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the ages. 246 * THE SESSIONS Clearly there are striking similarities between naturally occurring spiri- tual experiences and those induced in certain individuals by DMT. Cleo's, Elena's, and Sean's high-dose sessions were ecstatic, insightful, revolu- tionary, and profound. All three volunteers were steady and solid people with knowledge of religious concepts. The words they used to describe their sessions are remarkably like those we read from the great mystics of DMT reproduces many of the features of an enlightenment experi- ence, including timelessness; ineffability; coexistence of opposites; contact and merging with a supremely powerful, wise, and loving presence, some- times experienced as a white light; the certainty that consciousness continues after death of the body; and a first-hand knowledge of the basic "facts" of creation and consciousness. While gratified and in awe of these sessions, larger questions began to loom as I heard more of them. Because DMT can elicit mystical experi- ences, are the experiences necessarily beneficial? Or, put another way, do they have a spiritual effect in those who've undergone them? If they did, I'd feel justified in labeling these encounters truly spiritual. In addi- tion, the occasional negative effects of DMT might be easier to accept in the presence of real transformational experiences in others. These thoughts lead to two separate clinical issues: adverse effects from, and long-term benefit wrought by, encounters with the spirit mol- ecule. In order to begin looking at the overall balance sheet, let's turn to the dark side of DMT.