Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2018
Helané Wahbeh, Amira Sagher, Wallis Back et al.
103 citations
Transcendent states achieved through meditative practices have been reported across cultures and history, yet few studies have systematically examined them. This systematic review of 25 studies with 672 participants found that transcendent states during meditation are most consistently associated with slowed breathing, respiratory suspension, reduced muscle activity, increased EEG alpha power and coherence, and functional neural connectivity. Participants described the state as relaxed wakefulness in a phenomenologically different space-time. The review included various traditions: Buddhist, Christian, Mixed, and Vedic (Transcendental Meditation and Yoga). Heterogeneity between studies precluded meta-analysis, so conclusions are qualitative and preliminary.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2011
Jeff Levin
47 citations
Energy healing practices can be grouped into four traditions: East Asian, Western professional, bioenergy, and contemporary metaphysical. Core concepts across these systems include the source and transmission of healing, what is transmitted, the healer's actions and state of consciousness, and client requirements. Technique is less important than three key factors: focus, intention, and compassion. The paper argues that formal training is not necessary for effective energy healing.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2019
William Van Gordon, Edo Shonin, Thomas J Dunn et al.
38 citations
Cultivating emptiness (śūnyatā), a wisdom-based Buddhist-derived practice, appears to reconnect advanced meditators to what they consider the innermost nature of mind and phenomena. In a study of 25 advanced Buddhist meditators, emptiness meditation produced significantly greater improvements in non-attachment to self and environment, mystical experiences, compassion, positive affect, and negative affect compared to a mindfulness meditation control. No significant relationship was found between duration of emptiness meditation and any outcome. Qualitative analysis revealed that participants combined concentrative and investigative techniques to induce emptiness, elicited spiritually meaningful insights, and retained volitional control over the meditation.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2008
Jeff Levin
38 citations
This paper provides the first comprehensive scholarly overview of eight major esoteric healing traditions: kabbalistic, mystery school, gnostic, brotherhoods, Eastern mystical, Western mystical, shamanic, and new age. It describes each tradition's beliefs and practices related to health, healing, and medicine, then identifies commonalities in anatomy, physiology, nosology, etiology, pathophysiology, and therapeutic modalities. The survey concludes by discussing implications for clinicians, biomedical researchers, and medical educators.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2021
Marjorie H Woollacott, Yvonne Kason, Russell D Park
33 citations
Spiritually transformative experiences with an energetic component, often called kundalini awakenings, are understudied. Most participants (85%) reported unusual flows of energy through or around the body. The experiences were mystical, involving feelings of expansion, conscious awareness leaving the body, and being enveloped in light or love. Common triggers included concentrating on spiritual matters, being near a spiritually developed person, and intense meditation or prayer. Transformations included increased sensory sensitivity, creativity, changes in beliefs, a desire to serve others, a sense of unity, and belief in the immortality of the spirit. Most participants felt healthcare professionals lacked understanding of these experiences, limiting their ability to provide help.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2020
Helané Wahbeh, Bethany Butzer
24 citations
Trance channeling, a practice with historical roots across many cultures, is more common than often assumed. An online survey of 83 self-identified trance channelers found that most began channeling in middle age and identified as spiritual but not religious. Participants did not show pathological levels of dissociative or psychotic symptoms, anxiety, or depression. Their personality traits, absorption, and empathy were similar to norms, but they scored as sensory-processing sensitives. They reported strong noetic beliefs, including life after death and telepathy. Most described their channeling as willful and conscious, and reported a positive life impact. Lower psychotic symptoms, older age at onset, and higher sensitivity predicted greater positive impact.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2015
Jamie Marich, Terra Howell
24 citations
A review of quantitative and qualitative literature links mindfulness practice to psychological well-being. Dancing Mindfulness, a holistic wellness practice, uses dance as a vehicle for mindfulness meditation. Ten women who first learned the practice in a community setting shared their lived experiences, analyzed using Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological psychological method. They reported positive experiences, with themes indicating improved emotional and spiritual well-being, increased acceptance, positive self-changes, and greater application of mindfulness to daily life. Dancing and music were identified as the two major components driving these benefits.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2023
Marjorie Woollacott, Anne Shumway-Cook
18 citations
Scientists and academics who have had a spiritually transformative experience (STE) describe it as a mystical event involving feelings of expansion, energy rising up the spine, and a sense of being enveloped in light, love, or a unified energetic field. Triggers include concentrating on spiritual matters, the presence of a spiritually developed person, and intense meditation or prayer. Afterward, participants report increased sensory sensitivity, creativity, and shifts in beliefs, including a desire to serve others and a sense of unity. Career effects range from incorporating new insights into existing work to radically changing careers to explore consciousness. Many hesitate to share their experiences due to fear of ridicule.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2024
Jeffrey Long, Marjorie Woollacott
17 citations
People who have had a near-death experience (NDE) undergo a lasting spiritual awakening and shift in life priorities that goes beyond what is seen after other life-threatening events. In a comparison of 834 individuals who had NDEs with 42 who faced life-threatening situations without an NDE, those with NDEs reported a stronger belief in divinity and the afterlife, a decreased fear of death, greater compassion, and a heightened sense that life is meaningful. Their values reoriented toward spiritual and religious life. The findings indicate that the transformation is specific to the NDE itself, not merely a response to nearly dying.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2016
Edward J Modestino
15 citations
A single participant who reported ecstatic Kundalini meditative experiences showed brain activation in the left prefrontal cortex, primarily in Brodmann areas 46 and 10 and extending into areas 11, 47, and 45, during functional magnetic resonance imaging. The Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory indicated an altered state of consciousness, and the Physio-Kundalini Syndrome Index strongly suggested the experience was Kundalini. The feelings of joy and happiness and the left prefrontal activation align with prior meditation studies. This case demonstrates that combining first-person subjective reports with neuroimaging can identify objective brain regions linked to such experiences, though larger group studies are needed to confirm the results.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2017
Helané Wahbeh, Lauri Shainsky, Angela Weaver et al.
