One of my... errrr.... "hobbies" is to explore many different states of consciousness. Altered states can be achieved by a variety of different methods. The most common method is sleeping (especially REM sleep). Other methods I've tried include Vipassana meditation (although other forms can certainly work as well, including ecstatic prayer), astral projection, and different types of drugs. One method I haven't tried, but would like to, is a sensory deprivation tank. Other, milder means of inducing an altered state include listening carefully to certain types of music, staring at certain types of artwork (often something involving repetitive patterns), and dancing oneself into a trance.
What fascinates me, among many other things, is how different each of these states of consciousness is, and how reality is perceived in those states. We grow up perhaps thinking that our normal waking state gives us a reasonable representation of "reality." But... all it takes is a slight change in brain wave patterns (i.e. from alpha waves to theta waves), perhaps some mild changes in the balance of neurotransmitters... and lo and behold, our perception of reality is drastically changed. We commonly assume that our extremely tenuous "normal" state of brain chemistry is what is needed to maintain our "correct" perception of reality. But I ask, why do we make this assumption? How do we really KNOW that what we dream is a figment of our minds? How do we KNOW that the schizophrenic isn't hearing something real on some plane of existence? After all, quantum physicists are contemplating the possibility of multiple dimensions. Perhaps altered states of consciousness are all ways of accessing these dimensions?
But we don't even have to go that far. Here is a simpler example. Just imagine someone who is colour-blind. I have an acquaintance who is completely colour-blind (i.e. sees everything in grayscale, I guess!)... what does this really mean? Is our (colour-seeing) world the real one? What about his? Is it any "less" real, because he doesn't see the colours the same way we do? The ability to see colours is simply the ability to translate a certain range of the electromagnetic spectrum in a certain way. People have minor differences in the way they translate this spectrum. Animals have more differences. Is any one way to perceive the electromagnetic spectrum - which has no inherent "colour" of its own, it's just our perception - more valid or "real" than any other way?
Going back a few more years... when I was a kid, I was taken to church. For the most part, I found church extremely boring. The sermons were boring, praying was boring. There was a lot of standing up and sitting down. The only tastes of spirituality I felt were on those rare occasions when we all sang some kind of religious song that touched me in some way, or when the priest sang/chanted some of the mass in Latin. Somehow, Latin, and singing/chanting rather than speaking, always felt more spiritual to me than simple speech, in English.
When I grew older, I found ways of feeling Spirit, and God (the Universe) that to me were much more effective than going to church. A few early experiences with astral projection and particularly vivid dreams were hints at what was to come. My first real spiritual experience was brought on by LSD. It changed me permanently; transformed me from a cynical, nihilistic, negative adolescent to a curious, creative human full of wonder and love of life. Chemical means of altering consciousness are of course looked down on by many. However, this attitude is entirely dependent on the culture one is brought up in. Cultures with a tradition of Shamanism, for example, respect and revere certain types of drugs for the enlightening experiences they can produce.
Others may not judge chemical means as "wrong," but may offer the argument that drug-induced experiences aren't "real" since they did not occur "naturally." This used to be something I thought was a valid argument, until I went for my Psychology degree with a very heavy concentration in neuroscience. I also read the books of Oliver Sacks, who is an extremely talented neurologist and writer. I learned about the astoundingly bizarre effects of some types of neurological damage, and how that changes consciousness and perception. Considering the different ways each of us perceives reality, I started wondering if there really was any such thing as an objective reality. I started to believe that all reality is subjective. I realized from my studies and readings something that is obvious to think about now: *every* experience in our minds is influenced by chemistry. All our emotions are effects (or perhaps reflections) of changes in chemistry, just like a drug experience. It is simply a different way of incurring that change. We can alter serotonin levels by taking a drug, or falling in love; what makes one method more valid or "real" than another?
This leads me to the relationship between our brain chemistry and our soul. For many, the two are separate and irreconcilable. Scientists often deny the soul, and spiritual folks ignore science. For me, it took a few years to reconcile, but eventually it clicked. To explain the connection, I borrow the oft-repeated mantra As Above, So Below. Our brain chemistry (below) is a physical, matter-based reflection of what is going on in our soul (above). It is a sort of perpetual feedback loop: what goes on in one, reflects in the other, and vice versa.
I'll probably write more about this topic in the future, as it is one of my favorite things to think about...
StrangeOne posted on Sep 03, 2006
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Comments
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Susmaryosep said on Sep 03, 2006....
What a well written post! I am really learning some heavy stuff here....
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StrangeOne said on Sep 03, 2006....
Thanks Susmaryosep!! I'm very happy to post something interesting for others :)
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MidnightFire said on Sep 03, 2006....
Call me crazy (everyone else does), but I think the voices schizophrenics hear are simply the internal voices (id--ego--superego) we all hear. They just have all these extra chemicals swimming about that screw up the equilibrium, and they don't know the difference. Just a theory.
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JadeLondon said on Sep 03, 2006....
