Many attempts have been made to define criteria that distinguish psychosis from Spiritual Emergence. Psychotic states can sometimes become mystical experiences, and Spiritual Emergencies can slide in and out of psychosis. Some would say that these terms belong to two separate paradigms, two separate ways of thinking about our world. The Western medical paradigm is quick to label as psychotic anyone displaying severely out of the ordinary behaviour. Tribal culture on the other hand would view the same behaviour as an important process of spiritual awakening.
In Western culture, any behaviour or state which deviates from what is considered to be “normal” is automatically labeled as “mental illness”.
“Since traditional psychiatry makes no distinction between psychotic reactions and mystical states, not only crises of spiritual opening, but also uncomplicated transpersonal experiences often receive a pathological label…”1
In mainstream psychiatry, psychosis can be used as a label for a diverse range of mental states, some of which are only superficially similar. The causes, individual qualities and personal importance of these states are distinctly different. A good example is acute psychosis, which can occur for a variety of reasons and take on many different forms. This diversity however, is blatantly ignored by mainstream psychiatry. Instead all such experiences are placed together and assumed to have a biological cause. This only serves to exacerbate an already extremely complex and challenging situation.
“Under present circumstances, the use of diagnostic labels obscures the issues and interferes with the healing potential of the process. In addition to its socially stigmatizing and psychologically damaging effects, it creates a false impression that the disorder is a precisely identified disease and serves as a justification for suppressive medication as a scientifically indicates approach.”2
Medically, psychosis is viewed as a chemical imbalance in the brain which occurs “out of the blue”. It is a mental health problem where a person has lost some contact with reality and there are severe disturbances in their thinking, emotion and behaviour. Symptoms include sensory hallucinations and delusions (paranoia) and are normally treated with medication in order to minimize them, even though there can be severe side affects from the anti-psychotics which are normally prescribed.
The transpersonal paradigm terms psychosis as something which builds over time, often throughout a person’s lifetime. Therefore transpersonally psychosis is the outcome of a predicament. Although the transpersonal paradigm does not exclude the use of medication as long as it is used wisely, the therapy is based on not alleviating the symptoms as such, but rather in supporting and guiding the person through the experience in order to create a greater understanding of the process, which in turn presents the person with a map to their experience and the ability to integrate it into their daily lives.
The term “psychosis” is derived from the Greek words – “psyche” meaning “soul” and “ osis” meaning a process, state or condition. Translated directly from the Greek, psychosis means “a process or state of the soul”. This description of psychosis is very similar, if not the same as, that of spiritual crisis. In a spiritual crisis the person finds themselves in a situation where things begin to emerge within themselves that were not there previously. The psyche that has had incomplete expression previously, suddenly emerges. Therefore, psychosis is in fact a soul process, a state change in the soul, a transformation.
Christina and Stanislav Groff defined spiritual emergencies as:
“Critical and experientially difficult stages of a profound psychological transformation involving one’s entire being. They take the form of non-ordinary states of consciousness and involve intense emotions, visions and other sensory changes, unusual thoughts and various physical manifestations. These episodes often revolve around spiritual themes. They include sequences of psychological death and rebirth, experiences that seem to be memories from previous lifetimes, feelings of oneness with the universe, encounters with mythological beings and other similar motifs.”3
It is easy to see from this definition how psychosis and spiritual emergence/crisis can be seen as the same experience. Although the symptoms of psychosis and emergence may appear identical, the person’s attitude to the experience can be the determining factor for the outcome. “Flexibility to adapt and accommodate to new areas of experience is part and parcel of the spiritual emergence process – in contrast to inflexibility, which characterizes deeply entrenched psychosis.”4
Transpersonally, psychosis is viewed as an opportunity to heal in a deeper and more profound way. Under this paradigm, psychosis is viewed as disintegration or shattering of a constructed personality, which is not harmonious with the true self. Over time the discrepancy between the constructed personality and the true self creates a split whereby the ego dissolves, as it is not connected in any way to the nature of the true self. This type of psychotic episode is a golden opportunity for deep and profound healing.
Spiritual emergency is a process that has the potential to be powerfully healing and transformative, as it involves a major clearing of old traumatic memories and imprints. Due to the vast amounts of psychological materials that are brought up from various levels of the unconscious, the everyday functioning of the person may be severely hindered.
Spiritual crises/emergence can manifest in a variety of ways. The Kundalini type experience is one of these. This is a spontaneous re-organisation of life energy and is likened to the awakening of the serpent power, which appears in Indian literature. Uncomfortable tremors, pressure and the feeling of something trying to get out are general indicators of a kundalini experience. The rising of the Kundalini through the subtle body infuses the physical body, thereby causing old traumatic imprints to clear and opening the psychic energy centre (chakras). The experience can manifest as intense sensations of energy and heat coursing up the spine that may cause shaking, spasms and twisting movements. Unmotivated powerful waves of emotion can also arise, such as anger, anxiety, sadness or joy. Ecstatic rapture is also common, as well as visions, sounds and past life memories.