13 citations
A structured shamanic healing protocol was developed and tested with six veterans (average age 49.3) who had posttraumatic stress disorder. The protocol included components such as power animal retrieval, soul retrieval, and forgiveness practices. The intervention was found feasible and acceptable, with no major adverse events reported. Preliminary data on PTSD symptoms, quality of life, and spiritual wellness were collected, but no efficacy conclusions can be drawn from this small case series. The authors suggest that future research is needed to evaluate whether shamanic healing can be an effective therapy for veterans with PTSD.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2024
Rajmohan Seetharaman, Sanika Avhad, Jitesh Rane
12 citations
Singing bowl sound meditation, an ancient Tibetan and Buddhist practice, may reduce tension, anxiety, and depression while promoting spiritual well-being. Studies show it can produce physiological and psychological responses, decreasing negative affect and increasing positive affect, and improving blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate. The reasons for these effects are not fully understood; possible explanations include alterations in brain waves, binaural beats, and vibrations interacting with the body's biofield. The practice may be an effective low-cost intervention, but further research is needed on long-term effects and clinical applications.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2024
Donna Thomas, Graeme O'Connor
11 citations
Near death experiences (NDEs) can occur during life-threatening events. Children report unsolicited NDE-type experiences that include out of body experiences, bright lights, bedside visions, bi-location, and visiting celestial places. Children's NDEs are simple and carry transcendental features such as a peaceful darkness, a knowing awareness, and time alterations. Children assign a subjective reality to their NDEs. Younger children may demonstrate a visual NDE semiosis that warrants further investigation. The article demonstrates the value of involving children in NDE research through participatory and creative research methods.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2010
Nancy Vuckovic, Jennifer Schneider, Louise A Williams et al.
9 citations
Women with temporomandibular joint disorders who received shamanic treatment reported more changes in self-awareness, coping, relationships, and self-care than physical symptom relief, describing a process of transformation. In-depth interviews with 20 participants revealed that three times as much interview text focused on psychological and relational changes compared to physical changes. Some physical and psychological symptoms aligned with the shamanic concept of soul loss. This was the first clinical trial of shamanic healing for TMD pain, using a mixed-methods approach to capture a wide range of experiences.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2019
Stephan A Schwartz
8 citations
Water and wine have long been linked to sacred rituals, and this paper examines what happens when those substances are subjected to nonlocal perturbation—focused intention from meditators. The changes can be both physical and aesthetic, affecting how people perceive the substances sensorially. In a 12-part experiment, groups of seven people tasted wine from a single bottle decanted into two identical carafes, one of which had been the focus of meditators' intentioned awareness beforehand. In 11 of the 12 sessions, a majority preferred the treated wine; one session ended in a tie. Statistical analysis indicates that the probability a majority would prefer the treated wine is at least 0.76 with 95% confidence. The paper discusses the broader implications of these findings.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2024
Justin J Merrigan, Maryanna Klatt, Catherine Quatman-Yates et al.
6 citations
A mindfulness program with biofeedback reduced perceived stress and mood disturbances in health care providers but did not change sleep or nocturnal physiology. Sixty-six participants completed eight weekly virtual group sessions and home practice using a mobile app while wearing sleep sensors. No sleep metrics improved; heart rate variability was slightly lower after sessions but not clinically meaningful. Perceived stress dropped from week 3 onward, and mood disturbances improved at several time points. The program helped subjective well-being without measurable physiological change.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2022
Marco Aurélio Vinhosa Bastos, Paulo Roberto Haidamus Oliveira Bastos, Geraldo Barbosa Foscaches Filho et al.
6 citations
Alleged mediums who report regular communication with deceased personalities show no differences in brain structure, hypnotizability, dissociation, or empathy compared to non-medium controls. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed normal corpus callosum areas in the medium group, contrasting with abnormalities seen in psychotic and dissociative disorders. Both groups had intermediate hypnotic susceptibility levels, and the rostrum of the corpus callosum area did not correlate with hypnotizability. The medium group reported more anomalous experiences but scored similarly on dissociation, empathy, and mental health measures. The findings suggest that mediumship is not associated with the brain abnormalities or dissociative pathology found in clinical conditions.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
November 1, 2018
Marco Aurélio Vinhosa Bastos, Paulo Roberto Haidamus de Oliveira Bastos, Maria Lucília Dos Santos et al.
