Negative mystical experiences

Positive mood should not be a criterion for identifying mystical experiences in psychedelic studies. Unlike feelings of self-dissolution and time-transcendence, positive mood does not distinguish mystical experiences from other emotionally powerful states such as being in love. Other proposed mystical criteria can occur with non-positive moods, and framing all mystical experiences as solely positive is not more pragmatic.

Study at a glance

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.