Entheogens, Healing, and the Sacred

The rising use of psychedelic substances in modern psychology stems from a focus on symptom management rather than holistic healing. The true cause of mental distress is a widespread 'crisis of meaning' that has led religion to be replaced by psychology, blurring the line between the psychological and the spiritual. Modern societies have lost a sense of the sacred. Entheogens cannot substitute for a true 'science of the soul' that offers a more satisfying conception of reality and a fuller understanding of humanity. A properly integrated approach to healing must draw on the deeper wisdom of the world's spiritual traditions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The quest for more holistic forms of treatment and healing in modern psychology has been provoked by its sole focus on the management of symptoms. This has led to an alarming rise in the use of psychedelic substances. Yet the true cause behind these maladies of the mind is the burgeoning ‘crisis of meaning’ that we find in the world today. This largely undiagnosed predicament has led to religion being supplanted by psychology, and to the realm of the psyche becoming confused with that of the spiritual. Modern societies have clearly lost a sense of the sacred. To the extent that we fail to see this, the use of entheogens will never be able to replace a true “science of the soul,” which offers a more satisfying conception of reality, and a fuller understanding of what it means to be human. In this way, we may discover a properly integrated approach to healing that is grounded in the deeper wisdom to be found in the world’s time-honored spiritual traditions.