Jay,

I think your distinction between unitive and non-unitive mystical experience, and your pointing toward the primacy of the non-unitive or visionary experiences (other worlds, other beings) in ayahuasca and some other shamanistically used entheogens are both very interesting and accurate. I agree from my own experience that while a successful LSD experience tends to land one in the unitive "clear light," ayahuasca seems to reveal visionary dimensions of diversity. It also , often, fosters profound ethical self-examination. Will the growing popularity of shamanic entheogen use inform or even increase interest in visionary Jewish mysticism? Intriguing possibility. Ayahuasca's propensity to give visions of palaces, temples, and other unearthly architecture, as well as divine beings and nature spirits has already helped to form several syncretic blends of christianity and shamanism in Brazil. Unworldly architecture may be seen as the temple of Solomon; unfolding narratives seen as time travel and glimpses of previous incarnations, e.g. in biblical scenes with biblical personages; other worlds as levels of heaven, etc. I can't think of anywhere else I've seen discussion of the two kinds of mysticism as they relate to different entheogens, and the potential implications of this, and I'm happy to see it here.