An altered state, as elucidated by Jamie Wheal, is a profound shift in consciousness wherein an individual's ordinary waking state gives way to extraordinary experiences. These states, often induced through a variety of methods including meditation, breathwork, psychedelics, or extreme sports, facilitate a departure from normal cognitive processes and physiological functions. In an altered state, one might encounter amplified sensory perceptions, a dissolution of the ego, a deep sense of interconnectedness, and a radical reconfiguration of time and space. Such experiences can catalyze peak performance, foster deep introspection, and unlock novel insights, serving as catalysts for personal transformation and collective evolution.

See also: delta wave, flow state, peak experience, non-ordinary state