LSD: Doorway to the Numinous: The Groundbreaking Psychedelic Research into Realms of the Human Unconscious

by Stanislav Grof

Stanislav Grof's first 17 years of research into non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by LSD and other psychedelics led to a revolutionary understanding of the human psyche. His research was the impetus behind a vastly expanded cartography of the unconscious, including two new realms still unacknowledged by official academic circles--the perinatal domain, which holds memories of the various stages of birth, and the transpersonal domain, which mediates experiential identification with other species and mythic figures, visits to archetypal realms, access to past life memories, and union with the cosmic creative principle. The research presented in this book provides a map of the psyche that is essential for understanding such phenomena as shamanism and near death experiences as well as other non-ordinary states of consciousness. This map has led to the development of important new therapies in psychiatry and psychology for treating mental conditions often seen as disease and therefore suppressed by medication. It also provides a new threshold to understanding and entering the numinous realm of spirit.

Genres: Psychology, Drugs, Science, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Neuroscience

304 pages, Paperback

First published February 11, 2009

About the author

Stanislav Grof is known for his early studies of LSD and its effects on the psyche—the field of psychedelic psychotherapy. Building on his observations while conducting LSD research and on Otto Rank's theory of birth trauma, Grof constructed a theoretical framework for pre- and perinatal psychology and transpersonal psychology in which LSD trips and other powerfully emotional experiences were mapped onto one's early fetal and neonatal experiences. Over time, this theory developed into an in-depth "cartography" of the deep human psyche.

Following the legal suppression of LSD use in the late 1960s, Grof went on to discover that many of these states of mind could be explored without drugs by using certain breathing techniques in a supportive environment. He continues this work today under the title "Holotropic Breathwork".

Grof received his M.D. from Charles University in Prague in 1957, and then completed his Ph.D. in Medicine at the Czechoslovakian Academy of Sciences in 1965, training as a Freudian psychoanalyst at this time. In 1967, he was invited as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, United States, and went on to become Chief of Psychiatric Research at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center where he worked with Walter Pahnke and Bill Richards among others. In 1973, Dr. Grof was invited to the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, and lived there until 1987 as a scholar-in-residence, developing his ideas.

Being the founding president of the International Transpersonal Association (founded in 1977), he went on to become distinguished adjunct faculty member of the Department of Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness at the California Institute of Integral Studies, a position he remains in today.

Grof was featured in the film Entheogen: Awakening the Divine Within, a 2006 documentary about rediscovering an enchanted cosmos in the modern world.

Reviews

[Carlton Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read for anyone wishing to understand LSD (psychedelics) and the transpersonal/transcendental realm. Whilst the book is tilted toward Stan´s extensive experience in the therapeutic benefits for psychotherapy, it offers huge insight and classification of the phenomenal experiences encountered with LSD in the transcendental realm. Few authors can compare with this experience and as such i have found this extremely helpful for organizing/rationalizing my own transcendental experiences using psychedelics, meditation and those which have occurred spontaneously.

Its fundamental premise is the human mind is an epiphenomena of our spiritual-consciousness connection to the source of all life. Of course we are all born or raised into amnesia of this connection - which becomes part of life´s riddle to then figure out. That in some individuals (needing psychotherapy) the process from conception-gestation-birthing and the early years of life can be incredibly traumatic, which leads to mental scars, which further accumulate "bad experiences" to compound the initial trauma, leading to severe dysfunction in life. The therapeutic benefit of LSD and regressional psychotherapy helps that individual become aware of the true nature of reality, their experiences and to spiritually heal. As a vet i have huge admiration for any form of healing and Stanislav is a great healer and shaman in my view. As one of the founders of the 4th force in psychology (transpersonal field) we have much to learn from Stanislav Grof.

This book is a MUST for those wishing to learn about the transcendental/transpersonal realm, and without any religious-spiritual biases. The corollary of this is you begin to see how religion-spiritual faiths happen(ed) and that in itself is a HUGE wake-up call! A GREAT Doorway to the meaning of life! Thanks Stanislav Grof for being a brave pioneer and leader of this cause without dogma:)

[Tiago F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stan is arguably the biggest authority in the LSD world. He has performed more clinical research with LSD than anyone else on the planet, so at least reading what he has to say is the minimum you can do.

I liked the book. Grof is obviously a smart guy, and his input on LSD and psychedelics is obviously very valuable. However, I have a hard time believing some of his claims. And everyone should. I think he takes the experiences of his patients too literally, which is odd considering he's a Jungian. When you're more or less claiming supernatural events that defy modern science, you're gonna need a little bit more than anecdotes. I don't care how frequent they are or how consistent they are with his own theories of transpersonal psychology. As the famous saying goes: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. And that's most definitely not provided by Grof.

Nevertheless, I think it's worth reading and was well written. You just have to take some his claims with a grain of salt.

