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A Great Encounter
A wonderful book by Tony Perez, a must have for all aspiring spirit questors. :) ... Read more

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Albert Ellis, one of the most controversial figures in modern psychology, stands in the distinguished company of such luminaries as Sigmund Freud and B.F. Skinner in his uncanny knack for arousing adherents and opponents alike. Joined by his colleague, Raymond J Yeager, Ellis explains the revolutionary technique of rational-emotive therapy (RET) and contrasts it with transpersonal psychology and psychotherapy in a devastating analysis of cult therapy. Ellis developed rational-emotive therapy in response to the disillusionment that he shared with his fellow therapists when using more traditional techniques of psychoanalysis.Today, many thousands of people who are desperately seeking to understand and overcome the emotional problems they face in daily life are being threatened by the inefficient and anti-humanistic methods of popular cult therapies, many of which fall under the umbrella of transpersonal psychology. Ellis and Yeager offer compelling examples of the psychological, social, and political dangers posed by this cult phenomenon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

lets get real
Ellis was a great man. he pulled aside the wizard's curtain once again, and showed us a few simple truths. and as to transpersonal psychology: garbage in garbage out. therapy based on "spirituality" (fantasy) may help sedate anxious clients,so that they say they were helped (to feel less fearful) ,but it will not help them reach the higher potential of rational well-adjusted adult human beings.

Please Help Us Save Our Environment
I've actually been quite eager to criticize albert ellis for sometime now...
While his REBT contributes some bit to psychology, I agree in the review below in that transpersonal psychology greatly diminishes his contributions...I've read a reply to Ellis by Ken Wilber, and Wilber totally annihalated Ellis, not only did he make Ellis seem like one or those poor irrational rationalists, but it was quite entertaining to read, I actually read it again for an extra laugh....Anyhow I've seen some of Ellis's other books let me tell you , this guy could use with some transcending his ego, if there is enough room in the Kosmos to perform such a giant feat...Seriously these pop psychologists get me quite annoyed when they seem to be making books that absolutely SUCK for the extra buck.Get wisdom from one of the wisest psychologists today screams one of his books....He should know better than this, his stance only creates the well known dependency on the therapist known too well in the field, excepts instead of him it's on that thing with his giant picture on the front and pages in between he calls a book.It's explained quite well in Murray Bowen's family evaluation.Even more so he tries to tell others why some therapies don't work.The only way to find out is to try it for yourself.To listen to this guy would be quite "unscientific" indeed, and unwise.Who ever this guy's publisher is do us all a favor and please STOP, quickly, our environment can't take it anymore, the reviews and ratings should give a hint to the obvious, we shouldn't be chopping down trees only to produce garbage, so everyone please do our environment a favor and recycle.Thank you.:)

Very disappointing. One long lunatic rant
I bought this book with high expectations based on Dr. Ellis's legendary stature in Psychology. But I was shocked by his incredible bigotry and ignorance of Transpersonal Psychologist (TP).He actually labeled the Ayatollah Khomeini, the Rev. Jim Jones, and Jehovah's Witnesses as TPs. Basically in his mind, every evil religionist who's ever lived is also a TP. He then based his criticism of TP on their actions, which makes for a tedious to read, lunatic rant that's totally out of touch with the real TP.

On page 64, he compared TP with "secular religionists" such as the Soviet Union and Communist China, and stated, "They (both) reason categorically and ardently support a we-they dichotomy." On this point, I completely agree with him. But what's amazing is that he's completely blind to the fact that this book reveals that he himself is a flaming bigoted, dogmatic secular religionist reasoning categorically and ardently supporting a we-they dichotomy, and projecting all his own garbage onto to TP.

The only reason I can think of why the great Albert Ellis made such a fool of himself in this book, is that he could see that TP really is the Psychology of the Future: Lessons from Modern Consciousness Research (Suny Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology), as Dr. Stan Grof entitled his excellent comprehensive overview of TP. And thus TP over turns his cherished materialistic world view, and diminishes his own contribution to Psychology.

Great at CBT, Not so much with transpersonal psychology
Albert Ellis is a profound figure in the field of psychology, considered one of the grandfathers of CBT. While I have learned a great deal from him and his theories, his understanding of the field of transpersonal psychology is uninformed.

Far from being a dangerous form of psychology, research has shown that transpersonal therapy is effective and healing.Transpersonal psychology branches out from the traditional approach in the modern culture of scientism and takes on the study and integration of human spirituality. The challenge for the field is that it lies within a paradigm shift that seeks to move away from a materialist paradigm of existence (see Ferrer). Within the transpersonal framework, Ellis' ideas of CBT are embraced and integrated into a larger framework. Whereas in many psychological fields, spirituality is considered either unimportant, extraneous or pathological, transpersonal psychologists seek to affirm the higher aspirations and search for meaning of human beings.Furthermore, they find that spiritual experiences may be a source of healing.

