Description
Psyche Unbound: Essays in Honor of Stanislav Grof is an extraordinary compilation of 22 essays that honor the path-breaking lifework of Stanislav Grof, M.D., Ph.D., the world’s leading researcher in psychedelic-assisted therapy, breathwork, and the exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness.
Psyche Unbound features contributions from thought leaders of the last five decades, including a piece from Joseph Campbell’s 1971 lecture in the Great Hall at Cooper Union and Huston Smith’s 1976 summary of Grof’s work as it relates to the study of religion and mysticism. More recent writing includes reflections by renowned psychiatrists and researchers that discuss the importance of Grof’s contributions on the current wave of interest and research into psychedelic-assisted therapies and alternative states of consciousness.
Psyche Unbound, considered a festschrift for Stanislav Grof, includes essays that explore Grof’s work on numerous fronts including transpersonal sexual experiences, implications for social and cultural change, comparative studies with Asianreligious systems, the perinatal dimensions of Jean-Paul Sartre’s transformational 1935 mescaline experience, and parallel findings from quantum and relativistic physics.
Edited by Richard Tarnas, Ph.D., and Sean Kelly, Ph.D., Psyche Unbound also features contributions from renowned academics, scientists and researchers including Charles Grob, Michael Mithoefer, Jenny Wade, William Keepin, Thomas Purton, Thomas Riedlinger, Fritjof Capra and more.
Endorsements
“What is remarkable about this book is that while each essay discusses, describes, or elaborates on a major concept or contribution of Grof’s, few of the essays overlap in any meaningful way. The result is a volume of original thinking, speculation, and elaboration that is deeply satisfying in its exploration of ways of knowing Grof encountered or created during his long career.” 一 James Fadiman, PhD, microdose researcher and author (with Jordan Gruber) of Your Symphony of Selves: Discover and Understand More of Who We Are
“The courageous and catalytic vision of Stan Grof has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people all over the world….and my life as well. In the early 1970’s, I had the great privilege of working alongside Stan in his project of LSD psychotherapy with dying people. In the course of the work, I came to understand that the human mind is much vaster than I had imagined and the human heart more boundless. This extraordinary book reflects the power of Stan’s work and the great depth of his understanding.” 一 Rev. Joan Jiko Halifax, Abbot, Upaya Zen Center
“Brilliant and deep, this volume celebrates and illuminates Stan Grof’s genius. His profound vision has created a powerful new paradigm for psychology, medicine, human and social development, and for understanding the nature of consciousness. His groundbreaking research and vast experience offers us wisdom, a wise heart and whole beneficial new perspectives across multiple fields. A truly important worthy tribute.” 一 Jack Kornfield, PhD, Author of A Path With Heart
“Stan Grof is a pioneer, a heretic, an explorer, and a changer of paradigms. His contributions to the field of psychedelic science and psychedelic therapy are comparable to those of Galileo to astronomy or Einstein to physics. His long life spans the early investigations of psychedelics for therapy, to the darkest days of their prohibition and vilification, to the current re-discovery and acknowledgement of their value, not only in therapy, but as tools for the exploration of the farthest limits of consciousness. He also deserves credit for the development of holotropic breathwork, which he developed together with his late wife, Christina.This innovative technique placed tools into the hands of therapists at a time when psychedelics were prohibited, that afforded a non-psychedelic modality that had many of the same therapeutic benefits, and was compatible with the use of psychedelics when that became possible. His life, his character, and his accomplishments give testimony to his stature as a giant in this field. Stan is a beloved mentor and inspiration to many who aspired to follow in his footsteps, as illustrated by the tributes of his many friends and colleagues that have been gathered in this wonderful festschrift on the eve of his 90th birthday. Many followed in his footsteps; none will ever fill his shoes.” 一 Dennis McKenna, Ethnopharmacologist and Editor-in-Chief of Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs
“This unique gift of compiled essays is like a treasured trove that illuminates Stan Grof’s dedication and timeless contribution to the exploration of non-ordinary states and psychedelic therapy. One of Grof’s most valuable teachings for the field of psychotherapy is his ability to normalize non-ordinary states so that we as therapists along with our clients, can have access and learn about the rich and diverse world of our inner landscape.” 一 Marcela Ot’alora, Principal Investigator for MDMA-Assisted Therapy Research at the MAPS Public Benefit Corporation
