Psychedelics as a spiritual practice! (Need your perspective!)

[Verg0]

Hey everyone! 

I was invited to give a presentation at a psychedelic symposium and just realized this is quite a big event from Kings College London`s Psychedelic Reasearch department.  And it's happening in a week. Now I am nervous and wanna come up with some very valuable, novel, memorable and exciting perspectives that engage this mostly academic audience. 

I am just a little psychonaut , having explored and studied the realm of psychedelics and self-realization on my own over the past 9 years. 

I wanna talk about "Psychedelicss as a spiritual practice: The dance of detached appreciation" and would love to gather reflections on my ideas to structure the talk. 

Also, I would love your perspectives on the topic!! 

How do you think Psychedelics could be used as a spiritual practice?

Can psychedelics be a true spiritual practice? What does that even mean? What is the relationship between psychedelics and self-realizaiton? How do we deal with the paradox that they may "accelerate" spiritual development through intese purification, while the pursuit of and attachment to a goal in spirituality may itself be a trap? How does integration fot into all of this? And what dangers and pitfalls do we have to be aware of when using psychedelics as a spiritual practice? 

Any critial, amazing resources regarding this are also very welome! 

 

Here`s some ideas I got already: 

1. Psychedelics as Training Grounds for "Spiritual Traits"
-Seeing them as training for deep spiritual traits.
Deep psychedelic journeys help us cultivate humility, surrender, patience, resilience, non-judgment, detachment, acceptance, forgiveness and other traits aligned with Truth. 
So if we consciously approach psychedelics as a space for practice, we mature spiritually. 

2. Psychedelics as the Direct Recognition of Reality
They reveal the deeper nature of existence: Selflessness, Unity, Omnipresence, Perfection, Goodness -  and all the other facets of God Leo covered in many of his videos. 
It’s about direct experience of qualities of reality and existence. 

3. Psychedelics as the Path of Paradox
Psychedelics work seems to be infinite. They make the realize deep not-knowing. The mystery beyond language. Beyond scientific understanding. 

 

Also we got things like:

-The Reality of Substance-Induced Awakening

-Psychedelics as  a "Truth -revealing- state". 

-The value of temporary mystical peak expereinces 

-The reality that your classical mystcial experience is in no way guarandeed through psychedelics (it seems to be a matter of grace - even though psychedelics are infinitely more reliable for this than something like yoga retreats) 

-Psychedelic bypassing 

 

And most importantly, what I wanna make the centerpiece of the talk - which is an idea that was arising from my personal insights: 

That Psychedelics as a true spiritual practice shall be an end in and of themselves, not a means to an end. 

Just as true Meditation is not a means to reach "Enlightenment/Awakening", but an end in and of itself. It is the embodiment of Truth. Here. Now. 

This speaks to the trap of chasing the high, of attaching to peak expereinces, of deeming them to be better or superior to ordinary states of conciousness. 

I feel the view "I take psychedelics to be more realized or healed or whatever" is fundamentally flawed, even though they might hold the potential for that to be the case to some extent. 

From my point of view, all states of cociousness are Truth. And so the best practice I can do is to appreciate every state with uncondictional, infinite appreciation. 

And psychedelics are an amazing place for this practice, as it`s so easy to attach to the bliss and be aversed to and judge the demons. 

We attach to appearances while the core of spirituality is not to hold on to any appearance whatsoever. 

Simply to love all appearances. To love them. 

 

There is more - but this is just my little incomplete rant for a start. 

 

What are your reflections of this? 

How could I structure the talk in a way where I center it around one crutial idea, that the audience takes away, that is of immense value? 

(Any public speaking tipps are also warmly welcome - it will be a 45 minute presentation) 

To balance it with personal stories and maybe "real data" - whatever that even means. 

Any other contributions or insights? 

 

Thanks ❤️

 

PS - Leo, have you ever thought about speaking at psychedelic conferences & events? I feel your contributions might be much appreciated. 

I love to work in person, it opens up completely new realms beyond speaking into a camera. 

