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Ayahuasca Self Consciousness and Mysticism
journal Article
2022
Robson, Savoldi
Antonio, Roazzi
Abstract
Recent studies have assessed that the mystical alterations in sense of self are the best candidates for improvements in self-consciousness and the therapeutic potentials of ayahuasca’s rituals. Here, we examine the predictive relations of self-consciousness by mysticism and ego-dissolution self-reports. A cross-sectional study was drawn to investigate which self-consciousness traits – private self, public self, social anxiety, self-reflection, insight, rumination, and reflection – could be predicted by the Hood Mysticism Scale (HMS) and Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI-8), as well as which psychological variables could be predicted by categorical variables regard ayahuasca use – frequency of use, self-related common dose and religion time – in a sample of ayahuasca religious users. A significant positive relation was found between HMS and adaptive self-consciousness traits, apart from insight, while a negative relation was found between HMS and maladaptive self-consciousness traits. Likewise, EDI-8 was a positive predictor of adaptative reflexive self-consciousness traits. Ayahuasca frequency was a positive predictor of public self, and religion time was a positive predictor of insight and a negative predictor of ego-dissolution. The common dose was a positive predictor of private and reflexive self, and a negative predictor of social anxiety, however dose effects on these self-consciousness traits were mediated by mystical experience. Our results suggest that the ceremonial use of ayahuasca may have positive value through mysticism, affecting different dimensions of self-consciousness. The present findings thus highlight the potential self-consciousness benefits of ayahuasca.