Spiritual Emergency: When Personal Transformation Becomes Crisis

by Stanislav Grof (Editor), Christina Grof (Editor)

From Spiritual Emergency to Healing and Rebirth Increasing numbers of people involved in personal transformation are experiencing spiritual emergencies — crises when the process of growth and change becomes chaotic and overwhelming. Individuals experiencing such episodes may feel that their sense of identity is breaking down, that their old values no longer hold true, and that the very ground beneath their personal realities is radically shifting. In many cases, new realms of mystical and spiritual experience enter their lives suddenly and dramatically, resulting in fear and confusion. They may feel tremendous anxiety, have difficulty coping with their daily lives, jobs, and relationships, and may even fear for their own sanity. Unfortunately, much of modern psychiatry has failed to distinguish these episodes from mental illness. As a result, transformational crises are often suppressed by routine psychiatric care, medication, and even institutionalization. However, there is a new perspective developing among many mental health professionals and those studying spiritual development that views such crises as transformative breakthroughs that can hold tremendous potential for physical and emotional healing. When understood and treated in a supportive manner, spiritual emergencies can become gateways to higher levels of functioning and new ways of being. In this book, foremost psychologists, psychiatrists, and spiritual teachers address the following questions: What is spiritual emergency? What is the relationship between spirituality, “madness,” and healing? What forms does spiritual emergency take? What are the pitfalls — and promises — of spiritual practice? How can people in spiritual emergency be assisted by family, friends, and professionals? This groundbreaking work reveals that within the crisis of spiritual emergency lies the promise of spiritual emergence and renewal.

Genres: Psychology, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Essays, Meditation, Buddhism

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1989

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

[Seon Ji (Dawn) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good.

I especially liked the opening essay and RD Laing's section.

This is somewhat helpful for anyone who has had kundalini awakening, a NDE, or any other non-ordinary experience. It may also be a little helpful for the family of those as well. This is a must read for psychological professionals to help them understand that their IS a difference between organic psychosis and spiritual crises which is detrimental to human evolutional development and growth.

A little dated, but not outdated. I got quite a bit out of it and said to myself more than once.. Ah-Ha!

If anything, you will find references to other books and facilities that may assist you further.

[Judith Cregan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays around the topic of spiritual emergency. There is a wonderful little essay by Ram Das that is delightful to read, and a great description of kundalini awakening.

[Gaylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book which easily catalogues a variety of ways people emerge into deeper aspects of spirituality. Grof chose the word "emergency" but I prefer the term "emergence". The idea that it is possible to emerge from one level of spirituality to another more insightful level is very appealing to me. Perhaps the reason Grof chose to use the word "emergency" is because he is trained as a psychiatrist and has had people come to him for help as they make their way through an experience that is somewhat foreign and a bit frightening. People who enjoy the everyday world of consensus reality and wouldn't want to step outside that realm, might be caught "off guard" by a glimpse into a more attuned level of spiritual awareness should it "happen" to them without their conscious seeking of that experience. For example in the case of a UFO sighting and perhaps if one experienced an unsolicited drug experience...the words "spiritual emergency" might be more appropriate. The Grofs' addressed at least 10 varieties of Spiritual Emergency including:
1. The Shamanic crisis
2. The awakening of Kundalini
3. Episodes of unitive consciousness ("peak experiences")
4. Psychological renewal through return to the center
5. The crisis of psychic opening
6. Past-life experiences
7. Communications with spirit guides and "channeling"
8. Near death experiences
9. Experiences of close encounters with UFO's
10. Possession states
They outlined and defined each of these states in the introductory chapter of the book and then went on to include articles by authors who are experts in each of these fields of transpersonal experience.
My favorite article was by Paul Rebillot who was an actor who became a facilitator of groups who took "mythic journeys". Since I already have an interest in psychodrama, I was intrigued by the idea of including Jungian ritual in workshops designed to encourage personal growth by creating a personal map for future challenges.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best thing about this book was its attempt to outline when symptoms might indicate "spiritual emergency" and when there is more likely some psychopathology involved. Other, more black and white new-agey approaches contend that there is no such thing as psychopathology, that all psychotherapy and medication squashes a person's spiritual growth, etc. That kind of thinking tends to result in all discussions of spirituality & psychology being painted with the same flakey brush. On the flipside, much of mainstream psychology discounts spiritual experience or reduces it to chemical events within the brain. This book presents some very sane, open-minded perspectives that I found quite useful in thinking about both spiritual development and psychology.

