Seeking Spirituality: Can You Find God With Psychedelics?

Key Takeaways

• • True Fulfillment: Lasting fulfillment comes from a deep relationship with God, not from temporary spiritual experiences like psychedelics.

• • Discernment is Crucial: Psychedelics can lead to spiritual misalignment and confusion. Approach them with discernment and ensure they align with your faith.

• • Limits of Psychedelic Insights: Psychedelic experiences may offer glimpses of the divine, but they cannot replace the true wisdom and connection found in a relationship with God.

• • Psychedelic Passage: Your Psychedelic Concierge — The easy, legal way to find trustworthy psilocybin guides, facilitators and psychedelic ‘coaching’ near you in the United States.

Understanding The Spiritual Seeker: What Are People Looking For?

At the heart of spiritual exploration lies a deep yearning for connection—whether it’s with God, the universe, or one’s inner self. People embarking on a spiritual journey often seek meaning, purpose, healing, and a sense of belonging. They may grapple with feelings of emptiness, existential questions, or a desire to transcend the material world.

In the modern American context, many lives lack a sense of sacredness. The pace of daily life, the focus on material success, and the distractions of consumer culture have contributed to a spiritual void.

As a result, it’s understandable that people are yearning for pathways and tools to reintroduce sacredness and spirituality into their lives. This longing drives them to explore various avenues—whether through traditional religious practices, meditation, or the use of psychedelics—in an attempt to reconnect with a deeper sense of the sacred.

People are not just looking for answers; they are seeking experiences that make them feel truly alive, connected to something greater than themselves, and part of a larger, meaningful whole. Still, the question remains: Can You Find God With Psychedelics?

The Connection Between Psychedelics and Religion: Navigating the Intersection with Caution

Psychedelics have long been intertwined with religious practices, particularly within organizations that regard these substances as sacred sacraments. For instance, the Santo Daime Church, a Christian-based community, uses ayahuasca in its ceremonies, believing it facilitates a deeper connection with God. 

Similarly, The Church of the Eagle and Condor secured legal protection to use ayahuasca under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA). These examples show how psychedelics are being integrated into religious frameworks, where they are seen as tools to enhance spiritual experiences.

However, the intersection of psychedelics and religion is fraught with complexities, especially in a culture where consumerism has deeply infiltrated spirituality. In today’s world, the search for genuine spirituality is often complicated by the pervasive influence of consumerism, which shifts the focus from a heart-centered relationship with God to the pursuit of external experiences. 

Consumerism Invading Spirituality

The rise of “spiritual wellness influencers” promoting psychedelics as a universal solution can be particularly misleading. These influencers often bombard people with messages that equate spiritual growth with material possessions or momentary experiences.

This consumer-driven approach can lead to a shallow pursuit of spiritual highs, leaving individuals disillusioned when these experiences fail to produce lasting fulfillment. 

Recommended Reading: How to Avoid Consumerist Traps in the Psychedelic Industry

In our work within the psychedelic industry, we have observed people who, after taking psychedelics, experience what feels like a profound spiritual awakening, only to find themselves feeling empty months later. This emptiness often arises because the experience didn’t translate into a lasting relationship with God.

Staying True to God: A Call for Discernment

This brings us to the crucial role of discernment when navigating the intersection of psychedelics and religion. While some organizations may label themselves as religious and view psychedelics as sacraments, it’s important to recognize that not all practices are rooted in genuine spiritual growth. 

The rise of psilocybin churches and other spiritual groups, often operating under broad interpretations of RFRA, adds layers of complexity. If you are a person of faith, you have a responsibility to carefully discern whether these practices align with the core principles of your beliefs. You must be vigilant, ensuring you are not a lost sheep following other lost sheep. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.

The historical context of the 1960s and 1970s counterculture movement further illustrates this point. During this era, psychedelics were often embraced as a means to spiritual enlightenment, frequently in conjunction with explorations of Eastern religions, particularly Hinduism. 

