American psychologist and psychiatrist Stanislav Grof: author's books, matrices and basic ideas

The combination of the words "altered state of consciousness" causes some excitement and awe, as well as the name of the person who devoted his life to such research. This is the famous founder of transpersonal psychology named Stanislav Grof.

Biographical information

He was born in Prague in 1931. He received a higher medical education, studied psychoactive substances for twenty years and their use in psychotherapy. This knowledge is set forth in the book LSD Psychotherapy.

Since 1967, Stanislav lived and worked in America. In 1975, he met his future wife, this gives rise to new discoveries. In connection with the ban of psychedelic drugs, an alternative method of immersion into the state of the altered consciousness was developed - holotropic breathing. Together they begin to conduct sessions. Then Stanislav Grof begins to work on the preparation of transpersonal psychologists, lectures and conducts seminars around the world.

What is transpersonal psychology?

The object of interest in this area of psychology was the experience of a special kind, which is called the spiritual world of man. They are conditionally divided into two groups: those entering into "objective" reality and going beyond it. The first group includes: the experience of the child in the period of intrauterine development, the experience of ancestors, the phenomena of foresight, memories of past incarnations and much more. The second group includes experience of mediums and spiritual experience.

The peculiarity of this trend is that it actively uses the ideas of philosophy, religious teachings, sociology and other sciences.

Most scientific communities do not recognize transpersonal psychology, believe that it has no scientific basis, and the effectiveness of its methods is extremely doubtful.

Extended map of consciousness

Before Grof in psychology, it was believed that a newborn child is a clean sheet. He has neither memories nor experience. However, during the sessions of the scientist it was found out that people remember both the birth and the period of intrauterine development, they are able to leave the limits of their body, merge with the consciousness of other living beings, even with the universe and the planet.

Based on the research, three levels of consciousness were identified:

• Biographical, that is, containing information from the moment of birth.
• Perinatal, covering intrauterine development and birth.
• Transpersonal.

This map includes not only Western theories, but also those that contain the spiritual teachings of the East. Grof also revealed the relationship between the level of awareness and the level of energy available to man.

The idea of holotropic breathing

To acquire popularity not only in narrow circles of specialists, but also in people interested in psychology for personal purposes, helped holotropic breath. This is the technique that Stanislav Grof created. Holotropic breathing was developed by the scientist together with his wife in order to obtain an alternative to LSD that was banned. However, there are points of view that similar breathing techniques have been used for a long time, for example in the practice of yoga to achieve a higher state - samadhi.

The technique is criticized. It is believed that hypoxia causes the destruction of brain cells, so it is dangerous. Proponents argue that the experiences that a person experiences during the session are healing. This allows you to draw from the depths of unconscious emotions and unpleasant experiences that are not conscious, and therefore continue to bother the person and manifest themselves as various symptoms.

The essence of the method

Holotropic breathing is a method, the essence of which is to create a situation of hyperventilation of the lungs due to the technique of frequent breathing. This method removes carbon dioxide from the blood of a person, creates a situation of oxygen starvation, to which the brain reacts with an altered state of consciousness. It is believed that while the unconscious is activated, the repressed experiences in the form of hallucinations rise to the surface.

In the session, two people participate. One is a holonaut, he is breathing, the other is a sitter, his role is to help and observe. Then they change places in pairs. The technique has a long list of contraindications.

Basic perinatal matrices

This is another theory, authored by Stanislav Grof. Matrices - a model that describes the state of the human psyche in the period of intrauterine development and birth. This theory asserts that, living a period of fetal development, and then the moment of birth, a person receives a special experience that affects the entire subsequent life, and can also cause mental disorders.

The first matrix, called the "amniotic universe," refers to the period when the embryo is in the womb of the mother, perceives it as its universe. This is a static matrix. If the pregnancy was easy, then the matrix is filled with a sense of peace and joy. Any complications during pregnancy add to the matrix negative elements (metaphor of paradise).

The second matrix corresponds to the period of labor before delivery. There is still no way out, but oxygen and nutrients are already lacking (a metaphor for hopelessness).

The third matrix refers to the period of labor in labor. The fetus gradually progresses through the ancestral canal, this becomes the first experience in overcoming life (the metaphor of the struggle).

The fourth matrix is related to the very birth and the first moments that the child experiences right after it. This is the ultimate loss of connection with the mother's body, the first breath, the sensation of light and others (the metaphor of rebirth).

Matrix theory has also been heavily criticized in the scientific community. However, there are studies that were conducted separately and with other purposes, but they confirmed that the course of pregnancy and childbirth does have an impact on the mental development of a person.

The works of Stanislav Grof

If you liked the ideas that Stanislav Grof expressed, books are one way to get to know them closer. In Russian you can find 18 of his works. In total, his books are published in 16 languages. What work is Stanislav Grof most proud of? "Holotropic Consciousness" is one of his most popular books. In it, he sets forth his theories in detail, confirming with bright stories from clinical practice.

Another interesting book, written by Stanislav Grof, is "Outside the Brain". In it, he not only describes his scientific theories, but also criticizes those who do not accept the ideas of expanding the human consciousness and call mentally ill those who have experienced similar experiences. In the book written by Stanislav Grof ("Outside the brain"), many actions of famous people and politicians are also considered from the point of view of the impact of birth trauma on them. Such masterpieces should be read by everyone.

Are you interested in Stanislav Grof? His books will necessarily tell more about all the methods of work, research.