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{{Dablink|This article is about people who explore their inner psyche, and related practices; for other uses, see ].}} {{Dablink|This article is about people who explore their inner psyche, and related practices; for other uses, see ].}}
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'''Psychonautics''' (from the ] ψυχή ''soul/spirit/mind'' and ναύτης ''sailor/navigator'' - a sailor of the mind/soul)<ref name="dictionary of hallucinations">A Dictionary of Hallucinations, p.434, Jan Dirk Blom </ref> refers to a methodology for describing and explaining the subjective effects of altered states of consciousness, including those induced by ], and to a research ] in which the researcher voluntarily immerses him/herself into an altered state by means of such techniques, as a means to explore human experience and existence.<ref>''Addiction Research & Theory 2008, Vol. 16, No. 3'' "Ketamine Case Study: The Phenomenology of a Ketamine Experience" </ref> The term has been applied diversely, to cover all activities by which ]s are induced and utilized for ] purposes or the exploration of the ], including ], ]s of the ]an ] tradition,<ref>''Ralph Flores, 2008 "Buddhist scriptures as literature: sacred rhetoric and the uses of theory"'' </ref> lucid dreaming,<ref name="dictionary of hallucinations" /> sensory deprivation,<ref name="dictionary of hallucinations" /> and modern drug users who use ]ic drugs in order to gain deeper insights and spiritual experiences.<ref>''Clinical Toxicology, Vol. 45, no. 4, 2007'' "New Drugs of Abuse", van Riel </ref>
A '''psychonaut''' (also spelled psychanaut or psychenaut) (deriving from the ] ψυχή (soul) and ναύτης (sailor), that is, a sailor of the mind/soul) is a person who intentionally induces ] in an attempt to investigate his or her mind, and possibly to address spiritual questions through direct experience. Psychonauts tend to be ], willing to explore ] traditions from established world religions, ], technologies such as ], ], ], ], and ]. Because techniques that alter consciousness can be dangerous, and can induce a state of extreme susceptibility, psychonauts generally prefer to undertake these explorations either alone, or in the company of people they trust.


A person who uses altered states for such exploration is known as a '''psychonaut'''.
Goals of psychonautic practices may be to answer questions about how the mind works, improve one's psychological state, answer existential or spiritual questions, or improve cognitive performance in everyday life.


== Etymology and categorization ==
==Term==
According to Dr. Elliot Cohen (Manchester Academy for Transpersonal Studies), "Psychonautics is the means to study and explore consciousness (including the unconscious) and altered states of consciousness (ASCs); it rests on the realisation that to study consciousness is to transform it."{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} He also argues that psychonautics should not be associated with substance use, but rather with various wisdom traditions, transpersonal and integral movements. When ] depicts the ] ] as a Psychonaut (''Inner Revolution: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Real Happiness''){{citation needed|date=February 2010}} this is an appropriate use of the term.


=== Etymology ===
While some psychonauts abstain from psychoactive drugs and discourage their use, others encourage it.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} The term "psychonaut" is often misinterpreted as implying frequent drug use. Many psychonauts use a psychoactive substance frequently, some weekly or more, and do so generally to supplement other tools such as meditation.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} Most psychonauts maintain that their use of altered consciousness is different from social or ] use, and their use usually has a ] or ] significance to them.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}}
According to ], the word ''psychonaut'' was originally coined by the ] author ].{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} <!--expand -->


The term ''psychonautics'' is attributed to ] ].<ref>Ott ''Pharmanopo-Psychonautics: Human Intranasal, Sublingual, Intrarectal, Pulmonary and Oral Pharmacology of Bufotenine'', Journal of psychoactive drugs, 2001, VOL 33; PART 3, pages 273-282 , cited by ''A Dictionary of Hallucinations'', Jan Dirk Blom, p.434 </ref> It derives from the prior term ''psychonaut'' which is usually attributed to ] author ]<ref name="dictionary of hallucinations" /> who used the term in describing ] in his 1970 logbook ''Annaherungen: Drogen und Rausch'' ("Drugs and intoxication").<ref>Jünger, ''Annaherungen: Drogen und Rausch'', p.430, chapter title: ''Psychonauten'' - cited in ''The Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature'', Taylor et al, p.1312 </ref> Other sources state the word to have been coined in 1974 by O'Connell and O'Connell.<ref>"Guided imagery: creative interventions in counselling & psychotherapy" Hall, Hall & Stradling </ref>
==Use of the term==
Psychonaut is a modern term{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} often associated with ] practices{{citation needed|date=February 2010}}; however, many{{who|date=February 2010}} distinguish between the mental/spiritual exploration of the psychonaut and healing-oriented ] practice.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}}


