Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life – Dying without Fear

The author has been a clinical psychologist for over 60 years, which means that he has lived through the demise and revival of psychedelic therapy. As such, he is an expert guide able to draw on both his own personal and clinical experience and a plethora of research. Of particular significance is the experience of ego death that also often occurs in psychedelic journeys and corresponds to a surrender into a larger field. Many studies show dramatically decreased anxiety in terminally ill patients through the use of psychedelics, also illustrated with personal testimonies. A 30-item questionnaire explores the range of common effects, including the capacity to recalibrate suffering; there are also interesting parallels with near-death experiences. The second part outlines ten steps to living fully and dying gracefully, noting that resistance and attempts to control a psychedelic experience are fruitless: surrendering is the solution to the fear of nothingness. The book concludes with some wise reflections of a psychedelic elder, drawing on the legacy of Cicero.