It is my hope that those who are interested in transpersonal psychology, will come to their own opinions as to its strengths and its dangers by reading texts that will offer a deeper and more informed presentation of the theory and practice of transpersonal psychology.

For those interested in a deep understanding of the field, try these sources:

Short but great overview:
Moss, D. (Ed.), Humanistic and transpersonal psychology: A historical and biographical sourcebook (pp. 192-209). The Chapter entitled Hastings, Transpersonal psychology: the fourth force by Arther Hastings.

The Textbook of Transpersonal Psychology and Psychiatry. Authors: Scotton, Chinen and Bastista.
(The best overview of all the different aspects of the field out there)

Paths Beyond Ego. Walsh and Vaughan.

Integral Psychology. Ken Wilber.

Jorge Ferrer. Revisioning transpersonal theory: a participatory vision of human spirituality. (More complex, but well worth it. This one is for lovers of philosophy and theory. Ferrer challenges the framework of Wilber's work, the classic relativism v. universalism argument).

It is a fascinating and powerful field.If you must read this book, PLEASE, check out some of the books I mention above about transpersonal psychology and decide for yourself!!!



(Note: as to the reviewer comment referencing transpersonal as a cult, it is interesting to know that by embracing the importance of spirituality and psychology, transpersonal theorists play a large role in understanding the psychology of cults (see the chapter in the textbook of transpersonal psychology regarding cults.)

A brilliant look into the dangers of transpersonal psychology
Albert Ellis skewers the cult of transpersonal psychology- perhaps the epitome of wishful-thinking, paranormal dogma-with his keen logic and famously rational viewpoint.

He begins by exploring the tenets of transpersonal psychology, then those of Rational-Emotive Therapy (RET). He then goes on to contrast the two, showing with well-documented precision just how transpersonal psychology can actually be hazardous and can lead to neurosis, including how it is anti-humanistic, sabotages scientific thinking, blocks philosophical therapeutic change, and interferes with unconditional self-acceptance.

Of course, there are some who will say that transpersonal psychology has worked "wonders" in their lives, but you can find supporters who will say the same thing about every crazy cult in existence (that's why they're called cults). ... Read more

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A passionate conversation about the ideas of Ken Wilber, the prominent contemporary thinker who launched the transpersonal psychology movement. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A decent 1st interview
This was supposedly Wilber's first authorized audio interview.It is of course a very brief intro to his ideas, and great if you are new to him.There are some interesting personal information that he shares as well.

If you want more though, then you need to obtain "Kosmic Consciousness" (7 CD's) from Sounds True.A much more intense course on his various topics.Great for putting on your iPod for those long road trips.

(I swear i am not related to any company, nor am i trying to endorse any of them.)

I have been reading Wilber for about 3 years, and hearing him has been interesting, to get to know the man behind the thoughts a little bit better.

As part of his Integral Institute, he is now giving lectures (something he said he would never do), in Boulder, CO.I look forward to enrolling.

Best of luck on your search and journey....

A book to really study
This book is an edited collection of papers, many given at the 1997 California Institute of Integral Studies conference on Ken Wilber.Wilber has provided the most comprehensive transpersonal and now integral philosophic theory ever presented.The transpersonal and integral movements are very much in his debt.Yet as C.G. Jung said, the brighter the light the darker the shadow and this applies to Wilber.While his theories are grand, his and his criticisms of others bold even insulting, he has world renouned thin skin.That is, he can not tolerate criticism.Natually then this book has not agreed well with him.But as critics say to their frustration, Wilber avoids answering criticisms by 1) ignoring them, 2)responding to what has not been criticized, 3)referring them to one of his works that has not been published, 4) referring them to one of his works that does not answer the criticism, 5)claiming the works criticized were from a different Wilber era (eg. Wilber 1,2,3,4,5)and then not address the issue, or 6)claiming critics did not read him correctly.Getting a straight answer from Wilber, as some have said, is like clasping soap in a bath tub with greasy hands.Yet in Wilber's defense, some of the works presented in this book clearly do not credit him where credit is due, or find some small item he did not include in his theory and therefore reject his entire theory collection.Whether you like and appreciate Wilber's work or not, this collection of writings is very informative and does point out that even Wilber's theories have holes. ... Read more

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Describes the emergence of powerful fields of consciousness that influence students' learning and personal transformation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A must read for any teacher
The author does a remarkable job working what could be an esoteric subject into language and concepts readily available to an open minded person.His experiences in the classroom are supported by scientific research, and if utilized, could transform teaching into a more refined and conscious art.
I love the chapter where he shares the essays of students that had life changing insights into their life patterns and gained a deeper appreciation for the mystery and magic which suffuses our lives.

Deceptively Challenging & Encouraging
Bache's third book.I've read the two before.He continues to probe the deeper layers of "what's going on".With success.Pushes the limits of comprehension into elastic areas.Worthy of your perusal and contemplative thought.Eloquent, accessible writer.Penetrating deep thinker.What more do you need?

