How did some practitioners describe ecstatic experiences of union with the divine?

Practitioners within drug cults often describe ecstatic experiences of union with the divine as a direct encounter with God, ultimate reality, or the spirits governing their destiny. These experiences are frequently characterized by a sense of self-transcendence, which may involve the dissolution of ego boundaries, a loss of the sense of self, or even the terror of death.1

Such encounters are often reported as a psychological rebirth that provides feelings of power, freedom, and the release of creative energies. Participants may feel they have been in the presence of the divine or have successfully assimilated the qualities and powers of the gods. These states are viewed as profound mystical or transcendental experiences, often triggered by the stirring of deeply buried, nonrational reactions. Through these ritualistic sacraments, worshippers seek to secure visions, self-knowledge, and spiritual direction.12