Ayahuasca Self Consciousness and Mysticism

Mystical experiences and ego-dissolution during ayahuasca rituals predict improvements in self-consciousness. In a cross-sectional study of ayahuasca religious users, higher scores on the Hood Mysticism Scale were positively related to adaptive self-consciousness traits (private self, public self, self-reflection, rumination, reflection) and negatively related to maladaptive traits (social anxiety). The Ego-Dissolution Inventory positively predicted adaptive reflexive self-consciousness. Frequency of ayahuasca use positively predicted public self; longer religious involvement predicted greater insight and lower ego-dissolution. Common dose positively predicted private and reflexive self and negatively predicted social anxiety, but these dose effects were mediated by mystical experience. The ceremonial use of ayahuasca may benefit self-consciousness through mysticism.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Recent studies have assessed that the mystical alterations in sense of self are the best candidates for improvements in self-consciousness and the therapeutic potentials of ayahuasca’s rituals. Here, we examine the predictive relations of self-consciousness by mysticism and ego-dissolution self-reports. A cross-sectional study was drawn to investigate which self-consciousness traits – private self, public self, social anxiety, self-reflection, insight, rumination, and reflection – could be predicted by the Hood Mysticism Scale (HMS) and Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI-8), as well as which psychological variables could be predicted by categorical variables regard ayahuasca use – frequency of use, self-related common dose and religion time – in a sample of ayahuasca religious users. A significant positive relation was found between HMS and adaptive self-consciousness traits, apart from insight, while a negative relation was found between HMS and maladaptive self-consciousness traits. Likewise, EDI-8 was a positive predictor of adaptative reflexive self-consciousness traits. Ayahuasca frequency was a positive predictor of public self, and religion time was a positive predictor of insight and a negative predictor of ego-dissolution. The common dose was a positive predictor of private and reflexive self, and a negative predictor of social anxiety, however dose effects on these self-consciousness traits were mediated by mystical experience. Our results suggest that the ceremonial use of ayahuasca may have positive value through mysticism, affecting different dimensions of self-consciousness. The present findings thus highlight the potential self-consciousness benefits of ayahuasca.