Consciousness discussed by an incredibly aware teacher..helps us know ourselves and one another
I am positively biased towards this book as I have had the good fortune
of having a deep conversation with the author by telephone.I found him
to be one of the most brilliant and aware individuals I've ever met.
Reading the book helps me understand more intimately and profoundly
the breadth and depth of his keen and observant mind.
Its truly wonderful to read something that helps you understand others and yourself from the point of view of " sitting in the lap of the
giant"....He makes complex and profound insights accessible and
useable.This in itself is a worthy gift and would be reason enough to
read the book.
But there are also wonderful stories and anecdotes, thoughtfully
chosen and sparely shared, that illustrate, like parables, concepts that
we can all benefit from.
Even if you're not a scholar (and I'm not), nor an educator, nor
a master of anything, but just curious to want to know more about the
mind, consciousness in particular---and how to understand and value it
more....this book will surely be worthy of your time and hold a special
place on your stack of "Top Favorites in My Library."
Highly Recommended.Its unique and lacks self-consciousness.Wise
and comfortable, approachable and readible...you'll be so glad you took
the time to open and learn.
Like myself, you may emerge somewhat changed.I suspect that could
be a good thing!
I have been studying consciousness for about 30 years but from
a polar opposite viewpoint. It was refreshing to see places we meet in the
middle, but especially fascinating to learn ideas I'd never considered at all.Thanks Chris Bache for taking the time to learn, understand, experience and discern, and then ultimately write clearly about all the things in this rare and special book! ... Read more

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Wilber chronicles individual psychospiritualdevelopment. New Foreword by the author. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A very special and unique book on development
I have read the other reviews below mine and I understand that Wilber has shortcomings. On the other hand, I also think he has much strength and that this particular book is incredible for a variety of reasons.

First, I think his presentation of transpersonal development is a great attempt at a synthesis of many schools of thought and his overall model for such a cycle is realistic. While some of the correspondences between disparate models might be inaccurate in the particulars, there are enough correlations that it is reasonable to take this work as a good starting point for a more complete synthesis.

Second, I loved the way Wilber explained what it must be like to be an infant or small child. He described the experience of different stages of development so well; I couldn't put the book down and read these sections over and over again.

Third, I liked the way Wilber positioned human development as part of a larger evolution. I believe that he is correct in his general ideas and he presents a hopeful picture of the future of humanity.

Overall, I think this is a very interesting read and complimentary to most of the good standard material that is already out there on development. It doesn't read like a text, it is much more engaging and thought provoking. I really appreciated this approach. The book is also dense; he packs a lot of useful information in a short space without repeating himself as much as he does in some other books.

I did not love the preface, but once I got into the core of the book I was very pleasantly surprised. You can get this volume for as little as $5.00 used. I have bought copies for my friends because I think it is especially good for parents, teachers and others who need to understand the different lines and stages of development from the INSIDE. It is good stuff don't be discouraged away from this book because it isn't perfect in every respect.

human evolution and spirit involution
This is a book about human evolution and spirit involution. Wilber painstakenly reviews the stages of growth from the Pleromatic stages up through the Subtle, Causal then finally Non-dual. The Atman Project is regarded as one of the core which upon which Wilber's later and more complex books are based. This is an outstanding work and now my second favorite Wilber book after Eye to Eye.

The Atman Project
I'll admit it straight out: I'm a Wilber fan. After thirty years of philosophical study and spiritual practice, I have only begun to read his work in the past year, but I find that it helps me synthesize many of thedisparate thought currents I have studied with each other and with my ownexperience over thirty years of meditative practice. True, you have to beskeptical of anyone's ability to even read, much less thoroughlyunderstand, all of the farflung disciplines that Wilber cites and purportsto synthesize in his work. And in the (many) areas he cites of which I havelittle or no personal knowledge, it's pretty hard to know whether he'sdoing a complete or accurate job of analyzing them.

But in those areas Ido know something about, I have found his work to be as accurate, asluminous and as brilliant as anything I have read. For example, I think hedoes a better job of summarizing the importance and weaknesses of the workof Immanuel Kant than Arthur Schopenhauer did, and he didn't do such a badjob. His descriptions of meditative states are congruent with my ownexperiences and with the described experiences of the many writers on thatsubject with which I am familiar. So he has earned so far a high degree ofcredibility with me.

The Atman Project attempts to integrate the work ofdevelopmental psychology with pre-egoic, pre-rational structures ofconsciousness with the experience of the mystical traditions withpost-egoic, post-rational structures, to form a picture of how theindividual evolves from structure to structure "up" thehierarchy, or "holarchy" in Wilber language, of these stages.There is a discussion of how "Spirit" "involves" itselfdownward through these structures and creates the imperative to evolve backup through them to Self-realization.

