GTT International Australia / Spiritual Emergency: Embracing Unexpected Transformation

Open to anyone interested. Previous experience with Holotropic Breathwork® is not necessary.

Each participant will have two sessions of HB as an experiencer, or “breather,” and two sessions as a partner, or “sitter”. Besides the breathwork sessions and the topics covered (described below), there will be art, music, dancing, film, and integration during the module.

In addition to Holotropic Breathwork® breathing and sitting, topics explored in these modules are especially relevant for anyone working with others in expanded states of any sort for transformation and personal healing.

Understanding spiritual emergency is one of the major contributions of the holotropic perspective. Whether you are a professional or a layperson, someone interested in working with or supporting people in transformational crises, or primarily in your own growth, the module offers a rich experience and valuable information. In addition to differentiating between psychosis and spiritual emergency, we’ll also explore the intensely practical aspects of who, in these kinds of crises, can benefit from Holotropic Breathwork® and how best to work with them in their emergencies. This workshop includes a discussion of the concept of spiritual emergency, its manifestations and forms, historical and anthropological perspectives, treatment strategies and work with family and friends.

Healing and transformation can sometimes imply challenging moments in which we feel destabilized, particularly when following a path that involves experiences in Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness.

These moments of crises have been understood as psychosis or psychological regression by some and as opportunities and major breakthroughs by others. Stan and Christina Grof coined the term “Spiritual Emergency” to refer to such states. What is the difference between psychosis and a Spiritual Emergency? How should we support people going through them?

In this module, we will explore the different challenging manifestations that people sometimes go through in their journeys of transformation. We aim to understand the reasons that lead to such difficulties and identify the best approaches to support these intense processes from a non-judgmental and caring perspective.

In this module, we will cover the following topics:

1) The concept of Spiritual Emergence and Spiritual Emergency.
2) The various types of Spiritual Emergencies as described by Stan and Christina Grof.
3) Contemporary perspectives on Spiritual Emergencies, as encountered in current forms of psychedelic therapy, shamanic experiences, and experiential work.
4) Diverse challenges that individuals may face after difficult experiences in Non-Ordinary States
5)Distinguishing between pathological and transformational states.
6) Approaches to addressing different scenarios in Spiritual Emergencies and integration