Altered state of consciousness
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An altered state of consciousness is any state which is significantly different from a normative waking beta wave state. The expression was coined by Charles Tart and describes induced changes in one's mental state, almost always temporary. A synonymous phrase is "altered states of awareness". An associated body of research has been conducted in trance and this is becoming the predominant auspice terminology. Trance includes all "altered states of consciousness" as well as the various forms of waking trance states.
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[edit] Explanation
An altered state of consciousness can come about accidentally through indigestion, fever, sleep deprivation, starvation, oxygen deprivation, nitrogen narcosis (deep diving), or a traumatic accident.
It can sometimes be reached intentionally by the use of a sensory deprivation tank or mind-control techniques, hypnosis, meditation, prayer, or disciplines (e.g. Mantra Meditation, Yoga, Sufism or Surat Shabda Yoga). It is sometimes attained through the ingestion of psychoactive drugs such as alcohol and opiates, or psychoactive plants and chemicals such as LSD, DXM, 2C-I, peyote, marijuana, mescaline, Salvia divinorum, MDMA, psychedelic mushrooms, or datura (Jimson weed). Another effective way to induce an altered state of consciousness is using a variety of neurotechnologies such as psychoacoustics, light and sound stimulation, cranial electrical and magnetic stimulation, etc., These technological methods help create specific brainwave patterns to induce a particular altered state of consciousness. An example of this would be the Gateway Experience program developed by the Monroe Institute. Their Hemi-Sync technology stimulates brainwave patterns for remote viewing, lucid dreaming, and out of body experiences.
Naturally occurring altered states of consciousness include dreams, lucid dreams, euphoria, ecstasy, psychosis as well as purported premonitions, out-of-body experiences, and channeling.
[edit] See also
- Psychology of religion
- Neurotheology
- Freedom of thought
- Places of power
- Aldous Huxley
- Carlos Castaneda
- Charles Tart
- Claudio Naranjo
- John C. Lilly
- Timothy Leary
- Stanislav Grof
- John Curtis Gowan
- Bruce Eisner
- Psychedelic experience
- Psychonaut
- Flow (psychology)
- Trance
- Lenard
[edit] References
- James, William The varieties of religious experience (1902) ISBN 0-14-039034-0
- Tart, Charles T., editor. Altered States of Consciousness (1969) ISBN 0-471-84560-4
- Tart, Charles T. States of Consciousness (2001) ISBN 0-595-15196-5
- Wier, Dennis R. Trance: from magic to technology (1995) ISBN 1-888428-38-4
- Hoffman, Kay (1998). The Trance Workbook: understanding & using the power of altered states. Translated by Elfie Homann, Clive Williams, and Dr Christliebe El Mogharbel. Translation edited by Laurel Ornitz. ISBN 0-8069-1765-2
[edit] External links
- HypnosisAndSuggestion.org exploring the science behind hypnosis and suggestion
- Hypnosis Dual Induction
- Self Hypnosis Techniques to Altered Mental States
- John C. Lilly
- Divine Way of Spiritual Heart A system of methods for developing the consciousness as a spiritual heart
- Ekstasis Journeys in trance, meditation, mysteries and altered states of consciousness
- Explorations in Consciousness Online community dedicated to the exploration of consciousness through out-of-body experiences, lucid dreams and altered states of consciousness.
- Mantra Meditation
- Trance Research Foundation - Trance Institute
- Mind Media Guide to Hypnosis and Altered States
