Holotropic States of Consciousness

This module discusses the six areas that require substantial and far­-reaching change of our understanding of consciousness and the human psyche in health and disease:

• The Nature of Consciousness and Its Relationship to Matter
• New Cartography of the Human Psyche
• Architecture of Emotional and Psychosomatic Disorders
• Effective Therapeutic Mechanisms
• Strategy of Psychotherapy and Self Exploration
• The Role of Spirituality in Human Life

The most important implications of holotropic states of consciousness is the discovery that the episodes that are currently diagnosed as psychoses and indiscriminately treated with suppressive medication are actually difficult stages of a personality transformation and spiritual opening.

It is not an exaggeration to say that a well-integrated psychospiritual crisis can move the individual to a higher level of consciousness evolution, better psychosomatic health, increased zest for life, an expanded worldview, and spirituality that is universal, non­denominational, and all­ inclusive.

This module describes the observations from the research of holotropic states of consciousness that provide new insights into the nature and roots of human aggression and greed. It also suggests effective strategies for alleviating the destructive and self-destructive tendencies of the human species.

In the non-­ordinary states of consciousness, we look at the most far out experiences and so in these modules we focus on philosophical, metaphysical and spiritual insights. We see far-­reaching parallels with the great mystical traditions of the world, which Aldous Huxley called perennial philosophy, finding surprising compatibility with the revolutionary advances of modern science that are usually referred to as new or emerging paradigms.