If you are reading this article, you are probably aware—at least to some extent—of the current renaissance in psychedelic research. Increasingly, the question is no longer if these compounds will become legal therapeutic tools, but when. As psychedelics approach their official rebirth in the therapeutic space, some researchers have become interested in how to optimize their effectiveness. One frequently cited tool that might enhance the efficacy and safety of psychedelic therapy is meditation, in the Western world most often viewed through the lens of mindfulness practices. Broadly defined, mindfulness awareness is characterized by an open, non-judgemental, and present-moment awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings. And indeed, there have been many conceptual and experimental contributions to this suspected synergy. I myself have tried to gain a better understanding of this topic in my bachelor thesis which aimed to assess the impact of a mindfulness intervention before individuals attended a psychedelic retreat in the Netherlands.
Excellent article! I enjoyed and learned so much from it!