The growing death positivity movement encourages open discussion about mortality, challenging the societal tendency to avoid or glorify death, which prevents us from living a richer life. Groundbreaking research on psychedelics like DMT shows that they can therapeutically mimic Near-Death Experiences, offering a pathway to confront the fear of death and gain clarity on priorities, bridging the gap between our personal mortality and diverse cultural practices of honoring the dead.
Key Takeaways.
- Death Positivity Can be Life Affirming: Consciously engaging with and accepting the reality of our own death (as opposed to avoiding it) is essential for living a more intentional, meaningful, and richer life.
- Psychedelics Mimic NDEs: Psychedelic experiences and Near-Death Experiences alike can often lead to the dissolution of the fear of death and feelings of psychological rebirth.
- Cultural Distance Shields Us From Death: Modern Western society employs structures (like immediate removal of bodies by first responders) that distance us from death, contrasting with more intricate, communal death rituals found in other cultures (like in Vietnam).
- Psychedelic Passage: Your Psychedelic Concierge — The easy, legal way to find trustworthy psilocybin guides, facilitators and psychedelic-assisted therapy near you in the United States
Before we start, I want to be clear that we stand in solidarity for anyone with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, each and everyone of us have our own battle with mental health and we fully stand with anyone dealing with death in a negative way themselves right now.
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When we talk about death positivity, we aren’t celebrating death, we aren’t promoting death or suicide. We’re here to discuss the nature of the personal relationship with your own death, something that all of us grapple with, and how psychedelics can be a part of that process.
If this topic brings up a lot of strong or uncomfortable emotions for you, we encourage you to explore some of our other material.
Our society’s natural avoidance and glorification of death has become increasingly apparent, but at the same time the death positivity movement has been gaining traction.
While many cultures integrate elaborate rituals to honor the dead, we often neglect engaging with our own mortality, despite its profound influence on life choices and legacy building.
Research demonstrates that high-intensity psychedelic experiences, particularly with DMT, can therapeutically mimic Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), leading to feelings of euphoria and the dissolution of the fear of death. These “virtual death” experiences can function as powerful catalysts for psychological rebirth and transformation.
By facing death, rather than avoiding it, we can gain clarity on our priorities, as exemplified by the exercise of setting a “last week alive” alarm. Ultimately, the concept of Memento Mori reminds us that accepting our own finality is the key to creating a richer, more meaningful life.
This article is inspired by our insightful podcast episode hosted by Psychedelic Passage co-founder, Jimmy Nguyen, which you can listen to on all streaming platforms.
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Why Does Death Positivity Matter?
If you knew you were going to live for a thousand years, how would that impact the choices you make?
There’s a lot of stigma surrounding death, but it happens to be extremely important to the living experience. Death can greatly impact our principles, relationships, actions, and we are so avoidant towards it as a society. We almost treat death as a spectacle, making movies, songs, and TV shows about it.
Maybe our tendency to treat it as a spectacle stems from the Roman circus times, when crowds would watch men fight to the death for sport, or hung in the streets for their crimes.
Whatever the case, death is woven into the fabric of life, death is the reason we do anything at all, whether we realize it or not, because our life expires at some point, and we don’t have all the time in the world, so what we do matters.
We all relate to death whether we’re conscious of it or not. Why do people care about their legacy? Why do people try to become successful? It’s not only for their own benefit, but it’s about leaving a mark on the world when you’re gone.
It’s in these ways that we almost try to cheat death. By creating a legacy, you open the door to feeling like you’ve achieved immortality.
Coupled with the fact that we are one of the only species that has complex processes and rituals around death, it’s funny how taboo death is in our society when a new TV show about a serial killer comes out every year. Is it how we’ve distanced ourselves that drives this curiosity?
Cultural Differences in Honoring the Dead
There’s been an unfathomable number of different cultures over the millennia, each with their own way of dealing with death. Many cultures believe in preparing or helping the “spirit” of the deceased pass on to the “other side,” but they each do it in their own unique way.
Our founder, Jimmy Nguyen shares a salient example of the cultural differences in the way we deal with death. Growing up on the south side of Chicago, he had many catholic friends and he was surprised to learn it was their tradition to have an open-casket wake before a funeral.
That’s a culturally specific ritual that Jimmy, as a child, was not aware of and not really prepared for either.
When he flew back to Vietnam in 2019 with his family for the death of his grandmother, it was illuminating to see the difference in traditions surrounding death.
The funeral happened in the living room of his mother’s childhood home where his grandmother was embalmed and her body was entombed in a casket.
A spiral candle was placed under the casket that burns for 7 days as well, which represents helping their ancestors pass into the great beyond. More than that there were singers, dancers, actors, music, and the entire neighborhood came to show their respects.
