Sughra Ahmed had never even heard of psychedelics when a friend told her that religious leaders were being recruited for a study in which they would all be given two powerful doses of psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms. At the time, in 2017, Ahmed was an associate dean of religious and spiritual life at Stanford University, San Francisco, and despite some initial scepticism, her curiosity was piqued.
Following deep reflection and conversations with trusted friends, she signed up. Key to her decision was her appraisal that intentional psychedelic use is in keeping with Islamic principles of growth and expansion, to become the best version of oneself to better serve God.
Ahmed was not expecting to arrive in a spiritual nirvana, but that’s what happened over the course of two “phenomenally energetic experiences” in a living room-like setting at Maryland’s Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in 2018, with her visions coloured by soft hues of light. ….more