 

 

[OBEler]

@Verg0 hey I love your channel because it's unique about 5 Meo and love to follow your personal journey.

I am highly academic myself (have two degrees in different subjects) so I just give you some advice how to speak to such an audience:

As you already know probably you cannot speak like in your channel in unstructured, repetitive way. Be clearly pointed. Do not repeat  a point with different words over and over again.

Don't speak about your own journey , that's highly subjective, be more general.

Don't speak too much about soft facts like motivation and feelings. Don't be a philosoph. Don't talk like a Buddhist who throws out wise words, concentrate on psychedelics. They want to hear about psychedelics.

Deliver high quality facts. I know you are more the feeling guy who entertains. I would be careful to not fulfill the clichees, like represent the typical ayahuasca hippie. Deliver facts and remember quality over quantity. Also I recommend to get a hair cut, wear normal clothes, put your nose strips off, hide your pipe. They will judge that quickly.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 8 by OBEler

[Rising Spirit]

In all honesty, my spiritual journey actually began as a boy.  An accidental near-drowning gave me a NDE and an OBE that changed my views forever.  Granted, as viewed from a child's perspective.  But after imbibing LSD in 1977, I learned the power and illumination of sacred medicines.  This naturally, led to my fascination for Yogic philosophy and practices.  Yes, to this day I credit psychedelics with giving me a taste of Samadhi.  But honoring the spiritual paths and bringing their teachings into my day-to-day existence has become secondary nature.  And when speaking before an assemblage as you will be, my advice is to be as clear and concise as possible.  Few lay persons can comprehend nonduality nor the living Spiritus, given their proclivity towards factual reasoning.  Therefore, it's best to present your talk as not neccussarily being a "sermon" rather, a provocative invitation and as succinctly as you can.  I feel that there is a definite science to enlightenment/ spiritual awakening and as such, there is a lot of ground to cover.  Play it as rooted and clear headed as you can. 

Namaste 🙏 

Edited March 8 by Rising Spirit

[Verg0]

@OBEler  Thanks for the input! Just got a haircut  

I am gonna be very clear and structured in my talk, but I am not sure how much I can deliver my presentation with every argument backed up by some reserach paper. I don't really have the time or desire to prepare the facts in such a scientifically grounded, academic way. 

I want to present what I feel is true, and do that authentically. Not hide behind aynthing. And I do want to talk about big picture perspectives and radical ideas. And the topic of sspirituality is a hard one to wrap around "facts" in geneal, I have has some difficulty wraping my mind around that in the last few days. 

When you mean, "concentrate on facts around psychedelics" , what does that mean in relation to the topic of this talk "Psychedelics as a spiritual practice"?? 

I'll share my new refine loose structure that I worked out in the next post: 

[Verg0]

Theme:

Exploration of the paradox of psychedelics as a spiritual practice—both as tools for deep transformation and as reminders that there is nothing to attain. 

How we`re gonna cover that - 3 steps 

0- Foundations: 

Define spirituality & spiritual practice (thats a hard one) 

1- The progressive Path/Model of spirituality & how psychedelics can assist that practice 

This is seen in most religious and mystical traditions:
Buddhism (The Noble Eightfold Path, progressing toward Nirvana)
Christianity (Sanctification, spiritual purification over a lifetime)
Hinduism (The Four Yogas—Bhakti, Karma, Jnana, Raja—methods of progressive realization)
Sufism (Tariqa, a path of stages leading to divine union)
Psychological Models: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory (spiritual growth as stages)
Scientific Validation: Cognitive and developmental psychology support the idea that human consciousness develops in stages (Piaget, Kohlberg, Kegan). Studies on meditation and neuroplasticity also show that spiritual practice rewires the brain over time, reinforcing a progressive development model.

