Mystical Experiences Without Psychedelics and How Integration Improves Well-Being in Adults

Frequency of a Complete Mystical Experience as Assessed by the Mystical Experience Questionnaire

Frequency of complete mystical experiences will be assessed using the 30-item Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30), a validated self-report measure designed to assess key phenomenological features of mystical-type experiences. The MEQ30 includes four empirically derived subscales: Mystical, Positive Mood, Transcendence of Time and Space, and Ineffability. Participants rate the extent to which each item describes their experience. Higher scores reflect greater endorsement of mystical-type features. To determine whether a participant had a complete mystical experience, scores will be calculated for each of the four subscales and expressed as a percentage of the maximum possible score for that subscale. A complete mystical experience is defined as meeting or exceeding 60% of the maximum possible score on all four MEQ30 subscales. The frequency of complete mystical experiences will then be calculated as the proportion of participants who meet this criteria.

PERMA Well-Being Scale

The PERMA Well-Being Scale measures five dimensions of well-being-Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment-based on Martin Seligman's PERMA model. The scale contains 23 items, with 3-5 items per subdomain, scored on a Likert scale. Butler and Kern (2016) established the scale's internal consistency (α \> .80) and construct validity.

Ryff Psychological Wellbeing Scale

The Ryff Psychological Wellbeing Scale (PWB) assesses six domains of well-being: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. It includes 42 items, scored on a Likert scale, with shorter versions available. Psychometric evaluation revealed high internal consistency (α \> .80) and test-retest reliability across diverse populations (Ryff \& Keyes, 1995). Example items include, "I like most parts of my personality" (self-acceptance) and "I am not afraid to voice my opinions, even when they are in opposition to most people" (autonomy).

Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale

The Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale (MEMS) measures existential meaning across three dimensions: coherence, purpose, and mattering. The scale consists of 15 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." Higher scores indicate a greater sense of existential meaning. Psychometric evaluations by George and Park (2017) demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α \> .90) and robust construct validity. Example items include, "I understand how my life fits into the larger picture," "I feel that my life has a clear sense of purpose," and "I believe that my life is significant and matters." This scale is particularly suited for studies exploring the depth and breadth of meaning in individuals' lives.

Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality

The Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS) is a comprehensive tool designed to assess various dimensions of religious and spiritual life. The measure includes 29 items spanning multiple subdomains, such as religious practices (e.g., attendance at services, prayer), spiritual beliefs (e.g., beliefs in higher powers), coping strategies, and spiritual experiences. Items are rated on Likert scales or categorical responses, depending on the subdomain. The BMMRS has demonstrated strong psychometric properties, with internal consistency typically exceeding α = .80 across its subscales and evidence of validity in diverse cultural and religious populations.

Modified Tellegen Absorption Scale

The Modified Tellegen Absorption Scale (MODTAS) is a revised version of the original Tellegen Absorption Scale, designed to assess an individual's tendency to become fully engaged in sensory and imaginative experiences. It includes 34 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale from "not at all true" to "extremely true," improving upon the original true/false format to enhance psychometric robustness. The MODTAS measures various aspects of experiential absorption, including responsiveness to engaging stimuli, imaginative involvement, and altered states of consciousness. Jamieson (2005) reported strong internal consistency (α \> .90) and construct validity in relation to hypnotizability and imaginative suggestibility.

Qualitative Characteristics of the Experience

Thematic analysis of participant-reported experiences collected via post-session interviews.

Mysticism Scale

The Mysticism Scale evaluates mystical experiences, focusing on dimensions such as ineffability, transcendence of time and space, and unity. It includes 32 items, rated on a Likert scale, and has been validated in multiple cultural contexts (Hood et al., 2001). Hood (1975) reported strong psychometric properties, with internal consistency above α = .80. An example item is, "I have had an experience where everything seemed to disappear, leaving only a sense of unity."

Acceptability questions

If given the opportunity, how likely would you be to participate in this activity again? How likely are you to recommend this experience to others? Both of these questions will be answered on a 0-10 scale where 0 = not at all likely and 10 = extremely likely.

Self-identified spirituality

In whatever way you define it, how spiritual do you consider yourself to be? Participants will respond to this question on a 0-100 visual analog scale where 0 = not at all spiritual and 100 = extremely spiritual.