Dark Night of the Soul: Difference between revisions

The symptoms of psychospiritual crises represent a manifestation and exteriorization of the deep dynamics of the human psyche and [[Consciousness]]. The individual human psyche is a multidimensional consciousness and multilevel system with no internal divisions and boundaries. We cannot, therefore, expect to find clearly defined and demarcated types of spiritual emergency. And yet, our work with individuals in psychospiritual crises, exchanges with colleagues doing similar work, and study of pertinent literature have convinced us that it is possible and useful to outline certain major forms of psychospiritual crises, which have sufficiently characteristic features to be differentiated from others. <ref>[Stanislav Grov]</ref>Naturally, their boundaries are not clear and, in practice, there are some significant overlaps among them. I will first present a list of the most important varieties of psychospiritual crises as identified  and then briefly discuss each of them.1. Shamanic crisis 2. Awakening of [[Kundalini]] 3. Episodes of unitive consciousness (Maslow's "peak experiences") 4. Psychological renewal through return to the center (John Perry)5. Crisis of psychic opening 6. Past-life experiences 7. Communication with spirit guides and "channeling" 8. Near-death experiences (NDEs) 9. Close encounters with UFOs and alien abduction experiences 10. Possession states 11. Alcoholism and drug addiction.