 

Psychedelics as a tool for spiritual development.
Facilitating the ascension of this journey. 
They can do that in many ways, i just wanna mention 4 here: 
1- Cultivation of traits / "virtues" (Courage, trust, surrender, patience, love and so on) 
2- Facilitating Insight & Remembering (Deep existential realizations)-  perspective about reality, existence, life, god, your Self - “Who am I?” 
Facilitation of genuine Inquiry into Truth. 
3- Practice of Dying 

Death-rebirth process → acceleration of spiritual growth.
Cycle of purification and how psychedelics intensify and accelerate this process.
The practice of Death & Dying 
Psychedelics as conscious suffering 
Psychedelics & Near Death experiences similarities research  
Chris Bache // Grof Maps as Science Data backup // COEX Systems

4-An “experience” of  the Absolute 

The reach for the Absolute: The reality of deepening experiences → Moving further into infinity, higher states, deeper truths.
The notion that we must move beyond ourselves and surrender more and more deeply to experience the ultimate.
Example: 5-MeO-DMT, near-death experiences, deep meditative absorption into the beyond.

 

Briefly mentioning - 

Dangers, Pitfalls, Challenges & Integration & Nuances. 

2 - The Absolute Perspective of Spiritual Practice & Psychedelics as a practice of detached appreciation 

Many non-dual traditions challenge the idea of progress:
Zen Buddhism: "You are already enlightened, just recognize it."
Advaita Vedanta: "Tat Tvam Asi" (You are That), realization happens in an instant.
Dzogchen (Tibetan Buddhism): The natural state is already pure awareness.
Christian Mysticism (Meister Eckhart, St. John of the Cross): Union with God is already present, not something to be achieved.
Psychedelic States: Many report a direct “timeless” realization of ultimate truth—paralleling these traditions.

 Scientific Validation: Research on mystical experiences (Griffiths et al., 2006; Pahnke, 1969) shows that peak psychedelic states can induce a spontaneous recognition of unity, transcendence of self, and loss of time-based progression. Studies on meditation (Samadhi, Flow States) reveal that non-dual awareness is associated with deactivation of the Default Mode Network (DMN)—the same effect psychedelics produce.

“Seeking is suffering. To seek nothing is bliss.”
The paradox: If the Absolute is everything, then it is also this moment, right here.
We move beyond progress, chasing, seeking
All states are valid. All appearances are truth. No hierarchy of experience. (Too radical??) 
The highest realization is that there is nothing to attain.
The paradox of progress: from this perspective, there is no spiritual path at all—it’s all already perfect.
The Absolute is not just beyond—it is also immanent, present in everything

This is where detached appreciation comes in → Infinite love for all states.
-Spirituality is not about preferring one state over another but recognizing the one who sees.
Relate it to psychedelic practice: The practice becomes seeing the seer 
Detached appreciation → we do not attach to psychedelic states or peak experiences but love them unconditionally. - That becomes the practice! 
And then the psychedelic experience does not become a means to an end, but is an end in and of itself. Just as true meditation shall be.  -
Detachment as integration: Do not judge any state. Do not attach to any state. Do not prefer any state over any other. 

3- The Paradox & Integration 

 

 Integrating the Two – Where Do They Meet?
Many traditions blend both (e.g., Christianity: "Be still and know" vs. "Strive for holiness")
. -Acknowledge similarities but also disagreements, come back to not-knowing. 
Psychedelics show both models.

Enjoy the journey. Enjoy the tension, the paradox, the suffering, the seraching  - all of it. Love it. Appreciate it! 

The key is integration, avoiding the traps of bypassing or dogmatic progression.
Psychedelics redirect us to that: appreciation of simple things (Grof findings) 

The realization that both perspectives are true at the same time.
Holding both perspectives at once: psychedelics can be a path of progress, but progress itself is an illusion.
-Is there data or research on Paradox as an inherent feature of reality? 
The challenge of integration: How do we live in this paradox?

We can honor both the progressive path and the non-seeking path without contradiction.
Recognizing language's limitations—truth is beyond words and frameworks.
Traps and pitfalls (spiritual bypassing, attachment to peak experiences, superiority complex, psychedelic escapism).
The importance of the foundation of spiritual work
The humility of not knowing—embracing mystery and paradox.
The most holistic, mature spiritual practice acknowledges we don’t know.
Bringing wisdom into daily life → Grounding insights in love, service, and presence. 
Psychedelic Integration = Life itself 
Taking action: “let the beauty we love be what we do” - Rumi 

 

 

 

I know that´s a lot. Any help simplifying, clarifying or cutting out things is welcome <3 

[Verg0]

@Rising Spirit Love that! I really want to be as clear and concise as possible as I am well aware of the difficulty for some to comprehend nonduality.

