being to a deep connection with the world around us and time from the moment of existence to the Big Bang and distant horizons.
Because of the link between mystical experiences and medical outcomes, researchers, including their colleagues at Johns Hopkins University, are trying to understand why people have these transcendent experiences, how it can positively affect our brains, and what implications it has for how we perceive the world at large.
Martin signed up to participate in the study and was trained through a series of consultations with William Richards, a clinical psychologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. On the day of the experience, he was seated on a couch in an office that had been transformed into a cozy space with a Buddha, airy paintings, and soft yellow light.
However, the beginning of the experience did not come easy. After taking psilocybin — a hallucinogenic substance found in magic mushrooms — he leaned back, put a mask over his eyes and listened to classical music while the researchers observed his experiences. But once the substance began to take effect, he panicked. «Everything in the room became unfamiliar» — Martin recalled, recounting what happened when he took off the mask. «The voices didn't make sense anymore». He sat up straight, inwardly wishing he could run outside and find something to bring him back to a familiar reality.
Seeing his distress, Richards gently put his arm around Martin's shoulder. He didn't utter a word, didn't try to comfort him, but simply stayed close, helping him focus on the familiar even as Martin slipped into a completely new state.
The psilocybin gradually took over his mind, and Martin found himself in a kind of cathedral. Or, he felt, a stained-glass gymnasium that seemed like a sanctuary.
«I thought, If I ever get a chance to talk, this is the moment» — he recalls.
Afterward, he invited God to communicate with him.
However, the beginning of the experience did not come easy. After taking psilocybin — a hallucinogenic substance found in magic mushrooms — he leaned back, put a mask over his eyes and listened to classical music while the researchers observed his experiences. But once the substance began to take effect, he panicked. «Everything in the room became unfamiliar» — Martin recalled, recounting what happened when he took off the mask. «The voices didn't make sense anymore». He sat up straight, inwardly wishing he could run outside and find something to bring him back to a familiar reality.
Seeing his distress, Richards gently put his arm around Martin's shoulder. He didn't utter a word, didn't try to comfort him, but simply stayed close, helping him focus on the familiar even as Martin slipped into a completely new state.
The psilocybin gradually took over his mind, and Martin found himself in a kind of cathedral. Or, he felt, a stained-glass gymnasium that seemed like a sanctuary.
«I thought, If I ever get a chance to talk, this is the moment» — he recalls.
Afterward, he invited God to communicate with him.
During Richard's time overseeing Martin's trip, he and his Johns Hopkins University colleague Roland Griffiths sought to emphasize the importance of their work in the field of mental health and addiction treatment. Their pivotal research, including Richards' 2015 book Sacred Knowledge: psychedelics and religious experiences, inspired a new generation of scholars and provided the foundation for the creation of the university's Center for Psychedelics and Consciousness Studies in 2019.
This center currently employs about 30 people, including both experienced researchers and students, with Griffiths serving as director.
The institution embraces and actively utilizes stereotypes of psychedelic culture, as research coordinator and former graduate student Ian Geithner points out. For example, a tapestry depicting a mushroom and the all-seeing eye hangs in his office, and a delightful lava lamp adds to the atmosphere.
When Griffiths first saw the lamp, Geithner thought the director might find it «unprofessional», but he instead exclaimed in delight: «It's been a long time since I've seen anything like this!».
Griffiths and Richards' work continues a tradition of formal scientific research that began in 1962 with an experiment called the Good Friday Experiment conducted by Walter Panke, a Harvard theology doctor and graduate student. He gathered participants from local theology classes who would take either psilocybin or a placebo in the basement of a chapel while listening to Good Friday broadcast above. The participants then described their experiences, and Pahnke evaluated their accounts using criteria established by philosopher Walter Stace in 1960, which included a sense of unity with the universe, interaction with something sacred, and a sense of hyperreality.
About 40 percent of the participants in the «Good Friday Experiment» showed results that met all of the «very good» criteria. A few years later, Richards, while working at the Maryland Center for Psychiatric Research, co-published an article with Panke entitled «The Effects of LSD and Experimental Mysticism».
