This
was my concentration proposal from Fairhaven College at Western Washington
University. If I had to do it again, I would change the concentration title to
"Spiritual Psychology: Becoming Conscious." A lot has changed since
then, as I continue my journey, getting more centered on my path and all it
entails. - 7/10/10
Spiritual
Psychology
Long
before I realized I wanted to be a therapist, psychology grabbed my attention.
This fascination began a journey that is allowing me to wake up and begin
discovering who I really am. There have been many frustrations along the way.
The society I live in is not conducive to change, especially when those changes
took me out of the cultural norms of behavior and beliefs. My own journey took
me into mainstream therapy. There was a lot of good that came out of it. But, at
some point I realized that there were discrepancies. Some of the answers I
received didn’t feel right. Issues were skirted around towards other areas.
This feeling I had didn’t have words. I realized that it was time to move on.
As I explored I found answers that felt right. I got into career and life
counseling, Aikido, and a body therapy called Rolfing. I started to open up and
grow in ways that therapy didn’t even touch. Later I enrolled in college to
pursue a degree in psychology.
It
was during this time that I began to really see the effects of culture on human
beings. My anthropology teacher acknowledged many of the discrepancies I had
been feeling. One day in class a realization surfaced about how culture forces
people to conform. It was here that it dawned on me that psychologists were
often causing harm to others who were trying to wake up. Psychologists are
enculturated like everyone else in mainstream culture. Enculturation can effect
conscious and unconscious pressure to conform to mainstreamed cultural beliefs.
Those seeking counseling are quite often limited or kept from becoming
conscious. This occurs with Caucasians, but more so with minorities. This is a
major reason why most minorities don't seek counseling with Caucasian
psychologists. At this point I all but gave up on being a therapist.
Synchronicity intervened and made me aware of Fairhaven College, where I could
customize my own degree program. My intuition told me to create my own degree
program in spiritual psychology.
Critical
thinking has been my biggest ally in my waking up process. The educational
system is supposed to embrace this. I found this to be the exact opposite with
many students and teachers alike. Enculturation is a very powerful force to be
reckoned with. Moving beyond my own beliefs was difficult enough. Trying to move
beyond mainstream culture has been even more mystifying. All of my classes have
assisted me in my process. I have always been able to see the similarities among
the various studies such as cultural anthropology, political economy,
philosophy, art history, creative arts, sign language, logic, history,
astronomy, and even math. Since beginning my journey, I have been able to see
from many perspectives. This goes totally against mainstream culture. Throughout
my process of learning I have taken the readings, discussions, and documentaries
and critically thought through all of what made sense and what didn’t make
sense. Paying attention to my intuition allowed me to discern what truths are
more like half-truths. This is where I was led to discover the discrepancies and
begin re-integrating the half-truths back into whole truths. Spirit has led me
to sources of information I needed to know to understand the whole truth.
I
cannot explain how the non-rational works. I know without knowing how. I see
something I am interested in and I explore it. In exploring the person, place,
or thing I come away with an understanding. Say for example, I am interested in
understanding what course work will create my degree in Spiritual Psychology. I
find myself taking required course work first. Then I explore what classes are
available. I find what it is that I am drawn to. Sometimes it is an interest of
mine, other times it is some intuitive feeling that I know I must follow. The
classes always fit in some way, offering me perspectives I wouldn’t have
thought about prior to the class. This has happened throughout my entire
education. When I look back on my life I can see that all things played their
part in creating who I am now and getting me to this point. I have faith in this
process and I am never misled. I remember being asked at the start of this
concentration seminar to come up with questions for what I wanted to learn. This
goes totally against what I have been nurturing all along. I am reminded of
something my counselor said recently, “the kinds of questions you ask will
determine the answers you get.” If I ask questions then those questions become
my guide as to where I am going to go. However, in listening to what feels
right, I am led by Spirit. Spirit transcends ego, it is not limited by cultural
beliefs and limitations. To become whole I must trust my Spirit to guide me
beyond the limits. This concept works by choosing classes I am drawn too. Once
in that class I become aware of themes and ideas that I was unaware of before.
The themes and ideas then become what I ask questions about. The other route
decides the direction I will go. If I don’t want to deal with certain issues
my unconscious self will lead me in the other direction. The ego leads me to
answers within cultural boundaries. Spirit leads me beyond those boundaries to
greater truths.
Traditional
education offers some degree of diversity, but it does not discuss the
interconnectedness of these various disciplines. It wasn’t until I attended
Fairhaven that I began to realize that this is the root cause of being
disconnected. The disciplines, these facts, are disconnected. A Spiritual
approach to attaining a degree in psychology must include course work in various
forms of cultural studies, creativity, body therapy, human ecology, psychology,
and Spiritual perspectives. This interdisciplinary study will allow me to regain
my own body, mind, and Spirit connection, to attain the necessary wisdom to help
others become whole. I can assist others in healing only if I have the necessary
awareness, knowledge, and tools to become whole. I cannot heal cross culturally
unless I completely understand my own culture’s strengths and weaknesses. The
process of spiritual psychology differs greatly from modern psychology. The
field of psychology focuses mostly on the Western notion of objectivity and
rational methods to find a truth. Spiritual Psychology uses both Eastern and
Western methods to become aware of truths. This blending of perspectives
balances and strengthens the whole of truth and reality. I would like to explore
this rift and re-integrate them into a holistic perspective.
