Mysticism and Mescaline [View all]

In my younger years, I engaged in some highly unstructured research experiments with various psychedelic drugs. With mescaline, in particular, mystical visions were often the result. I remember one occasion in particular, where I had a simultaneous out-of-body/in-body experience. I had consumed my dose of mescaline, but decided to leave one location for another before any effects were noticed.

So, I got on my motorcycle to travel to the next destination, only to find myself looking down from above on myself riding down the street. I observed myself making several turns and stops before ending up at my apartment. Apparently, I was also on the motorcycle, driving it as I normally did. While frightening, in retrospect, apparently I was doing OK in both places. LOL!

I can recall other such experiences, all triggered by various drugs, although mescaline was the most frequent stimulant of those visions. One wonders if brain chemistry is the cause of all mystical visions, whether altered by drugs or internally without them. A famous study linked drug-induced visionary experiences with religious and other mysticism. It's well worth reading:

http://www.psychedelic-library.org/pahnke.htm