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The Holotropic Mind: The Three Levels of Human Consciousness and How They Shape Our Lives

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I recommend The Holotropic Mind to two audiences: the scientifically minded willing to follow solid research wherever it goes and the New Age enthusiast willing to explore a radical theory which seeks to explain a wide range of occult phenomenon, from pre-birth memories to ESP to life-after-death.

Dr. Grof is skilled psychiatrist and researcher with solid academic credentials in the US and Europe. He was one of the first to experiment with LSD--experiment in the laboratory sense, not in the adolescent escapade sense. His decades of research with thousands of subjects, including himself, has convinced the doctor that altered states of consciousness are the gateway to understanding the nature of the human experience.

P. 133 neatly summarizes Dr. Grof's approach, and his book's challenge to the typical Western reader: "The prevalent bias of the modern industrialized world is one of excluding all forms of spirituality as erroneous and misleading. ... While the existence of the experiences is a fact that can be confirmed by any serious researcher familiar with non-ordinary states of consciousness, there are various ways to interpret the same data. This is not so different from any other scientific question. After all the theory of gravity is not the same as gravity itself. Similarly, while we might refuse to take seriously past life experiences because we do not like the theories of reincarnations, we would not think of applying the same thinking to gravity, that is, denying that objects are falling because we do not like the theories of gravity that explain it. There are observable facts about reincarnation. ... It is important to remind ourselves that science never 'proves' anything; it only 'disproves' or 'improves' existing theories."

This book is an easy read because it is filled with compelling case histories and stays away from polemic or 'newage' (rhymes with 'sewage') cant. Grof presents his data, places it in the context of other's theories, for example, Jung, William James and Maslow, then leaves the reader free for his own explorations and meaning-making. I wished for more details on his experimental methods, but perhaps that is better covered in one of his many other publications rather than in this slim and brisk volume.

Stanislav Grof's new book is a moving journey into the depths and heights of the human psyche. Based on thirty-five years of consciousness research-originally with psychoactive substances, then with a powerful non-drug technique, Holotropic Breathwork ™--this work represents the most extensive mapping of inner space compiled to date. Edited with the help of a professional writer this is also one of the most accessible of Grof's writing, appealing both to the interested beginner and the veteran explorer.

Grof's research suggests that profound healing happens automatically when people enter certain non-ordinary states of consciousness that are intrinsic to their own being. The process usually begins with a working through of emotionally charged memories from the lifetime. Eventually it deepens into a confrontation with biological birth and the inevitability of death, sequences that are intermixed with historical, karmic, and archetypal themes. Finally the process opens out into ecstatic transpersonal and spiritual realms, beyond the boundaries of individual consciousness. This book is full of fascinating case histories of people who have had the courage to look beneath the surface of everyday reality. Some of the accounts of healing and personal evolution described here will move and inspire you.

Self-exploration of this type is truly a kind of final frontier. Grof makes a solid case for the reintroduction of healing practises that use non-ordinary states of consciousness, techniques that have been used in non-industrial cultures for thousands of years. The documented effects of these suggest a potential for healing and transformation "undreamed of" in traditional psychotherapy.

The book describes transpersonal and paranormal experiences, with anecdotal evidence of their validity. It's not really about the scientific theory about them. For example, it only briefly refers to the holography analogy and the relevant studies in quantum physics, and doesn't really explain them in detail as the title might suggest; that was a bit disappointing. From a psychological side, same thing - it doesn't talk about the why and when and how of the phenomena, just that they occur.

Still, a decent introduction to what's possible in non-ordinary consciousness, from a reputable scientist; it will make you open your mind a bit more to new age topics. If that's what you're looking for, then it's not a bad book.

What does holotropic mean? The dictionary does not define the term, and neither does the author, although he has developed an entire psychiatric treatment and trademarked it as the "Holotropic Breathwork." If we compare it to the meaning of "allotropic" we can deduce that it should mean "of one form." But with one form with what? After reading the book I am guessing that it refers to the universe. Our mind is one with it. Purely a guess; the author does not tell us.

Stanislav Grof was born in in 1931 in Czechoslovakia, where he received an MD in 1956, and PhD in 1967. It appears that he spent his time between the two degrees doing research in LSD-induced psychic states, often using himself as the subject. But when he came to the US in 1967, LSD use became prohibited, and so he eventually continued his work in "Transpersonal Psychology" (defined as a study of non-ordinary states of consciousness) with techniques that involved controlled breathing in a controlled setting. If nothing else, the reader of this book can get an idea of what a psychedelic trip feels like.

The book consists of two parts, framed between what could be called an introductory and a concluding chapter. In the introduction he mentions how some avant-garde physicists have introduced theories that connect together everything in the universe into one mathematical or even conscious entity: Talbot's holographic universe, Bohm's implicate order, Sheldrake's morphic resonance, and finally Jung's (an avant-garde psychiatrist in his day) collective unconscious. He then takes off into his favorite subject, LSD-induced regression into early childhood states and the birth process.

