Have you ever wondered why God calls us to be sober-minded, watchful, and alert? In today’s world, altered states of consciousness are often marketed as gateways to healing, enlightenment, or self-discovery. Whether it’s through plant medicine, psychedelics, alcohol, hypnotic trances, or certain forms of meditation, we’re told that stepping outside our normal mental boundaries will somehow set us free.
This is deeply personal for me. When I was younger, I experimented with altered states of consciousness—taking psychedelics at very high doses and abusing alcohol excessively. In those moments, I thought I was chasing fun or deeper insight, but instead, I found myself spiritually vulnerable and under attack on several occasions. Those experiences weren’t harmless explorations; they were openings that the enemy used to try to get a foothold in my life.
In my practice today, I focus on finding the real root cause of a person’s problems. Is it spiritual? Is it a toxin? Is it a pathogen? What’s the main upstream driver of this patient’s health struggle? Typically, I start with a complete organ scan and use several hundred stressors to see what might be affecting weakened organs. I then go through a series of questions from a manual I’ve developed over years. The very first question I ask is whether this patient is under any kind of spiritual attack. Finally, I pinpoint root causes—specific toxins and pathogens that most blood work never reveals.
But what if these doorways we so easily open actually lead to bondage instead of freedom? What if, instead of discovering divine truth, we’re opening ourselves to spiritual deception and even demonic influence?
The Mind is a Battlefield
Scripture is clear that our mind is the primary battleground of spiritual warfare. Romans 12:2 urges us to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind,” and 2 Corinthians 10:5 speaks of “taking every thought captive to obey Christ.” The Bible calls us to mental clarity and spiritual vigilance because the enemy operates through deception, distortion, and manipulation of thought.
When we willingly surrender control of our minds—through substances, rituals, or trance-like states—we make ourselves vulnerable. Proverbs 25:28 warns that a person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls, defenseless against attack.
Deceptions in Disguise
Today, countless practices promise enlightenment or healing through altered states. Plant medicine ceremonies, psychedelic journeys, even some New Age meditations are presented as spiritual solutions. But as countless testimonies and spiritual authorities warn, these experiences can open doors not to higher consciousness, but to dark spiritual forces.
The early Church Fathers, Catholic teachings, and modern deliverance ministers consistently caution against surrendering our mental faculties. Exorcists like Fr. Gabriele Amorth have pointed to hypnosis, drugs, and occult meditations as frequent gateways to demonic influence. Former New Age leaders like Doreen Virtue and ex-Satanists like John Ramirez have echoed these warnings through their powerful personal stories.
The Power of True Surrender
The irony is that we are meant to surrender—not to altered states, but to Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:13 tells us our strength comes through Him. Psalm 55:22 urges us to cast our burdens on the Lord, not on practices that bypass His truth. When we give our minds over to substances or mystical experiences, we substitute God’s guidance for spiritual risks we often can’t see.
A Better Way Forward
Instead of seeking peace through experiences that dull, distort, or hijack our minds, God invites us into real, lasting transformation. Through Scripture, prayer, and relationship with Christ, we gain true enlightenment—rooted not in altered perception, but in divine truth.
If you’re struggling or searching, don’t settle for counterfeit spiritual experiences. Protect your mind, guard your soul, and pursue the God who offers clarity, freedom, and life.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” —1 Peter 5:8
Want more insights? Stay tuned for more teachings on spiritual discernment, protecting your mind, and walking in true freedom.
