Charles Tart (2008) offers his view that if transpersonal psychologists want to understand various esoteric systems and altered states of consciousness, it is “helpful but not enough” (p. 137) to study their books and traditions. These systems were created as state-specific knowledge bases, and as...
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...
Early feminist theorists posited that the main difference in female psychology from male is its emphasis on relationality and the interconnectedness of human experience. Brooks (2013) writes about the differences in the experiences of women being vastly underrepresented in transpersonal as well as mainstream psychology,...
Ketamine clinics have sprung up like mushrooms in major cities across America, especially after a nasal spray delivery method was approved by the FDA in 2019 (Grinspoon, 2022). In Los Angeles, ketamine clinics incessantly remind consumers of their existence by sponsoring litter removal on the...
John Welwood (1984) introduced the term spiritual bypassing, and it has become a concept used not only within the field of transpersonal psychology, but within the popular field of personal and spiritual growth seekers as well. The term is generally believed to mean when an...
Shweder (1991) points out that the field of psychology in general operates from the myth of “psychic unity,” that is, that all people are basically alike underneath, meaning in practice, that we believe that all people of the world are basically like white, educated Americans....
I have found this semester so far to be exciting and full of lots of delicious morsels to chew on. I seem to be always thinking of this, that, and the other thing from the assigned reading, and it has affected my sleep because I...
Much transpersonal research has focused on the question of whether or not there exists a “transpersonal self” outside/beyond our physical bodies. Daniels (2005) reviews various formulations as posited by Maslow, Jung, Assagioli, Grof, Aurobindo, Wilber, Washburn, Wright and Ferrar. They share assumptions that something exists...
When I began my graduate work in transpersonal psychology in 1983, Ken Wilber was the glowing sun in the center of the field. His view of the hierarchical structure of spiritual development was intoxicating and gave us something to shoot for. It had all seemed...
I really appreciated Daniels’s musings on the shadow, especially as it relates to our field. The issue of the “exotic agenda” really spoke to me, and I pondered quite a bit over his list of the mundane events of life that have most influenced him:...