Spiritual
Pathways for Holistic Evolution & Devolution
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“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..” |
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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.
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Calendar
of Events |
July
5 , 2007 - No
Meeting
The
annual SFF Break
**********
August
2 , 2007 - Dawn
Overstreet
Everyone
Wants to Master the Secret
**********
September
6 , 2007 - Anne
Poole
**********
October
4 , 2007 - John
Springer
**********
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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See
Right Column for more on Themis |
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This
Month's Angel Door Prizes
TBD |
SFF
Raleigh Mission
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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. |
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Thursday,
June 7, 2007 |
Location:
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Hall
3313 Wade Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27607
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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 |
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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.
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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. |
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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! |
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.
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