The next four chapters are allocated to studies of regression into the womb and birth experience, which he considers as the most important factors that are unconsciously affecting our adult feelings and actions. Even if you strongly disagree with what he is saying, try not to throw the book in garbage at this point. The following five chapters deal with wider transpersonal expansions of one's consciousness. Although he starts by discussing how under regression he was able to remember his existence as the spermatozoon that caused his own conception, and how others regressed to previous lives, or even plants and inanimate objects, most of the information here comes from published work by others. A lot of it is interesting, and a sufficient reason to have kept reading the book to this point. There is a good discussion of Carl Jung and his myth and archetype ideas, a brief discussion of synchronicity, and an excellent listing of many inventions and ideas that originated in people's minds as complete, inspired insights.

In the concluding chapter, he ignores the contents of the preceding five chapters, returns to his favorite subject of birth trauma, and generalizes it as the cause of all problems that have plagued mankind through its existence.

Obviously, this book is directed to the open-minded reader. Personally I disagree with the author's conclusions. I think all the data he presented could have been explained better if he followed through with Jung's and others' ideas of a universal subconscious rather than his own birth trauma theories.

The writer is the author of "Christianity without Fairy Tales: When Science and Religion Merge."

Though I do share similar beliefs in a lot of what Dr. Grof concludes, he leaves a lot more room for debate than need be. There are many metaphysical topics he touches upon that may seem a bit "out there" for many (i.e. past lives, living archetypes, out-of-body experiences, etc.) and yet he offers little to back-up what he says.

The problem is that this particular book is more like an overview than a careful and thorough analysis of the mind. Dr. Grof only provides anecdotal evidence and cursory summations of research and studies to justify his conclusions. A lot of the material comes from his own experiences and that of his patients. This is not enough to sway me intellectually and not what I expected from a book that presents itself within a scientific context. If this were entitled "Chicken Soup for the Holotropic Mind," I probably wouldn't feel as disappointed. Ah, well...

The distance between the atoms in my brain is the same overall ratio as the distance between the stars in our galaxy. My head is basically empty space. Just thought you should know.

Stanislav Grof is considered to be the Father of Transpersonal Psychology. His opinion that the psyche can be exterior to the brain is well formulated and respected though not necessarily agreed with by mainstream science. The notion that the universe is a machine made up of parts has a strong hold on much of Western Science. The Newtonian view that the universe is composed of solid matter is a hard nut to crack. The metaphysical assumptions seem so obvious. Consciousness is the product of our brains, of matter. Maybe, maybe not.

The main objective of this book is to explore non-Newtonian views concerning the relationship of mind with matter. Views congruent with modern physics. Within the context that consciousness does not passively reflect the objective material world; it plays an active role in creating reality itself. Rather than seeing the universe as discrete objects and empty spaces the universe is seen as one continuous field of varying density. Matter and energy are interchangeable. Consciousness is integral to the universe and not limited by any of its parts.

This is a book about how we are at a turning point in human history. A point where we have the opportunity to transcend our differences and create a seeming utopia on earth. Where we realize our interconnectedness with not only each other, but with all life on earth, even the universe itself. This is a most optimistic book where the future of man is concerned. We are an essential part of reality. It has taken us 14 Billion years to get here and the universe is on our side. It is our time to shine. Life, like baseball, is a field of dreams.

Thou essence art that essence.

Stansilav Grof writes about non-ordinairy states of consciousness from the perspective on one who has experienced them. He explores three transpersonal realms: 1) "within" everyday reality, 2) "beyond" everyday reality, & 3) the "psychoid" realm. The author contends that experiential patterns he calls "Basic Perinatal Matrices" (BMPs) of which there are four, constitute the guiding forces within our lives. These patterns are specific and individualized to each human being, they are the "psychospiritual blueprints" that guide the experiences in our lives from an emotional and spiritual standpoint. These guiding forces can be accessed through altered states of consciousness. There are archetypes and symbolic experiences all human beings share based on the BMPs - these relate to "birth-death" experiences, artistic expression, spiritual symbolism/imagery and several other categories. The book connects/links humans based on their one common experience: physical birth and how it relates to the remainder of the human journey of life. It explores human transpersonal reality which is the core basis of life ... This is an excellent psychological treatise on a complex and controversial subject. Highly recommended reading! Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Stanislav Grof (born 1931) is a psychiatrist from Czechoslovakia and one of the founders of transpersonal psychology, who is known for his early studies of LSD as well as his more recent studies of "Holotropic Breathwork". He has also written books such as The Adventure of Self-Discovery: Dimensions of Consciousness and New Perspectives in Psychotherapy and Inner Exploration (SUNY Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology), Beyond the Brain: Birth, Death, and Transendence in Psychotherapy (Suny Series in Transpersonal & Humanistic Psychology), Holotropic Breathwork: A New Approach to Self-Exploration and Therapy (Suny Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology), Psychology of the Future: Lessons from Modern Consciousness Research (Suny Series, Transpersonal & Humanistic Psychology), etc.