A "provocative invitation"  -I love that, anything more than that seems almost impossible for a little 45 minute talk. 

[OBEler]

@Verg0 i know it will be difficult to always just deliver facts. I mean by facts more like a list of statements you think are true about psychedelics. I know there will be more subjective facts.

It will be extremely difficult to talk to them but a great challenge for you I think. Your channel is awesome 👍 

[OBEler]

It would be great to make it clear that psychedelics are different from heroin, weed, and that alcohol is the most dangerous drug. 

They think probably that psychedelics are like cocaine.

[Davino]

The highest peaks of consciousness lie in the combination of yoga, contemplation, meditation and psychedelics.

One should have a solid meditation process. Then one should meditate on psychedelics.

One should have a solid yogic process. Then one should be in yoga on psychedelics.

One should have solid contemplation skills. Then one should contemplate on psychedelics.

One should be a serious psychonaut. Then one should trip inside psychedelic trips.

At the highest level, all should converge into a massive epic holistic omni-sided consciousness Awakening.

[Verg0]

@OBEler Thanks mate! 

I don't think poeple at the psychedelic reserach symposium confuse psychedelics with cocaine, but you never know. 

Sometimes I am shocked by the level of peoples understanding haha

[Verg0]

@Davino Love that! 

Thats`s a great foundation that makes total sense. 

[Davino]

On 8/3/2025 at 3:07 PM, Verg0 said:

How do we deal with the paradox that they may "accelerate" spiritual development through intese purification, while the pursuit of and attachment to a goal in spirituality may itself be a trap?

I feel you have baggage reagarding attachement. I've seen it in the way you communicate in this message and it's for the moment the only thing that doesn't ring true.

Consider why you care about detachment or non-atachement in the first place? Who told you that is worthy or a virtue? Buddhists? a friend? a youtube video? Deconstruct that

Then erase all memory from your mind and contemplate what is attachement? How does that process keep me alive? What are healthy attachments? What are self-destructive attachements? In what ways non-attachement disconnects me from life? In what ways non-attachement connects me with life? Is consciousness attached or non attached to its content? Is it so attached that it literally is its contents? and so on so forth you should contemplate.

For the moment, I just spoted this rough edge. Then this misunderstanding in your sense making distorts spirituality and psychedelic use.

From that place reconsider the title: "Psychedelicss as a spiritual practice: The dance of detached appreciation"

Because for me when I trip, what rings more true is profound interconnection with reality and in that well of course detachment happens as I take and saturate the space of Consciousness itself. Just make sure to balance properly the trascendental axis with the immanent axis, which connects us back again to the question of Psychedelics & Integration.

[Verg0]

@Davino Great pointer. 

I guess my attachment to detachment comes maily from the resonance with Bodhidharma. 

I'll take your words into my heart and see what emerges. 

[Davino]

@Verg0 I recorded an insight few days ago that may come in handy to reconcile the direct vs progressive paths. I was trying to reconcile it myself for years and I finally cracked it.

I was on Malt so my voice may sound curious.

Edited March 11 by Davino

[OBEler]

1 hour ago, Verg0 said:

@OBEler Thanks mate! 

I don't think poeple at the psychedelic reserach symposium confuse psychedelics with cocaine, but you never know. 

Sometimes I am shocked by the level of peoples understanding haha

Expect total ignorance from normal people.

[Davino]

@Verg0 Btw, great work!

Sometimes we focus on things to polish but you've something great going on here. Congratulations for the opportunity!

How did it come to be?

[Jodistrict]

Here is some input from spiritual teachers.

 

 

[Verg0]

@Davino @Davino Beautiful bro. I have had the same insight.  Thanks for sharing. 

