Altered State of Consciousness and Healing Therapies

By Raul Valverde PhD

Altered states of consciousness cover transpersonal experiences that involve an expansion of consciousness beyond the limits of time and space. Altered states of consciousness allow us to answer the questions of who we really are and why we are here.
Topics included in this book are: Spirituality and intuitions, channeling, Neurotechnology and Holotropic therapy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387988655

Book preview

Altered State of Consciousness and Healing Therapies

Altered State of Consciousness and Healing therapies.

Contents

Altered State of Consciousness and Healing therapies.

1 Introduction

2 Transpersonal Psychology

3 Quantum physics

4 Altered states of consciousness and transpersonal psychology

5 Neuro and Bioenergy technologies

6 The induction and measurement of altered states of consciousness by using neurotechnology in transpersonal psychotherapy

7 The phenomenon of parapsychological channeling in altered states of consciousness as a tool for transpersonal psychology

8 Holotropic Therapy to alter the state of consciousness in Transpersonal Psychology and paranormal experiences

9 References

1  Introduction

Transpersonal psycho therapy that is based on transpersonal psychology, considers that the psyche is multidimensional and there are several levels of consciousness and each has different characteristics and is governed by different laws. Transpersonal psychology does not deny other schools of thought as psychoanalysis does not arise as opposed. Transpersonal psychology is the study of human nature and development proceeds on the assumption that human beings possess potentials that exceed the limits of ego developed normally. A main goal of transpersonal theory is to integrate the spiritual experience within a broader understanding of the human psyche and consciousness (Grof 1988).

The trend to explain consciousness by applying quantum theories has gained popularity in recent years and, although clearly disdained by neuroscientists, more and more researchers direct their steps this way up. Brian D. Josephson (1962) of the University of Cambridge, winner of the 1973 Nobel Prize in Physics for his studies on the  quantum effects in superconductors (Josephson effect), proposes a unified field theory, quantum nature, that would explain not only the consciousness and its attributes, but also all the phenomenology observed to date in terms of parapsychological and mystical experiences.

Another character that has stood in defence of a theory quantum of consciousness was the physicist Roger Penrose (1994). Penrose, based on the mathematical theorem of Gödel and based on subsequent elaborations, concludes that no system is deterministic; a system that is based on rules and deductions cannot explain the creative powers of the mind and judgment. This nullifies the claim of classic physics to structure deterministic processes into a complex phenomenon of consciousness. Penrose says that only the peculiar characteristics of non-deterministic quantum physics could issue an approximate judgment on consciousness, within a theory that involved quantum phenomena, macro physical and conditions of non locality.

Every human being acts contacting the physical world through his mind, which acts as consciousness. The physical brain is a computer with its data warehouse. The mind is the result of energy which acts to encourage the operation of synchronizing the mental spheres, which are the areas of energy that influence on different levels of consciousness. This energy manifests itself in different ways in order to transform the same energy vibration changes depending on the characteristics of the vibration that is the representation of that energy. The perception of the human energy depends on the direction through which he can capture the vibration it has at the moment.

The human being experiences different altered states of consciousness. Thus, we find pathological states of consciousness as in the case of severe depression, especially in the case of psychosis; states of consciousness as deep hypnosis produced by hallucinogenic drugs like LSD, and even altered states of consciousness common due to the practice of yoga as is the case of mystical ecstasy. Stanley Kripner (2000) defines altered states of consciousness as mental states that can be subjectively recognized by an individual or by an objective observer than the individual who experiences it as different in mental functions, the normal state of the individual, the alertness and the waking. In fact, twenty states have been provisionally identified, with considerable overlap, as worthy of further study.

Altered states of consciousness have been used as psychotherapy in transpersonal psychology. One of these techniques is known as holotropic breath work that is produced by using hyperventilation making the individual breathing deeply and rapidly for several minutes. Grof (1994), with this technique, causes a crisis that leads to an altered state of consciousness and allows the study the consciousness of the individual from that new state. Stanislav Grof (1994) uses the experiential healing power of this new state of consciousness to cure his patients.

Neurotechnology offers an alternative way to induce altered state of consciousness for transpersonal therapy that can be easily implemented with the use of quantum computer technology and used in combination with the internet to facilitate online transpersonal therapy.