It was at that moment that Jimmy realized the unique cultural differences in honoring death and the dead. Not only that, but he realized that death with all its intricate rituals we create, is distanced from our everyday lives.
Societal Structures that Buffer us from Death
The irony being that many cultures have such important rituals surrounding death but don’t give our own death much attention or thought. A survey from caring.com showed that in 2024 only 32% of Americans have wills in place for when they die, and it dropped to 24% in 2025.
There seems to be a pattern of distancing ourselves from facing our own death, which we can see when you look at how first responders deal with dead bodies over the past 50 years.
Up until the mid 20th century, if someone died in a home, first responders would come to the home and pronounce them deceased, without removing the body, possibly for several days.
Since the creation of ambulances, to be pronounced dead someone must be taken from the home and brought to a coroner, where they’re then stored in a morgue until their funeral and burial.
It may not seem like much, but it’s in these small changes that we buffer ourselves from death, instead of leaning into the seriousness and finality of it.
This obviously isn’t a call to arms to go create a will or hang out with your dead grandma’s body, but it poses an interesting question. Why aren’t a majority of Americans preparing their estates for their imminent death?
Fungi and Its Role in Nature’s Rebirth Process
All mushrooms, psilocybin-containing strains included, have a composting nature— an extremely important aspect of the regenerative aspect of nature.
If it weren’t for mushrooms, nature would either have an expiration date, or earthworms would have to really step their game up.
Instead, mushrooms are able to take expired plant matter and turn it back into usable sustenance for new plants to use, until they ultimately expire themselves and repeat the cycle.
It’s interesting how mushrooms can breed rebirth not only in nature, but also in our minds.
Near-Death Experiences and their Effects
Interestingly enough, if someone experiences a near-death experience, and the finality of it, gains some tangibility in their eyes, they’re able to see what’s really important to them and make changes that reflect that.
Near-death experiences can certainly be traumatic, but an overwhelming majority of those who experience NDEs, report overwhelmingly positive emotions such as tranquility, joy and love, with studies indicating approximately 80–100% of individuals experiencing intensified positive affect during their NDE, in particular a feeling of deep peace (Greyson, 2003; Schwaninger et al., 2002).
How Psychedelics Relate to Death: What The Research Says
Death and rebirth processes can arise during psychedelic experiences in a way that almost mimics a NDE, and research shows they have very similar effects on people.
N,N-DMT and 5-MeO-DMT are the two psychedelics we most often refer to when talking about “DMT,” and it can come from plants, animals, and possibly is created in the human brain.
A study done in 2018 hypothesized that DMT could induce a state of consciousness as intense as a near death experience, and that the same heightened feeling of euphoria is felt in DMT experiences and NDEs alike (Timmermann, et al. 2018).
A study done in 2023, published by Michael et al, 2023, sought to find if there was any overlap between DMT experiences and NDEs in people who have experienced both. The results?
They found that, “There is a very high level of comparability between the original NDE and psychedelic experiences in general, including shared characteristics such as entering other worlds, meeting menacing or benevolent entities, experiencing synesthesia, perinatal regression, and lucid dreamlike properties. Much comparability was also identified with the 5MeO-DMT experience, in particular the major mystical experiential domains, such as ego dissolution, but especially transcendence of time and space.”
Coauthor David Luke also states that there is indirect evidence from animal studies that DMT is released in higher quantities at the point of death in the human brain, adding an interesting layer to the intersection of psychedelics and death.
There’s been studies on both psychedelic experiences and NDEs that found that both experiences can remove the fear of death, a fear that affects more people than you may think (Tassell-Matamua & Lindsay, 2015; Letheby, 2024).
What Psychedelic Users Report
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence around “virtual” death and rebirth processes during psychedelic experiences.
Many people might think they’re dying while being physiologically very stable, but they often come out of the experience feeling that it was quite therapeutic actually. This can be in the form of ego death and dissolution, and non-dual states of consciousness.
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There’s even an HBO documentary called Real Sports, in which retired MMA fighter Dean Lister takes psilocybin on screen and actually has an experience where he feels like he’s dying. When he comes out of the experience he feels like he has a new lease on life.
“One of my goals is not to glorify or encourage this, but I do want to normalize for anybody who has experienced death themes or death and rebirth or this virtual death experience or letting their old self die so that their new self can emerge into this world, you are definitely not alone and there is nothing wrong with you.” — Jimmy Nguyen
How This Relates to Our Own Psychedelic Experiences
Now that we’ve established that death is a popular theme in psychedelic use, whether it be experiencing the feeling of dying or connecting with a higher power, and that it can actually have a therapeutic effect, we can navigate psychedelic experiences better.
We can ask ourselves, ‘what can I learn from death without actually dying?’ and we can realize that it’s not about cheating or overcoming death, but that in strengthening our relationship with death, we are creating a richer life for ourselves.
