Meeting the Divine: Psychedelics, Mystical States, and the “God Molecule”
By Dr. Denise Renye
For some, the path to spiritual connection winds through silence, stillness, and years of meditation. For others, it opens like a thunderclap in the space of one psychedelic experience. As a psychologist and sex therapist who specializes in trauma, embodiment, and consciousness, I’ve spent years working intensively with individuals in the process of psychedelic integration—particularly those navigating the aftershocks and openings that can follow mystical or divine encounters during altered states.
Some people describe these moments as their first direct experience with God.
Psychedelic States as Mystical States
Substances like psilocybin (found in “magic mushrooms”), LSD, and DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) have the potential to induce deeply mystical states. These altered states often involve ego dissolution, a profound sense of oneness, timelessness, and a feeling of being held by something far greater than oneself. They are not imagined or metaphorical for those who experience them—they feel realer than real.
For many, especially those who have never felt connected to organized religion or traditional spiritual structures, these moments can be seismic. You might hear someone say:
I became the universe.
I felt God inside every cell.
Everything is made of love.
I’ve never felt so whole in my life.
These are not just poetic phrases. For those who experience trauma, fragmentation, or existential pain, these encounters can offer profound repair—psychic, emotional, and even physical.
The “God Molecule”
One psychedelic compound in particular—5-MeO-DMT—is often referred to as the God Molecule. Found in certain plants and also produced synthetically, 5-MeO-DMT is known for its ability to dissolve ego rapidly and plunge the individual into a state of non-dual awareness. Unlike other psychedelics that unfold over hours, 5-MeO-DMT acts within seconds and lasts only a short time, though its impact can linger for months or even years.
People often describe:
Total merging with the divine
Feeling of absolute unity or infinite love
The obliteration of self and the sense that “there is only God”
But it’s important to note: not everyone feels ready for this. Some find the experience blissful and illuminating. Others encounter deep fear or even existential confusion afterward. It is not the psychedelic itself that determines the outcome—it’s the preparation, the container, and the integration.
Integration: The Sacred Return
This is the heart of my work.
I support individuals—both in therapy and in private coaching containers—who are trying to make sense of what happened in their psychedelic journeys. Whether someone touched God, relived trauma, dissolved into light, or encountered the shadow of their unconscious, these experiences require reverence and a thoughtful return to embodied life.
In addition to one-on-one work, I also offer structured psychedelic integration coaching programs, and I partner with organizations and companies who are beginning to understand the transformative potential of psychedelics in the realms of team building, leadership development, and collective healing.
Psychedelic insights can radically transform how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to our purpose. But transformation doesn’t just happen because of the medicine. It happens because of what we do afterward—with our minds, our bodies, our relationships, and our actions.
God Is Not a Destination
Whether you call it God, Source, the Universe, the Mystery, or something else entirely—psychedelic experiences can shake us awake to something vast, sacred, and real. For some, it's the first time they’ve ever felt a connection to anything spiritual. For others, it confirms what they've always known deep down.
But even the most beautiful mystical experience is not the end of the journey—it’s the beginning. The task is not just to touch God, but to integrate that knowing into your nervous system, your choices, your intimacy, your leadership, and your capacity to love.
If you’ve touched something profound through a psychedelic experience—or you’re preparing to—know that you don’t have to walk the path alone.
Integration is the bridge between insight and embodiment. And embodiment is where transformation lives.
If you're interested in working with me one-on-one, through a coaching program, or to bring integration work into your company or team culture, visit my website or reach out directly.