Often when we suffer from a physical condition either minor or severe, it is a link in a chain of sequences that began centuries ago. Some illnesses and afflictions are Karmic. Knowing the cosmic relevance if it is karmic can lead to an understanding of the disease or illness on various levels. To consciously know this alone can have a transforming effect upon our lives today. Just understanding our situation can enable us to come to terms with it, which in turn can enable us to achieve vital equilibrium at higher levels of being and integration as well.

Read more here: » Karma: Karma in the Flesh

The term Transpersonal is often used to refer to psychological categories that transcend the normal features of ordinary ego-functioning. That is, stages of psychological growth, or stages of consciousness, that move beyond the rational and precedes the mystical. The term is highly associated with the work of Abraham Maslow and his understanding of "peak experiences", and was first adapted by the human potential movement in the 1960's. Among the psychologial sciences that have studied transpersonal phenomena we find the schools of Tra ...

Read more here: » Transpersonal: Encyclopedia - Transpersonal

Stanislav Grof (born 1931 in Prague, Czechoslovakia) is one of the founders of the field of transpersonal psychology and a pioneering researcher into the use of altered states of consciousness for purposes of healing, growth, and insight. Grof is known in particular for his early studies of LSD and its effect on the mind. He constructed a theoretical framework for pre- and perinatal psychology and transpersonal psychology in which LSD trips and other powerfully emotional experiences were mapped onto one's early fetal and neonat ...

Including:

• Stanislav Grof - Bibliography

Read more here: » Stanislav Grof: Encyclopedia - Stanislav Grof

Psychosynthesis is a form of transpersonal psychology which insists on integration, or synthesis of various psychological functions in order to achieve the goal of healthy individual. As a transpersonal theory, it stresses the need of communion with "Higher" or "Transpersonal Self", or achievement of the state of transegoic existence - which is generally not accepted, or is interpreted as a psychological aberration, by other psychology schools. Psychosynthesis - Aims of Psychosynthesis. In Psychosomatic Med ...

Including:

• Psychosynthesis - Aims of Psychosynthesis
• Psychosynthesis - Core Principles of Psychosynthesis
• Psychosynthesis - The egg diagram
• Psychosynthesis - Transpersonal consciousness
• Psychosynthesis - Selected works

Read more here: » Psychosynthesis: Encyclopedia - Psychosynthesis

Charles T. Tart, Ph.D. (1937– ) is internationally known for his psychological work on the nature of consciousness (particularly altered states of consciousness), as one of the founders of the field of transpersonal psychology, and for his research in scientific parapsychology. His two classic books, Altered States of Consciousness (1969) and Transpersonal Psychologies (1975), became widely used texts that were instrumental in allowi ...

Including:

• Charles Tart - Tart authored books

Read more here: » Charles Tart: Encyclopedia - Charles Tart

Breathwork usually refers to a type of Buddhist meditation in which one directs one's attention to one's breath. Sustained practice of breathwork is thought to result in spiritual and/or psychological benefits. It can also refer to Holotropic Breathwork, a technique for attaining alternate states of consciousness developed by transpersonal psychologist Stanislav Grof. See also. Rebirthing-Breathwork ...

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Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology that Abraham Maslow proposed in his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation, which he subsequently extended. His theory contends that as humans meet 'basic needs', they seek to satisfy successively 'higher needs' that occupy a set hierarchy. Maslow studied exemplary people such as Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Frederick Douglass rather than mentally ill or neurotic people, writing that "the study of crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology an ...

Including:

• Maslow's hierarchy of needs - Deficiency needs
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs - Being needs
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs - Counterpositions

Read more here: » Maslow's hierarchy of needs: Encyclopedia - Maslow's hierarchy of needs

The notion of an unconscious or subconscious has been defined in a variety of ways over time, but in psychology it is considered to be the deepest level of consciousness, a part of which we are not directly aware, but still contains elements that affect conscious behavior. As defined by Sigmund Freud, the psyche is composed of different levels of consciousness, often defined in three parts as the waking consciousness, preconsciousness (which can be recalled with effort), and beneath both of these, the unconscious (which is beyo ...