This book was an early work ofWilber's, and though seminal to his thinking, in many ways does notaccurately (or at least completely) reflect his current thought system. Hestates as much himself in later works. I therefore do not recommend it asan introduction to Wilber, but would instead recommend a later work, suchas "A Brief History of Everything" or perhaps "The EssentialKen Wilber" for that purpose. And that is why I only give it threestars instead of the five stars I would give to the other six Wilber worksI have read so far. However, the more committed Wilber student will findthis book helpful in understanding Wilber's notion of how the individualnegotiates its way along the "spectrum of consciousness" (thoughI think a better and more complete explanation can be found in "TheEye of Spirit") and, armed with some understanding of Wilber's morerecent writings, perhaps will be less likely to mistake this for being acomprehensive treatment of even this part of his thought. I recommend itfor that purpose.

a workable synthesis....
....and an interesting summing up of many schools of thought.However, a key problem with the book and with most transpersonal models is what I think of as their verticality worship:higher, better, brighter.But somuch of life--and in this I include spiritual life--occurs in the valleys,in the shadows and the messiness and the confusion of life, not in themiddle of straight paths that hike up metaphysical mountainsides.I regardthe notion that one can achieve blessedness through reading and hard innerwork inflated, and I think the Zen masters so often quoted by integralfolks would too. --Anyway, Wilber is quite readable and interesting.

The Atman Fiasco
"The Atman Project" is the central Wilber's book, the fount ( with the possible exception of "The Spectrum of Consciousness" ) of all his later speculations which try to dovetail all & everything,from biological evolution ( only sketched ) to socio-cultural models &spiritual Weltanschauungen into a single, all- encompassing pattern.Since my opinion is that such an endeavor ( in effect, the whole book is aneffort to resolve the ultimate question,:" What is the meaning andpurpose of ( human ) life ?" ) is doomed from the outset ( "TheTao that can be told of is not the eternal Tao" ), I'll just adumbratea few points of this book, without going into nuances & detail whichwould take us too far.

1. In essence, Wilber's "The AtmanProject" is a book whose central message is that the meaning &purpose of lifeis "evolution" of consciousness ( rather fuzzilydefined, probably under the influence of Neotheosophical writers/sages likeSri Aurobindo ), culminating in non-dual recognition of oneness of one'sbeing with the eternal Ground of all ( Boehme's Ungrund/Abyss, Advaita'sBrahman, Vajrayana's Dharmakaya, Eckhart's Godhead/Gottheit etc. ) Inshort, you got a clear message: the pinnacle of humanity are Zenpatriarchs, Jiddu Krishnamurti or Ramana Maharshi. Shakespeare, Bach orEinstein are still schoolboys. Evidently, such a worldview unabashedly putsthe author's pro-mystical bias as *the* key to the "riddle ofexistence". More, even "spiritually" or religiously mindedpeople could hardly accept that the ground of the theophanies & thesource of prophetic revelations, i.e. "God", is, at best, just apassive object of quietist meditative practice of rather passivecontemplatives. The Biblical or Koranic God is reduced to an anemic yantraor mumbo-jumboid mantra.

2. Wilber's psychology is a curious blend.Essentially, he assimilated Freudian "insights" ( now heavilyquestioned ), put them within partially Jungian framework ( his chiefreference is Neumann's "The Origin and History of Consciousness",whose singular terminology he amply (mis)uses ( pleromatic self, uroboricself,..))& subsumed under Vajrayana/Tibetan idealist monism.Admittedly- although both pillars of Atman project share the same trait:the absence of genuine levels of selfhood, as exemplified in theindestructible "I" ( Assagioli's Psychosynthesis ), spiritualseed ( Valentinian Gnosticism ), jiva ( Hindu Tantra ), "the nakedisolated self" ( Gerda Walther , Psychic Being ( Aurobindo )- thatvery consistency makes the entire "Atman Project" inconsistent.For, if nothing transpersonal, but still individual, evolves, we are againback on Hegel's evolving Spirit from "Phenomenology of Spirit","enriched" ( better, fused into perfect confusion ) by VajrayanaBuddhist doctrine. Well, yoy can't get both evolution and illusory natureof reality.

3. At the end, just a few remarks: a) Wilber consistentlymisreads various "perennial philosophies". For instance, histables of correspondences at the end of the book are sad examples ofignorance ( Kabbalah's Binah and Hokmah as "spiritial"equivalents of Nirvikalpa Samadhi, plus other numerous bizarre attributions). b) his obsessive sqabble re pre-trans fallacy is completely redundant-an echo of Freud/Jung disagreements & a few humanistic psychologists'fixations. c) conceptually, there is virtually nothing new cognitive-wisein this book. Whilst other researchers, from Stapp to Stuart Hameroff, try,stumblingly, to come to a new definition of consciousness, Wilberself-congratulatorily rehashes old dogmas & antiaquated concepts. d)considering that Freud's edifice is rapidly falling apart, Wilber's"pre" phase would probably follow the same way. ... Read more

Product Description
This book shows that it is necessary to understand intergenerational trauma and internalized oppression in order to understand Native Americans today. It makes Native American ways of conceptualizing the world available to readers.

