#  Archive of Mystical Experiences 

 



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The Archive of Mystical Experiences (AME) is a collection of primary-source accounts of transcendent experiences—visions, out-of-body experiences, revelations, apotheosis, and more—covers antiquity to the present and world religions to Indigenous and new-age communities. Balanced with long-form "Encyclopedia entires", these firsthand archival accounts contextualize and analyze the role of extraordinary experiences in particular geographies, traditions, and eras.

The Center for the Study of World Religions developed and supported the first phase of the Archive of Mystical Experience project between 2023 and 2026. During this period, the Center commissioned more than 70 encyclopedia and archival entries exploring transformative religious experiences across cultures, religious traditions, and historical periods. The project also supported the development of a broader research database documenting and contextualizing accounts of mystical, visionary, and transformative experience.

A selection of these entries is featured here. Additional entries developed during the CSWR phase of the project will continue to be released by the Center over the course of the 2026–27 academic year.



 

##  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

 

 



  [### Allogenes

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/01/20/allogenes)Matthew Dillon

 

   ![Ancient Nag Hammadi Codices stacked up.](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-01/Nag%20Hammadi%20Codices%20%281%29.jpg?itok=_7knaNQS) 

 

 

 

  [### Aztec Ritual with Psilocybe Mushrooms (Teonanacatl)

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/03/16/aztec-ritual-psilocybe-mushrooms-teonanacatl)Osiris Sinuhé González Romero

 

   ![Ancient text with drawings](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/Screenshot%202026-03-16%20160122.png?h=8c3ffcea&itok=CJvwYK15) 

 

 

 

  [### Bhagavad Gītā Chapter 11

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2025/11/14/bhagavad-gita-chapter-11)Aaron Michael Ullrey

 

   ![Krishna surrounded by heads of other gods.](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-11/Krishna%20universal%20form%201%20%281%29.jpg?h=dfe390f3&itok=RMqJ_suH) 

 

 

 

  [### Corpus Hermeticum I

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/02/13/corpus-hermeticum-i)Matthew Andrews

 

   ![ink drawing of a teacher gesturing while pupils listen](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/iStock-2186835406.jpg?itok=48kr7akb) 

 

 

 

  [### Edgar Mitchell’s “Ecstasy of Unity”

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2025/12/16/edgar-mitchells-ecstasy-unity)Marleen Thaler 

 

   ![Man walking on the moon](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Mitchell_Studies_Map_-_GPN-2000-001146.jpg.resize.jpg?h=bc955e7d&itok=ra0tSuEl) 

 

 

 

  [### The Eighth Reveals the Ninth

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2025/11/17/eighth-reveals-ninth)Matthew Dillon

 

   ![Hermes receiving visitors](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-11/Hermes_Trismegistus_Sienna_Cathedral_Mosaic%20%281%29.jpg.resize.jpg?itok=fHrpjEYF) 

 

 

 

  [### Ellen G. White

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2025/11/14/ellen-g-white)Stephanie Zamarripa

 

   ![Ellen White looking off into the distance](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-11/Ellen_G._White.jpg.resize.jpg?itok=oo7VvRDt) 

 

 

 

  [### Grant Morrison’s Kathmandu Abduction

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/01/20/grant-morrisons-kathmandu-abduction)Matthew Dillon

 

   ![Grant Morrison looking into the camera](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-01/Grant%20Morrison%20DC%20headshot%20that%20is%20used%20everywhere.jpg?itok=or6wPSnN) 

 

 

 

  [###  Gustav Fechner and the Vision of the Plant-Soul

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2025/12/16/gustav-fechner-and-vision-plant-soul)Rachael Petersen

 

   ![Gustav Fechner looking off into the distance](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Gustav_Fechner%20headshot.jpg?h=bd959609&itok=KjQzY5Zb) 

 

 

 

  [### Irina Tweedie

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/04/23/irina-tweedie)Naamleela F. Jones

 

   ![Irina Tweedie looking off into the distance](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/Irina%20Tweedie%20photo.jpg?itok=i-LmQWp_) 

 

 

 

  [### Monica Gagliano and Thus Spoke the Plant

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/03/17/monica-gagliano-and-thus-spoke-plant)Rachael Petersen

 

   ![Close up of green plant, blurred plants in the background](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/R.PetersenAMEImage.jpg?itok=rAcu6r56) 

 

 

 

  [### Paul Selig

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/02/13/paul-selig)Matthew Dillon

 

   ![Paul Selig photo, Paul looking off into the distance](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/hds_cswr/files/paul_selig_headshot.jpeg?h=43dedbd9&itok=n-rdFeGH) 

 

 

 

  [### Song to Huanduj Flower Man

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2025/12/16/song-huanduj-flower-man)Paola Sanchez-Castaneda

 

   ![Brugmansia blossoms](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-12/Brugmansia%20suaveolens%20-2019-04-23_The_Palm_House%2C_Torre_Abbey%2C_Torquay%2C_Devon_%287%29.JPG?itok=JiRnPL0-) 

 

 

 

  [### Sri Sabhapati Swami’s Flight to Mount Kailasa

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/01/20/sri-sabhapati-swamis-flight-mount-kailasa)Keith Edward Cantú

 

   ![Ancient image of Hindu deities](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-01/image%20for%20SSS%20flight%20archive.jpg.resize.jpg?itok=cB4o4YYu) 

 

 

 

  [###  A Visit to the Second Heaven: A Siona Narrative of the Yajé Experience

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/03/16/visit-second-heaven-siona-narrative-yaje-experience)Paola Sanchez-Castaneda

 

   ![light rays coming down through tropical trees and vegetation with mist](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/iStock-1472067924.jpg?itok=Aixu1gAn) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

##  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.

 

 



  [### Apotheosis and Afterlife of the Indo-European Hero

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/04/15/apotheosis-and-afterlife-indo-european-hero)David Gordon White

 

   ![abstract drawing on dark background](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/Screen%20Shot%202026-04-14%20at%209.23.40%20PM.png?itok=7V1N79hW) 

 

 

 

  [### Revelation

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/03/02/revelation)Ann Taves

 

   ![Jane Roberts seated in a chair in an office looking towards a man taking notes.](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/Jane%20Roberts%20photo.jpg?h=131105d7&itok=w3Anmxb4) 

 

 

 

  [### Sadhus

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/03/27/sadhus)Daniela Bevilacqua

 

   ![sadhus gathering](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/image8.jpg?itok=fmNVnsuy) 

 

 

 

  [### Secrecy

 ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2026/02/02/secrecy)Hugh Urban

 

   ![Partially open door with light coming through](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-02/iStock-1890373085.jpg?itok=UeJdVOT4) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

##  The Archive of Mystical Experience database 

The Archive of Mystical Experience database was developed through CSWR's programmatic and financial support between 2023 and 2026. Matthew Dillon, CSWR Research Associate and Program Lead for the project during this period, will continue to expand the database through an independent platform, with a planned public release in Summer 2026. Readers interested in additional entries and future developments are encouraged to explore that resource as it becomes available.