June, 2007
Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship
Raleigh, NC
Issue 220

Julie Lapham, PhD

Spiritual Pathways for Holistic Evolution & Devolution
“We have the potential to heal ourselves. That is something religious texts and indigenous wisdoms have suggested, in a variety of formats, for thousands of years. Now, discoveries in consciousness research are bringing us a unique, new paradigm, both affirming and confirming these ancient wisdoms. Data from scientific disciplines, including a broad array of the new sciences, are offering a fresh world-view in which our perspective shifts beyond the intellectual individual to encompass a broader, universal potential reuniting the body with mind and spirit..”
 

From the Greek words holos and trepein, “holotropic” literally means “moving toward wholeness.” In most cultures throughout history, people have used an array of methods to experience holotropic states of consciousness. Christian prayer, Buddhist meditation, the Native American sun-dance, African trance-dancing, Hindu yoga, Islamic Sufism, Shamanic drumming, Mesoamerican ritualistic plant usage—all these methods, used in sacred “set and setting,” were designed to honor the Creator and the surrounding world in which people lived. These ways of connecting with the Creator were considered essential to life and necessary for healing, right-minded decision-making, and creating community.

In her talk, Julie Lapham, PhD, will draw from anthropology, depth psychology, near-death experiences, new sciences, religious mystical traditions, and indigenous cultures to create a “map of consciousness” that presents ancient wisdoms in a modern format. Expanding upon Stanislav Grof's theories, she'll connect near-death, out-of-body, and dissociative experiences with the healing capacities available from ancient and modern rites of passage to present a cartography for holistic evolution and devolution. She will focus on the stages of birth and their relationship to human development, such as the relationship of forceps delivery to migraine headaches, or links between upper respiratory disease and umbilical cord wrap. She'll also discuss how “condensed experiences” of the four categories—mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical—combine in personal and unique ways.

Dr. Lapham is a Grof-trained and certified Holotropic Breathworker. She was born, raised, and educated near London, England until, at age 20, she moved to the United States to begin her career in polymer synthesis. A near-death experience following an industrial accident changed her life and her work. Her training has taken her from one master teacher to another, culminating with Stanislav Grof, MD, who is generally credited as being the father of transpersonal thinking and consciousness research. Her work has taken her to a variety of nooks and crannies, culminating in a doctoral program in consciousness studies.

Stanislav Grof, MD, founded the International Transpersonal Association and, with his wife, Christina, developed holotropic breathwork. Grof’s work supports the premise that the four categories relate to our birth process. He mapped a unique spectrum of consciousness, proposing that the process of birth is retained internally, imprinted in some way, as cellular memory. This finding provides a deeper link into understanding trapped energetic patterning that is unavailable to us through rational thought processes.

Learn more about Julie and her work at the Themis Institute website, www.ThemisOnline.org, or see below for additional details from the Themis Institute brochure.

 


 
Calendar of Events
July 5 , 2007 - No Meeting
The annual SFF Break
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August 2 , 2007 - Dawn Overstreet
Everyone Wants to Master the Secret
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September 6 , 2007 - Anne Poole
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October 4 , 2007 - John Springer
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The Themis Institute
Holotropic States of Consciousness:
From the Greek words holos and trepein, Holotropic literally means moving toward wholeness. In our everyday state of consciousness we identify with only a portion of who we really are. In Holotropic states of consciousness we are able to transcend the narrow boundaries of our body ego and have access to our full identity. Consciousness is thereby changed qualitatively in both profound and fundamental ways.
 
What is Holotropic Breathwork?
Holotropic Breathwork is a simple, yet powerful form of self-exploration, spiritual development, and cellular healing. Based on ancient wisdoms, presented in a modern format the process initiates a restorative healing strategy from deep within the psyche.
 
How does it work?
Holotropic states of consciousness are induced naturally by combining three elements: a specific breathing technique, a diversity of sequenced, evocative music, and facilitated bio-energetic release. This induced state of consciousness accesses and opens aspects within the psyche, releasing and bringing to awareness trapped and stored blockages.
 
The Healing Power of the Breath:
Virtually every cultural system has viewed breath as the critical link between body and mind. In ancient Greek for example, the word pneuma meant both air, or breath, and spirit, or the essence of life. In ancient Indian literature the word is prana. In Chinese the word is chi. The Japanese refer to it as Ki. Influencing profound changes in consciousness, sophisticated breathing techniques have been used within the context of religious and healing rituals since the beginning of human history. They are both ancient and sacred.
 
