Non-ordinary states of consciousness: when the mind works differently
We take for granted that our usual way of perceiving the world is the real one. That time passes the way we notice it, that we're a stable self looking out from within, that things are as we see them. And then, in a lucid dream, in deep meditation, in an intense breathwork session or in a psychedelic experience, all of that wobbles.
Non-ordinary states of consciousness are one of RILOFU's central territories. Not because they're the only path, or even the most important one, but because they show directly something that theory can only suggest: that consciousness has many more modes of functioning than the ones we use every day.
What non-ordinary states of consciousness are
A non-ordinary state of consciousness is any mode of experience that departs significantly from the usual waking state. Perception, the sense of time, the relationship with one's own body, emotional intensity, the sense of identity or the way thought is organised all change.
Some are everyday and we barely pay attention to them: sleep, daydreaming, the light trance of a repetitive task, the state of flow when you're absorbed in something. Others are more intense and less frequent: deep meditation, spontaneous mystical experiences, states induced by breathwork, fasting, sensory deprivation, dance, ritual or music, and those produced by psychedelic substances.
At RILOFU we're interested in all of them, although for obvious reasons we pay special attention to those with the greatest transformative potential and also the greatest need for context and care.
Ways in
Meditation and contemplation
With sustained practice, meditation can lead to states of absorption, mental silence or dissolution of the sense of self that contemplative traditions have been describing for centuries. It's a slow, gradual path with a low risk profile, though not a nonexistent one: intensive practice can stir up difficult material and it's wise to have support.
Breathwork
Accelerated or patterned breathing techniques, such as holotropic breathwork and its derivatives, can induce states of great emotional and perceptual intensity without any substance. They're a very interesting door for anyone who wants to explore without turning to psychedelics, and they're usually practised in group settings with facilitation.
Psychedelics
Substances such as psilocybin, LSD, DMT or mescaline produce some of the most intense and most studied non-ordinary states. Scientific research over the last two decades has renewed its interest in their potential, and at the same time has made clear that context, preparation and integration are as decisive as the substance itself.
At RILOFU we approach psychedelics through education, harm reduction and integration. We don't supply or facilitate any substance, and each person is responsible for their own decisions and for knowing the legal framework that applies to them. What we do offer is rigorous information, spaces for conversation, and support before and after an experience. You can go deeper in our section on psychedelics.
What they can offer
People who have gone through a non-ordinary state of consciousness with some depth tend to describe similar things: a new perspective on their own life, contact with emotions that had been buried for a long time, a sense of connection with others or with the world, a revision of beliefs that seemed fixed, a change in their relationship with death or with the meaning of existence.
None of these experiences guarantees lasting change. But they can open a window, and what you do with that window depends largely on what happens afterwards.
What they can complicate
It would be irresponsible to talk only about the benefits. Non-ordinary states, especially intense ones, can also be confusing, terrifying or destabilising. They can bring material to the surface that you weren't ready to see. They can generate grandiose or delusional interpretations of what was lived. They can leave a sense of strangeness that lasts for days or weeks.
And there are people, and moments in life, for whom exploring them isn't advisable. That's why at RILOFU we insist so much on three things.
Preparation
Knowing what can happen, what intention you're approaching with, in what context you're doing it and with whom. Preparation doesn't remove uncertainty, but it greatly reduces the likelihood of the experience turning into a problem.
Harm reduction
Honest information about interactions, doses, unsafe settings, warning signs and contraindications. Not from fear or from enthusiasm, but from critical thinking.
Integration
What happens when the experience ends. Translating what was lived into everyday life, telling apart what was an insight from what was simply an intense sensation, deciding which changes are worth making and which aren't. Integration is one of the central parts of the support we offer.
Experience and truth are not the same thing
A warning we repeat often: something feeling absolutely true during a non-ordinary state doesn't make it true. The sense of certainty is a psychological phenomenon that these states amplify enormously. You can have a revelation about the universe and be wrong. You can have a revelation about your life and be completely right. Telling the two apart takes time, contrast and, often, another person to think with.
This connects directly with the meaning we give to our experiences, which for us is where the really interesting work begins.
Exploring in community
Many of the people who come to RILOFU do so after an intense experience they don't know where to place. Others come out of curiosity and want to inform themselves before taking any step. For both, the community offers talks, gatherings and sharing circles where these questions can be talked about normally, without unnecessary mysticism and without judgement.
How to keep exploring
Non-ordinary states are better understood within the set of territories we propose: the mind, emotions, consciousness, relationships and the meaning of experience.
And if you have an experience waiting to be integrated, or doubts before having one, here are two ways to continue.