Ayahuasca entity visitations: A thematic analysis of Internet-reported encounters

Aliens, robots, insectoid creatures, deities, and mythic beings are familiar to users of the hallucinogenic plant mixture Ayahuasca. While Ayahuasca has been extensively studied, this is the first systematic analysis of these entities, even though they are widely known by Ayahuasca users. The analysis focused on the texts of Ayahuasca experiences among Internet forum discussions. The selected data consists of text archives from a four-year period of a single anonymous users' forum. Using a systematic, computer-assisted method, the researcher developed a code consisting of classifications of entities and their attributes. I used thematic analysis as described by Boyatzis (1998). An integral literature review includes brief references to the origins and use of Ayahuasca; more lengthy treatment is given to theoretical considerations with respect to Ayahuasca research. A brief exploration of mental imagery in current psychological literature introduces the theoretical framing. The contributions of cognitive psychologist Sharon (2002) produced the most comprehensive report of Ayahuasca phenomenology to date; he draws conclusions that question fundamental assumptions about psychological science. Many Western scientific approaches look to inner cognitive structures, attitudes, and neurophysiology for causes and functional roles of mental imagery. In contrast, Jungian and transpersonal theories address content rich dimensions of nonordinary states and collective universals. The results of the present study include over 140 categories of entities and their interactions, and thematic patterns that were associated with two affective antipodes, which means diametrically opposed poles, derived from 29 codes for nuances of negative and positive emotions. The discussion relates these results to Jungian thought and the transpersonal perspective of Grof (2001); it also responds to some of Shanon's contributions to the study of Ayahuasca.