Psychedelic drugs are substances “causing effects on the mind, such as feelings of deep understanding or unusually strong experiences of colour, sound, taste, and touch” – as defined by the Cambridge dictionary.
The word psychedelic stems from ancient Greek, as a combination of psychē (soul, mind) and dēloun (to make visible, to reveal). Together, they are most often translated as mind-revealing.
This name refers to the deep understanding, the increased sense of consciousness caused by such substances. It is a widespread belief that psychedelic substances enable the user to discover more about their mind, seeing it figuratively and, in a way, quite literally. Psychedelics, when applied to art, clothing or similar items, also means resembling the experience caused by psychedelic substances. This includes both bright colours and curious patterns.