The Healing Potential of Sound:
In Holotropic Breathwork evocative music is combined with the consciousness altering effect of the breath. And, like breathing, forms of sound technology have been used for thousands of years as tools in ritual and spiritual practice. Trance inducing methods combining monotonous drumming, chanting, rattling, sticks, bells or gongs, and mantras have been routinely used in healing rites.
 
The Use of Bio-energetic Release:
Physiological responses to Holotropic Breathwork vary considerably from one person to another. Typically, tensions, which can develop in various parts of the body, crescendo to culmination, release, and are followed by a profound sense of relaxation. This process of intensification and subsequent resolution of tension tends to move from one part of the body to another and be self-limited; an inner process directed by inner wisdom. Physical and emotional energies associated with various memories are released and become available for discharge, processing, and integration. It is important to note that memories associated with trauma are neither repeated nor re-visited in Holotropic Breathwork sessions but rather the physical reaction to a trauma may be. Events that have been recorded in the body’s cellular structure, but not fully experienced, processed, or integrated have become trapped within. Hence the same reactions, caught in an ever-repeating cycle, continue until the blockage has been resolved on all applicable levels of consciousness. Thus it becomes possible for previously repressed memory content to emerge into conscious awareness and be integrated, leaving the individual with a profound sense of wholeness and inner peace.
 
Set and Setting:
Thoughtful and serious preparation (set) for the experience is of critical importance, creating and paving the way for maximizing experiential benefit. The session environment created (setting) is as free as possible from unforeseen distraction and intrusion, leaving the participant available to fully experience. Uniquely, in Holotropic Breathwork sessions, each participant is in complete control of his or her entire process. The encouragements are to be willing to explore the unknown, surrender to the unfolding, and cooperate with whatever is arising.
 
Our Innate Wisdom:
When a Holotropic state of consciousness is engaged with an open mind and no agenda, the psyche seems to select the experience that is most important to bring to awareness at that time. As though an inner radar had been triggered, the experience that emerges could not have been predicted or planned. Invariably it turns out to be the most relevant and effective for the participant. Like an internal triage, the Holotropic process selects the most urgent, the next most significant aspect on the path of consciousness to experience. Trusting in this inner wisdom fosters a deep sense of personal empowerment.
 
See Right Column for more on Themis
 
 
 
 
This Month's Angel Door Prizes
TBD
SFF Raleigh Mission
At the Raleigh Chapter of Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship International, our mission is to enhance the spiritual, mystical, and metaphysical awareness and consciousness of our community by sponsoring programs that facilitate personal growth and development and a holistic approach to health and living.

Within the scope of our mission, we choose speakers who offer a variety of views and philosophies, but SFF does not endorse any speakers’ staements or beliefs. You are invited to come with an open mind and depart with all that feels true for you.

 
Thursday,
June 7, 2007

Location:
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall
3313 Wade Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27607

Doors Open: 6:45 PM
Lecture: 7:15 - 9:30 PM
Cost: $10
Seniors/Students: $8 with valid ID

Early Meditation: 6:30 PM
Cost: FREE
 
 

SFF Lecture Recordings
We generally record all of our lectures and you may purchase audio tapes of most lectures from the late 1980's through September, 2006. For lectures beginning with September, 2006, lecture recordings are now availble on CD.

Tape recordings are $10 which includes postage.
Cassette tapes are available of most SFF lectures dating back to 1988. They may be available for future events as well.

CDs are available in two formats.

Two disk audio CD sets are $15
Because audio CDs are limited to a maximum of 78 minutes, if you would like an audio CD of a lecture playable on any CD player.

One disk MP3 CD is $10
If you would like a CD using the MP3 format (playable on your computer and many new CD and DVD players but not on older CD players), it will be on one disk.

 
Our meetings are held in the lower level of the newly re-modeled and expanded
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh
at 3313 Wade Avenue in Raleigh.
 

Meditation
with
Joseph Pio Asterita
(See Below)

Time: 6:30 - 7:00 PM

Cost: Free

An open guided meditation will be held at 6:30 PM in the Ralph Waldo Emerson room (the upper building, lower level) at the UUFR

The lectures begins at 7:15 PM following the meditation. We look forward to seeing you!