=== Definition and usage ===
==Associated concepts, technologies, and practices==
===Concepts===
====Brain function====
Its roots are revealed within many of the world’s great and ancient Wisdom Traditions (Shamanistic and Mystical). Some of its most popular and recognizable forms include ] (from ] to ]), ] cultivation (native Chinese), ] (]) and Kabbalistic (Jewish) insights and methods.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}


Blom describes psychonautics as denoting ''"the exploration of the psyche by means of techniques such as ], ], ], ], ], and the use of ]s or ]s"'',<ref name="dictionary of hallucinations" /> and a psychonaut as one who ''"seeks to investigate their mind using intentionally induced altered states of consciousness"'' for spiritual, scientific, or research purposes. <ref name="dictionary of hallucinations" />
Psychonautics may be considered an attempt to generate a user's manual for human consciousness.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} Developing upon ], which is concerned with understanding other people, psychonauts are more concerned with understanding themselves, and the process of self exploration; accordingly, they engage in direct exploration of themselves and their own thought processes.<!-- this is not incongruous with psychology -->{{citation needed|date=February 2010}}
As such, psychonauts seek to empiricaly understand mental process and functioning and employ such knowledge in their activities. Some{{Who|date=October 2009}} advocate the use of ] of ] frequencies, which can lead to quite distinct perceptual states; a detailed examination and understanding of one's own thought processes, habits, and beliefs is also sought.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} Hallucinatory states, drug-induced or otherwise, are seen as a form of subliminal symbolism or as a real but distinct reality; as with other processes of the mind, psychonauts seek to understand these.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} These states often simultaneously dissociate the mind from the ego and offer an objective view of one's mental processes.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Psychological theories and concepts are also often taken into account.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}


Psychologist Elliot Cohen of the UK Institute of Psychonautics and Somanautics defines psychonautics as ''"the means to study and explore consciousness (including the unconscious) and altered states of consciousness; it rests on the realisation that to study consciousness is to transform it."''He associates it with a long tradition of historical cultures worldwide.<ref name="Cohen">UK Institute of Psychonautics and Somanautics at his .</ref>
This is also ideally practically applied in bettering one's self through the knowledge of one's own thought processes; with this understanding and heightened perception of one's own internal dialogue, it is thought that one is more able to control his own ], and detach oneself from what is seen as a ] common to modern culture.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}


] depicts the ] ] as a psychonaut, stating that ''"Tibetan lamas could be called psychonauts, since they journey across the frontiers of death into the in-between realm"''.<ref>As noted by Flores, "Buddhist scriptures as literature: sacred rhetoric and the uses of theory" (2008) p.164 </ref>
====Mythical archetypes and concepts====
Psychonauts place emphasis on various mythical ]s and concepts, believing that these are useful to coming to understand one's own thought patterns and the nature of existence, reflecting realities and meanings that should be understood{{by whom?|date=February 2010}}.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} As in shamanic practice, the symbol of the '']'' is often{{weasel word|date=February 2010}} employed{{by whom?|date=February 2010}}, often{{weasel word|date=February 2010}} overlaid with '']s'' and other relevant concepts of bodily function; the ] ] and its chakra-like '']'' is one notable example of this in mythology.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} The nature of '']'' is often{{weasel word|date=February 2010}} explored{{by whom?|date=February 2010}} in trying to understand one's own situation, actions, and relation to the outside world.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}}


====Metaphysics==== === Categorization ===
Psychonauts are often{{weasel word|date=February 2010}} interested in ],{{citation needed|date=February 2010}} the branch of philosophy dealing with the ultimate nature of reality or existence; it is thought{{by whom?|date=February 2010}} that in coming to some understanding of how the universe functions and the nature of existence, practitioners would be better able to integrate their life experiences.{{citation needed|date=February 2010}}


The aims and methods of psychonautics, when state-altering substances are involved, is commonly distinguished from ] by research sources.<ref name="dictionary of hallucinations" /> Psychonautics as a means of exploration need not involve drugs, and may take place in a religious context with an established history.
===Technologies and practices===
====Hallucinogens/Entheogens====
Commonly used for mental exploration and expansion, many psychonauts{{Who|date=February 2010}} find the experiences induced by these entheogens leave a positive and profound impact on their lives. While hallucinogens can sometimes lead to bad experiences for users, psychonauts may gain insight from both bad and good experiences. Shamans also frequently used psychoactive plants for healing and meditational purposes.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} They would often go into a trance or have a vision which would determine many things for the tribe.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} Many people{{Who|date=February 2010}} throughout history have used these plants for many different reasons.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}


