---
product_id: 20961305
title: "Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences"
price: "287 Lei"
currency: RON
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 12
url: https://www.desertcart.ro/products/20961305-sacred-knowledge-psychedelics-and-religious-experiences
store_origin: RO
region: Romania
---

# Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences

**Price:** 287 Lei
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## Description

Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences [Richards, William] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences

Review: An Engaging Read on the Mystery of the Mind & Existence Itself - Well before Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind, Dr. Bill Richards was investigating the effect of psychedelics on the human psyche. What’s distinct about Dr. Richards’ experience is that he can speak openly about his own personal psychedelic journeys (which were undertaken in above ground legal contexts) as well as his research into psychedelic psychotherapy that spans the original decades of work (his being mostly in the 60’s) to the current renaissance. Sacred Knowledge is a mix of memoir, scholarship, and open wonder about the mysterious experiences psychedelics can elicit when taken with respect and in the optimal setting. Some of the more disgruntled reviewers, in my reading, actually mischaracterize Dr. Richards as being overly narrow or confident in discussing some of the spiritual and mystical-like experiences psychedelics can produce. Having seen him speak on multiple occasions and even the pleasure of knowing him personally, I can attest that Dr. Richards indeed embodies a rare mix of intelligence, heart, and authenticity. His decades of life experiences, psychedelic and otherwise, have left him with a genuine playfulness and curiosity into his older years mixed with well-earned wisdom. He remains down to Earth, deeply compassionate, and eager to support his clients, students, and colleagues as they undertake their own life journeys. In Sacred Knowledge, I especially appreciated his willingness to ponder openly many of the mysteries that people can confront while experiencing psychedelic states of consciousness. Not everyone will be convinced that psychedelic experiences reveal a genuine sacred nature behind our everyday reality. Nor need they be. But by offering his own take on these questions and possibilities, Dr. Richards offers one voice among many in support of the growing psychedelic renaissance. As long as we can foster a similar sense of care and deep respect of these substances, we have much to learn and explore in the coming years about the potential for psychedelics to heal and transform.
Review: Highly recommended - Very fascinating book, very well researched and written.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN  | 0231174063 |
| Best Sellers Rank | #244,454 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #18 in Popular Psychology Psychopharmacology #28 in Medical Psychopharmacology #84 in New Age Mysticism (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (283) |
| Dimensions  | 6.3 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches |
| ISBN-10  | 0231162154 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0231162159 |
| Item Weight  | 1.12 pounds |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 280 pages |
| Publication date  | December 8, 2015 |
| Publisher  | Columbia University Press |

## Images

![Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81bds8pgL7L.jpg)
![Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51UVwL1DnUL.jpg)
![Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31nIwQ62joL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Engaging Read on the Mystery of the Mind & Existence Itself
*by J***N on January 25, 2021*

Well before Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind, Dr. Bill Richards was investigating the effect of psychedelics on the human psyche. What’s distinct about Dr. Richards’ experience is that he can speak openly about his own personal psychedelic journeys (which were undertaken in above ground legal contexts) as well as his research into psychedelic psychotherapy that spans the original decades of work (his being mostly in the 60’s) to the current renaissance. Sacred Knowledge is a mix of memoir, scholarship, and open wonder about the mysterious experiences psychedelics can elicit when taken with respect and in the optimal setting. Some of the more disgruntled reviewers, in my reading, actually mischaracterize Dr. Richards as being overly narrow or confident in discussing some of the spiritual and mystical-like experiences psychedelics can produce. Having seen him speak on multiple occasions and even the pleasure of knowing him personally, I can attest that Dr. Richards indeed embodies a rare mix of intelligence, heart, and authenticity. His decades of life experiences, psychedelic and otherwise, have left him with a genuine playfulness and curiosity into his older years mixed with well-earned wisdom. He remains down to Earth, deeply compassionate, and eager to support his clients, students, and colleagues as they undertake their own life journeys. In Sacred Knowledge, I especially appreciated his willingness to ponder openly many of the mysteries that people can confront while experiencing psychedelic states of consciousness. Not everyone will be convinced that psychedelic experiences reveal a genuine sacred nature behind our everyday reality. Nor need they be. But by offering his own take on these questions and possibilities, Dr. Richards offers one voice among many in support of the growing psychedelic renaissance. As long as we can foster a similar sense of care and deep respect of these substances, we have much to learn and explore in the coming years about the potential for psychedelics to heal and transform.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly recommended
*by J***C on November 20, 2025*

Very fascinating book, very well researched and written.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A foundational text for anyone serious about psychedelic science, ethics, and education
*by C***S on December 27, 2025*

I read Sacred Knowledge as part of building a new Psychedelic Studies curriculum at Salem University in West Virginia, and as a co-founder of the Appalachian Psychedelic Society. Few books have shaped my thinking as responsibly as Bill Richards’ work. This is not a promotional book about psychedelics. It is a careful, decades-long account of what happens when altered states of consciousness are approached with preparation, humility, and clinical integrity. Richards brings together early LSD research, landmark psilocybin studies at Johns Hopkins, and vivid clinical narratives to show that healing does not come from the drug itself, but from the states of consciousness that are skillfully facilitated, remembered, and integrated. What stood out to me is Richards’ moral clarity. He is honest about risks, screening, and limitations, while also refusing to reduce mystical experiences to mere brain events. His discussion of integration, therapist presence, and responsibility makes this book essential for clinicians, educators, and policymakers. As an Appalachian reader, I was especially struck by how much this book challenges stigma rooted in fear rather than data. Richards shows that responsible exploration of consciousness is not reckless, rather it is disciplined, relational, and deeply human. If you are interested in psychedelics for therapy, education, or cultural understanding, Sacred Knowledge is a cornerstone.

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*Product available on Desertcart Romania*
*Store origin: RO*
*Last updated: 2026-04-01*