Agency Dictionary

Entheogenic

adjectivePronunciation: /ˌɛn.θiː.oʊˈdʒɛn.ɪk/

What does “Entheogenic” mean?

Relating to or possessing the capacity to induce religious, spiritual, or sacred altered states of consciousness.

Etymology

Adjective from entheogen, a word proposed in 1979 by a group of scholars of ethnobotany and classical studies, among them Carl Ruck and R. Gordon Wasson. It joins Greek entheos, "having a god within, inspired" (from en, "in", and theos, "god"), to the element -gen, "producing". Entheos is also the base of enthusiasm. The term was offered as a name for plants and substances used in religious rites, free of the associations of hallucinogen and psychedelic.

Usage note

The word is chosen when the religious or ritual setting of the experience is the point. Pharmacology and law more often say hallucinogenic or psychedelic for the same substances.

Synonyms

psychedelic
visionary
hallucinogenic
sacramental

Word family

entheogen
enthusiasm
enthusiast

Rhymes with

schizophrenic
Hellenic

Concept

EntheogenAn entheogen is a psychoactive substance used in sacred, religious, or spiritual rituals to induce divine or transcendent experiences. The term was coined in 1979 to…

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Research.2 - Ayahuasca: what it is, origin, preparation and effects of the sacred medicineSeptember 24, 2026Read the edition

Words of the same theme

Equationnoun: A complex statement or problem involving balancing multiple interdependent factors, variables, or meanings.
Rebirthnoun: A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
Synchronicitynoun: The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
Astronautnoun: A person trained and equipped to travel and operate beyond the atmosphere of the Earth. In space exploration, astronauts perform scientific experiments and navigate spacecraft under extreme conditions.
Decompositionnoun: The natural biological or chemical process of decay, breakdown, or disintegration into constituent elements.
eppur si muoveother: An Italian phrase meaning and yet it moves. It is used to affirm that a fact remains true no matter who denies it.
Self-immolationnoun: The deliberate destruction of oneself, typically by fire. In Archetype.0, self-immolation is the voluntary act by which the phoenix builds a nest of fragrant spices and woods, ignites itself and is consumed by the flames.
Immortalitynoun: The quality of being immune to permanent death, living or enduring beyond a single lifespan. In Archetype.0, immortality is one of the five semiotic attributes of the Phoenix: the flames are not an end but a transition, an essential phase of its immortal existence.
Pollinationnoun: The transfer of pollen grains from the male anther to the female stigma of a flower, enabling fertilization and seed production.
Regenerativeadjective: Relating to or capable of renewing, restoring, or reforming biological vitality and structural equilibrium.
Mjolnirnoun: In Norse mythology, the hammer of the god Thor, forged by dwarfs and known for its short handle. It is the weapon with which he defends gods and humans.
syntheticadjective: Produced by artificial or chemical synthesis rather than originating from natural or organic processes.

Also from these editions: terms

Chacronanoun: The tropical shrub Psychotria viridis whose leaves provide dimethyltryptamine in the preparation of ayahuasca.
Decoctionnoun: The process of extracting soluble chemicals and active compounds from tough plant materials by continuous boiling in water.
Hinarionoun: A consecrated book or collection of received spiritual hymns sung in rhythm to structure and guide ceremonies in Santo Daime.
Jagubenoun: The woody liana Banisteriopsis caapi native to the Amazon rainforest, containing beta-carbolines that inhibit MAO enzymes.
Macerationnoun: The softening or mechanical breaking down of plant tissues and fibers by pounding, soaking, or steeping.
Miracaonoun: A vivid visual, symbolic, or spiritual visionary experience occurring during the peak effects of an ayahuasca ceremony.
Neuroplasticadjective: Relating to or exhibiting the structural and functional adaptiveness of neural networks within the brain.
Pan-Amazonianadjective: Encompassing, spanning, or characteristic of the entire geographic and cultural territory of the Amazon basin.
Rezonoun: A formal spiritual prayer or spoken invocation chanted to inaugurate, direct, or conclude a traditional sacred gathering.
Serotonergicadjective: Related to, producing, or activated by the neurotransmitter serotonin or its corresponding receptors.
Syncreticadjective: Characterized by the fusion or combination of different forms of belief, cultural practices, or theological doctrines.