Negative mystical experiences
Journal of Psychedelic Studies September 11, 2023 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1556/2054.2023.00286 via OpenAlex
Summary
Positive mood should not be used as a criterion for identifying mystical experiences induced by psychedelics. This is because positive mood does not distinguish mystical experiences from other strong emotional states, such as love, and other criteria for mystical experiences can arise even in negative moods. Additionally, framing mystical experiences solely around positive mood is not necessarily more practical.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Positive mood is not a valid criterion for determining if psychedelic experiences are mystical. |
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Abstract
Abstract I propose that positive mood should not be among the criteria for determining when or if psychedelic experiences are mystical. My primary reasons are: 1) unlike rare proposed mystical criteria such as feelings of self-dissolution and time-transcendence, positive mood does not clearly separate mystical experiences from other emotionally powerful experiences like being in love; 2) other proposed mystical criteria can occur with non-positive moods; and 3) it is not true that framing all mystical experiences with only positive mood is more pragmatic.