However there is considerable overlap with ] and due to its modern close association with psychadelics and other drugs it is also studied in the context of ] from a perspective of addiction,<ref>''Addiction Research & Theory 2008, Vol. 16, No. 3'' "Ketamine Case Study: The Phenomenology of a Ketamine Experience" </ref> the drug abuse market and ] psychology,<ref>''CyberPsychology & Behavior. August 2003, 6(4)'' "Importance of Cyberspace for the Assessment of the Drug Abuse Market: Preliminary Results from the Psychonaut 2002 Project" </ref> and studies into existing and emerging drugs within ].<ref>''Clinical Toxicology, Vol. 45, no. 4, 2007'' "New Drugs of Abuse", van Riel </ref>
Some ] and ] commonly used by psychonauts include:
*], which contains ] (THC).
*], which contain ].
*] and ] cactus, which contain ].
*], a sage containing ],
*], a vine containing ] (also produced in the human brain.)
*] commonly extracted from ] and ] seeds.
*], found in the ] toad and in the ] and ] trees.
*], found in a wide variety of plants and to a lesser extent in the ] toad.


Cohen considers psychonautics closer in association to various wisdom traditions, transpersonal and integral movements than to substance abuse.<ref name="Cohen" />


== Methodologies ==
Less common:
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]


* Hallucinogens including: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. In traditional cultures ]ic substances were obtained from plants such as the ], ]s such as ], and sometimes from animals such as the '']'' ]. ]s such as ] of the of the ] family have at times been used, although these can result in loss of control, lucidity, and may result in harm.
Though avoided by most modern psychonauts, certain species of the ] family have been used for psychoactive purposes throughout human history.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} The most common of these is ], which is classified as a ], not as a ]. Datura is rarely used by psychonauts because control and lucidity are lost in a delirious state, and the experience is often not remembered.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} With deliriants like datura, self-inflicted injury and even death can occur. Nevertheless, deliriants are still occasionally employed in psychonautics.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}


* Disruption of psychological and physiological processes required for usual mental states - ], ], ], ].
====Cannabis====
] is often used individually, or in combination with many hallucinogens to amplify and extend the experience. The chemical THC (the main psychoactive chemical in Cannabis) is technically classified as a hallucinogen with both sedative and stimulant properties.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}} Though it is generally{{weasel word|date=February 2010}} considered{{by whom?|date=February 2010}} a "light hallucinogen," its synergistic effect with other hallucinogens is rather potent and at higher doses it can be a powerful psychedelic experience.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}


* ], both as a means of inducing an altered state, and also for practical purposes of ] and of obtaining suitable focus and intention.
====Dreams====
As dreams are considered by psychonauts to be a window into thought processes, many keep ]s in order to better remember dreams and further their understanding of their own symbolic internal dialogue.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} Many{{Who|date=February 2010}} attempt to not only remember their dreams, but engage in ], in which one is consciously aware of their state while dreaming.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}


* ]ing, in particular ] in which the person retains a degree of volition and awareness, and ]s, both in order to better remember dreams and to further their understanding of their own symbolic internal dialogue.
==== Meditation ====


* ].
There are various forms of meditation though the most commonly practiced is 'concentration meditation' where the meditator seeks to quiet the activity of his/her mind by concentrating/focusing attention upon a single object, sound, sensation or thought.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}


* ] and other devices that change neural activity in the ] (]) by means of light, sound, or electrical impulses, including: ], ]s, ], and ]
====Ritual====
] is often employed{{by whom?|date=February 2010}} for purposes of grounding and centering one's{{Who|date=February 2010}} self, to set one's{{Who|date=February 2010}} focus and intentions, and to instill a conception of the significance and depth of psychonautical practice.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} Repeated use of ritual may{{weasel word|date=February 2010}} also train the brain to associate certain activities and states of consciousness with specific situations, creating deeper experiences and allowing one to more easily enter altered states of consciousness.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}


These may be used in combination, for example traditions such as shamanism may combine ritual, fasting, and narcotic substances.
====Neurotechnology====
Specific technologies employed include:


==Notable psychonauts==
*]
*]s
*]
*]


*]
These devices attempt to induce specific ] patterns using ] (brainwave synchronization) through light and sound, or through direct electrical stimulation.
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]


==References== ==See also==
*]
{{reflist}}
*]
*]
*]


==External links== ==External links==
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* *
* Forum, news and experiences for psychonauts
*
*
*
* "Dedicated to bringing together people interested in empirical psychology and chemically aided self-exploration." - forum and links for psychonauts
*
* Entertainment for Psychonauts
*

== References ==
{{reflist}}


]
]
] ]
] ]

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This article is about people who explore their inner psyche, and related practices; for other uses, see Psychonaut (disambiguation).

