Archive of Mystical Experiences

The Archive of Mystical Experiences (AME) is a collection of primary-source accounts of transcendent experiences—including visions, out-of-body experiences, revelations, apotheosis, and more—spanning antiquity to the present and traditions ranging from the world religions to Indigenous and new religious communities. Alongside these firsthand archival accounts, long-form encyclopedia entries provide historical and interpretive context for extraordinary experiences across particular geographies, traditions, and eras.

The AME was developed at the Center for the Study of World Religions between 2023 and 2026, an effort led by Matthew J. Dillon. During this period, the Center commissioned more than 70 encyclopedia and archival entries, a selection of which is featured here. A related edited volume, The Varieties of Mystical Experiences, will be released later in the 2026–27 academic year.

People

Matthew J. Dillon — Postdoctoral Fellow (2021–2023), Lead Research Associate, Transformation Database (2023–2026)

Aaron M. Ullrey — Research Associate in Asian Religious Traditions (2024–2026), Editing and Writing Specialist (2024–2027)

Keith E. Cantú — Postdoctoral Fellow in Asian Religious Traditions (2024– 2025), Research Affiliate (2025–2026)

Archival Entries

Archival entries present and contextualize primary source accounts of extraordinary religious, mystical, and transformative experiences drawn from diverse traditions, historical periods, and cultural settings. Each entry introduces the source, situates it within its historical and religious context, and highlights its significance for understanding experiences of transcendence and transformation

Encyclopedia Entries

Encyclopedia entries provide scholarly overviews of key figures, traditions, practices, concepts, and movements relevant to the study of mystical and transformative experience. Together, they offer the historical, cultural, and interpretive context needed to understand and interpret the primary sources.

Magic
Andrea Franchetto and Egil Asprem
Dr. Dee's Engraved Wax Seal, 16th century. London, British Museum, 1232.90.c.