StrangeOne, this post rocks! I love Oliver Sacks. I read a book of his case studies in high school.
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secretlife said on Sep 03, 2006....
What always amazes me is how very little we really know about ourselves....
Imagine buying 'love' in a bottle at the corner store?
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amanhecer said on Sep 03, 2006....
Interesting post..I agree with you. What we see is reality, but what we don't see/normally see - but felt - is another reality. And I'm glad, this new revolution of consciousness is getting discovered and more learned in depth. Science and Zazen do contradict yes, and many others essential debates arise on this matter. Somehow it all meets w/ psychology. But what's important, I feel, is that what we see and know in ourselves, we perceive and believe what is true to us..It's the very essence of who we real-ly are, no alterations needed. :)
and yeah, "dancing oneself into trance" is definitely worth trying. it felt sooo good. and of course, all the others you say are likely..just not (yet?) into drugs :)
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defector said on Sep 03, 2006....
Hi strange one .. there is actually science facts on this different stage of consciousness. google on brain waves you will find out lots more that help you define and understand the various stage. :) its interesting that i promise. I've one for you to start with. not written by me definately
http://www.web-us.com/brainwavesfunction.htm
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StrangeOne said on Sep 23, 2006....
amanhecer, I too am very happy about the growing interest in consciousness! Science and metaphysical beliefs are definitely meeting now; there is not even really any contradiction, especially if you see matter as a reflection of the spiritual state and vice versa.
defector, oh yes I certainly know about those things! Thanks for the link though :) A good deep theta state is the one that is really interesting. Most people don't know the theta state very well. For example, in that link you posted the author uses the example of driving down a freeway and "losing time." This is typical; a person while in theta doesn't really realize what's going on, isn't fully self-aware. The trick is to put yourself in theta intentionally and remain self-aware while continuing in this state!
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Susmaryosep said on Sep 24, 2006....
I get such feelings when I drink beer? Can I be in a theta state at that time? I am only half kidding! :-)
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StrangeOne said on Sep 24, 2006....
I do believe in fact you are! Many substances can put you in a theta state. Unfortunately the effects of the beer also tend to make you have trouble staying completely aware of your state!
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Susmaryosep said on Sep 25, 2006....
Strangeone,
Thanks, and I think you are right! positive feelings with beer include increased confidence, positive thoughts. Negative emotions include, arousing the 'beast' in us...?
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StrangeOne said on Sep 26, 2006....
Oh yes... I have seen some awful things. I could swear it's capable of causing downright demonic possession!!
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DreamDrifter said on Oct 07, 2006....
StrangeOne: Good post, as it happens I have spent my life dealing with theta states, at first because I happen to naturally fall into theta traces easier than the average person and latter because I trained in shamanism which is completely theta trance oriented. You are right when you say that most people don’t know theta states very well. The big interest always seems to be alpha states, that’s what most meditation is designed to induce as well as being the state that hypnosis causes and the state we are in when we are dreaming but few people explore theta states and most of those who do are really just exploring being stoned :D since as you say, many substances cause theta states. Not sure I’d agree beer is one, although perhaps, but a lot of things do. Peyote, magic mushrooms, marijuana, even tobacco (that’s what is happening when a person gets light headed the first time they try smoking or if they simply are lighting up their first in a while) All of these substances have been used in various cultures as a part of shamanic rituals because they heighten theta states, not that people knew what the technical details where, they just knew that these things helped them achieve a certain state they wanted to achieve.
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StrangeOne said on Dec 16, 2006....
DreamDrifter, thanks for your reply; shamanism is another very intriguing thing that I'm only beginning to look into. It seems to me - I may be wrong - that most 'westerners' who delve into any kind of meditation or shamanic techniques only ever reach the alpha state, and believe that they are achieving the full practice. Both shamanic practices AND true meditation should produce a theta state to be effective. Alpha state meditiation is OK for relaxation, but I don't think it can produce much of a spiritual or enlightening experience!
As for the various "chemical helpers," I believe it is completely possible to attain heightened theta states without them, BUT they are very helpful for a beginner because at the very least they open the door for the person to have a glimpse of this state, to know what to look for, etc. There are states I previously would never have imagined before trying these substances; now I can experiment with this kind of headspace without their use. But if I never tried it, I might have fallen into the same trap of just entering alpha states and never realizing that there is something deeper!
As for the types of substances... peyote, mushrooms, marijuana, all of those things of course can cause theta states! I'm not sure I can agree with the tobacco being one; I used to smoke and don't remember the light-headedness ever being much to take note of. I used to think beer/alcohol is not either, but I am starting to re-think that. Depending on how it is used, of course things can go either well or badly with alcohol... the recreational way in which most people use it can open the door for a bad experience. But in some ways it can bring on some kind of highly receptive, creative state that is perhaps theta. It bears looking into...
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light16 said on Oct 30, 2008....
astral projection??
you tried it?
how does it feels?
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