Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Delon, Nicolas

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies

Abstract

The recent revival of psychedelic research has revealed that classic psychedelics (LSD, Psilocybin, DMT, and Mescaline) have the potential to increase nature-relatedness during and after receiving the substance, particularly when the recipient has a mystical experience during the session. This thesis is an assessment of classic psychedelics and psychedelic triggered mystical experience as a means to increase long term connection with nature and environmental lifestyle change. This will be executed through the examination of prehistoric to modern use of classic psychedelics, their profound effects, recent research and qualitative interviews with individuals. In the interviews, 90% of the participants mentioned nature before being prompted, and 50% confirmed that having a mystical experience contributed to their perceived increase in nature-relatedness. I suggest that through the intentional and ceremonial use of classic psychedelics humans can begin to reconnect with the sacred power of the natural environment and reclaim our responsibilities as a part of the ecological community.

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