Backgroud: Current research suggests that psychedelics might have a significant therapeutic potential for the treatment of addictions, as well as the treatment of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses. The current renaissance of psychedelic research, as well as changes in the approach towards these substances we see in some countries, suggest that it is only a matter of time until psychedelics are officially used as a therapeutic tool in treatment. The progressive field of addictology in the Czech Republic could be one of the pioneers of psychedelic research in the treatment of addictions. Aim: The theoretical part of this work provides insights into the current events in the field of psychedelic research in the Czech Republic and in the world. The research part maps the perspectives and attitudes of Czech experts and representatives of leading institutions (areas of addictology, research on psychedelics and mental health and state administration) on the use of psychedelics in the treatment of addictions. The aim of this work was to find out how these experts approach this issue and what possibilities and limits of implementation of research on psychedelics in the treatment of addictions they perceive. Methods: Twelve respondents took part in a qualitative...

Background: Psychedelic experience is a phenomenon that has become increasingly important in recent years. It is the subject of much research. The therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances and psychedelic experience for mental disorders, but also for addiction disorders, is interesting. This is a phenomenon that goes deep into history. Psychedelic substances were sought for altered states of consciousness during shamanic rituals. In recent history, these are substances that are often associated with the name Albert Hofmann in connection with the discovery of the effects of LSD. These are substances that are relatively safe and do not have the potential to be addictive, and are therefore of great scientific interest. Aim: The aim of this thesis is to understand the psychedelic experience and its influence on attitudes to the use of addictive substances, as well as the importance of the respondents themselves to this experience. The main goal is to describe the influence of psychedelic experience on attitudes to the use of addictive substances. How is the change taking place, whether the respondents themselves are aware of it and how they perceive it. Sample: The research group consists of 5 respondents who were selected by the method of intentional selection and the method of snowball....

This theoretical thesis is focused on mapping and comparing the leading psychological transpersonal approaches to the conception of development of consciousness of an individual. This research is exploring the theory of Ken Wilber, Michael Washburn and Stanislav Grof also paying attention to the main disagreement among them regarding the confusion of prepersonal and transpersonal spheres of consciousness. This disagreement is further elaborated in an effort to find a conclusion and to seek for an integrative theory. The theories are compared with regard to the findings about psychedelic experience. The psychedelic experience is psychologically elaborated with emphasis on the current scientific knowledge in the field and their embedding in the context of the developmental theories of consciousness taking the effort of unravelling the pre/trans fallacy and the clinical implications into account. KEYWORDS Developmental theory, consciousness, transpersonal, psychedelics, pre/trans fallacy

2 Abstract In this text, we are asking if it is possible to think the 'psychedelic' without labelling it as 'different', 'imaginary', 'fantastic' or 'unreal', and without thinking it as a particular experiential region belonging specifically to human experience. By first thinking 'experience', we are then attempting to relate the psychedelic experience to human experience considered in the simple joining of its basic dimensions, and to think both of these experiential modalities through the same motives. If we think 'experience' as opening itself through its boundaries, which limit and thus open the dimensions through which the fundamental relation of presencing and apprehension plays, then we can think the psychedelic using the concept of 'layer' derived from the concept of 'boundary'. We first think the phenomena of transparency of time, of transparent attunement and of transparent clarity, which belong to human experience in its simplicity. We then think the phenomenon of disjoining of the basic dimensions of human experience, which takes us from human experience in its simplicity, through strangeness, towards the psychedelic. Lastly, we think the phenomenon of permeating, taking us to the simply joined or disjoined dimensions of human and non-human experience being played out in their layeredness...

This work studies the environment of contemporary alternative spirituality in the Czech Republic, specifically unusual spiritual experiences and techniques for inducing them. It is based on long-term field research utilizing the method of participant observation carried out primarily in the environment of neo-shamanism, but also the use of psychedelics, dark therapy, and other movements and practices. I perceive and analyze these practices both as psychotechnologies - i.e. techniques through which their users strive to alter their thinking - as well as spiritual techniques aimed at establishing and cultivating a relationship with the spiritual world. The focus of this study is a comparison of neo-shamanism and other practices in three main aspects: the induction of experiences, the connection between spiritual experiences and the actor's life as a whole, and the changes in the perception of reality brought about by long- term practicing. I point out that in all these areas, techniques traditionally thought of as closely related exhibit fundamental differences. A non-negligible part of this study consists of methodological and theoretical considerations. I show that the field of alternative spirituality has many specifics compared to other religious environments, and that mainstream methodological...