Classic psychedelic use and current meditation practice.

People who have used classic psychedelics report meditating more often, specifically mindfulness meditation, but not loving-kindness or compassion meditation. Among those who had a psychedelic experience, both psychological insight and ego dissolution were linked to more frequent practice of both types of meditation. However, when both factors were considered together, only psychological insight predicted higher meditation frequency. These findings, from a survey of 2,822 U.S. adults, suggest that psychedelic experiences—especially those that produce psychological insight—may encourage regular meditation, though causality cannot be established.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Previous research has investigated potential synergies between classic psychedelics and meditation practice, but relatively little remains known about the relationship between classic psychedelic experiences and engagement with meditation practice.The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between classic psychedelic experiences and engagement with two popular types of meditation: mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness or compassion meditation. This retrospective, population-based observational study included 2,822 respondents aged 18 years or older in the United States. Using covariate-adjusted regression models, this study examined associations of classic psychedelic experiences with current practice of mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness or compassion meditation. In covariate-adjusted regression models, lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with a higher frequency of current mindfulness meditation practice but not current loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice. Both psychological insight and "ego dissolution" were associated with a higher frequency of current mindfulness meditation practice and current loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice. Notably, when psychological insight and "ego dissolution" were entered into the regression model simultaneously, only greater psychological insight was associated with having a higher frequency of current mindfulness meditation practice and current loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice. Although the findings in this study cannot demonstrate causality, they suggest that classic psychedelic experiences may exert a positive effect on the cultivation and maintenance of health-related behaviors such as regular meditation practice, with psychological insight appearing to be a stronger predictor than "ego dissolution." This study was not preregistered.