Editing Entheogen (section)

{{Short description|Psychoactive substances that induce spiritual experiences}}
{{Hatnote group|{{about|psychoactive substances in a spiritual context|general information about them|Psychoactive drug|and|Hallucinogen|the musical group|Entheogenic (band)}}
{{for|religious views on drugs|Religion and drugs}}
{{For|comparison of entheogens|List of substances used in rituals}}
{{distinguish|Ethnogenesis}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
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'''Entheogens''' are [[psychoactive substance]]s used in spiritual and religious contexts to induce [[altered states of consciousness]]. Hallucinogens such as the [[psilocybin]] found in so-called "magic" mushrooms have been used in sacred contexts since ancient times. Derived from a term meaning "generating the divine from within" entheogen have been used to facilitate transcendence, heaving, divination and mystical insight. <!--<ref name="CR-epp">Rätsch, Christian, ''The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications'' pub. Park Street Press 2005</ref><ref name="CR-epp"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Souza |first1=Rafael Sampaio Octaviano de |last2=Albuquerque |first2=Ulysses Paulino de |last3=Monteiro |first3=Júlio Marcelino |last4=Amorim |first4=Elba Lúcia Cavalcanti de |title=Jurema-Preta (Mimosa tenuiflora [Willd.] Poir.): a review of its traditional use, phytochemistry and pharmacology |journal=Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology |date=October 2008 |volume=51 |issue=5 |pages=937–947 |doi=10.1590/S1516-89132008000500010 |doi-access=free }}</ref> --> 

Entheogens have been used in various ways, including as part of established religious rituals and as aids for personal spiritual development.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |url=http://www.kentupper.com/resources/Entheogens+$26+Education--JDEA+2003.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009175718/http://www.kentupper.com/resources/Entheogens+$26+Education--JDEA+2003.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-10-09 |title=Entheogens & education: Exploring the potential of psychoactives as educational tools |author=Tupper, K.W. |journal=Journal of Drug Education and Awareness |year=2003 |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=145–161 |issn=1546-6965 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.csse.ca/CJE/Articles/FullText/CJE27-4/CJE27-4-tupper.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041229092745/http://csse.ca/CJE/Articles/FullText/CJE27-4/CJE27-4-tupper.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-12-29 |title=Entheogens and existential intelligence: The use of plant teachers as cognitive tools |author=Tupper, K.W. |journal=Canadian Journal of Education |year=2002 |volume=27 |issue=4 |pages=499–516 |doi=10.2307/1602247 |jstor=1602247 }}</ref> Anthropological study has established that entheogens are used for religious, magical, shamanic, or spiritual purposes in many parts of the world. Civilizations such as the Maya and Aztecs used psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, and morning glory seeds in ceremonies meant to connect with deities and perform healing. They have traditionally been used to supplement many diverse practices geared towards achieving [[Transcendence (religion)|transcendence]], including [[Folk healer|healing]], [[divination]], [[meditation]], [[yoga]], [[sensory deprivation]], [[asceticism]], [[prayer]], [[trance]], [[rituals]], [[chanting]], [[Imitation of sounds in shamanism|imitation of sounds]], [[hymns]] like [[peyote song]]s, [[drum]]ming, and [[ecstatic dance]]. 

In ancient Eurasian and Mediterranean societies, scholars have hypothesized the sacramental use of entheogens in mystery religions such as the Eleusinian Mysteries of ancient Greece. According to Ruck, Wasson, and Hofmann in ''The Road to Eleusis'', psychoactive kykeon brews may have been central to these rites, aimed at inducing visionary states and mystical insight.<ref>Carl A. P. Ruck, R. Gordon Wasson, and Albert Hofmann, ''The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries'', Harcourt, 1978.</ref> These interpretations emphasize entheogens not merely as tribal tools, but as central to high religious practices in antiquity.

In recent decades, entheogens have experienced a resurgence in academic and clinical research, particularly in psychiatry and psychotherapy. Clinical studies suggest that substances such as psilocybin and MDMA may assist in treating mental health conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety, especially in end-of-life care.<ref>Richards, William A. (2009). "The Rebirth of Research with Entheogens: Lessons from the Past and Hypotheses for the Future." ''Journal of Transpersonal Psychology'', vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 139–150.</ref> These developments reflect a broader reevaluation of entheogens not only as sacred tools but also as potentially transformative therapeutic agents.<!-- END: Added content to lead -->

The psychedelic experience is often compared to non-ordinary forms of consciousness such as those experienced in [[meditation]],<ref name="Millière-2018">{{Cite journal|last1=Millière|first1=Raphaël|last2=Carhart-Harris|first2=Robin L.|last3=Roseman|first3=Leor|last4=Trautwein|first4=Fynn-Mathis|last5=Berkovich-Ohana|first5=Aviva|date=2018-09-04|title=Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness|journal=Frontiers in Psychology|volume=9|page=1475|doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01475|issn=1664-1078|pmc=6137697|pmid=30245648|doi-access=free}}</ref> [[near-death experience]]s,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Timmermann|first1=Christopher|last2=Roseman|first2=Leor|last3=Williams|first3=Luke|last4=Erritzoe|first4=David|last5=Martial|first5=Charlotte|last6=Cassol|first6=Héléna|last7=Laureys|first7=Steven|last8=Nutt|first8=David|last9=Carhart-Harris|first9=Robin|date=2018-08-15|title=DMT Models the Near-Death Experience|journal=Frontiers in Psychology|volume=9|page=1424|doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01424|issn=1664-1078|pmc=6107838|pmid=30174629|doi-access=free}}</ref> and [[mystical experience]]s.<ref name="Millière-2018" /> [[Ego dissolution]] is often described as a key feature of the psychedelic state often resulting in perceived personal insight spiritual awakening, or a reorientation of values.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite journal|last1=Letheby|first1=Chris|last2=Gerrans|first2=Philip|date=2017-06-30|title=Self unbound: ego dissolution in psychedelic experience|journal=Neuroscience of Consciousness|volume=2017|issue=1|pages=nix016|doi=10.1093/nc/nix016|issn=2057-2107|pmc=6007152|pmid=30042848}}</ref> Though evidence is often fragmentary, ongoing research in fields like archaeology, anthropology, psychology, and religious studies continues to shed light on the widespread historical and contemporary role of entheogens in human culture.