This book presents a theoretical discussion of problems and issues encountered in the Native American community from a perspective that accepts Native knowledge as legitimate. Native American cosmology and metaphor are used extensively in order to deal with specific problems such as alcoholism, suicide, family, and community problems. The authors discuss what it means to present material from the perspective of a people who have legitimate ways of knowing and conceptualizing reality and show that it is imperative to understand intergenerational trauma and internalized oppression in order to understand the issues facing Native Americans today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

It's about time
It's about time someone spent a little time sharing the realities of Inter-generational Trauma and Inter-generational Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. I am of mixed heritage - European and Native American, and I can tell you that trauma is most definitely handed down generation to generation.And it is not just a Native American thing. Any ethnicity that lives but several generations from extreme cultural and societal tragedy can face these issues. Jews and African Americans can be added to this list, and could benefit from this man's approach. Thank you for sharing this work with the world.

excellent condition and excellent delivery
This is an easy read text, organized well for quick reference and very helpful in counseling.

Ground breaking book on understanding issues related to Native Americans
Excellent book, those written more recently have different agenda, but this book was excellent in terms of creating a way to understand issues specific to Native people and counseling.

Insight into Systemic-Abuse Trauma
It's been many years since the first time I read this book, it was, and remains, a very powerful and very relevant analysis of anger turned inward in the Native American community. It is, nevertheless, a work that confronts a very sensitive issue in the United States of America - the impact on current generations of genocidal colonization practices against long-established Native American communities by European colonizers. Do not read this book if you believe the Americas were pristine, unpopulated lands waiting to be "discovered" by Columbus, or Erikson, or any other European. Do read this book if you want to understand why other colonized cultures have turned to violence and dogma to seek revenge for the foreign imposition of arbitrary and intentionally destructive rulerships.

An important book for ALL counselors and therapists
This is one of the best books that I have ever read. I see it as basic material for any counselor or therapist. While the focus is on Native Americans, it is relevant for work with clients of all cultures.The discussion of intergenerational trauma and the soul wound is particularly well done.Highly readable and it can change the way you practice. Profound! ... Read more

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In this book, Seymour Boorstein builds upon his classical training as a psychiatrist to show the dramatic results of blending the traditional with the transpersonal approach to psychotherapy. By providing case studies from his own practice that cover the spectrum of traditional psychological categories, he demonstrates the vast possibilities and some of the pitfalls inherent in joining psychotherapy and spirituality and also gives the reader a glimpse into the psychiatrist's mental processes as he considers patients' dilemmas and seeks to help them find solutions. The specific techniques Boorstein describes serve as guideposts for other psychotherapists and clinicians, for laypeople interested in psychological healing, and for spiritual leaders and seekers. Boorstein's message to mental-health practitioners is clear: Transpersonal therapists should make use of the valuable traditional techniques that have proved useful, and traditional therapists should explore the enormous impact spiritual issues have on our lives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

There's more to transpersonal therapy than this
I was intrigued by the title in a bookstore and picked up this text. I'll keep it on my shelf but I am disappointed.

The author covers a a wide ground which I expected in such a book. He obviously has clinical skill andis making sense of his work in a consistent way.

My biggestdisappointment was his most common choice of intervention - the Course inMiracles. It seemed to me that most of his interventions were craftedaround this text - having the patient read the C in M, and so forth.There's more to transpersonal psychotherapy than this. Interested readersmight be better served by Nelson's "Healing the Split" or thework of the Grofs or some of the new energy techniques (e.g., Gallo). ... Read more

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Explores the plausibility and value of viewing synchronicity as a form of spiritual experience. ... Read more

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Presents an account of human development from a depth-psychological, transpersonal perspective. ... Read more

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Incredible
This is Washburn's third transpersonal book and it is good.
It integrates much of what he has discussed in his previous work but takes it to the next step.Washburn's main opponent in transpersonal theory is Ken Wilber.But Washburn is second to no one in terms of a logical, honest presentation of his view of transpersonal developement. Perhaps his and Wilber's view of transpersonal growth are both true, like an electron is a wave and particle.Great book and a must have. ... Read more

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Offers a new theoretical paradigm that goes beyond the limitations of Freudian and Jungian psychological models. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

More than Compelling
In C. G. Jung's final work, the Mysterium Coniunctionis - a book which many Jungians have not even bothered to read - we find the following in graph 675: "If the demand for self-knowledge is willed by fate and is refused, this negative attitude may end in real death. The demand would not have come to this person had he still been able to strike out on some promising by-path. But he is caught in a blind alley from which only self-knowledge can extricate him. If he refuses this then no other way is open to him. Usually he is not conscious of his situation, either, and the more unconscious he is the more he is at the mercy of unforeseen dangers: he cannot get out of the way of a car quickly enough, in climbing a mountain he misses his foothold somewhere, out skiing he thinks he can just negotiate a tricky slope, and in an illness he suddenly loses the courage to live. The unconscious has a thousand ways of snuffing out a meaningless existence with surprising swiftness. The connection of the unio mentalis with the death-motif is therefore obvious, even when death consists only in the cessation of spiritual process."