Including:

• Unconscious mind - Pre-Freudian history of the idea
• Unconscious mind - Freud's definition
• Unconscious mind - Controversy
• Unconscious mind - Terminology
• Unconscious mind - Unconscious mental processes
• Unconscious mind - Questions about Unconscious mind
• Unconscious mind - Application of unconscious

Read more here: » Unconscious mind: Encyclopedia - Unconscious mind

Critical psychology is both a critique of "mainstream" psychology and an attempt to apply psychology in more progressive ways (based, for example, on Marxist or feminist analyses) and contexts than have thus far been the case. There are a number of textbooks of critical psychology and at least two critical psychology institutes, in Manchester and Sydney. Compare: critical theory. Critical psychology - Critical psychology around the world. Germany Critical psychology started in the 1970s in Be ...

Including:

• Critical psychology - Critical psychology around the world

Read more here: » Critical psychology: Encyclopedia - Critical psychology

Allan Combs is a consciousness researcher, neuropsychologist, and systems theorist. He considers his most significant work to be the development of a developmental/evolutionary model of the mind using concepts from systems science. Much of this was accomplished in collaboration with his friend and colleague Stanley Krippner. He is most widely known, however, for his collaboration with Ken Wilber on the Wilber-Combs lattice. Combs holds appointments at the Saybrook Graduate School, the California Institute of Integral Studies, a ...

Including:

• Allan Combs - Citations

Read more here: » Allan Combs: Encyclopedia - Allan Combs

Kundalini is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning either "coiled up" or "coiling like a snake". There are a number of other translations of the term usually emphasizing a more serpent nature to the word— e.g. 'serpent power'. The caduceus symbol of coiling snakes is thought to be an ancient symbolic representation of Kundalini physiology. The concept of Kundalini comes from Yogic philosophy of ancient India and refers to the mothering intelligence behind yogic awakening and spiritual maturation (Sovatsky, 1998). It mig ...

Including:

• Kundalini - Historical source text
• Kundalini - The interpretation of Kundalini
• Kundalini - Kundalini Yoga
• Kundalini - Kundalini in the world's religions
• Kundalini - Kundalini rising
• Kundalini - The Kundalini Syndrome
• Kundalini - Kundalini and development
• Kundalini - Kundalini and physiology
• Kundalini - Pathological Kundalini

Read more here: » Kundalini: Encyclopedia - Kundalini

Integral organizations: Integral Institute Cal. Inst. of Integral Studies Integral University The California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) is a private San Francisco, California-based graduate school whose programs focus on clinical psychology as well as the study of the world's various spiritual traditions. It has about 1,000 students, many of them studying part-time. CIIS is generally devoted to integrating the academic sphere with the spiritua ...

Including:

• California Institute of Integral Studies - The name
• California Institute of Integral Studies - Symbol
• California Institute of Integral Studies - History

Read more here: » California Institute of Integral Studies: Encyclopedia - California Institute of Integral Studies

The Human Potential Movement came out of the social and intellectual milieu of the 1960s and was formed to promote the cultivation of extraordinary potential believed to be largely untapped in most people. The movement is premised on the belief that through the development of human potential, humans can experience an exceptional quality of life filled with happiness, creativity, and fulfillment. A corollary belief is often that those who begin to unleash this potential will find their actions within society to be directed towards help ...

Including:

• Human Potential Movement - Roots
• Human Potential Movement - Relationship to other fields
• Human Potential Movement - Esalen
• Human Potential Movement - Criticism
• Human Potential Movement - Notable figures

Read more here: » Human Potential Movement: Encyclopedia - Human Potential Movement

Kundalini yoga is a meditative discipline, comprising a set of simple techniques that uses the mind, senses and body to create a communication between "mind" and "body". Kundalini yoga focuses on psycho-spiritual growth and the body's potential for maturation, giving special consideration to the role of the spine and the endocrine system in the understanding of yogic awakening (Sovatsky, 1998). Kundalini yoga - Kundalini yoga practice. The practice of kundalini yoga consists of a number bodily postur ...

