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Ayahuasca & Psychedelics Articles and Guides

Exploring psychedelics, consciousness, and human well-being at the meeting place of science, experience, and mystery


Sufi dervish swirling dance

Psychedelics and Mystical Experiences: What the Research Shows

Some people arrive at a mystical experience after decades of contemplative practice. Others arrive at one in a single afternoon, lying on a couch in a clinical trial with an eyeshade and a pair of headphones. Psychedelics have made these states — the dissolution of the self, a sense of unity with everything, the conviction that something profoundly true has been revealed — far easier to study, and far harder to dismiss.
Golden lake with a dark stone shore

Ego Dissolution: What Ayahuasca Can Do to the Sense of Self

Ego death, or ego dissolution, is often misunderstood. Drawing on neuroscience, clinical research, and spiritual traditions, this article explains what the experience really is, why it can promote healing and personal growth, and why lasting transformation depends not on the experience itself, but on thoughtful integration afterward. It also explores common misconceptions and what this experience does—and does not—mean.
Inside of a moloca ready for an ayahuasca ceremony.  Wooden plank floor, shipibo cloths on walls, view of trees through large screened windows

What It's Really Like at an Ayahuasca Retreat | Lessons From 380+ Retreats

The Shamanic Calling: A Detailed Anthropological Account

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14 Keys to a Better Ayahuasca Retreat

What can help someone navigate the often unpredictable ayahuasca experience? This article shares practical lessons about preparation, trust, surrender, clear intentions, and coping with challenging ceremonies. It also explores how to interpret unusual experiences carefully, why every person’s healing process is different, and how self-acceptance can become one of the most meaningful changes ayahuasca supports.