The influence of ceremonial settings on mystical and challenging experiences occasioned by ayahuasca: A survey among ritualistic and religious ayahuasca users

Abstract

Recent studies have recognized the importance of non-pharmacological factors such as setting to induce or promote mystical experiences or challenging experiences among ayahuasca users. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the setting in which ayahuasca is consumed and the intensity of mystical and challenging experiences considering three ayahuasca using traditions (União do Vegetal, Santo Daime and neo-shamanic groups). A cross-sectional analysis was performed on survey data collected online from 2,751 participants. The Setting Questionnaire for the Ayahuasca Experience (SQAE) was used to evaluate six dimensions of the setting characteristics. The Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ) and the Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) were used to quantify the psychedelic experience. Ratings on every SQAE setting dimension were negatively correlated with ratings of the CEQ (r values between 0.21 and 0.36) for all ayahuasca using traditions. Regression analysis revealed that ratings on four SQAE dimensions (Social, Comfort, Infrastructure and Decoration) explained 41% of the variance in CEQ ratings. Associations between SQAE and MEQ ratings were relatively weak and confined to the dimensions Leadership and Comfort, explaining 14% of the variance in MEQ ratings. Ratings of Social context were higher among members of União do Vegetal compared to Santo Daime and neo-shamanic members. Ratings of Infrastructure, Comfort and Decoration were more consistently correlated with MEQ in the neoshamanic tradition compared to the other traditions. This study shows that the setting is an important moderator of a challenging experience under ayahuasca. Maximizing the quality of the setting in which ayahuasca is taken will reduce the chance of a challenging experience while contributing positively to a mystical experience. The present findings can be considered when designing rituals and the (social) environment of ayahuasca ceremonies, and indicate that the SQAE questionnaire can be employed to monitor the influence of ceremonial settings on the ayahuasca experience.

Keywords: Santo Daime; UDV; ayahuasca; challenging experiences; mystical experiences; neo-shamanic; setting.

Figure 1

Mean (SD) subscale ratings and total scores of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ) and Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) across the three ayahuasca conditions (panel A) and the frequency distribution of the total MEQ and CEQ scores per tradition (panel B). MEQ labels indicate transcendence (T), positive mood (P), ineffability (I), mysticism (M), and total score (Tot). CEQ labels indicate fear (F), grief (G), physical distress (P), insanity (I), isolation (Is), death (D) paranoia (P), and total score (Tot).

Figure 2

Mean Setting Questionnaire for the Ayahuasca Experience (SQAE) ratings. Specified for the entire sample (Total) and by tradition (Neo, UDV, SD). All between tradition p’s < 0.005, except Comfort – Neo vs. UDV, and Instructions – Neo vs. SD.

Figure 3

Correlations between SQAE scales (Social, Leadership, Decoration, Infrastructure, Comfort, and Instructions) and the CEQ total score.

Figure 4

Differences between traditions in their rating of musical elements (presence yes/no, A) and enjoyment of activities during their most recent ayahuasca ritual (0 = not present 6 = enjoyed a lot, B).