4 Non-Psychedelic Approaches to Altered States of Consciousness

In the final part of this three-part series on responsible psychedelic use, we break down the meaning of “altered states” and present some non-psychedelic alternatives that can bring forth powerful transformation.

People use psychedelics to alter their consciousness — but what does it mean to be in an “altered state of consciousness” and why is it so appealing? In the final part of this three-part series on responsible psychedelic use (see part one and part two), we break down the meaning of “altered states” and present some non-psychedelic alternatives to access these experiences as well.

What Exactly is an “Altered State of Consciousness”?

An altered state of consciousness is any mental state in which one’s ordinary level of wakefulness, attention, or awareness is temporarily shifted in some way. The term “altered state of consciousness”, or ASC for short, was coined by transpersonal psychologist Charles Tart in 1972. Tart defined ASCs as “a temporary change in the overall pattern of subjective experience”.

The line between ordinary and non-ordinary states is different for each individual, depending on their personal level of sensitivity. While it is common to associate altered states with the consumption of hallucinogens…