Reading Event… “The Stormy Search for the Self” Christina and Stan Grof MD.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a Zoom meeting link.

Please join us to explore spiritual emergencies and spiritual emergence through the writing of Christina Grof and Stanislav Grof, MD, of which psychedelic use can activate.

At our last talk, we discussed the part of spiritual emergence that feels very dark and destabilizing. For this session, we will discuss the part of spiritual emergency that originates in being overwhelmed by the experience of strong, destabilizing brilliance, light, or euphoria.

The Grofs wrote about how going towards the “light” or having the “light” flow onto us can feel as overwhelming and destabilizing as experiencing darkness. They both can create spiritual emergencies experienced as “dark nights of the soul.”

We will present an exploration of Chapters 3-4. Excerpts from those chapters are (Available here in PDF.)

The chapters we will be highlighting in this session:

• Chapter 3: Encountering the Divine
• Chapter 4: Varieties of a Spiritual Emergency

The content is rich in thoughtful observations generated from the people the Grofs’ have helped over the years with transpersonal experiential understanding. The Grofs note that cultures over time have accepted spiritual emergencies as part of the spiritual growth process, while the current Western medical model all too easily treats those spiritual emergencies as evidence of pathology.

The Grofs encourage full experiencing of spiritual emergencies instead of interrupting them with Western medical treatment designed to address “psychosis.”

We believe that the consideration of “spiritual emergency” can provide a valuable way of understanding our tumultuous experiences during and following journeys. In the most general terms, spiritual emergence can be defined as the movement of an individual to a more expanded way of being that involves enhanced emotional and psychosomatic health, greater freedom of personal choices, and a sense of deeper connection with other people, nature, and the cosmos. Spiritual emergencies are strenuous events that can include encountering deeply upsetting material, exhilarating experiences, or a combination of both.

We hope and expect that this gathering will provide each of us with the opportunity to connect with others and discuss spiritual emergencies we have experienced and the deeply meaningful changes that have resulted from them.

Facilitators:
Co-hosted by Taimie Bryant and Michael Powell.

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Disclaimer:

Our group exists to provide education and harm reduction and foster a supportive, heart-centered community. Our group does not offer therapy or psychedelic substances. Our events do not condone or facilitate taking illegal drugs.