Including:

• Kundalini yoga - Kundalini yoga practice
• Kundalini yoga - Underlying philosophy
• Kundalini yoga - Medical research on kundalini yoga

Read more here: » Kundalini yoga: Encyclopedia - Kundalini yoga

Integral organizations: Integral Institute Cal. Inst. of Integral Studies Integral University In the Integral theory of Ken Wilber, AQAL stands for "All quadrants, all levels", and equally connotes "all lines, all states, all types". An account or theory is said to be AQAL, and thus integral (inclusive or comprehensive), if it accounts for or makes reference to all four quadrants and four major levels in Wilber's ontological scheme, described below. AQAL - QuadrantsIncluding:

• AQAL - Quadrants
• AQAL - Eight indigenous perspectives
• AQAL - Lines streams or intelligences
• AQAL - Levels or stages
• AQAL - States
• AQAL - Types

Read more here: » AQAL: Encyclopedia - AQAL

Philosopher and author Christian de Quincey, Ph.D. is a speaker on consciousness, spirituality and science at conferences and workshops in the United States and Europe. His primary work is the "Radical Consciousness" trilogy, Radical Nature: Rediscovering the Soul of Matter, Radical Knowing: Exploring Consciousness through Relationship, and Radical Science: Exploring Consciousness the Final Frontier. He also wrote the ebook Deep Spirit: In Search of the Noetic Code, and, with Willis Harman, The Sc ...

Including:

• Christian de Quincey - Links

Read more here: » Christian de Quincey: Encyclopedia - Christian de Quincey

Among the thinkers who are considered to have set the stage for transpersonal studies are William James, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Abraham Maslow, and Roberto Assagioli (Cowley & Derezotes, 1994; Miller, 1998; Davis, 2003). A major motivating factor behind the initiative to establish this school of psychology was Abraham Maslow's already published work regarding human peak experiences. Maslows work grew out of the humanistic movement of the 1960's, and gradually the term "transpersonal" was associ ...

See also:

Transpersonal psychology, Transpersonal psychology - The development of the field, Transpersonal psychology - Research Interests, Transpersonal psychology - Contributions to the academic field, Transpersonal psychology - Criticisms of Transpersonal psychology

Read more here: » Transpersonal psychology: Encyclopedia II - Transpersonal psychology - The development of the field

Transpersonal Psychology / Transpersonal Counseling

A school of psychology that aims at integrating Western science and Eastern thought by moving beyond Humanistic Psychology and its focus on the self or ego. Its orientation is a holistic one that focuses on the integration of mind, body and spirit and has ultimate psychological growth and well-being as its goals.

(See also: Transpersonal Psychology/Counseling, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

transpersonal psychology (TP)

Movement stressing full sensory, psychic and spiritual development

(See also: Transpersonal psychology (TP, Body Mind and Soul)

Although any model of human development can only be understood as an intellectual abstraction of reality, transpersonal psychology has made significant contributions to the understanding of human development and consciousness. While authors like Wilber and Battista tend to emphasize the understanding of development in the form of levels, where each superior level includes and integrates its junior dimensions, theorists like Washburn and Grof tend to emphasize the regressive nature of consciousness. Regressive in the sense that the individual ...

See also:

Transpersonal psychology, Transpersonal psychology - The development of the field, Transpersonal psychology - Research Interests, Transpersonal psychology - Contributions to the academic field, Transpersonal psychology - Criticisms of Transpersonal psychology

Read more here: » Transpersonal psychology: Encyclopedia II - Transpersonal psychology - Contributions to the academic field

Alchemical Hypnotherapy (Alchemical work): Powerful transformative process developed by David Quigley. Its design is to assist clients in working with their Inner Guides (archetypes). It borrows from Ericksonian Hypnosis, Gestalt, Jungian psychology, NLP, psychosynthesis, regression therapy, shamanism, Transpersonal Hypnotherapy, and transpersonal psychology.

Its theory posits a collective unconscious, past-life memories therein, etheric plane communication, an inner child, an inner mate, and karma. Alchemical Hypnotherapy appears identical to, a variation of, or the successor to Transformational Hypnotherapy.

(See also: Alchemical Hypnotherapy, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)