Entheogenic Spirituality: Exploring Spiritually Motivated Entheogen Use among Modern Westerners

Autor/in	Johnstad, Petter G.
Titel	Entheogenic Spirituality: Exploring Spiritually Motivated Entheogen Use among Modern Westerners
Quelle	In: Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research, 12 (2018) 4, S.244-260 (17 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1935-3308
Schlagwörter	Drug Use; Spiritual Development; Computer Mediated Communication; Group Discussion; Interviews; Participant Characteristics; Gender Differences; Employment; Living Standards; Metacognition; Health Behavior; Interpersonal Relationship; Self Concept; Psychological Patterns; Individual Development; Age Differences; Marital Status; Religion + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Drug consumption; Substance abuse; Drogenkonsum; Computerkonferenz; Gruppendiskussion; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Geschlechterkonflikt; Dienstverhältnis; Lebensstandard; Meta cognitive ability; Meta-cognition; Metakognitive Fähigkeit; Metakognition; Health behaviour; Gesundheitsverhalten; Interpersonal relation; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonelle Beziehung; Zwischenmenschliche Beziehung; Selbstkonzept; Individuelle Entwicklung; Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Familienstand
Abstract	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. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Cedarville University. 251 North Main Street, Cedarville, OH 45314. Tel: 937-766-3242; Fax: 937-766-7971; e-mail: jeqr@comcast.net; Web site: http://www.jeqr.org/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01