Altered states of consciousness cover transpersonal experiences that involve an expansion of consciousness beyond the limits of time and space. Altered states of consciousness allow us to answer the questions of who we really are and why we are here.

Topics included in this book are: Spirituality and intuitions, channeling, Neurotechnology and Holotropic therapy.

2  Transpersonal Psychology

Transpersonal Psychology considers that the psyche is multidimensional. There are several levels of consciousness and each has different characteristics and is governed by different laws. Transpersonal psychology does not deny other schools of thought as psychoanalysis does not arise as opposed; right thing would be to say that attempts to go further. For a transpersonal vision, Freud developments have been of fundamental value in the development of psychological science to include the idea of the unconscious in a discipline that was tied to the positivist rationalism. Certainly, psychoanalysis opened the possibilities of understanding of the human psyche. Transpersonal psychology promotes another opening including the spiritual dimension of the human being. Transpersonal psychology is the study of human nature and development proceeds on the assumption that human beings possess potentials that exceed the limits of ego developed normally. A main goal of transpersonal theory is to integrate the spiritual experience within a broader understanding of the human psyche.

Transpersonal psychology, if known to mainstream psychologists at all, is most often associated with New Age crystal gazers, astrologers, believers in witchcraft, drug users, meditators, occultists, spiritual healers, martial artists, and other purveyors of pop psychology. The stereotype is, of course, inaccurate. For, like the fabled philosopher’s stone, its seemingly weird exterior masks a more important philosophical challenge, the full articulation and subsequent flowering of which may yet prove to be the undoing of the reductionist mainstream. (Taylor, 1992)

S.I. Shapiro and Phillipe L. Gross, co-editors of The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, and transpersonal psychologist Grace W. Lee in 2002 conducted a thematic analysis of 80 English-language passages in the transpersonal literature published in a variety of sources including books, journal articles, websites, brochures, newsletters, dictionaries, encyclopedias, school catalogues, and convention papers between 1991 through 2001 that addressed the essence transpersonal psychology. A thematic analysis of these passages revealed that the two most frequent categories, occurring 53 (66.2%) and 49 (61.2%) times, respectively were: (a) Going beyond or transcending the individual, ego, self, the personal, personality, or personal identity; existence of a deeper, true, or authentic Self; and (b) Spirituality, psychospiritual, psychospiritual development, the spiritual, spirit. Other, less frequent, themes included: special states of consciousness; interconnectivity/unity; going beyond other schools of psychology; emphasis on a scientific approach; mysticism; full range of consciousness; greater potential; inclusion of non-Western psychologies; meditation; and existence of a wider reality. (Shapiro, Lee, and Gross, 2002).

In the first public announcement of transpersonal psychology given in a lecture at the First Unitarian Church in San Francisco in 1967, Abraham H. Maslow provides a preliminary and informal description of transhumanistic psychology (later called transpersonal psychology). ‘Transhumanistic psychology’ deals with transcendent experiences and with transcendent values. The fully developed (and very fortunate) human being, working under the best conditions tends to be motivated by values, which transcends the geographical limitations of the self. Thus one begins to talk about transhumanistic psychology (Maslow, 1969).

Transpersonal psychotherapist Anthony Sutich (founder and first editor of the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology) provides one of the first formal definitions of transpersonal psychology in 1969 in the inaugural issue of The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology (Vol. 1, No. 1, Spring 1969). The emerging Transpersonal Psychology (‘fourth force’) is concerned specifically with the empirical, scientific study of, and responsible implementation of the findings relevant to, becoming, individual and species-wide meta-needs, ultimate values, unitive consciousness, peak experiences, B-values, ecstasy, mystical experience, awe, being, self-actualization, essence, bliss, wonder, ultimate meaning, transcendence of self, spirit, oneness, cosmic awareness, individual and species-wide synergy, maximal interpersonal encounter, sacralization of everyday life, transcendental phenomena, cosmic self-humor and playfulness; maximal sensory awareness, responsiveness and expression; and related concepts, experiences and activities (Sutich, 1969).

Elmer Green and Alyce Green (pioneer researchers of biofeedback and the voluntary control of internal states) define transpersonal psychology within the context of ultimate values and meaning. "Transpersonal psychology might be defined as the