Template:Expert-subject-multiple

Psychonautics (from the Greek ψυχή soul/spirit/mind and ναύτης sailor/navigator - a sailor of the mind/soul) refers to a methodology for describing and explaining the subjective effects of altered states of consciousness, including those induced by mind altering substances, and to a research paradigm in which the researcher voluntarily immerses him/herself into an altered state by means of such techniques, as a means to explore human experience and existence. The term has been applied diversely, to cover all activities by which altered states are induced and utilized for spiritual purposes or the exploration of the human condition, including shamanism, lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, lucid dreaming, sensory deprivation, and modern drug users who use hallucinogenic drugs in order to gain deeper insights and spiritual experiences.

A person who uses altered states for such exploration is known as a psychonaut.

Etymology and categorization

Etymology

The term psychonautics is attributed to ethnobotanist Jonathan Ott. It derives from the prior term psychonaut which is usually attributed to German author Ernst Jünger who used the term in describing Arthur Heffter in his 1970 logbook Annaherungen: Drogen und Rausch ("Drugs and intoxication"). Other sources state the word to have been coined in 1974 by O'Connell and O'Connell.

Definition and usage

Blom describes psychonautics as denoting "the exploration of the psyche by means of techniques such as meditation, prayer, lucid dreaming, brainwave entrainment, sensory deprivation, and the use of hallucinogenics or entheogens", and a psychonaut as one who "seeks to investigate their mind using intentionally induced altered states of consciousness" for spiritual, scientific, or research purposes.

Psychologist Elliot Cohen of the UK Institute of Psychonautics and Somanautics defines psychonautics as "the means to study and explore consciousness (including the unconscious) and altered states of consciousness; it rests on the realisation that to study consciousness is to transform it."He associates it with a long tradition of historical cultures worldwide.

Robert Thurman depicts the Tibetan Buddhist master as a psychonaut, stating that "Tibetan lamas could be called psychonauts, since they journey across the frontiers of death into the in-between realm".

Categorization

The aims and methods of psychonautics, when state-altering substances are involved, is commonly distinguished from recreational drug use by research sources. Psychonautics as a means of exploration need not involve drugs, and may take place in a religious context with an established history.

However there is considerable overlap with modern drug use and due to its modern close association with psychadelics and other drugs it is also studied in the context of drug abuse from a perspective of addiction, the drug abuse market and online psychology, and studies into existing and emerging drugs within toxicology.

Cohen considers psychonautics closer in association to various wisdom traditions, transpersonal and integral movements than to substance abuse.

Methodologies

  • Ritual, both as a means of inducing an altered state, and also for practical purposes of grounding and of obtaining suitable focus and intention.
  • Dreaming, in particular lucid dreaming in which the person retains a degree of volition and awareness, and dream journals, both in order to better remember dreams and to further their understanding of their own symbolic internal dialogue.

These may be used in combination, for example traditions such as shamanism may combine ritual, fasting, and narcotic substances.

Notable psychonauts

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ A Dictionary of Hallucinations, p.434, Jan Dirk Blom
  2. Addiction Research & Theory 2008, Vol. 16, No. 3 "Ketamine Case Study: The Phenomenology of a Ketamine Experience"
  3. Ralph Flores, 2008 "Buddhist scriptures as literature: sacred rhetoric and the uses of theory"
  4. Clinical Toxicology, Vol. 45, no. 4, 2007 "New Drugs of Abuse", van Riel
  5. Ott Pharmanopo-Psychonautics: Human Intranasal, Sublingual, Intrarectal, Pulmonary and Oral Pharmacology of Bufotenine, Journal of psychoactive drugs, 2001, VOL 33; PART 3, pages 273-282 , cited by A Dictionary of Hallucinations, Jan Dirk Blom, p.434
  6. Jünger, Annaherungen: Drogen und Rausch, p.430, chapter title: Psychonauten - cited in The Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature, Taylor et al, p.1312
  7. "Guided imagery: creative interventions in counselling & psychotherapy" Hall, Hall & Stradling
  8. ^ UK Institute of Psychonautics and Somanautics page at his Academy for Transpersonal Studies.
  9. As noted by Flores, "Buddhist scriptures as literature: sacred rhetoric and the uses of theory" (2008) p.164
  10. Addiction Research & Theory 2008, Vol. 16, No. 3 "Ketamine Case Study: The Phenomenology of a Ketamine Experience"
  11. CyberPsychology & Behavior. August 2003, 6(4) "Importance of Cyberspace for the Assessment of the Drug Abuse Market: Preliminary Results from the Psychonaut 2002 Project"
  12. Clinical Toxicology, Vol. 45, no. 4, 2007 "New Drugs of Abuse", van Riel
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