In The Doors of Perception, a biographical exploration of psychedelics, Aldous Huxley writes: “The man who comes back through the Door in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by many experienced psychedelic users. Sitting with psychedelics can be transformative. Not all experiences are positive, but it seems that even the “bad” ones (often the result of poor preparation or guidance) can be reframed into a positive experience, with one 2021 study finding that many individuals could change the narrative on “unpleasant experiences during bad trips” into “beneficial” and “deep existential and life-altering insights.” (1)

The connection between self-awareness and psychedelics is clearly strong, but what does the science say, and how do psychedelic medicines like psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline (a favorite of Huxley) create these experiences?

Ego Death and Self-Awareness

The idea of “ego death” or “ego dissolution” is intrinsic to a high-dose psychedelic experience, as well as many spiritual practices. It describes a dissolution of the ego, a feeling that you are losing yourself, or rather, the barriers that you place in front of your emotions, desires, and fears are broken down.

Individuals who sit with psychedelics report “letting go” of themselves and triggering eye-opening experiences. It’s a type of catharsis, and while it can be scary, it’s often a key part of the journey to self-awareness.

Once those boundaries break down, and your connection to the world and your self dissolves, you can access a previously unseen part of yourself.

In the words of Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu, “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

How Psychedelics Influence the Perception of Self

Researchers conducting functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of people’s brains under the influence of LSD discovered that regions of the brain involved in high levels of cognition were “over-connected”. There was a higher level of communication between parts of the brain that are typically distinct from one another, and there was a direct correlation between higher connectivity and greater reports of “ego dissolution.” (2)

In other words, subjects who reported stronger “ego death” experiences displayed greater global brain connectivity in fMRI images.

The researchers concluded that LSD promoted a “stronger sharing of information between regions”. They also noted significant changes in the area of the brain linked to out-of-body experiences, a phenomenon often seen in near-death experiences, sleep deprivation, dissociation, and dream disorders, as well as in those working with psychedelics. (3)

While it may feel like the notion of self and a connection to the external world is dissolving, thus disconnecting the individual, this research suggests those connections could be stronger than ever, allowing them to explore more of themselves and their place in the world.

Studies on How Psychedelics Improve Self-Awareness

“Psilocybin therapy improves self-beliefs.” That was the conclusion of a 2023 study that used low- and high-dose psilocybin on 11 healthy volunteers. Individuals were rated on their self-belief confidence levels before, during, and after the study using a mental well-being scale and a relaxed beliefs questionnaire. (4)

Overall, negative self-beliefs decreased significantly and led to an increase in well-being, and while the results were most notable in higher doses (25mg), they found that “even a little bit of psilocybin makes patients relaxed”.

Mindfulness, like psychedelics, is often touted for its ability to improve self-awareness, with studies suggesting it could help with a variety of psychiatric disorders, including depression, chronic pain, and substance abuse. It’s no surprise then that many practitioners combine the two, using mindfulness to guide a psychedelic experience and vice versa. (5)

A study on both mindfulness and psychedelics found that they could complement one another, with psychedelics “boosting mindfulness capabilities” when “administered in natural settings”. It added, though, that such a combination is best integrated under professional guidance, such as with a trained psychedelic coach. (6)

Another study concluded that “psilocybin alters the perception of the external world” when combined with mindfulness practices, and it is much more effective than mindfulness alone. Psychedelics, it seems, can ease individuals into a mindful state, enhancing insightfulness and increasing self-awareness. (7)

Again, though, this study was conducted in a therapeutic setting with experienced meditators.

Experiences from The Third Wave Community

While some opt for deep philosophical study, many choose to work with psychedelics while listening to music. Our members have shared various music recommendations in the past, and we’ve also published a guide on the best psychedelic music for therapy sessions in our blog.

Conclusion: Improving Self-Awareness by Sitting with Psychedelic Medicines

There is no shortage of research suggesting that psychedelics can improve self-awareness. Our own community is a goldmine of user experiences, too, and there is a wealth of anecdotal reports out there supporting these claims. It’s one of the main reasons why people choose to sit with psychedelics, and that has been the case since the heyday of plant medicines back in the 1960s.

But, of course, the effects vary greatly and can depend on everything from physiological makeup to mindset, time of day, surroundings, dose, and type, which is why we still hear stories from members like Jenny Brackman, who took a 6g dose with little to no effect (although she did work through a “ton of grief and loss”).

This is why many people look to psychedelic integration coaches, such as those available through the Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

A psychedelic coach’s role is to help an individual through their experience, supporting them and directing them. They are active during each stage of the psychedelic experience (from preparation to continuing support) and can advise sitters on how to direct their experience toward self-awareness.