Do You Think Ego Death Is Necessary to Experience the Full Benefits of Psychedelics?

Having an ego death is often talked about as if it’s the pinnacle of psychedelic experiences, and because the psychedelic experience exists on a vast spectrum—from complete mystical states of merging or melting into unity consciousness to simple distorted visuals and enhancements—it seems like the harder you trip, the deeper you go, the more your ego dissolves, and the more revelations you have.

When we use psychedelics not just for entertainment but with a real intention to learn or shift something, bring on mental insights, drastic changes in perspective which can lead to emotional breakthroughs, and revelations, do you believe that’s happening as a result of our identity dismantling? Or is it happening independently and the ego dissolution quality isn’t necessary? Do you think that in our journeys we should be aiming for ego death?

Obviously this is a complex topic, but some of these foundational curiosities around psychedelics can help us relate to each other, and understand more deeply these substances and why we even want to journey or be altered to begin with.