Interestingly, a while ago, I discovered quite by accident that with large, multiple cup doses of yerba mate, combined with meditating to appropriate music has a subtle psychedelic effects for me, including making my intuitive insights more pronounced when I concentrate enough. Meditation seems to come naturally in this state of mind for me.

Has anyone had similar experiences with this or similar substances?

Ime, yerba mate has mostly affected me in a stimulant way. Thereby raising my sense of energy. Yerba is a good source of caffeine and other related xanthines. So I am not sure what compounds in yerba would cause any psychedelic effects. Yerba is also known to be calmer than other plant stimulants but with a definite sense of mental and physical energy.

Interesting experience, nonetheless. Thanks for sharing.

Hi, im from argentina and here we drink a lot of mate. I drink it daily on high doses and never ever had a psychedelic effect. For me is more a stimulant. It is nice to drink some mates in the morning, to have some inner thoughts before starting the day. But mostly, here we drink it in a social way. We share yerba mate using the same container and passing it (It is not a very healthy custom).
I dont know, maybe its like tea, it doesnt enlighten me but it seems that some zen monks find it usefull. I would guess that "meditating to appropriate music has a subtle psychedelic effects" for you.

I'm a big fan of mate, I love the smoky flavour Like the others are saying, I've only ever found mate to be a stimulant, a pretty good one too. Could it be that due to the stimulation (coupled with the music), your focus was improved in the meditation leading to a state of one pointedness or at least access concentration to this state?
I know that when I drink a guayusa tea (which is from the same family as mate and is also caffeinated) and then sit down to meditate, I seem to be able to focus easier.