[excerpted from, 9 Keys to Integrative Wellness: Personal Growth ©2023]

And now: transpersonal psychology.

As we saw in our introduction, this branch of psychology was developed in the 1960s, emerging from both Jungian theory and humanistic psychology while returning the spiritual aspect to mental wellbeing.

For a truly integrative approach to our own wellness, then, there’s a direct application; in order to approach health as comprehensively as we can, we include not only the biological, psychological, and social realms as seen in health psychology, but also our spiritual wellbeing.

You may have a particular religious path. Or, you may consider yourself ‘spiritual, not religious’ by which you mean that you seek a deeper experience of life and perhaps follow a certain (nonreligious) tradition, including that of nature as previously mentioned. Perhaps you don’t see yourself as spiritual at all but rather as scientific, humanist, agnostic / atheist. No matter. Transpersonal psychology defines the term broadly, to indicate a deepening: that which brings meaning and significance to our lives, a sense of morals and ethics, the valuing of and interconnectedness with others, a cherishing of the earth.

Above all: integrative wellness considers the whole human experience, in which we’re animals, yes, but also with a complex brain that compels us to seek significance, engage in meaning-making, and to discover and maintain a sense of purpose. We know that as we age, for example, an ongoing engagement and purpose is essential to our wellbeing; no one wants to feel useless, invisible, ignored, or that they’re just waiting to die. In fact, none of us at any age wants to feel that life is meaningless, though how we interpret meaning is highly variable and subjective, while some are more focused on such than others.

Religious beliefs, the classic definition of spirituality, provides meaning for many. Others may find meaning in family, and in the act of raising children; still others, in prosocial behavior or contributing toward the greater good, which can take countless forms. Meaning can be interpreted through one’s values, morals, ethics, all that constitutes being a kind and decent person and member of society. One’s profession is yet another common source of meaning, particularly those which result in an obvious contribution to community. A teacher educates, while the researcher contributes to our body of knowledge. A health care provider helps people toward wellness, and a clergy member provides guidance. The farmer increases the food supply, while those in numerous other professions and jobs provide essential goods and services. Creativity too is necessary to our wellbeing, and the sense of meaning and purpose of the artist, writer, or musician equally clear; what’s more, creativity can be a definition of meaning in itself, providing life with a clear sense of purpose. Some would argue that life itself is meaningful, and that seeking meaning is redundant. All of these and more serve to establish and maintain one’s presence of meaning, without which life would seem pointless and we’d live in despair instead.

Transpersonal psychology not only includes this spiritual aspect within the realm of human psychology but also focuses on mystical experience, that which extends beyond one’s personhood (i.e., transpersonal), alongside altered states of consciousness and extraordinary phenomena.

When we meditate, or are ‘in the zone’ as we create art or engage in physical exercise, or experience the state of bliss associated with peak experiences especially when in nature, or fall in love, or undergo hypnosis, or dream at night, or induce a trance state and visualize what we’re working to change within ourselves – we’re in an altered state of consciousness. In fact, we experience many such throughout our lives, as ‘altered’ refers to anything other than our alert / waking and sleep states.

Such states may be spontaneous or deliberately induced, with or without a purpose, yet often with a mystical or otherworldly quality and sometimes a life-changing outcome. Mystical experience itself, a specific state of consciousness, is more precise. It has been noted in long-term meditators, shamans, and certain religious experiences, as well as in the current field of psychedelic research; the common denominator among all of these is an ecstatic or blissful state. The phenomena most commonly associated with mystical experience include oceanic boundlessness, in which one experiences an expansion of selfhood beyond personal bodily boundary and out into the cosmos; universal interconnectedness, by which one feels integrated not only with the whole of humanity but with all sentient beings and even the earth itself; noetic experience, in which one experiences new knowledge and awareness without any attributable source; and, an associated sense of deep peace.

Who doesn’t want some of that?

This is a direct application, then, of transpersonal psychology to our own pursuit of integrative wellness. First, we can explore our presence of meaning, in brainstorming, journal-writing, and meditation, among other methods of introspection. Prompts for such exploration may include: What gives your own life meaning? What do you think is the meaning of life itself? What are large and significant sources of meaning, and what are smaller aspects found in daily life? We can also explore the search for meaning, primarily undertaken when ours has been shaken due to some major negative event including sudden loss or disaster. How do you search for meaning when life suddenly feels meaningless? What would you hold onto as your anchor, your rootedness, during such time? (Best to have more than one anchor. Anything, including one’s religious beliefs, can be thrown into question when disaster strikes.)

And, we can utilize states of consciousness for our personal growth. Surely, a regular practice of meditation is one of the more obvious such, along with physical exercise. We may also wish to engage in self-hypnosis or trance for a specific purpose, such as exploring and resolving early experiences of trauma, or undergoing a change in perspective. We may want to pursue lucid dreaming, or general dream analysis and interpretation, for self-knowledge. Perhaps we wish to integrate more creativity into our lives, for wellbeing and a greater sense of meaning, during which we’re likely to enter a flow state. Maybe we’re attempting to increase self-confidence, and use visualization exercises to imagine ourselves as powerfully confident when giving a presentation, for example.

I mentioned previously my weekly immersion in nature, during which I engage in both sitting and walking meditation. At times, this also includes ritual and/or trance; as nature is one of the most likely inducers of peak experience, both by witnessing immense beauty and experiencing encounters with other species, this is also a fairly common outcome of my excursions – spotting dolphins in the sea, for example, or breathtaking scenes of beauty, or chance encounters with animals.

As also mentioned, I’ve practiced meditation for several decades. The deliberate use of ritual and altered states of consciousness for psychological processing and growth has also been a regular part of my life for 40 years now. I’ve a deep appreciation for Jung’s theories of archetypes and persona, animus/anima, the shadow, and much more, all of which are key elements of transpersonal psychology. And, due to my longtime engagement with mindfulness, I’ve great respect for principles of Buddhism. Yet – I’m not religious, though the natural world for me is as sacred as it comes.

Transpersonal psychology. Jung, humanism, and the spiritual, for meaningful living.