 

 

Meditation
with
Joseph Pio Asterita
Time: 6:30 - 7:00 PM

Cost: Free

Then experience the source of your being with Joseph Pio Asterita. He will take you to your heart center to discover your ever-present God awareness. He will lead us in a brief guided meditation, and then we'll sit in silence for the remainder of the time. An opportunity for major shifting occurs in this silence as well.

Joseph has been actively meditating for four decades. He practices self-inquiry heart meditation. “Heart meditation enables one to meditate all day long while working, driving, or engaging in any activity as one’s consciousness dwells in the source of being.” His experience as a neurofeedback practitioner has revealed the workings of brainwaves and heart rhythm during meditation. He is currently writing about his findings on how to achieve a simple relaxing meditation.

Joseph has published a book on spiritual poetry titled Angels, Trees, You and Me, which is available at Amazon.com or on his website, www.angelstreesyouandme.com. He holds certifications in the spiritual healing arts as a LaHo-Chi, Arcing Light, and Tachyon practitioner; he also participates in healing our planet and has recently traveled to Egypt and Panama to perform earth energy healings.

The early meditation is held in the Ralph Waldo Emerson room of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh.

This is in the same building (Peace Hall) as the Clara Barton room, but the Emerson room is on the lower level.

If coming from the front parking lot, go down the steps between the two buildings. There's an entry door on the right side of Peace Hall. Go in this door and down the hall, and the Ralph Waldo Emerson room is on the left at the end.

If coming from the back parking lot, go up the steps between the main building, which houses the sanctuary in front and Fellowship Hall in the rear, and Peace Hall, the building to the left. Entry door will be on the left a short distance up the stairs.

Please arrive on time to optimize the energies of the group dynamic.

The Themis Institute (Continued)
Anticipated Outcomes:
Typically experiencers report profound emotional release and physical relaxation following a Holotropic Breathwork session. Some participants describe a deeper sense of spiritual connection, or better understanding of their place in this world. After systematic work facilitators have observed participants break out of depression, overcome various phobias, and radically improve their self-confidence and self-esteem. Facilitators have witnessed the disappearance of psychosomatic pains including migraine headaches, forms of asthma and diabetes, the clearing of sinusitis, bronchitis, cystitis and arthritis after bio-energetic unblocking opened blood circulation in the corresponding areas. Clinical studies have confirmed some of these observations; other studies are under way.
 
Who created Holotropic Breathwork?
Stanislav Grof, M.D. is generally considered to be the leading authority on consciousness research and a pioneer in transpersonal theory. He founded the International Transpersonal Association and with his wife Christina developed Holotropic Breathwork. Christina Grof founded the Spiritual Emergence Network.
 
Why was it created?
A researcher, initially at Prague University in Czechoslovakia then at Johns Hopkins University in the USA, Stanislav Grof, MD, was one of many scientists from around the world charged with conducting clinical trials on the newly discovered substance LSD-25 (diethyl amide of d-lysergic acid). After use of LSD became available publicly, safety of the “set and setting” was severely compromised, and substance use became illegal in the United States. Grof, after witnessing unprecedented physical and emotional healing from thousands of clinical trials, set about researching for a natural replacement. Holotropic Breathwork was the result of those years of research.
 
Grof’s Legacy:
From thousands of clinical trials using LSD-25, confirmed by thousands more Holotropic Breathwork sessions, experiences were observed to fall into four distinct categories. Regardless of which part of the psyche was activated, the four categories remained sharp and distinctive. In a truly revolutionary phenomena, Grof’s work supported the premise that the categories related to our birth process. He mapped a unique spectrum of consciousness proposing the process of birth was retained internally, imprinted in some way, as cellular memory. This unexpected finding provides a deeper link into understanding trapped energetic patterning unavailable to us through rational thought process.
 
Condensed Experiences (COEXs):
During Grof’s research another phenomenon was observed. Evidence revealed common patterns linking emotional issues, physical problems, birth dynamics and deep inner questions. Called “systems of condensed experiences” or COEXs, these common patterns finally resolve themselves when they have been addressed by all applicable aspects of the consciousness spectrum.
 
References to further information:

Realms of the Human Unconscious: Observations from LSD Research by Stanislav Grof, M.D.
Imprints: The Lifelong Effects of the Birth Experience by Arthur Janov, Ph.D.
Molecules of Emotion by Candace Pert, Ph.D.