He wrote in the "Acknowledgements" section of this 1993 book, "This book is based on experiences, observations, and insights from thirty-five years of systematic exploration of the value of non-ordinary states of consciousness... One of the most significant intellectual events of my life was the discovery of holography and of the holonomic thinking in science, which provided a conceptual framework for a variety of otherwise incomprehensible and puzzling findings of modern consciousness research." He adds in the first chapter, "The main focus of this book is to describe and explore the radical changes in our understanding of consciousness, the human psyche, and the nature of reality that became necessary when we pay attention to the testimony of non-ordinary states, as all other cultures before us." (Pg. 13)

Here are some additional quotations from the book:

"(I believe) that the potential for mystical experience is the birthright of all humans." (Pg. 16)
"Having started this research as a convinced materialist and atheist, I had to open myself to the fact that the spiritual dimension is a key factor in the human psyche and in the universal scheme of things. I feel strongly that becoming aware of this dimension of our lives and cultivating it is an essential and desirable part of our existence; it might even be a critical factor for our survival on this planet." (Pg. 18)
"Our transpersonal experiences of entering the consciousness of animals can be extremely convincing." (Pg. 98)
"At first glance, it would appear that a belief in reincarnation is alien to, or even incompatible with, the Christian faith. However, this has not always been so; beliefs in reincarnation were part of early mystical Christianity." (Pg. 132)
"In the end I could not bring myself to carry through with the intended experiment... To this day there are times when I deeply regret that I wasted such a unique opportunity to test my ability to manipulate space-time." (Pg. 137)
"Contacts with spirit guides, or channeling, belong to the wide spectrum of transpersonal experiences that can occur in non-ordinary states of consciousness." (Pg. 153-154)

A truely inspired journey through an emerging paradigm in consciousness research. This book is an absolute must read for anyone who has seen the futility of modern material science's need to relegate the mind to the status of a physical anomaly.

Grof presents a post-Newtonian paradigm, in which the quantum world of Bohm et al., allows for non-ordinary realities (now quite a conventional view but we are talking 1993 here), as the backdrop to an interesting collection of transpersonal experiences in those realities. He also presents a theory of the genesis of human neurosis from what he calls 'perinatal' experience -- that is, experience surrounding the event of birth, which he states has profound effects on subsequent life.

Anyone who has researched some of the more extraordinary human transpersonal capabilities will be familiar with the kinds of past lives, entity encounters, OBEs, psychic episodes and so forth which Grof details. He has very good case studies, but the theoretical standpoint is what interests. He illustrates many interesting phenomena unlocked by regression or sudden experience of the transpersonal. The mind is aware of far more than we think, and human fixations can stem from perceptions many psychologists have ruled out of bounds. By resetting those bounds Grof is revealing new aspects of human functioning.

A great theoretical idea is the COEX ('system of condensed experience'), introduced on pages 24-8 but unfortunately not followed up elsewhere. We group or daisychain experiences together on the basis of a similar emotional or physical tone; the concept works very well alongside energy work in my experience, and followers of the Taoist 'Water Method' or of Gendlin's 'Focusing' work, for example, will find it useful indeed. I look forward to reading more about it in another Grof work sometime.

Much experiment with his own brand of shamanic breathwork, and with LSD, has brought Grof to the conclusion that the birth event is the root of most COEX systems and affects we experience. He divides the perinatal into four periods, from the often heavenly womb experience to the hell of initial contractions, the dionysian blood and thunder of movement through the birth canal, into the hard-won wisdom of a new state attained in the outside world -- death/rebirth.

I must admit, this idea didn't immediately win me over, despite some very intriguing case studies. It was only later, when I began to meditate privately on it, that I realized just how much there was to it. Particularly interesting is Grof's observation that the fetus experiences many feelings of the mother during pregnancy and birth, and the compaction and din of passing through the mother's sexual organs (which for her will have sexual associations) is seen as the root of many difficult sexual/violent feelings in later life. This is already a rather interesting new spin on the Freudian, and when you combine it with Grof's observations of mystical experience and expanded mental functioning opened up by re-accessing such memories, you have a fine addition to the recipes for human wholeness. I now consider it quite an advance in knowledge.

Perhaps the only downside to it is that, just as with Freudian theories, it's open to overuse -- you could start to see it absolutely everywhere, a little indiscriminately. Some of Grof's ideas on the use of birth imagery as rabble-rousing in war are interesting, but the reduction of nazi concentration camps to simple elaborations of type II womb experiences is a little much! We threaten to go back to the days of seeing every skyscraper as 'phallic' in the Freudian style. As a tool, the perinatal matrix is useful, but it certainly isn't the whole toolkit.

There is an enjoyable sense of adventure in what Grof has done, and his theory is formulated from repeated empirical experience which is based on biology and therefore ought to be cross-cultural. Even though he isn't always clear on the relation of his birth-event ideas to the transpersonal experiences and abilities that seem to accompany their recollection, he will certainly get you thinking along interesting lines if this sort of transpersonal psychology is your thing.