I have been thinking about Spiritual Emergence / Spiritual Emergency again recently, partly stimulated by writing articles about Self-growth, and occult training. As synchronicity would have it I re-discovered a website by David Lukoff about spiritual competency. While primarily aimed at mental health professionals it is worth exploring by anyone seriously interested in their occult and magical training, as it covers topics about spiritual crisis and problems people can experience when delving into the depths of their psyche. David Lukoff has several related articles online that are well worth reading through also.
The following courses are currently available from the Spiritual Competency Resource Center:
- Assessing Spirituality - "This course addresses the need to and methods for assessing spirituality as part of comprehensive mental health care."
- DSM-IV Religious & Spiritual Problems - "This course covers the history of pathologizing theory in the mental health field, and clinical approaches assessing and working with religious and spiritual problems."
- Meditation & Mental Health - "Meditation is an ancient technique used by many spiritual traditions to quiet the mind, calm the body, and engage the spirit. This online course describes meditation techniques, research, contra-indications, integration into therapy, and online resources."
- Navigating the Mental Health Internet - "This course is designed to teach mental health professionals the search and navigation skills necessary to use the Internet as a powerful communication and information technology tool."
- Spirituality & Recovery from Mental Disorders - "This course explores the recovery model, its origins in the consumer movement, and its connection with spirituality."
There are several books on the topic of Spiritual Emergence / Spiritual Emergency that people may find of use:
- Spiritual Emergency - When Personal Transformation Becomes a Crisis by Stan and Christina Grof
An excellent book for anyone involved with psychotherapy or magical / spiritual practices, whether as a guide / therapist / teacher, student, or simply on your own journey. This is a good introductory overview of the subject of Spiritual Emergence and Spiritual Emergency. I believe anyone undertaking serious magical work, training or psychotherapy, at some stage will undergo a crisis, which can then either lead to Spiritual Emergency or Spiritual Emergence. The research and ideas this book contains can assist in one's own development or guiding someone else through those dark days and nights. - The Stormy Search for the Self by Christina Grof
- The Call of Spiritual Emergency: From Personal Crisis to Personal Transformation by Emma Bragdon
- A Sourcebook for Helping People With Spiritual Problems by Emma Bragdon
It is also worthwhile reading the article Israel Regardie, Initiation, and Psychotherapy, and several chapters in books by Israel Regardie:
"Only a good guru of almost superhuman powers of effective self-evaluation and examination provide the means of avoiding an [ego] inflation and the consequent disaster. A third means is almost any form of good psychotherapy. The latter appears to be able to drain off the massive uncontrolled quantities of energy that are released and direct them into new and constructive goals. Those Reichians who have an understanding of 'occult' matters would appear to be more effective than most in dealing with this phenomenon." - Israel Regardie, in Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic
9 pages with references to psychotherapy
9 pages with references to transpersonal
Israel Regardie was truly visionary in suggesting serious students of the occult to seek out "good" psychotherapy. I suggest forms of psychotherapy related to Transpersonal Psychology and energy work - anything which gets away from analysis and works holistically to promote integrate of mind, body, and emotions. Systems such as Psychosynthesis and Holotropic breathwork (rebirthing) are particularly useful.
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