The “Last Week Alive” Alarm
Jimmy shares a unique exercise he utilizes on a regular basis that helps him have a healthy relationship with his own death, something that he still fears, but from a place of reverence instead of trying to ignore it.
He has an alarm set on his phone that says, “last week alive,” and this allows him to engage with the idea, allowing himself to ask questions like “What would I do? Who would I call? What conversations would I have? What forgiveness would I give to people? What apologies would I need to make?”
As you can see, this exercise almost gently forces him to show up every day, to work towards making a real difference, and truly living in the moment.
“On one hand, I know that death can be disruptive, traumatic, and downright devastating, especially around the loss of loved ones. And on the other hand, it’s a universal human experience that we can learn a lot of. So now I view death as a very sacred and potent teacher, even though those lessons often come with a lot of grief and pain.” — Jimmy Nguyen
The Death Positivity Movement
There’s a group of people who believe in the death positivity movement, and they encourage people to speak openly about death, dying, and corpses as a way to decrease anxiety surrounding death, eliminate the silence around our own deaths, and encourage more diversity in end of life care options available to the public.
They believe that open communication surrounding death is a cornerstone of a healthy society, and there’s many organizations that promote that school of thought like The Order of the Good Death, Going With Grace, and a special shout out to the organization in Nguyen’s hometown of Asheville, NC called the Center for Conscious Living and Dying.
Memento Mori
So as we wrap up this article, we leave you with a phrase that has withstood the test of time. As the latin term “Memento Mori” goes, remember death, or remember we all die, and in doing so we live life more fully.
As Socrates says in Plato’s Phaedo, “The one aim of those who practice philosophy in the proper manner is to practice for dying and death.”
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again. Learning from those who have walked the path before us can help ensure safety and benefit maximization moving forward.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the core idea of “Death Positivity,” and why does it matter to the living?
The core idea of Death Positivity is not celebrating death, but encouraging open engagement with our own mortality. This matters because acknowledging the finiteness of life—as captured by the phrase Memento Mori (“remember you will die”)—forces us to prioritize our values, relationships, and actions, ultimately creating a more meaningful and purposeful life.
2. How do modern societal structures “buffer” us from death, and what is the consequence?
Societal structures buffer us by physically distancing death, such as changing first responder protocols to remove bodies immediately rather than leaving them in the home for a period. The consequence is a cultural avoidance of our own mortality, which is reflected in low statistics like the declining percentage of Americans who have wills.
3. How do psychedelics, particularly DMT, relate to Near-Death Experiences (NDEs)?
Research suggests that high-intensity psychedelic experiences, especially with DMT, can therapeutically mimic NDEs. Studies show a high comparability in subjective experiences, including ego dissolution, euphoria, and transcendence of time and space. These “virtual death” experiences can be therapeutic by reducing the pervasive fear of death.
4. What is the significance of the “Last Week Alive” exercise?
The “Last Week Alive” exercise, where one sets an alarm to regularly confront the idea of having one week left to live, is a practical tool for intentionality. It gently forces an individual to assess their priorities, address unresolved conflicts, and make changes that align with their true values, thereby showing up fully in the present moment.
5. Why do you mention mushrooms’ role in nature’s cycle?
We mention fungi because they highlight a cycle of death and rebirth in nature. Mushrooms decompose expired plant matter, turning it into sustenance for new life. This regenerative process serves as an analogy for the psychological “death and rebirth” (like ego dissolution) that can occur during a psychedelic experience, leading to mental renewal.
References
Greyson, B. (2003). Incidence and correlates of near-death experiences in a cardiac care unit. General Hospital Psychiatry, 25(4), 269–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0163-8343(03)00042-2
Letheby, C. (2024). How Do Psychedelics Reduce Fear of Death? Neuroethics, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12152-024-09564-3
Michael, P., Luke, D., & Robinson, O. (2023). This is your brain on death: a comparative analysis of a near-death experience and subsequent 5-Methoxy-DMT experience. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1083361
Tassell-Matamua, N. A., & Lindsay, N. (2015). “I’m not afraid to die”: the loss of the fear of death after a near-death experience. Mortality, 21(1), 71–87. https://doi.org/10.1080/13576275.2015.1043252
Timmermann, C., Roseman, L., Williams, L., Erritzoe, D., Martial, C., Cassol, H., Laureys, S., Nutt, D., & Carhart-Harris, R. (2018). DMT Models the Near-Death Experience. Frontiers in Psychology, 9(9). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01424
Schwaninger, J., Eisenberg, P. R., Schechtman, K. B., & Weiss, A. N. (2002). Journal of Near-Death Studies, 20(4), 215–232. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1015258818660
