A psychonaut (also spelled psychanaut or psychenaut) (deriving from the Greek ψυχή (soul) and ναύτης (sailor), that is, a sailor of the mind/soul) is a person who experiences intentionally induced altered states of consciousness in an attempt to investigate their mind, and possibly address spiritual questions through direct experience. Psychonauts tend to be pluralistic, willing to explore mystical traditions from established world religions, meditation, yoga, lucid dreaming, technologies such as brainwave entrainment, psychedelic drugs, (entheogens), tantra, and sensory deprivation. Because techniques that alter consciousness can be dangerous, and can induce a state of extreme susceptibility, psychonauts generally prefer to undertake these explorations either alone, or in the company of people they trust. Therefore, they are averse to using altered consciousness in a “party” context. Psychonauts generally regard the latter sort of use as irresponsible and dangerous.