Mysticism and Expanded Awareness: Embracing the Non-Dualistic Self
Part 3 of Understanding Psychedelics as Allies in Healing Series
by Katie Simons, PharmD, BCPS
Beyond the scientific explanations of why psychedelics are allies in healing, there’s a mystical side to psychedelics that speaks to something timeless and universal in human experience. This is where the scientific explanation for what happens in the brain when we ingest (or inhale…or receive) psychedelics ends, and the story continues.
See, we are brought up in a paradigm that has us believing we are our minds and that the only reality is one with can perceive through our physical senses. This is the paradigm of the Ego, and science can explain the disruption of this system in the brain with psychedelics. But, it fails to explain the profundity of experiencing the calm that occurs in the space of surrender - whether that surrender is intentional or not. To that point, often when there is resistance and fighting of the experience instead of surrender, things in the psychedelic space can become quite challenging. Both experiences have their value. The lessons of the psychedelic space are often not cognitive in nature, but felt and ineffable. A knowing that goes beyond explanation…
Seeing Beyond Your Self
To attempt an explanation none-the-less, psychedelics often offer a profound sense of simply being. The loosening of identity with mind and ego leaves one with a sense of… “phewwwwww”. A release, a surrender, a piece of peace. This particular felt sense can be the effect of not just macrodoses, but microdoses as well (depending on the psychedelic substance). In these moments, time itself can soften, and presence seems a bit more effortless—a state that doesn’t require us to strive, define, or control to the same extent as we do at baseline. The difference of this felt sense of being vs our normal state is often the source of profundity - we realize how tightly we are holding onto our normal state. Wow - we realize it’s exhausting! And phewwwwww.
In this way, this sense of “being” is deeply restorative, allowing us to experience life without the pressures of doing or fixing. For some, it can be slightly disconcerting - what about my to-do list? At the end of the day, if you can be with the beingness, it is highly empowering to realize you are not your mind, and you do not need to appease your mind. The ability to observe self can be nurtured from this place. From here, we just exist, and we observe the rest. It’s precisely this unburdened sense of being that acts as a balm for the mind, especially for those dealing with feelings of depression, anxiety, stress, or constant mental overactivity.
Ego Dissolution, Non-Dualism, and Energy
Flowing from this state of beingness is an experience known as ego death, what I prefer to call ego dissolution - a de-identification from the layers of “self” we so carefully construct: our roles, our identities, our stories, our judgments. This state is typically one associated with larger doses of psychedelic substances, and also experienced in its own unique way on individual’s paths with different psychedelics (or sometimes completely without any enhancement on journeys such as a spirit quests or through meditation). In the process of ego dissolution, the usual “I” that narrates our life falls away, creating a liberating sense of openness. Without the confines of ego (the self-preserving function of the DMN), we’re freed from rigid self-concepts, personal fears, and the constant pressure to define and defend ourselves. This state of de-identification can take a weight off, where we’re no longer tied to habitual narratives and are open to seeing ourselves and the world from a place of pure presence. For many, this feels like a reunion with an unconditioned self—a self not shaped by past hurts or future anxieties, but simply existing in a state of profound openness and curiosity.
This separation from ego and ability to be and observe self stands on the brink of the encounter with a non-dualistic perspective, where the boundaries between self and other, mind and body, human and nature, and even the observer and observed begin to dissolve or completely collapse. In these moments, individuals often have a profound sense of unity with all and the universe itself—a state where separation is understood as an illusion. This space can be described as the felt awareness of being both a part of God and a speck of dust at the same time. This non-dual awareness can sometimes be unnerving but has the potential to be deeply healing, reminding us that, beneath the surface of our daily struggles and individuality, we’re all part of a much greater whole. It’s like peering through a window into a deeper, more expansive reality, one that reveals our interconnectedness and invites us to move beyond fear-based separations.
This realization often brings an embodied understanding of spirituality—not as an abstract concept, but as a lived experience of unity and divinity. It reveals that we are both individual expressions of consciousness and inseparable parts of a greater whole. In this state, spirituality is not about seeking answers outside ourselves but trusting that the answers lie within because we are intrinsically connected to the larger web of existence. This is where self sovereignty becomes crucial: learning to trust the self as a vital thread in the universal tapestry. Insights that flow from this connection often feel intuitive yet profound, as if they arise not only from within but from the collective consciousness of which we are an integral part.
Another piece of the expanded awareness that often accompanies psychedelic use is the heightened sensitivity to energy fields—the subtle yet undeniable life force that exists within and around us. This awareness can manifest as a felt sense of one’s own energetic state or even a perception of the energetic interplay between oneself and others. In ceremonial settings, this sensitivity becomes even more pronounced, as facilitators like shamans, curanderos, or medicine people use tools like song, ritual, and movement to work within these energetic dimensions. Through their practices, energy is often redirected, harmonized, or cleansed, creating space for the participant to release burdens that may have felt intangible yet deeply real.
Where Mysticism Meets the Science
At this point, you might wonder if we’ve ventured too far into the realm of “woo.” But let’s ground this in curiosity: we are, after all, beings of vibrating molecules. Our energetic state reflects and interacts with our emotional and physical well-being. Altering this energy—whether through focused intention, ceremony, or personal practices—can shift how we experience ourselves. This isn’t just abstract theory; emerging research, such as the studies discussed in Healing Ourselves by Shamini Jain, PhD, highlights the measurable impact of energy work on physical and emotional states.
Here is where many can also experience encounters with places and beings that are not of this reality - what science would call hallucinations (as many, but not all psychedelics are also hallucinogenic at higher doses) and spiritual folks would call entities. The majority of these experiences are with macrodoses of hallucinogenic substances, and the variability of experience diverges into multitudes of accounts. Interestingly, it seems some of these experiences carry weighty messages for some individuals to bring back to reality and some are seemingly nonsensical or whimsical. Because of this, I do not include these experiences in the practice of healing, but I also do not necessarily exclude them. These are the types of experiences that I chalk up to dose and “you get what you need, not what you want” in the psychedelic space. Interpret at your own leisure.
Such experiences of expanded awareness broaden our perception in ways that transcend the ordinary. They remind us that healing is not just about fixing or resolving—it’s about expanding our capacity to experience life fully. By loosening rigid boundaries and embracing a wider lens of curiosity and compassion, we create space for self-acceptance and transformation. Here, the deeper work of healing is accelerated as we are able to feel our lives from a fresh, unbiased vantage point. Whether these moments are interpreted as ones of Spirit, Soul, or Higher Self, their essence is healing: they teach us to step out of our own way and allow the process of becoming to unfold with grace, peace, and expansion.
This is part 3 to a series of blog entries. A full downloadable copy of the series document is available here. Please be respectful of intellectual property when using and sharing.
If you are looking for assistance with coaching or building a personalized taper plan, please reach out to set up a strategy call with me at TheHolisticApothec.com.
Please remember, this document is not intended as medical advice, a substitute for medical care, or promotion for illegal activity.
