Abstract:

The study's purpose was to qualitatively examine and describe the process of learning from the altered state produced by ingesting Salvia divinorum , a psychoactive member of the sage genus used by the Mazatec people of Oaxaca, Mexico, for divination and spiritual learning. Thirteen adults (3 women and 10 men) aged 27 to 64 who identified themselves as using Salvia divinorum for personal growth were selected from responses to a request for volunteers posted on several electronic mailing lists and Internet forums dedicated to discussions of Salvia divinorum . The 13 participants completed an introductory questionnaire outlining how they use Salvia divinorum and what they believed they have learned from such use. Over a 2-month period, participants completed a descriptive questionnaire each time they ingested Salvia divinorum up to a maximum of 3 times. After the 2 months, participants completed an Omega Life Changes Inventory designed to measure life changes and took part in a tape-recorded open-ended interview with the researcher about their experiences of learning from the Salvia divinorum state. The heuristic method was used in designing and completing the study. Thematic content analysis of the questionnaires, transcribed interviews, and other data revealed that participants received short-term benefits from using Salvia divinorum . The 5 most common short-term benefits were: (a)?a greater perception of interconnections, (b)?learning more about reality, (c)?transpersonal experiences, (d)?increased creativity, and (e)?increased connection with nature. The 5 most common long-term changes or examples of long-term learning were: (a)?a better understanding of reality, (b)?a long-term increase in perceiving interconnections, (c)?an improvement in creative thinking, (d)?long-term transpersonal changes, and (e)?greater emotional awareness and control. No negative effects of responsible Salvia divinorum use were reported by participants.