Paul Grof, a research psychiatrist and brother of Stanislav Grof, dives into consciousness and its therapeutic potential. He discusses the interconnectedness of brain, body, and external fields, advocating for the integration of psychedelics in psychiatric care. Grof highlights how traumas are stored in the body, affecting memory, and shares insights on near-death experiences. He addresses the rising mental health crises, especially among youth, emphasizing the importance of new healing practices and trained support for those navigating spiritual emergencies.
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Brain Changes in Non-Ordinary States
Paul Grof discusses his career studying mood disorders, noting the brain's significant changes in non-ordinary states.
He found these changes don't differentiate between positive experiences like mania and negative ones like depression.
insights INSIGHT
New Era of Consciousness
Paul Grof believes we are at the start of a new era in understanding consciousness.
He predicts that in the next 20-30 years, studying consciousness in ordinary and non-ordinary states will become crucial.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Integrating Psychedelics into Medicine
Psychedelics should be integrated into medicine with proper training and licensing for practitioners.
Preparation, informed consent, and integration of insights are crucial for effective psychedelic therapy.
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In 'The Holographic Universe', Michael Talbot presents a hypothesis that the universe might be a giant hologram. This concept, supported by theories from physicists like David Bohm and Karl Pribram, suggests that every part of the universe contains information about the whole. The book delves into how this model can explain various paranormal and anomalous phenomena, such as telepathy, out-of-body experiences, and miraculous healing. It also explores the interplay between consciousness and the holographic universe, challenging traditional boundaries between science and spirituality.
In this episode, Joe interviews Paul Grof: research psychiatrist, clinician, author, brother of Stanislav, professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and director of the Ottawa Mood Disorders Center.
He talks about his extensive career in psychiatry, and how trying to understand the cause of mood disorders led him to focusing on the very nature of consciousness. He believes that consciousness is a collaborative creation between the brain, body, and external fields, and that the key to connecting with the mechanistic side of academia is through talking about the unexplainable – near death experiences, pre-cognition, remote viewing – and of course, them having positive non-ordinary experiences through psychedelics or other means. He talks about how much we’re connected, how much our bodies remember, and how much society could change for the better if enough people experience the transpersonal.
He also discusses:
His thoughts on legal frameworks, education, integration, and whether or not psychedelics will get stuck in psychiatry
The importance of new study designs in research, as double blinding doesn’t make sense for psychedelics
Concerns over spiritual emergence and emergencies: How much is the responsibility of the therapist or facilitator?
The global rise in depression and addiction, especially in the younger generation, and the need for techniques for people to help themselves
The work he’s doing with remote healing circles, using strong intention, positive emotions, and visualized healing
Psychedelics Today 