[Nancy Lynn Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that he stresses the fact several times about being WILLING to do something.
Like WILLIING to face pain and pleasure. WILLING to look at our attachments and reflect and change them if need be.
Whole book was filled with ways to transform your life.

[Gudrun Mouw · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone for whom this subject is relevant, this is a must read! I love the quote, the hero's "counterpart is the demon of resistance."

[Tereza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing the difference between Spiritual Emergency and psychosis could save lives... damn, this should be a mandatory read for every health care professional!
Very helpful for all going through SE and their friends and family. Thank you!

[Jodie Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every therapist should read this book to avoid pathologising spiritual crises/emergence.

[Alex Honchar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't call Spiritual Emergency a book for real, it is more of a classic set of almost academic articles related to a single topic, which is a main drawback. However, some particular articles are rather outstanding and help a lot in structuring the whole idea of spiritual growth from the psychological perspective.

The red line of the book is that today we treat several conditions as diseases but they used to be seen as profound transformational stages of human life.

Stanislav Grof defines the following types of events as spiritual which expanded my map of spiritual crisis understanding:

- Shamanic crisis
- Kundalini awakening
- Episodes of unity consciousness
- Psychological renewal through return to the center
- Crisis of psychic opening
- "Past life" experiences
- Communication with "spirit guides" and "channeling"
- Near-death experiences
- Close encounters with UFOs
- Possession states

I also liked Jack Kornfield's part in the setbacks you typically encounter during your spiritual journey - I definitely met many of them during my simple practices.

Meditating pains:
- Physical pain that indicates an incorrect sitting posture
- Physical pain from an unfamiliar sitting posture
- Pain from the release of body tensions

Buddha's five hindrances:
- Desire and wanting
- Aversion
- Sleepiness and apathy
- Excitement and restlessness
- Doubt

Five methods of systematic practice:
- Letting go and observation
- Sublimation (transferring energy from one place to another)
- Suppression
- Reaction in imagination
- Reaction to the state of mind (react, but consciously)

Neurotic practice styles:
- Greed for spiritual experience
- Aversion - escape from the world
- Doubts or "blind faith"

Each divine quality of practice has its own enemy:
- Kindness - attachment
- Compassion - pity
- Imperturbability - indifference

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Overall - good quick weekend read to skip through the pages and pay attention to the structured pieces outlined above

[Celestial_dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of essays discussing spiritual emergencies. Good information on many topics including difference between psychotic versus spiritual crisis, assisting others in a spiritual emergency, shamanism, kundalini, ufo encounter, near death experiences. Very interesting read.

[Tony Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenges conventional view of psychosis. Refreshing.

[Milly Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Los capítulos que eran de mi interés son muy buenos.

[S E · Rating 5 out of 5]

soooo fire

[Giulio]

Nella versione spagnola:
- - El Poder Curativo De Las Crisis (Kairos);

[Domas Janulevicius · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book helped make sense of experiences of going deep inward. Some parts I did not resonate w and find it to the more esoteric than I can relate.

[Jane]

excited to read this book as it poses the problem in Western medicine in diagnosing transformative experiences of consciousness as psychotic. distinguishes the difference between organic manifestations of psychotic episode - to be treated with intensive medication vs. viewing some episodes as mystical, transformative and ultimately positively rewarding experience in need of support and understanding in medical community.

[Argyris]

If the intro rings a bell...it's a 'must read'

[S. Harrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong soulful effort to bring gentle balance to a difficult but natural transition, much needed in western culture.