This demand for self-knowledge, as Jung puts it, unfolds in a process Jung calls "Individuation." The call to individuation, if willed by fate, as Jung says, begins sometime in the early thirties and can escalate from there, becoming acute as one enters one's final third of life. This path can be a ferocious one, bewildering in its complexity and compulsion, and usually it is heralded by a flurry of synchronicities that intensify with time. To negotiate the subtleties of this path successfully, one needs a guide, and in this regard, the work of Robert Aziz is indispensable.His two books - The Syndetic Paradigm and Jung's Psychology of Religion and Synchronicity - are the preeminent works in the field - the most practically useful, bar none - since Jung first disclosed his synchronicity theory to intimates on November 28, 1928. If you are someone who is struggling at the edge, bewildered yet compelled, you may find precisely the sustenance you need in these two potent works. I can't recommend them highly enough.

Beyond Paradigm!
This work is a closely argued explication of a set of ideas with which the author has been concerned both theoretically and practically for the last twenty plus years.As such, it is impossible within the space of a short review to do justice to the range of ideas and experiences synthesized therein, (e.g. complexity theory, dream interpretation, natural morality, religious symbolism, sex, spiritual experience).And while it remains to be seen as to whether or not the author'sambition to foster a new paradigm comes to fruition,I can say unequivocally that he has produced a work not only of exceptional rigor and clarity, but also of passionate faith.
Building on the ideas of Freud and Jung and his own work as a practicing psychotherapist, Aziz goes beyond merely arguing for an expanded model of analytical theory and practice, i.e. "for paradigmatic shift from a closed-system model of a self-regulating psyche to an open-system model of psyche in a self-regulating totality," (page 36), to call for a fundamental change in our perspective of the nature of reality and our place in it - "From it's very depths the collective soul of our psyche cries out to be released from its entrapment in that which has been the legacy of humanity's secular and religious ideologies,"(page 293).This book should be inspirational not only to practicing therapists but to us ordinary mortals struggling with what it means to be fully human. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

LEADER IN THE FIELD OF CONSCIOUSNESS RESEARCH
A book to read and re-read for me plus a validation of what I have felt since childhood.Any one who wants to know themselves and others and looking for soul searching truth would benefit from reading this and other works by Grof and authors in his bibliography.Plus, a look at quantum physics, as well, for more light reading. (A joke of course)

Essential Perspective, but Not for the Layperson
Synopsis:

This book is composed of two distinct parts, which are actually identified in the subtitle. The first of the two is a long litany of Grof's explanation of dimensions of consciousness. Within this portion of the book Grof identifies various perspectives and interpretations of psychological gestalts, experiences of mystical states, psychedelic states and correlation of his perinatal matrices. Here there is a strong influence of Jungian philosophy and the emergence of various elements of Humanistic psychology. In the second part of the book Grof enters the stage of giving an overview of his holotropic theory and transitions into the important implications of this therapy along with aspects of psychedelic experience. While partitioned, relevant continuity does exist between the two.

The Objective Perspective:

Grof's material is not for everyone, especially the laypeople. Had I not been a psychology major and a frequent reader of philosophy, mythology and familiar with indigenous tribal and Eastern cultures I would have been emphatically lost. The material on the dimensions of consciousness is complex and intrinsically connected with various archetypes of mythology. The references that are made throughout this material are something, I think, is of integral importance for actually comprehending the information. So unless you have some background in mythology, psychology and indigenous tribal and Eastern cultures then I do not recommend this book because it delves into advanced psychology and integrates references that will just become perpetually obfuscating.

Each of the dimensions of consciousness that Grof discusses actually deserves a complete volume for itself. This portion of the book is probably the most contentious when it comes to relation to the academic and scientific fields. A brief overview of each is just not adequate for instigating legitimate interest into these levels of consciousness. While I disagree with Grof on some of his interpretations, there are some instances where his position is not clearly distinguished from a psychoanalytic interpretation or a literal belief in the result.

On page 284, the last sentence of the first paragraph Grof asserts quite erroneously that he has proven the thesis of his book "that there is no basic difference between psychedelic experiences and nonordinary states of consciousness induced by other techniques." This is superficial. You cannot hyperventilate and experience "basically" the same experience that you do with psilocybin; you cannot experience "basically" the experience with LSD that you do with dimethyltryptamine; all of these states are distinct in their own regard and affluent in profundity and alien nature to any other experience. I am not defaming non-psychedelic mystical states by any means, or am I elevating psychedelic experiences as more hierarchical, but they are separate from each other.

