Spooky Season Special: Facing Death

How Psychedelics, Spirituality, and Hermetic Buddhism™ Transform Existential Dread

Death. It's the ultimate unknown, the one certainty we face yet the mystery we least understand. Existential dread is woven into the human experience, the silent question hovering over us all. For some, the fear of death is all-consuming, for others it’s a subtle whisper in the background, but regardless of how we encounter it, it shapes us. Over time, I've come to find that psychedelics, spirituality, and my own brand of Hermetic Buddhism have transformed my relationship with death and helped me navigate the existential dread it brings. So today, let's dive into these perspectives and explore how they can reshape our approach to mortality.

The Nature of Existential Dread

Existential dread stems from our awareness of mortality. Unlike animals, we humans have the unique capacity to anticipate our own end, often leading us into an unanswerable spiral of "why." For many, this dread can be paralyzing, bringing up anxieties around the loss of self, the meaning of life, and what (if anything) lies beyond.

But this very dread is also what drives us to search for answers, to seek meaning, and to find comfort. It’s the backbone of religion, philosophy, and even art—our ways of making sense of the incomprehensible. We develop belief systems, undertake practices, and explore the boundaries of consciousness to reconcile with the fact of our mortality.

Psychedelics: A Glimpse Beyond the Veil

Psychedelics, more than any other experience, have offered me a glimpse beyond the veil of everyday reality, nudging open the door to realms that feel timeless and boundless. When experienced in the right setting and with the right mindset, psychedelics can dissolve the boundaries between the self and the universe.

Many who have undertaken these journeys report experiencing what they describe as “ego death.” This phenomenon feels like the temporary dissolution of the self, a state where the usual confines of identity, fears, and attachments fall away. In this space, we aren’t individuals but rather a part of something infinitely vast, beautiful, and alive.

This dissolution provides an antidote to existential dread by showing us that, while our egos may dissolve, the essence of who we are feels eternal. It’s not that psychedelics reveal the “answer” to death per se, but they offer a comforting perspective: that there’s more to existence than what meets the eye, and maybe, just maybe, death is not the end but a transformation — another dream.

Spirituality: The Art of Embracing Impermanence

While psychedelics offer powerful, sometimes life-altering glimpses of interconnectedness, spirituality provides a framework for understanding and integrating these experiences into our daily lives. Spirituality encourages us to explore our connection to something greater—whether we call it the universe, spirit, or simply the fabric of life. And at the core of many spiritual teachings, particularly in Buddhism, is the concept of impermanence.

“This, too, shall pass.”

Impermanence reminds us that all things—our bodies, relationships, and even our very selves—are constantly changing. Nothing is static, and clinging to things as though they were permanent is the root of suffering. In the Buddhist view, accepting impermanence leads to liberation from fear and attachment. When we make peace with the transient nature of life, we also find peace with death. This doesn’t eliminate existential dread but rather transforms it, inviting us to live fully in each moment.

Hermetic Buddhism: Alchemy of the Soul

For me, the combination of Hermeticism and Buddhism has brought the most solace. Hermeticism teaches that we are more than our physical forms; it speaks of the soul as eternal, transcending the cycles of life and death. This perspective encourages a process of spiritual alchemy—a transformation of the self from the material to the divine.

Buddhism, on the other hand, shows us the importance of compassion, mindfulness, and the relinquishing of attachment to the self. Together, these paths have shaped my view of death as less of an ending and more of an evolution. I see the soul as an ongoing journey - a quest if you will - refining itself through experiences, lifetimes, and the dissolution of each form it inhabits.

Hermetic Buddhism, as I’ve come to understand it, and preach it on this blog, encourages us to accept the material and spiritual realms as interconnected and to see death as a passage into the next stage of our soul’s journey. The aim is not to escape mortality but to transcend our fear of it, to meet death as an ally in the alchemical process of transformation.

Embracing Death: Practical Takeaways

So how do we integrate these insights practically? Here are a few approaches that have helped me reframe my perspective on death and existential dread:

1. Meditate on Impermanence: Practicing mindfulness and meditating on the nature of impermanence can help reduce attachment and ease the fear of loss. By observing the transient nature of thoughts, emotions, and even our bodies, we build a sense of peace with change, which naturally extends to a sense of peace with death.

2. Explore Ego Dissolution through Psychedelic Experiences (if you’re called to): In a safe, supportive setting, psychedelics can offer transformative experiences that reframe our understanding of self and mortality. Just remember, these are tools for exploration, not answers in themselves.

3. Practice Spiritual Alchemy: Treat every experience as an opportunity for growth. In Hermeticism, the process of transformation is lifelong. We’re constantly refining our souls, dissolving attachments, and integrating wisdom. When we see life as an ongoing alchemical process, death becomes part of the soul’s journey, not the end of it.

4. Cultivate Compassion and Gratitude: Being present with those we love and experiencing life with gratitude helps us live fully. When we cultivate gratitude for each moment, we shift our focus from fearing the end to appreciating the journey.

5. Play with Existential Humor: Sometimes, the best way to confront our fear of death is to laugh at it. I find it comforting to remember that I’m part of a cosmic dance, one that’s vast, mysterious, and a bit absurd.

Befriending Death

Psychedelics, spirituality, and my hermetic Buddhist practice haven’t erased my fear of death, but they’ve certainly reshaped it. Existential dread has evolved into a deep curiosity and a humble respect for the mysteries of life and death. Rather than seeing death as an ending, I’ve come to view it as a transformation, a continuation of the journey that is life.

In embracing the perspectives and practices that help us make peace with mortality, we open ourselves to a more fulfilling, fearless existence. We’re here, dancing between worlds, exploring the boundaries of self and spirit. No information is ever lost. And maybe, just maybe, death is simply the next adventure.

Happy Halloween!

Love,
Felix.