6 citations
No differences in the presence of the endogenous psychedelics bufotenine (BT) and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) were found in urine samples from individuals who report mediumistic communication compared to those who do not. DMT was not detected in any sample, and BT was detected in only one of five mediums and two of five controls, a non-significant difference. Mediums reported more anomalous experiences than controls, but mental health did not differ between groups. The authors suggest that BT and DMT are rapidly metabolized and may not survive long enough in the periphery to be detected in urine, and recommend alternative strategies for investigating the role of endogenous psychedelics in spiritual experiences.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2024
Marjorie Woollacott, Justin Riddle, Niffe Hermansson et al.
5 citations
An intensive meditation practice called Fire Kasina can induce mystical experiences comparable to those produced by high-dose psychedelics. Six individuals completed a retreat and reported experiences they described as the most intense of their lives. Mean scores on the Revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire reached 85%, similar to prior observations with high-dose psilocybin and stronger than moderate-dose psilocybin. Scores on the Hood Mystical Experience Scale averaged 93%, exceeding levels reported for near-death experiences (74%) and high-dose psilocybin (77%). Participants also described substantial shifts in worldview following the retreat.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2024
Elcin Babaoglu, Aydan Akkurt Yalcinturk, Emel Erdeniz Gures et al.
4 citations
A single 40-minute session of Qigong, a mind-body exercise originating in China, reduced state anxiety levels in psychiatric inpatients. In a randomized controlled trial with 70 inpatients (35 per group), the intervention group's mean post-test state anxiety score (27.20) was significantly lower than the control group's (39.72). Within the intervention group, scores dropped from 38.42 before the session to 27.20 afterward. The authors suggest Qigong may help manage state anxiety and reduce associated risks in clinical psychiatric settings.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2024
Marjorie Woollacott
3 citations
About 10-12% of patients who survive cardiac arrest report core near-death experiences (NDEs), but the low percentage may reflect memory impairment rather than absence of experience. A detailed case study of a 41-year-old woman who had an NDE during childbirth cardiac arrest supports three hypotheses: NDEs may occur during cardiac arrest but remain unrecalled until hypnotic regression reveals verifiable details not perceivable through the five senses; precognition of the events leading to cardiac arrest can occur; and NDEs fundamentally transform an individual's understanding of consciousness, meaning, purpose, concern for others, and appreciation of life.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
June 26, 2025
Freda Jia Xin Jong, Caryn Chuen Wei Lee, Rachel Sing-Kiat Ting et al.
2 citations
Brief online mindful stretching interventions, with or without a mindful breathing component, can help university students cope with loneliness and improve mindfulness. In a four-week trial, 103 students were randomly assigned to daily mindful stretching with breathing or stretching only. Both groups showed small-to-moderate reductions in loneliness and moderate-to-large improvements in mindfulness, with no significant differences between the groups. Qualitative interviews indicated participants experienced calming effects and greater self- and environmental awareness. The findings suggest that simple, self-administered online mindful stretching programs are useful for addressing loneliness and enhancing mindfulness among young adults.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2024
Omid Khatin-Zadeh, Zahra Eskandari, Danyal Farsani et al.
2 citations
People who have had a near-death experience (NDE) produce more iconic and metaphoric hand gestures when describing those events than when describing ordinary events. The gestures are interpreted as physical realizations of mentally simulated actions, indicating that NDE memories are more strongly embodied—that is, more tightly linked to sensorimotor systems—than memories of everyday experiences. The authors suggest that NDEs are perceived, recalled, and embodied through strong activation of sensorimotor systems during a state of perceptual and cognitive enhancement, even though those systems appear unresponsive to external sensory stimuli during the event itself. They conclude that the enhancement of cognitive functions during NDE results from enhanced perceptual functions.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
July 8, 2025
Ying-Ju Chen, Chiu-Hsiang Lee, Chia-Jung Hsieh et al.
1 citation
An online mindfulness platform reduced anxiety, depression, and stress in adults with chronic diseases. In a randomized trial, 97 patients were assigned to either an online mindfulness program or a control group. Anxiety scores dropped significantly at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the intervention. Depression and stress levels were significantly lower at 8 weeks, but not at 4 weeks. The findings suggest that online mindfulness can be an effective non-pharmacological option for managing mental health symptoms in this population.
Explore (New York, N.Y.)
January 1, 2024
Shairy Quimbo, Lorena De la Torre Parra
1 citation
Taky Samy is an ancestral Andean healing practice that addresses physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and auric bodies. It connects practitioners with plants, animals, birds, and Mother Earth through instruments made from ceramic, bamboo, deer, and condor feathers and bones, guided by prayer, mantras, and songs that invoke the Great Ordering Spirit Pachakamak and the Great Mystery Tunupa Tixi Wirakocha. The practice aligns with the cycles of Mother Earth, reflected in crop cultivation and rituals like solar dances accompanied by corn chicha.