The Subjective Perspective:

I applaud Grof for his very professional, scientific (for what science will accept) and scholarly approach to the realms of altered states; he adds class to the endeavor of self-exploration. He has given a new perspective of mystical experiences over all. These experiences are essential in expanding our knowledge of the depths and dimensions of the human psyche. The brain as a cellular structure may be subject to the laws of physics, but the manifestation of the Mind is independent of physics and linear-narrow-fundamentalistic-science which attempts to negate anything it cannot readily explain, ironically trouncing the scientific method and process, which essentially is Positivism in its prime. The nature of Mind transcends all of this myopia.

As a true "medicine-man" of society he is concerned with the therapeutic potential of interpreting mystical states as opposed to completely dismissing them based on mechanistic science. He asserts that the dimensions of consciousness are a "fascinating phenomena...that should be systematically studied...[, and] [t]o discard...these experiences and the conceptual challenges associated with them just because they do not fit the current paradigms in science certainly is not the best example of a scientific approach" (108). I admire Grof for going against the grain of his field and trekking into the taboo and unconventional, that is the way we elicit Novelty. It is far too easy to "go with the flow," but it takes true devotion to break beyond the borders of acceptance, which often makes one the mockery of a particular field.

Grof admonishes against frivolous and unstructured self-exploration with psychedelics, which I concur. Entheogens are a very precarious, but profound, experience. They are not for everyone, and I never advocate anyone to take them, because those who can actually trek those realms and return without psychosis is very limited. On this issue I agree with Timothy Leary, there is only about ten percent of the population that is truly mature enough, intellectual enough and psychologically sound enough to experiment with these substances. Recreational use is precipitous and reckless abandon to those of us that utilize these in a ritualistic and scientific exploratory method of understanding the depths of consciousness to gain novel insights into ontological and philosophical paradigms. This literary work is essential for all credible psychonauts that fit the previously described candidate.

Having come into reference to Timothy Leary, Grof is definitely distinguished from Leary; and Terence McKenna for that matter. Each of these three men have exclusive and venerable properties about them, and other aspects one would like to discard, albeit, each has their distinct territory. While I originally came into the entheogenic revolution by way of Martin Ball I then followed up references in his book to Terence McKenna's philosophy. I later progressed to Leary, and now to Grof; Grof is more scientifically sophisticated with his approach, almost to a fault. Leary is my immanent mentor of all; our ideals for culture, society and philosophy are identical, which I acquired and refined prior to even having knowledge of him. The only difference is that his tool of choice was LSD. His philosophy is astounding and his affinity with Socrates and evolving culture through NOVEL philosophy is commensurate to my own. In the beginning, as a psychologist, he started in the way of scientific interest but Harvard abrogated those studies and subsequently did not offer another contract to Leary. The most unfortunate thing Leary did for the movement was bring too much attention to it, and to fundamentalists back then, which were in all facets of society, he was the "devil," so they mounted an Inquisition on the Mind and initiated the ominous drug war. (After all it was the drugs that made woman want to work and have rights, blacks to want to have rights, and the college students to protest the war and oppose a draft.) McKenna has his exclusive realm in the nature of reviving botanical shamanism into the contemporary culture, along with various cultural and philosophic imports intermingled with theories of alien worlds, new dimensions and novelty. Grof has utilized his interest in these substances to reorient certain rigid conventions in psychology and psychotherapy, which illuminates his scientific approach by and through experimentation. All of the three stands alone, but their unity is that they realized the profundity and novel insights that are to be garnered from this realm of the taboo.

In closing, the brain is a mysterious quantum tool that has an obvious affinity and, possibly, an evolutionary precursor with entheogenic properties that manifested its neurochemistry. Negating this undermines the complexity of the mind-brain paradigm and, in the words of Grof: "The future task for serious research remains unbiased scientific scrutiny of the mostly anecdotal claims and modern reformulation of the underlying theories" (149). - D.R.Thomas

Makes think
The book is clearly organized, with good and sensible examples. Makes you think in all the amount of knowledge that we humans ignore. And all the explorable universe of posibilities .
However, the use of drugs, is complex, dificult and unadvisable for most, but the very few well prepared, like Dr. Grof, and in a very special enviroment.
Thank you

What is Consciousness?
Grof covers his holotropic breathing therapy primarily and LSD therapy secondarily in this book.

Holotropic breathing is done by hyperventilating and then holding the breath while evocative instrumental music plays. This process brings emotions and visions up in the mind of the participant. An example of such music would be Samuel Barber's Adagio For Strings. People have reported experiencing just about anything extraordinary in such sessions.

Grof focuses a lot on how people often relive stages of their birth in such sessions. There are four stages in conception through birth and a breather can feel blissful in one stage and terrified and hopeless in the next. Our births have a profound effect on us psychologically throughout lives. For instance, grim existential philosophers such as Sartre seem to be influenced mostly by the hopeless "no exit" stage of birth in which life is seen as a meaningless theatre of the absurd or a living hell. Reliving birth experiences with such breathing techniques helps us release psychic disturbances and unease. We seem to live between the trauma of birth and the fear of death.