The opportunity came because of a nice little connection. I met this woman at a psychedelic conference event last year and we chatted for about 5 minutes, exhanged Instagram and danced a bit at the afterparty. She followed my content, became interested in coaching & I gave her a free session. 

She followed my content even more and recenty we chatted again about her joining my paid community. That`s when she said that she is part of the King`s College Psychedelic Society and asked if I might be interested at presenting there. 

It shows again that connection is everything. Networking, making friends & helping them is one of the most powerful activities for actualizing one's life purpose. Everything comes from connection to other people. 

[Verg0]

@Jodistrict

Thanks. I don't really resonate with what most spiritual teachers say about psychedelics. Their understanding feels very incomplete to me. 

But maybe I am the one that is decieved. But maybe not. Who knows. 

[Verg0]

For anyone interested, I decided to completely restructure the talk, leave out stuff that I assume might be too advanced for the audience & this is what it looks like now (roughly): 

Summary of My Presentation: "Psychedelics as a Spiritual Practice"
For the past 9 years, I have dedicated my life to exploring the intersection of psychedelics and spirituality—and this talk is the culmination of my research, experience, and insights.

In this presentation, I explore a fundamental question:

Can psychedelics be a spiritual practice? If so, how?

🔹 What is Spirituality?

There is no universally agreed definition, but we can approach it from different angles:
1️⃣ Spirituality as Deconditioning – Freeing oneself from conditioning and beliefs.
2️⃣ Spirituality as Mystical Union – Awakening to unity with existence.
3️⃣ Spirituality as Embodiment – Living wisdom, compassion, and virtue.
4️⃣ Spirituality as the Pursuit of Truth – Direct experience of reality.

🔹 What is a Spiritual Practice?

A structured, intentional engagement with activities aimed at spiritual growth.
Examples are endless, but can psychedelics be one of them?

How Psychedelics Assist Spirituality in Three Key Ways

1️⃣ Psychedelics as Insight Catalysts 🔥
Psychedelics allow for a direct experience of expanded consciousness.
They facilitate deep insights into self, reality, love, and existence.
Scientific research shows that psychedelics reduce ego rigidity, open cognitive flexibility, and enable perspective shifts.
Common realizations:
✅ "I am not my thoughts."
✅ "I am loved / whole / enough."
✅ "Everything is connected."
✅ "Life is a gift."

2️⃣ Psychedelics as a Gateway to Mystical Experience
Psychedelics have the potential to induce profound mystical experiences:
🔹 Unity
🔹 Timelessness
🔹 Noetic insights
🔹 Infinite love
Research suggests 50-80% of participants in the right set and setting experience peak mystical states.
A glimpse of the Absolute. Not permanent enlightenment, but a transformative experience.

3️⃣ Psychedelics as Character Cultivators
Beyond peak experiences, psychedelics can shape long-term traits and deepen personal growth:
1️⃣ Courage & Responsibility – Facing fear, commitment to truth.
2️⃣ Surrender & Letting Go – Trust, relaxation, acceptance.
3️⃣ Humility & Open-Mindedness – Psychedelics shatter certainty and teach the power of not knowing.
4️⃣ Compassion & Connection – Increasing empathy, love, and interconnectedness.

Pitfalls of Psychedelics as a Spiritual Practice
⚠️ 1. Self-Deception & Certainty → The risk of false beliefs and spiritual ego inflation.
⚠️ 2. Spiritual Emergency → Deep, overwhelming realizations can lead to existential crises.
⚠️ 3. Ego Inflation & Bypassing → Seeking peak states instead of doing real, grounded inner work.

📌 Integration is Key. Psychedelics are powerful, but the real work happens in daily life—in how we embody wisdom, love, and presence.

Final Reflection: The Deepest Spiritual Realization?
💡 “What if spirituality is not about gaining insights, reaching mystical states, or transformation?
💡 What if the deepest realization is that there is nothing to seek, nowhere to go, and nothing to attain?”

For me, the answer became detached appreciation—loving and honoring every moment, every experience, every appearance—unconditionally.

Psychedelics are not a means to an end. They are an end in themselves.