Article: Can I Experience a “Trip” Without Psychedelics? Meditation, Breathwork, and Other Gateways to Mystical States

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Oct 23, 2025Science & Spirituality

Can I Experience a “Trip” Without Psychedelics? Meditation, Breathwork, and Other Gateways to Mystical States

Many people associate psychedelic experiences with substances such as psilocybin or LSD. These “trips” can dramatically alter perception, dissolve the sense of self, and create feelings of unity with everything around us. For many, such moments become catalysts for deep personal insight and transformation.

But is it possible to enter similar states of consciousness without taking any psychoactive substances?
Let’s explore how people can achieve mystical, transcendent, or “psychedelic-like” experiences naturally.

Psychedelics and the Mystical Experience

Not everyone who uses psychedelics has a mystical or transformative journey. Scientists are still uncovering exactly how these substances influence the brain. One key finding points to the Default Mode Network (DMN) — a system active when our mind wanders or reflects on the self.

Psychedelics are believed to suppress DMN activity, quieting the constant internal dialogue that defines our sense of “I.” When this network relaxes, other brain regions begin to communicate in novel ways. The result can be a profound sense of connection — where the boundary between the self and the outside world fades.

This altered brain state can also distort time perception. Minutes may stretch into hours, or time itself may feel suspended. Combined with emotional openness and awe, this can give rise to experiences that feel sacred or deeply meaningful — encounters with what some describe as the divine, universal consciousness, or ultimate reality.

How to “Trip” Without Psychedelics

While psychedelics can catalyze mystical experiences, they are not the only path. Many ancient and modern practices allow people to reach altered states of consciousness naturally — often with similar emotional and spiritual intensity.

Below are several approaches supported by research and lived experience.

Meditation

Meditation is one of the most well-documented ways to enter deep, transformative states of awareness.
In a study of experienced meditators on intensive retreat, participants reported profound insights, heightened emotions, and non-ordinary sensory experiences. They also scored higher on measures of unity, sacredness, and positive affect.

Meditation works by shifting attention inward, away from sensory distractions. This shift in awareness alters perception and can dissolve the boundary between “self” and “other.” With time and consistency, meditators may experience timelessness, interconnectedness, and ego dissolution — the same hallmarks seen in psychedelic journeys.

However, not every meditation session leads to such profound experiences. The depth of mystical awareness often depends on practice intensity, mindset, and personal readiness.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga combines physical postures, breath control, chanting, and meditation to awaken the kundalini energy said to rest coiled at the base of the spine. As this energy ascends through the chakras (energy centers), practitioners often describe visions, deep insight, and a sense of unity with the cosmos.

This awakening process can trigger altered states that feel ecstatic, expansive, and spiritually charged. Practitioners sometimes experience sensations of energy moving through the body or encounters with the divine.

Because these experiences can be powerful, Kundalini Yoga is best practiced with experienced teachers who understand its energetic and psychological dimensions.

Breathwork

Conscious breathing can profoundly shift both mind and body.
Different breathwork styles — from gentle rhythmic breathing to intense hyperventilation — can alter blood chemistry, influence brain activity, and activate the parasympathetic nervous system.

Focused breathing increases oxygenation, enhances circulation, and may trigger the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These changes can lead to euphoria, emotional release, or altered perception — sometimes mirroring aspects of a psychedelic state.

Two forms of breathwork are particularly known for inducing mystical states:

Holotropic Breathwork

Developed by psychiatrist Stanislav Grof and his wife Christina, Holotropic Breathwork uses accelerated breathing, evocative music, and safe, supportive settings to access non-ordinary states.
Participants often experience vivid imagery, emotional catharsis, and deep insights. Sessions typically include preparation, intense breathing, expressive movement, and post-session integration (such as drawing mandalas or group sharing).

Because experiences can be powerful, it’s best to engage in Holotropic Breathwork with certified facilitators.

The Wim Hof Method

Created by Dutch athlete Wim Hof (“The Iceman”), this method combines rapid breathing, cold exposure, and mental focus. The breathing involves deep, fast inhalations and exhalations followed by breath-holding phases.
Many practitioners report sensations of tingling, light-headedness, emotional release, and mental clarity.

Cold exposure — like ice baths or cold showers — enhances the effects by stimulating the nervous system and increasing resilience. Together with meditation, this approach can foster mental focus, energy, and even mystical feelings of connection and inner peace.

Sensory Deprivation

When the brain is deprived of external input, it begins to generate its own sensory experiences — often vivid, dreamlike, or even hallucinatory.
Flotation tanks (also called isolation or sensory deprivation tanks) use warm, buoyant saltwater to create a feeling of weightlessness in total darkness and silence.

In this state, external stimuli fade, and awareness turns completely inward. Many people report visual or auditory imagery, timelessness, and profound peace — experiences that mirror aspects of deep meditation or psychedelic visions.

Sound Healing

Sound can also open gateways to altered consciousness.
Repetitive rhythms, chanting, or drumming can entrain brainwaves and lead to trance-like states. Music that evokes strong emotion can trigger dopamine release, creating waves of joy, connection, and transcendence.

Practices such as gong baths or tibetan singing bowls use resonant vibrations to quiet the mind and guide listeners into meditative or mystical states.
Sound healing can also be used during meditation, supporting deep relaxation and spiritual exploration.

Lucid Dreaming

Lucid dreaming occurs when you become aware that you’re dreaming — often gaining the ability to influence the dream. In this state, the mind explores the subconscious in ways similar to psychedelic visions.

How to cultivate lucid dreaming:

Dream journaling: Record your dreams immediately upon waking to improve recall.
Reality checks: Regularly question whether you’re awake or dreaming — the habit may carry into dreams.
MILD technique: Before sleep, affirm your intention to become lucid.
Wake-Back-to-Bed: Wake up during REM sleep, stay awake briefly, then return to sleep.
Stay calm: Excitement can wake you up; stabilize the dream by engaging your senses.

Lucid dreaming can lead to creativity, healing, and deep self-understanding — a form of mystical exploration within the landscape of the mind.

Other Pathways to Connection

Beyond these core methods, many natural practices can foster unity and expanded awareness:

Immersing in nature: Extended solitude in wild, untouched environments often evokes awe and connection.
Holistic therapies: Reiki, acupuncture, or shamanic healing can evoke spiritual and emotional breakthroughs.
Prayer and contemplation: Deep reflection on spiritual or existential questions can open profound insights.
Artistic expression: Flow states in painting, writing, music, or dance can transcend ordinary consciousness and connect you to something larger.

Closing Thoughts

Mystical and transformative experiences are not limited to psychedelics. Through meditation, breathwork, movement, sound, and mindful living, anyone can access altered states of consciousness that foster healing, clarity, and unity.

Each person’s path is unique — what sparks transcendence for one may not for another. Approach these practices with patience, respect, and curiosity. When guided safely and with intention, they can lead to insights as deep and beautiful as any psychedelic journey.

Written by Frater Nathan Setnakh