The Integrated Transcendent Experience of Consciousness Scale

An integrated measure of transcendent experiences for researchers and clinicians

Overview

The ITEC‑18 is an 18‑item self‑report instrument designed to quantify phenomenology commonly described as transcendent experiences of consciousness. Across diverse traditions and contexts, these experiences cluster into five facets: Unity‑Consciousness, Bliss, Insight, Somatic Energy Sensations, and Luminosity, which behave as expressions of a single underlying construct. The scale is brief (4–6 minutes), easy to administer online or on paper, and intended for clinical monitoring, program evaluation, and research, not diagnosis.

Development and Validation

The ITEC‑18 was developed from a large item pool spanning mystical, Kundalini‑type, near‑death‑like, and contemplative reports. Items were refined through factor‑analytic modeling and cross‑validation. ITEC-18 supports clinical assessment, program evaluation, and research on transcendent/mystical/Kundalini-type phenomena. It is not a diagnostic tool and should be interpreted alongside clinical judgment and safety screening. For details, see the pre-print of our scale development and validation manuscript.

Scale Description

Scale factors include:

  • Unity‑Consciousness: expansion/non‑separateness; direct perception of consciousness; certainty of immortality
  • Bliss: Deep peace, love, and awe
  • Insight: Noetic knowing; clarity; conviction
  • Somatic Energy Sensations: spontaneous currents/vibration; axial (often spinal) flow
  • Luminosity: perception of inner/outer light

Administration and Scoring

Download the ITEC-18 survey in PDF format.

Administration

  • Mode: Paper or e‑form; individual; self‑administered.
  • Time: ~4–6 minutes.
  • Recall window: Choose and state explicitly (e.g., “past 7 days”). Keep constant across timepoints in longitudinal designs.

Scoring

  • Global score: Sum of all 18 items (recommended for most clinical/research applications) (Widaman & Revelle, 2023). Higher values indicate stronger presence of higher‑consciousness phenomenology within the recall window.
  • Facet scores: Compute scores within each facet for pattern analysis (Unity, Bliss, Insight, Energy, Luminosity).
  • Change over time: Use repeated administration (e.g., Baseline → Mid → Post → 1‑month follow‑up) to evaluate interventions.

Data handling

  • Maintain confidentiality and data privacy.

ITEC-18 Online Calculator

The following calculator uses sum score methods to compare an ITEC-18 sample with the normative population found in the original ITEC-18 validation study (Molina et al., 2025).

ITEC-18 Calculator

Applications and Limitations

Applications

  • Clinical monitoring: Track phenomenology in patients engaged in contemplative or breathwork programs; support shared decision‑making and pacing.
  • Program evaluation: Pre/post measurement for meditation, compassion, or service‑learning curricula; facet profiles can guide personalization (e.g., adding grounding when Energy rises).
  • Research: Map state‑change trajectories; test mechanism hypotheses (e.g., the role of selflessness/compassion as moderator); compare interventions; examine cross‑cultural patterns (with invariance checks).

Limitations & cautions

  • Not diagnostic: ITEC‑18 measures experienced phenomenology, not etiology or clinical value. Interpret within broader assessment.
  • Self‑report bias: Susceptible to demand characteristics and recall effects—mitigate with clear instructions, consistent windows, and preregistered analyses.
  • Population scope: Validated primarily in adult, self‑selected samples; use caution and pilot work for minors or clinical populations with acute instability.
  • Intensity management: Somatic energy or luminosity can at times feel overwhelming. Pair administration with access to titration tools (grounding, sleep hygiene, nutrition) and clinical pathways when indicated. See link for titration tools and meditations (Coming soon)
  • Cultural framing: Language should be adapted sensitively to local terms/worldviews without altering construct content.

Revised Items

Wording and formatting of ITEC-18 items has been slightly revised from the original ITEC-18 study for clarity, preserving the interpretation and meaning of the survey items for respondents.

  • Sensations of energy rushing up the spine
  • Sensations of energy along the spine, from the base of the spine to the top of the head
  • Feelings of energy flowing or vibrating within
  • Visions of light
  • Sensations of white light or luminosity
  • An unshakable conviction about the reality of the experience
  • A profound insight into the inner workings of the cosmos
  • All sense of separateness disappears
  • Expansion of consciousness
  • New understanding of spiritual truths or insight into the inner meaning of spiritual teachings
  • Increased feelings of unity with creation
  • Overwhelming sense of wonder and awe
  • An experience of union with the divine, god, or universal consciousness
  • Overwhelming sense of love
  • Intense feeling of peace
  • Loss of fear of death or certainty of immortality
  • New knowledge or awareness of the unbounded intelligence behind universe
  • Expanded comprehension of reality

References and Additional Information

Molina, M. D., Molina, L., & Zappaterra, M. W. (2025). Development and validation of the transcendent experience of consciousness scale (ITEC-18). OSF Preprints. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/cgb6e

Widaman, K. F., & Revelle, W. (2023). Thinking thrice about sum scores, and then some more about measurement and analysis. Behav Res, 55, 788–806. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-022-01849-w