[Bert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was monumental not only in describing the pharmacology of the LSD reaction but mostly in reporting and categorizing the multilevel and transpersonal aspects of it.
All of this is done with a completely rational approach, even when tackling controversial experiences such that of regression to various stages of birth, phylogenetic and ancestral memories, expansion of consciousness beyond time and space, and other similar transpersonal phenomena.
Although the book intends to present the remarkable achievements of psycholythic therapy on patients with mental disorders, the result of 17 years of research in this therapeutic setting led to much more: a significant extension of psychology and a striking cartography of the human mind, along with all its faults and its potential.
I strongly suggest this book to anyone who wishes to have an unbiased view on LSD or is trying to make sense of some of their own experiences if they had one.
For instance, I was completely unaware of the possibility of exploring the perinatal realm and this book really shed light on many of my own experiences.

[Jonas Iaffaldano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno dei libri più importanti di Stanislav Grof, originariamente pubblicato con il titolo “Realms of the Human Unconscious”. E’ stata una lettura molto stimolante e che offre una chiave di comprensione straordinaria rispetto agli effetti dell’LSD e delle sostanze psichedeliche in generale.

[nico · Rating 1 out of 5]

come for the psychedelic therapy research, leave in a big goddamn hurry once dude starts blaming rape victim for being victimized, including being raped *as a child*

[Artist · Rating 1 out of 5]

You would think that someone who has hosted a few thousand of LSD therapy sessions would have insightful interesting things to say. The only parts that really gripped me were the few areas that described the trips, as well as the childhood trauma root of it all. Other than that, the first half is full of fluff and the same stuff over and over again, and the second half is full of very speculative (and often outlandish) ideas, where you can take what you want. The author of the book took LSD more times than me and in higher quantities, so I feel like I have to put my brain on the deep fryer before I`ll be receptive to Grof`s concepts.

[James Jesso · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book on developmental psychology.

[Sophy H · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

This has taken me a while to read.

This book starts out well, full of promise, interest and enlightenment. I have a genuine interest in the use of alternative medicines for treatment of traumas. Grof however, slowly ground that interest right out of me!! His writing is tedious, repetitive, at times nonsensical. There is way way way too much focus on "revisiting the birth experience"! I got sick of reading accounts of traumas while remembering navigating the birth canal! Just shh!

The few nuggets of brilliance in here are over-shone by the banal and vapid detritus that presents as the rest of the book.

Disappointing.

[Calvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My third Grof book. This guy is amazing. A pioneer, a voracious scientist/researcher, a healer and an explorer.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was already familiar with some of the science behind LSD so wanted to read more from Stanislav Grof since he's one of the pioneers in this field of research. I found reading some of the stories to be intense since LSD has been used to help people process their trauma.

This book covers what Grof thinks are the 4 main types of LSD experiences and they are:
1. Abstract and aesthetic experiences
2. Psychodynamic experiences
3. Perinatal experiences (pre-birth, birth)
4. Transpersonal experiences

Overall I enjoyed reading this book since Grof shares many experiences his clients went through in their supervised LSD sessions. There is so much we don't know about the inner world!

[Aleks Koval · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in mental hospital within two days, just eaten whole text blown my mind

[will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overview of Stan Grof's pioneering work in LSD research, and puts forth his theories of COEX's or Condensed Experiences, the Perinatal Matrix, and Transpersonal Experiences.

[cd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting descriptive account of psychedelics-assisted psychotherapy conducted by the author in Czechoslovakia and the USA in the mid-20th century. Lots about gestation / birth trauma and its speculative effects on the psyche, about which I'd previously read nothing, and the positive effects of integration and reconciliation through transpersonal and spiritual experiences from such therapies. Interesting epilogue about the resurgence of such research at the present time, to accompany the reissue of this book.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It discusses a number of different applications and the variations in experience of LSD psychotherapy. While some of the terminology is difficult to pick up at first for someone who isn't that familiar with it, it does a good job of not overly complicating concepts. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in psychedelic research and its therapeutic applications.

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

Though the book provided some insight to LSD research, and some interesting accounts of supervised patient experience, I thought the book a bit of a bore about halfway through it. I would place LSD treatment of the mentally ill right next to other failed and misguided past techniques such as lobotomy and electroshock treatment. After all Grof's research, it is surprising that he would still sell this treatment as a viable cure for the mentally ill.

[Tyrone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psychedelic psychiatry doesn't sound like a bad thing at all once you've a) read this book and b) tripped to the point of ego death and understand the entire process.

Either way, this is a fascinating read.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rational science behind LSD. An extremely potent substance, capable of altering ones life.

[Jef · Rating 3 out of 5]

The myth of re-birth was visited many times with these clinical LSD sessions.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Supplementary reading for a 15 pg psych paper I'm writing. Fascinating shit, yo.

[Josh Livingroom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is amazing!

[Damon]

see my blog for retort: http://damonconsciousnessmusings.word...

[Gigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, somewhat ''not for beginners''