Other things people experience in such sessions is being one with the universe, feelingall the pain and suffering in the world, taking psychic trips through sewage systems as bacteria, being a plant or animal, reliving past lives, being a tyrant such as Hitler or Stalin, being a torturer or his victim, being a pimp or a prostitute, being a mother or father, being Mother Earth or Nature, being in a mythological world, being a revolutionary, being a machine, being a substance such as oil, or being on a spaceship with alien beings. These "trips" seem to be a way of connecting to everything in creation. One realizes that all is one and interconnected.

Grof writes in a serious academic style perhaps to impress his peers, but he does give us interesting stories about different trips that have occurred in therapy sessions. The example of being oil had a profound effect on the person's view of the environment. He came away from the session feeling that oil was evil and connected to rapacious greed. He concluded we should use solar power for energy. Another interesting story is one in which the patient who took LSD thought she was the devil and her face changed accordingly. Grof mentions it as his most bizarre or scary session. After this session, the patient had much improved psychological health and was able to live beyond the confines of the psychiatric ward. A person doing a session can come away with interesting insights about how certain things work as a natural or chemical process in the universe, if they experience being a part of nature or the universe. People can also come up with historical details about a past life that they did not know before.

The book covers the question about what consciousness might be. Are we merely physical bodies or are we spirits living in physical bodies? Grof argues against the Newtonian and Cartesian view of the world that reduces everything down to what can be measured and says that science must come up with an explanation that would include non-ordinary states of consciousness. They should not be dismissed or ignored. He thinks that life and the world is what the Hindus call "lila" or the divine play in which everyone and everything take on their different roles. The universe experiences itself through us. It forgets itself to do the play and then remembers itself as divine to return to its enlightened state. The material world is an illusion of consensus reality.

Grof has a more positive view of psychological problems than other psychologists. He views them as opportunities for personal growth. He thinks that people with psychological problems should not be considered crazy; they should be allowed to live through their "spiritual emergency" so that can go through an ego death to rebirthed with a higher consciousness.

The true psychology of men
A brilliant book from outstanding thinker. I was not always a supporter of using drugs for research, but I changed my view. ... Read more

Product Description
Straightforward and concise. Covers all the bases of hypnotherapy. Learn about altered states of consciousness and the four levels of mind that the great modern mystic, Edgar Cayce, utilized in his readings. Includes information on induction; trance depth; client interview; suggestion; regression; the collective unconscious; the superconscious mind; and past life memories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellant book for a mind, body, spirit approach to hypnotherapy
I find this book is a must if you are studying the art of Hypnotism. Doing hypnotism without transpersonally honoring a client's mind, body and spirit is like trying to row a boat without a paddle. Allen Chips writes an informative academic text that gives students of hypnotism the tools they need to forge ahead professionally. You will gain outstanding knowledge and excellent examples for the practice and application of hypnosis.

an intro for the layperson
This book is a good read for the layperson who is beginning to explore the metaphysical.You must also read "My Voice Will Go With You" edited by Sidney Rosen, "Hypnosis: A Jungian Perspective" by James Hall, and study Milton Erickson's work - if you are a practicing therapist who may want to begin to use hypnotic techniques in your work with depth psychology.

Clinical Hypnotherapy
The second edition of Clinical Hypnotherapy by Dr. Chips is an excellent revised second edition. Writing errors are to a minimum, and the content is pertinant to clinical and transpersonal hypnotherapy. This book is well worth the cover price for those who desire to learn about hypnotherapy for themselves as a client, or for the purpose of entering into the profession.

Poorly Written & Not Recommended
As mentioned in another review, this book contains many, many grammatical and spelling errors which distract from the credibility of the material presented.This self-published book is not professionally written or edited.While some of the material is useful ~ particularly the final chapter ~ it certainly wasn't worth the expensive cover price.I can't recommend this book.

Clinical Hypnotherapy: A Transpersonal Approach
I was not impressed with the book at all. There were quite a few typographical errors, the pictures were amaturerish to say the least. The Justification was all staggared throughout the book, and I would not suggest this book for anybody who wants to look at the world of hypnotherapy in a nonbiased light. ... Read more

Product Description
Accepting relentless impermanence as the ground of human experience, Words from the Soul derives a spiritual psychology from the mystery and poignancy of time-passage itself. Drawing from Wittgenstein, Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Foucault, Dostoyevsky, Buddhism, kundalini yoga, and twenty-five years of clinical/mediation experience, the author's epigrammatic insights into our struggles with mortality, gratitude, apology, and forgiveness make this book relevant to psychotherapy and conflict resolution in a wide range of professional settings.

In his exploration of the furthest-reaches of human development, Stuart Sovatsky reveals the deepest potentials of the ensouled body, transforming our views of language, sexuality, ecstatic spiritualities, and of the human life cycle. ... Read more

Product Description
Explores the roots of modern transpersonal psychology and spirituallity through psychobiography. ... Read more