Episodes of unitive consciousness (peak experience) is another form of spiritual emergence. This experience is one of becoming one with other people, nature and the entire universe. Profound feelings of peace, serenity, joy and ecstatic rapture are the emotions often experienced.
Psychological renewal through the return to the centre (the renewal process) is likened to an experience of a giant battlefield playing out the forces of good and evil or light and darkness. The person is preoccupied with death, sacrifice, afterlife and martyrdom. At this point the person may experience the holistic Centre, or what Jung called the Self. This Centre reflects our deepest and truest nature, the divine within, and the deep connection of one’s inner potential. This experience is often associated with a sense of profound spiritual rebirth.
The crisis of psychic opening occurs where a person experiences non-ordinary states of consciousness like clairvoyance, telepathy and precognition, as well as out of body experiences. These experiences can be very overwhelming. Mediumistic experiences (channeling) and possession type experiences may also be experienced and can be very frightening.
Past life experiences are also common forms of spiritual emergence, whereby the person experiences periods that seem to take place in other places and times. Powerful emotion, physical sensations and intricate details are associated with past life experiences.
Communicating and/or channeling with spirit guides, thereby forming a teacher, guide or protector relationship, is also a form of spiritual emergence. Spirit guides can be discarnate humans, supra-human entities and/or deities on higher planes of consciousness.
A spiritual crisis is often brought on by near death experiences due to the fundamental challenge of beliefs about reality. Often the person witnesses their whole live in a moment, and their consciousness detaches from the body and floats freely above the scene. Experiences also include a dark tunnel that brings them to a light of brilliance and beauty encompassing a sense of all embracing love.
Other forms of spiritual emergence/crises, include UFO abduction and possession state. Jung’s study of UFO abductions revealed that they appeared at times of mass panic and crisis, and represent visionary states (lights) and civilisations that are more advanced that ours (aliens).
In possession-like experiences there is a breakdown, a thinning of the ordinary boundaries that separate a person from his/her environment. The entity or energy that is controlling or possessing them is hostile.
In both UFO abductions and possession states the person is left feeling violated, invaded and with feelings of having lost control.
The Shamanic crisis (calling) is also a form of spiritual emergence. Shamanism is the oldest religion and healing art. The Shamanic call generally begins with a ‘shamanic illness’. The person has powerful experiences of journeying into the underworld where they are attacked and tortured by demons, ending in death and dismemberment, which is followed by rebirth and ascension to celestial realms. The Shamanic experience is a major transformation of one’s identity as a healer. It does not overpower you rather, you achieve a distance from the experience itself, therefore making it a gift of survival.
When working with a client who is undergoing a spiritual emergence/crises, it is crucial to ensure that the client feels supported and protected in order to reduce fear and distress. As the spiritual emergence is in itself a journey of unfoldment, it is crucial for the client to temporarily discontinue any spiritual practices or other uncovering therapies. Simple grounding, calming activities are best, as stimulation needs to be kept to a minimum. As a therapist it is important to support and guide the client so that they will be better able to embrace the changes. Normalising the experience as much as possible will help the client to be present with what is occurring for them rather than resisting it, giving them the time and space to better understand what is unfolding. By having a map of the experience the client will be more confident in navigating their journey of spiritual growth.
Transpersonal therapy looks at spiritual emergence with a more holistic approach, as it encompasses spiritual, psychological, social and biological factors. Medical therapy does not include the spiritual aspect of human behaviour. Humans live in a world of experiences, not brain chemistry. The Transpersonal model is open to the idea that some experiences may actually be profound meaningful processes, rather than an abnormality or chemical imbalance of the brain.
The medical model identifies all psychosis as a destruction of the psyche and attempts to stop the person from falling via medication. Medically, psychosis is “the end of the line”. The transpersonal model meets the person where they are, helps them to reach the bottom, then assists them to come out of it by helping them to rebuilt a “new world”. Psychosis, from a transpersonal point of view, is potentially the emergence of the authentic self, which allows the person to live their own life, to realise their true path and to head towards a meaningful, present and awakened existence.
Copyright: January 2012 Maria Kafaltis. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Maria Kafaltis.
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1 “The Stormy Search for the Self” by Stanislav & Christine Groff
2 “The Stormy Search for the Self” by Stanislav & Christine Grof
3 Christina & Stanislav Groff (1990)
4 Emma Bragdon (1988)
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