Figures like Ram Dass, who became a prominent advocate for psychedelics and a key participant in the Krishna Das movement, symbolized this spiritual quest. His philosophy, “You Are Your Own Guru,” appealed to many who were seeking spiritual guidance from external figures, often referred to as gurus.

However, this external search can be fraught with danger. Just as we see today with the proliferation of self-proclaimed “psychedelic shamans,” relying on external experiences or figures can easily lead one astray. 

Can Psychedelics Change Your Religious Beliefs? 

The Two Meanings of Religion: A Clarification

When we talk about religion, it’s important to distinguish between two different meanings that are often conflated but are, in fact, quite separate. The first meaning of religion refers to a set of beliefs and practices associated with identifying as a member of a particular faith tradition, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, or any other organized religion. This form of religion is about belonging to a community of faith, adhering to certain doctrines, and participating in rituals and practices that define that faith.

The second meaning of religion, however, refers to the act of doing something “religiously”—a routine or practice that is performed out of habit or obligation, often without genuine emotional or spiritual engagement. This type of religion is concerned more with checking boxes, following rules, and maintaining appearances, rather than cultivating a heartfelt relationship with the divine.

Many people today have unfortunately mixed these two meanings together, leading to a form of spiritual practice that is focused on external actions rather than internal transformation. The Bible warns against this kind of empty religiosity:

• • Isaiah 29:13 (NIV): “The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.'”

This verse highlights the danger of a spiritual practice that is all about outward appearances and ritualistic behavior but lacks true connection with God. In this kind of religion, the heart is absent, and the relationship with God becomes superficial, driven by the desire to follow rules rather than by love and devotion.

As we explore the use of psychedelics in spiritual contexts, it’s essential to keep this distinction in mind. Psychedelics can indeed change one’s perspective on religion, but they cannot change the essence of what it means to be in a relationship with God. 

It’s one thing to have a religious experience; it’s another to cultivate a lasting, heartfelt connection with the Creator, which is what true religion—faith, love, and devotion—ultimately aims to achieve.

The Risks of Spiritual Misalignment Through Psychedelics

One of the most significant risks of using psychedelics for spiritual purposes is the potential for spiritual misalignment. Psychedelics can exacerbate and amplify pre-existing spiritual conditions, pushing someone deeper into their current beliefs, whether they are grounded in truth or not.

In the same way, psychedelics can also diminish pre-existing spiritual conditions, leading someone away from their current beliefs, again, regardless of their foundation in truth. This is not a matter to take lightly; the stakes are high when it comes to one’s spiritual well-being.

This risk is particularly dangerous when someone doesn’t know what they’re looking for. Without a clear understanding or goal, it can be difficult to recognize the true nature—whether good or evil—of what is encountered during a psychedelic experience. 

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. And though we are free to do all things, not all things are good for us.

Even so, while there are inherent risks in using psychedelics for spiritual connection, these risks are not mitigated by fear but by a deep reverence for God. For those who choose to use psychedelics in their spiritual journey, remember that even if aspects of the experience are challenging or potentially harmful, God can transform them for good, using them as a means to draw you closer to Him.

However, for God to work in this way, you must say yes to Him. God knocks at the door of your heart, but it’s up to you to open it. He is a gentleman who respects the free will He has given you and will not intrude where He is not invited.

Integrating Psychedelic Revelations Into True Religious Values

Psychedelic revelations might feel profound in the moment, but without a lasting relationship with God, they can leave one feeling more adrift than anchored. In contrast, a genuine relationship with God always comes with practical wisdom that provides not just momentary enlightenment but lasting guidance and security. Insights gained during a psychedelic experience that don’t translate into practical, everyday wisdom can lead to greater existential confusion rather than clarity.

Therefore, if you belong to a particular religion, it’s essential to consider whether you want to maintain your identification with that faith when engaging with psychedelics and to consider whether your current relationship with God supports the use of psychedelics for spiritual purposes. 

If so, it may be crucial to seek out a facilitator who shares your religious values to ensure that your experiences are integrated within the framework of your beliefs. Without this integration, the insights gained from psychedelics can lead to a sense of spiritual disarray rather than true spiritual growth.

