TRANSFORMING THE FEAR OF DEATH THROUGH NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES AND EXPERIENTIAL PSYCHEDELICS: A TRANSPERSONAL HERMENEUTIC PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY JANET M. NIELSEN B.A., University of Lethbridge, 2016 A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of the University of Lethbridge in PArtiAl Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree MASTER OF EDUCATION (COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY) FAculty of EducAtion University of Lethbridge LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA, CANADA © JAnet M. Nielsen, 2019 TRANFORMING THE FEAR OF DEATH THROUGH NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES AND EXPERIENTIAL PSYCHEDELICS: A TRANSPERSONAL HERMENEUTIC PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY JANET M. NIELSEN DAte of Defence: June 18, 2019 Dr. M. Rich Instructor Ph.D. Thesis Supervisor Dr. H. Rodrigues Professor Ph.D. Thesis Examination Committee Member Dr. T. Leighton MentAl HeAlth Therapist Ph.D. Thesis Examination Committee Member AlbertA HeAlth Services Lethbridge, AlbertA Dr. P. Jerry Professor Ph.D. External Examiner AthabascA University AthabascA, AB Dr. P. Kellet AssistAnt Professor Ph.D. Chair, Thesis Examination Committee Dedication I dedicAte this study to all the beAutiful souls whose fascinating journeys Along roads rarely traveled have provided valuable insights into the mystery of transformAtion of which deAth is an essentiAl part. iii ABstract This study examined the phenomenologicAl experience of the transformAtion of the feAr of deAth in the context of the mysticAl and transcendent nature of a neAr deAth experience (NDE) or while using psychedelics, specificAlly LSD or psilocybin. The study recruited And interviewed seven participants who had experienced a life-Altering mysticAl NDE or transcendent psychedelic journey. The analysis of emergent themes wAs conducted using transpersonal and hermeneutic phenomenology reseArch methods. The identified themes unfolded in three parts: the experience itself, illumination of the experience, and the gifts And lessons leArned. A prominent theme involving transformAtion, especiAlly as it relAtes to the feAr of deAth, emerged from the findings. Thus, the findings of this study have importAnt implicAtions for psychotherapy, in particulAr how we treAt deAth and dying. Further reseArch into these exceptional experiences could be An opportunity to transform our collective pathology And feArs Around deAth. iv Acknowledgements A speciAl thank you to my Supervisor, Dr. MArciA Rich. In my time of need, you graciously picked me up and sAw my journey to completion. I alwAys will be grateful for your gentle guidance and your dedicAtion to my work. To GAry Tzu, for your guidance and support—I would not have stArted this journey, without your belief in me. Thank you to Dr. HillAry Rodrigues, Dr. Trent Leighton, and Dr. Atif Khalil whose passion for reseArch into the liminal zones inspired me to begin my journey. None of this would have happened if not for my loving partner DArren Code. His hard work and support to help me through this journey is more than I cAn put into words. A speciAl note to my daughter BriAnne who helped me become the person that I am today. Thank you for teAching me the meAning of unconditional love, And for your love And acceptAnce. Thank you to my friends and family who have encouraged me along the wAy. I could not have mAde it to the end without your ongoing support: Carmen, for alwAys being there, AnitA for listening, TAnya And Tracy for cheering me on, LisA for mAking me lAugh, Kirsten for believing in me, and my Mom who alwAys knew I could do it. To my cohort, thank you for pushing me beyond my limits and helping me to be the best counsellor that I could be. You all tAught me so much; I could not have done this without you. Finally, to my study participants who allowed me to glimpse into their souls and extraordinary experiences—without your willingness to share your private and personal stories, this reseArch would not have been possible. Thank you. v TAble of Contents DedicAtion .......................................................................................................................... iii Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. v TAble of Contents ............................................................................................................... vi List of TAbles ..................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 The ImplicAted ReseArcher .......................................................................................................... 9 Personal Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................... 12 TrAnsformAtion ........................................................................................................................... 13 ApproAch to ReseArch ................................................................................................................ 15 Purpose of Study ........................................................................................................................ 17 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 23 Fear of Death ............................................................................................................................. 23 A CompArAtive History of the Afterlife, Death, and Dying ....................................................... 25 The Rise of MAteriAlism And Science ........................................................................................ 33 DevelopmentAl StAges of Consciousness ................................................................................... 37 Altered StAtes of Consciousness ................................................................................................ 42 MysticAl StAtes of Consciousness .............................................................................................. 43 NeAr-DeAth Experiences ............................................................................................................ 45 TrAnsforming the FeAr of DeAth with NeAr-DeAth Experiences ................................................ 45 NeAr-DeAth Experiences, Modern Consciousness ReseArch, And the Limitations of Science .. 47 Phenomenology of Near-DeAth Experiences ............................................................................. 50 Effects of the NeAr-DeAth Experience ....................................................................................... 55 vi The MysticAl Nature of NeAr-DeAth Experiences ...................................................................... 57 Psychedelics ............................................................................................................................... 61 History of Psychedelics ............................................................................................................. 61 Psychedelics and Spirituality ..................................................................................................... 65 Early Psychedelic ReseArch ....................................................................................................... 66 Effects of Psilocybin .................................................................................................................. 70 Effects of LSD ........................................................................................................................... 72 ContemporAry Psychedelic ReseArch ......................................................................................... 74 DeAth And Dying ........................................................................................................................ 79 The Positive Side of DeAth AcceptAnce ..................................................................................... 81 Suffering .................................................................................................................................... 85 A New Model of Dying ............................................................................................................. 89 ImplicAtions for Counsellors ...................................................................................................... 90 Linking the Evidence ................................................................................................................. 92 Summary .................................................................................................................................... 95 Chapter 3: ReseArch Methods ........................................................................................... 98 Purpose of the Study .................................................................................................................. 98 TrAnsforming the FeAr of DeAth: Aspects of the Phenomenon .................................................. 98 ReseArch Question ..................................................................................................................