ERIC Number: EJ1257075
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1935-3308
EISSN: N/A
Entheogenic Spirituality: Exploring Spiritually Motivated Entheogen Use among Modern Westerners
Johnstad, Petter G.
Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research, v12 n4 p244-260 Sum 2018
The use of entheogenic drugs in spiritual contexts among modern Westerners remains an understudied phenomenon. In order to explore these clandestine spiritual practices, 26 anonymous members of an internet discussion fora were interviewed regarding entheogen use and asked to describe their entheogen experiences. Interviewees self-selected for participation, and recruitment was continued until the sample included a diverse range in age, nationality, occupation, and relationship status. Respondents were predominantly males with stable jobs and living conditions. Most participants had extensive entheogen experience. Results indicated that respondents tended to follow a pattern of infrequent and often well-planned entheogen use, which they regarded as beneficial to their life and health. Entheogen sessions were characterized by insight into self, relations, and world. In addition, participants spoke of innervisions, feelings of peace, joy, and love, and occasional Maslovian peak experiences involving ego dissolution and what they interpreted as contact or unity with transcendent forces. Adverse experiences or "bad trips" also occurred, but participants emphasized the long-term value even of these experiences. In general, participants reported long-term consequences of healing and personal growth as the most important reason for entheogen use.
Descriptors: Drug Use, Spiritual Development, Computer Mediated Communication, Group Discussion, Interviews, Participant Characteristics, Gender Differences, Employment, Living Standards, Metacognition, Health Behavior, Health, Interpersonal Relationship, Self Concept, Psychological Patterns, Individual Development, Age Differences, Marital Status, Religion
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A