Mystical dynamics: renewal, luminous light, and ego disintegration as key features associated with mystical oneness—a psychometric analysis using the PES100 in controlled psychedelic studies
Kurt Stocker, Matthias Hartmann, Frederick S. Barrett, Willam Richards, Nathan D. Sepeda, Isabelle Straumann, Aaron Klaiber, Severin B. Vogt, Livio Erne, Laura Ley, A. Becker, Patrick Vizeli, Friederike Holze, Matthias E. Liechti
Religion Brain & Behavior March 31, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1080/2153599x.2026.2635353 via OpenAlex
Summary
Mystical dynamics, which involve experiences of ego disintegration and renewal accompanied by a sense of luminous light, were examined in healthy participants after taking psychedelics. A total of 816 measurements from 386 participants across 15 studies showed strong correlations between mystical oneness and both luminous light and renewal, with moderate-to-strong correlation to ego disintegration. This suggests a dose-sensitive relationship and supports a dynamic model of mystical experiences relevant for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Study at a glance
| Design | observational cohort |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 386 |
| Population | healthy participants receiving psychedelics |
| Key finding | There are strong dose-sensitive correlations between mystical oneness and both luminous light and renewal, as well as a moderate-to-strong correlation with ego disintegration. |
Abstract
Mystical dynamics—the notion that mystical oneness may unfold involving ego disintegration, renewal, and luminous light—has been discussed anecdotally by psychedelic researchers and therapists but has not yet been empirically examined in controlled settings. This study investigated the occurrence and dose-dependency of mystical dynamics in healthy participants after administration of psychedelics. A total of 816 mystical-dynamics measurements were collected from 386 participants across 15 studies at two sites: University Hospital Basel (Switzerland) and Johns Hopkins University (USA). Participants received low to high doses of four serotonergic psychedelics: LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and DMT. Mystical dynamics was assessed using five corresponding constructs from the Psychedelic Experience Scale (PES100): ego disintegration, distress, renewal, luminous light, and mystical (focusing on mystical oneness, the core of mystical experience). We hypothesized strong intercorrelations of mystical oneness with ego disintegration, renewal, and luminous light, and a dose-dependent intensity pattern. Results showed dose-sensitive strong correlations of mystical oneness with luminous light and renewal, and a moderate-to-strong correlation of mystical oneness with ego disintegration. These findings support a broader, dynamic model of mystical experience and offer novel insights relevant to psychedelic-assisted therapy, while acknowledging additional experiential features that may also associate with mystical oneness.