Mysticism and Transpersonal Psychology

21 Dec Mysticism and Transpersonal Psychology

When looking at mysticism this week, Jorge Ferrer reminds us in his video interview that there are many types of mysticism, that they are not all describing the same states, and that all should be respected. Newberg (2018) has identified four core components at the root of all mystical experiences studied by his team:

1) a sense of unity

2) a sense of intensity

3) a sense of clarity

4) a sense of surrender

There are many cultural and individual differences in the experience of enlightenment or spiritual awakening, but Newberg states that these are universal.

Newberg (2018) did find a difference between the words used by woman and men to describe their spiritual experience (p. 4). Men most commonly used the words (in declining order): mind, religion, world, meditation, understand, universe, nature, drug, reality, consciousness, thought, force, and existence. Women used the words: God, now, love, people, church, energy, presence, need , hear, die, pray, child, learn, and home.

Barratt (2010) proposes that somatic psychology needs to be seen as a spiritual discipline. The non-allopathic healing traditions of the world, e.g. Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, all speak of an esoteric dimension of the body, and that when we drop our awareness inside, we meet subtle energies that are non-physical. The teachings of the mystical traditions hold that the universe unfolds within the body. Barret also talks about the Hindu notion of kama –  that the desire of sensuality is the longing for the divine. This is of course against the teachings of all Western religions.

Barret (2010) also states that “every known Indigenous culture has shamanic practitioners” (p. 113), but that these shamans are quite different from the romantic, new age notion. Barret defines shamanism as a set of methodologies involving the use of altered states of consciousness for healing and spiritual and emotional growth.

Barratt, B. (2010). Bodily paths to spiritual awakening. In Emergence of somatic psychology and bodymind therapy (pp. 174-182). Palgrave McMillan.

Barret, B. (2010). Shamanic practices and transpersonal psychologies.  In The emergence of somatic psychology and bodymind therapy (pp. 113-117). Palgrave McMillan.

Mishlove, J. (2018). Comparative Mysticism with Jorge Ferrer. New thinking allowed. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-dH-Hh38gY

Newberg, A. B., & Waldman, M. R. (2018). A neurotheological approach to spiritual awakening. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 37 (2). http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2018.37.2.119

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