Psychedelics & The Slippery Slope to Self-Idolatry

A growing concern in the psychedelic community is the tendency for some to experience what can be described as a form of spiritual superiority or even self-idolatry. After a profound psychedelic experience, some individuals come away with the belief that they have achieved a god-like status, leading to arrogance, detachment from others, and a distorted sense of self.

Related Content: Does The Heroic Psychedelic Dose Downplay The Hero’s Journey?

This phenomenon is not new; it echoes the ancient struggle with pride that has been warned against throughout the ages. When a person begins to see themselves as god-like, they step onto a dangerous path, one that distances them from true humility and the recognition of their human limitations.

God has secrets known to no one, but the wisdom revealed belongs to us and to our children forever. While He may choose to reveal certain truths to us, these revelations are given according to His will and purpose, not our own. The knowledge we receive is not for self-exaltation, but for the purpose of guiding us in living according to His teachings.

When individuals turn to psychedelics seeking divine wisdom, they must remember that any insights gained are not the full measure of truth, but rather a glimpse granted by God’s grace. To believe that one has accessed the totality of divine knowledge or has become god-like is to fall into the trap of pride. 

Where were you when God laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much… Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? Who kept the sea inside its boundaries? Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!

These questions underscore the vastness of God’s creation and the limits of human understanding. They remind us that, no matter how profound our experiences or insights may seem, we are still far from comprehending the full scope of God’s wisdom and the secrets of the universe.

Thus, the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment through psychedelics should be approached with the utmost humility. It is crucial to recognize that any understanding we gain is partial and should lead us to a deeper reverence for God, not a sense of self-idolatry. The secret things belong to God, and it is by His grace alone that any truth is revealed to us.

Conclusion: The Question of Choice

In the end, the question of whether you can find God with psychedelics is secondary to the question of whether you should use them to do so. God can use anything to meet you where you’re at. Sometimes what’s bad for us isn’t about the “what” but about the “how” and the “why.” 

The basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, we can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. 

In the same way, though we may see God’s invisible qualities through a psychedelic experience, we must acknowledge that, like the universe, psychedelic experiences are part of what has been created– they are not the Creator. 

If you truly seek a relationship with God, the best approach is to ask Him to reveal Himself to you. God’s presence is not confined to a mushroom experience; He exists beyond it as the Creator of all things. Psychedelics may offer a reflection of the Creator, but the best way to find God is to go directly to the source: Him.

He will speak to you; the question is, are you willing to listen? Remember, the one true God loves you enough to tell you the truth, even if it’s hard to hear. Ask yourself: Are you looking for the truth, or are you looking for something that appeases you and your lifestyle?

If you choose to explore the psychedelic path, do so with discernment and humility, understanding that no mushroom experience or any singular life event, no matter how profound or spiritual, can fill the God-shaped void within us. Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever has a true relationship with God will never thirst.

Exploring the Spiritual Landscape: Where to Go Next

As you delve deeper into the complex relationship between psychedelics and spirituality, it’s important to explore related topics that can further enhance your understanding and guide your journey.

• • How Psychedelic Therapy Can Affect Our Social Conditioning: Uncover how psychedelics can challenge and reshape the societal norms and beliefs that shape our lives.

• • A Facilitator’s Guide to Ethical Psychedelic Practices: Learn the importance of ethics in psychedelic facilitation, ensuring that your spiritual journey is supported with integrity and care.

• • How to Build Your Personalized Psychedelic Care Team: Discover the steps to create a support network tailored to your unique needs, including how to choose an appropriate spiritual leader for your team.

• • Is an Ego Death Necessary for Psychedelic Therapy Benefits?: Delve into whether experiencing an ego death is essential for reaping the benefits of psychedelic therapy.

• • Spiritual Emergence vs. Spiritual Emergency: Understand the fine line between profound spiritual experiences and potential crises, and how to navigate these intense moments with care and discernment.

These resources will provide you with valuable insights and practical guidance as you continue your exploration of spirituality through the lens of psychedelics.

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