Cultural studies are crucial to begin examining the
culture that I live in. In exploring other cultures I can begin to see
differences and learn why they are that way. Living in a foreign country for
awhile can allow this cultural bias to dissolve. In learning about other
cultures I can see what doesn’t work in my culture as well. Cultural studies
examine the infrastructure, structure, and superstructure of those cultures
studied. Studying the politics, economics, religion, and customs can reveal a
great deal about the limits of a culture and what it is unconscious about. I
prefer to have teachers of diverse backgrounds that would offer different
perspectives.
The different perspectives of creativity must be
included in my studies. These perspectives include classes in playing with
various forms. These forms might include diverse types of art, music, writing,
playing, dancing, singing, and drama. Classes in art appreciation, art history,
creative visualization, and creativity itself, would assist in conceptualizing
the importance of creativity as a whole. Creativity as whole would focus on how
the world is constantly in a state of creation and to understand this process
through observation and participation.
Reconnecting
to our bodies is an essential part of our healing. When the mind is joined with
the body, space is opened for greater knowing and healing. This opening allows
Spirit to enter our lives more fully to assist in becoming more conscious of who
we are and what our purpose in life is. There are many types of body therapy
from which to choose. Some examples are Rolfing, DFA, CONTINUUM, Alexander
Technique, Somatics, Feldenkrais, Craniosacral Therapy and Rebirthing. Each
person must be allowed to intuitively find what works best for him or her.
Bodywork allows the body to discharge repressed feelings, emotions, stress, and
trauma that are caused in all cultures. Bodywork opens up the body to integrate
with the mind so as to make space for Spirit to enter. This is what allows one
to become conscious and aware. Other areas I consider both bodywork and
spiritual include martial arts, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong.
Spirituality
is not discussed in much of modern psychology. Jeanne Achterberg said, “Soul
loss is regarded as the gravest diagnosis in [Shamanism], being seen as a cause
of illness and death. Yet it is not referred to at all in modern Western medical
books.” To understand spirit is to understand our Self. There are many ways to
understand and hear Spirit. Spirit can communicate to us in words, images, and
dreams. It can guide us through intuition and synchronicity. Spirit is our inner
guide to understanding our Self and the world. It is essential that we have our
connection to spirit. My studies will continue to explore how this connection is
broken. I am interested in how enculturation causes disruption in the
individual's sense of self and how that causes one to seriously doubt
themselves. If this doubt is not conquered it can lead to fear, which is an
inhibitor of consciousness. I would like to further study how individuals can
doubt and ponder without fear. It is important to understand that fear is a
creation of culture. Being able to doubt and ponder is necessary to move into
greater understanding. Various forms of inner work must be taught. This inner
work allows the mind to be stilled to hear the inner voice of Spirit. This can
be taught through diverse types of meditation, walking, prayer, fasting, vision
quests, creative arts, shamanism, dream work, martial arts, Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi
Gong. In the past culture has taught me to follow the path of others. If I am to
become whole, it is of utmost importance to listen to my inner knowing.
Psychology plays an important part in understanding
the mind, behavior, and perception.[1][1]
There are different perspectives to learn from such as Cross-Cultural, Gestalt,
Depth, Jungian, Freudian, Behavioral, Clinical, Humanistic, Phenomenal, and
Transpersonal. Currently, these are all taught separately, each vying for
superiority over the other. Integration and connection needs to occur within all
these fields. They all offer different perspectives. I would like to incorporate
my psychology studies with this in mind and to see the connections that link
them. The study of Whole Systems or Systems Theory would shed light on this
paradox.
The study of Human Ecology brings awareness of nature
to human beings. Our culture has conditioned us to view ourselves as separate
from nature. This separation has caused considerable damage to the environment
we depend on for our basic needs of air, water, and food. Human beings have been
damaged as well from this separation because we are part of nature to. There is
much to be learned about how nature can nurture us with more than our basic
survival needs. Nature can heal our emotions and reconnect us to our spirit.
Nature is our teacher if we are willing to listen, watch, and learn. Human
Ecology classes teach awareness of what humanity is doing to the environment it
is a part of. The class teaches about different types of gardening, how to
compost and care for the soil, and conservation methods. New ways of living are
explored and discussed. Current issues that are detrimental to the environment
are brought to a conscious level. This allows us to change cultural patterns
that threaten our basic survival needs. This field helps build relationships by
teaching people to work together for common causes. It also teaches us to revere
the Earth and our fellow human beings too.
All
of these together open the door to consciousness. When we stop separating these
areas of study, human beings will stop being separated in body, mind, and
spirit. It will no longer be possible to remain unconscious, anymore than it is
impossible not to breathe and nourish ourselves. This is what I see as Spiritual
Psychology and its role to teach response-ability to humanity. I believe
strongly in teaching people to be empowered, not in coping amidst unconscious
survival mode. Perhaps now is the time to take this whole thing a little lighter
and less serious. I would like to incorporate more joy, laughter, play, humor,
ecstasy, and reflection into my perspectives throughout my interdisciplinary
studies. Taking things too seriously can cause a person to be shut off from
other perspectives. My own history is full of seriousness and I can see the
value in letting go of tension. It seems to have done a good job of limiting me
in body, mind, and spirit.
Long-term
goals would be to start a new program or field in Spiritual Psychology that
moves beyond this stifling of Spirit within the context of becoming a therapist
within the paradigm of the Clinical Psychology program. My desire is to teach
the processes of “becoming” conscious versus teaching “about”
consciousness. There’s a vast difference in doing versus thinking about it.
One cannot experience consciousness through reading and talking about it. So, a
large part of the teachings must be experiential. This engages the body,
mind, soul, and spirit.
Updated:
7/10/10