About 40 percent of the participants in the «Good Friday Experiment» showed results that met all of the «very good» criteria. A few years later, Richards, while working at the Maryland Center for Psychiatric Research, co-published an article with Panke entitled «The Effects of LSD and Experimental Mysticism».
However, in the mid-1960s, new laws in the United States turned against psychedelic research, making the production and sale of these substances illegal for both recreational and clinical use.
Psychedelics became associated with the hippie counterculture, and some research, conducted by, among others, CIA personnel, became of questionable ethics, exacerbating the situation.
The study of these substances depended on FDA and Drug Enforcement Administration approval, which effectively halted most research like Pahnke's work; funding and permits for such topics were granted with great reluctance. Griffiths, who had established himself in the field of psychopharmacology, switched to studying addictions to alcohol, tobacco, and sedatives. Only after establishing himself as a serious researcher was he able to present authorities with a sound plan for his studies.
Psychedelics became associated with the hippie counterculture, and some research, conducted by, among others, CIA personnel, became of questionable ethics, exacerbating the situation.
The study of these substances depended on FDA and Drug Enforcement Administration approval, which effectively halted most research like Pahnke's work; funding and permits for such topics were granted with great reluctance. Griffiths, who had established himself in the field of psychopharmacology, switched to studying addictions to alcohol, tobacco, and sedatives. Only after establishing himself as a serious researcher was he able to present authorities with a sound plan for his studies.
After a long hiatus, in 2000 Griffiths and Richards, then at Johns Hopkins University, were the first to receive permission and funding to resume rigorous psilocybin research. They picked up where Pahnke left off, investigating mystical experiences and their effects on the mental state of healthy volunteers.
The researchers sought to find out how psilocybin affects the mood and psyche of people with stable mental states, as well as how these changes relate to the spiritual aspects that can manifest during exposure to the substance.
Griffiths and Richards emphasized in their work that many cultures have a centuries-old tradition of hallucinogen use, a legacy that is beginning to be recognized in the scientific community rather than dismissed as outdated or non-Western.
The researchers' first attempt was rigorously executed and was an updated version of the Good Friday experiment. In the double-blind study, 36 volunteers were given psilocybin and then a placebo — or vice versa. As a result, 61% of the participants had a fully mystical experience. One described an encounter with God, who appeared as golden streams of light, assuring them that everything in the world was perfect, despite the limitations of human perception. More than a year later, two-thirds of the participants said the experience was one of the most meaningful of their lives.
The researchers sought to find out how psilocybin affects the mood and psyche of people with stable mental states, as well as how these changes relate to the spiritual aspects that can manifest during exposure to the substance.
Griffiths and Richards emphasized in their work that many cultures have a centuries-old tradition of hallucinogen use, a legacy that is beginning to be recognized in the scientific community rather than dismissed as outdated or non-Western.
The researchers' first attempt was rigorously executed and was an updated version of the Good Friday experiment. In the double-blind study, 36 volunteers were given psilocybin and then a placebo — or vice versa. As a result, 61% of the participants had a fully mystical experience. One described an encounter with God, who appeared as golden streams of light, assuring them that everything in the world was perfect, despite the limitations of human perception. More than a year later, two-thirds of the participants said the experience was one of the most meaningful of their lives.
A research team from Johns Hopkins University then further explored the relationship between psychedelics, spirituality and quality of life. In 2011, most of the participants had a mystical experience again, which resulted in positive changes in their mood and behavior that persisted for a long time. It was also noted that people who experienced mysticism showed more openness after the sessions than before them.
Scientists have also investigated whether psychedelics can help with addictions.In 2014, a small study with smokers found that 80% of participants were able to quit smoking after several doses of psilocybin and cognitive behavioral therapy, a significant improvement over traditional methods.
The researchers' work also covered the effects of psychedelics on anxiety and depression in cancer patients. During the study, they noticed that these substances activated new neural patterns, reducing fear and sadness.
