A psychonaut is a person who explores altered states of consciousness, often through the use of psychoactive substances, meditation, or other techniques. The term combines "psyche," meaning mind or soul, and "naut," meaning sailor or navigator. So, a psychonaut is someone who navigates or explores the mind.
This exploration can include using substances like psychedelics (e.g., LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, DMT), but it can also refer to practices like deep meditation, breathwork, sensory deprivation, or lucid dreaming. Psychonauts often seek personal growth, spiritual insight, creativity, or expanded awareness through these experiences.
In the modern context, the term is commonly associated with those who approach these practices with a sense of curiosity and self-exploration, often seeking to understand the nature of consciousness and the limits of the human mind.