Clark Martin, one of the participants, stated that while the psilocybin was active, he expected a response from God, but instead was faced with a vision of his existence on a fragile bubble on which other people lived. He did not try to analyze or make sense of the visions, he simply experienced them, which was different from his usual logical thinking. After the session, his symptoms of depression disappeared.
Scientists have also investigated whether psychedelics can help with addictions.In 2014, a small study with smokers found that 80% of participants were able to quit smoking after several doses of psilocybin and cognitive behavioral therapy, a significant improvement over traditional methods.
The researchers' work also covered the effects of psychedelics on anxiety and depression in cancer patients. During the study, they noticed that these substances activated new neural patterns, reducing fear and sadness.
Clark Martin, one of the participants, stated that while the psilocybin was active, he expected a response from God, but instead was faced with a vision of his existence on a fragile bubble on which other people lived. He did not try to analyze or make sense of the visions, he simply experienced them, which was different from his usual logical thinking. After the session, his symptoms of depression disappeared.
Researchers, including Alan Davis of Ohio State University, have sought to understand how the perception of mystical experiences relates to sober encounters with higher powers. To do so, they conducted an Internet survey that gathered the opinions of more than 4,000 people about «encounters with God» both sober and under the influence of psychedelics. The results showed that both groups agreed that their experiences were sacred and meaningful, and many non-believers became believers after such experiences.
Some participants perceived their encounters with divine beings as a construct of their minds, which raises questions about the reality of these experiences. Davis emphasizes that regardless of the veracity of such events, their value remains high in the context of clinical outcomes.
Regardless of the reality or imagination of mystical experiences, their positive effects on people persist. Scientists are investigating the chemical reasons why psychedelics evoke feelings of spirituality.
Roland Griffiths and Frederick Barrett of Johns Hopkins University explain in a 2017 paper that some psychedelics affect serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, creating an effect that neurobiologists do not yet fully understand. These substances affect the default mode network in the brain, which is activated during inner reflection. As a result of its deactivation, it is possible to «dissolve the self» and lose the feeling of loneliness, which may explain the unified feeling with the environment.
Some participants perceived their encounters with divine beings as a construct of their minds, which raises questions about the reality of these experiences. Davis emphasizes that regardless of the veracity of such events, their value remains high in the context of clinical outcomes.
Regardless of the reality or imagination of mystical experiences, their positive effects on people persist. Scientists are investigating the chemical reasons why psychedelics evoke feelings of spirituality.
Roland Griffiths and Frederick Barrett of Johns Hopkins University explain in a 2017 paper that some psychedelics affect serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, creating an effect that neurobiologists do not yet fully understand. These substances affect the default mode network in the brain, which is activated during inner reflection. As a result of its deactivation, it is possible to «dissolve the self» and lose the feeling of loneliness, which may explain the unified feeling with the environment.
However, researcher Ido Hartogson of Bar-Ilan University argues that the feeling of the divine is not only due to chemical processes, but also to an intensification of the meaning attached to the experience. His ideas remain in the realm of philosophy, but research using fMRI is possible.
Despite many unsolved questions about psychedelics, recent advances in science are reducing stigma and advancing research in this area. Since the 1990s, there has been a resurgence of research, now conducted at institutions such as Imperial College London and Johns Hopkins University.
Psychedelic treatments are showing encouraging results. A peaceful key participant in the study, who was coping with severe depression, was helped by psilocybin to awaken hope. Another participant, Clark Martin, focused on strengthening human connections with loved ones instead of abstract perceptions after using psychedelics. Thus, psychedelics are breaking new ground in understanding and treating mental disorders.
Despite many unsolved questions about psychedelics, recent advances in science are reducing stigma and advancing research in this area. Since the 1990s, there has been a resurgence of research, now conducted at institutions such as Imperial College London and Johns Hopkins University.
Psychedelic treatments are showing encouraging results. A peaceful key participant in the study, who was coping with severe depression, was helped by psilocybin to awaken hope. Another participant, Clark Martin, focused on strengthening human connections with loved ones instead of abstract perceptions after using psychedelics. Thus, psychedelics are breaking new ground in understanding and treating mental disorders.