Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1 – Story If I’m Meant to Live
Carl Gustav Jung
The Psyche
Ego and Persona
Shadow
Self
Functioning of the Mind
Depression
Depression as Spiritual Crisis
This chapter sets the foundations for the rest of the book. Like all other chapters, it starts with the true story of a life event experienced by the author. This dramatic story is followed by theory that explains Carl Jung’s understanding of the psyche. Here and there, the author informally reappears with subjective, personal comments relating to psychology, philosophy and spirituality.
Chapter 2 Story –
Jumping into Infinity
Human Evolution
Peak Experiences
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Different Perspective
Newtonian versus Quantum Perspectives
Unitive Consciousness
Enlightenment
Living in between Worlds
Transpersonal Experiences
Religion, Spirituality and Psychiatry
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders
After the story, this chapter presents a historical perspective on consciousness and mental health. Eastern and Western paradigms are explored, as are classical physics versus new (Quantum) physics. The various topics are linked by conversational snippets of information and points of view, which allow for a smooth flow between concepts.
Chapter 3 Story – Heaven and Hell in a Mushroom
Shadow and Ego
How we Create our Personal Shadow
How we Experience the Shadow
Why do ‘Shadow Work’?
Archetypes
Meeting and Integrating Archetypes
Story: The Feral in the Tunnel
Archetypal Encounters
Spiritual Emergence
This chapter includes two true stories that illustrate how unexpected spiritual experiences can lead to a peaceful awakening or to a state of crisis known as ‘spiritual emergency’. The archetypal nature of spiritual experiences is explained from a Jungian/transpersonal perspective. And the use of psychedelic drugs is discussed in a non-judgmental way.
Chapter 4 Story – The Rollercoaster Ride of Death and Rebirth
Altered States of Consciousness
Psychosis
Integration
Breathwork
Story: John’s Rebirths
Where does Rebirthing Lead?
This chapter focuses on altered states of consciousness, with their accompanying gifts and dangers. Breathwork/rebirthing, the subject of the two main stories, is well explained as a powerful healing tool.
Chapter 5 Story – Riding the Magic Carpet
Science and Spirituality
The Zero Point Field
The Chakra System
Kundalini
Triggers
Symptoms
Benefits
This chapter starts with a story of the most disturbing phenomena experienced by the author during her own spiritual awakening. These phenomena are then explained through cutting-edge scientific discoveries as well as ancient yogic knowledge.
Chapter 6 Story – One Thousand Stones
Ego-states
Meditation
Spiritual Benefits
Brainwave Frequencies
The Spiritual Journey
The Inner Journey Continues
Practical Strategies
Profound Spiritual Experiences
After another beautiful story set in India, we now explore meditation, what it is and how it works on all four levels of our humanness – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The practical strategies and real-life experiences shared in this chapter are relevant to both new and experienced meditators.
Chapter 7 Story – Michael
Friends, Lovers and Enemies
Projections
Anima and Animus
The Four Archetypal Stages of Life
Spiritual Crises
The Lost Submarine Syndrome
Regression in the Service of Transcendence
Nothing Ever Happened!
Practical Use of Numinous Encounters
Through Jungian psychology, we find out here how self-awareness impacts on the quality of our relationships and life choices. We also explore the darker side of spiritual evolution, including states of crises that are often misdiagnosed as symptoms of mental illness.
Chapter 8 Story – Is a Soul always blue?
Light after Life
The Human Energy Field
Story: Beyond my Skin
Soul and Mind
The Integration Phase of Spiritual Emergency
Steps for Self-Transformation
This chapter starts with the story of Kathleen’s death, which takes us to a fascinating field of research – a Russian medical study of the energy fields emitted by dead bodies. The understanding of the human body-mind-soul connection then leads readers to the integration phase of spiritual emergency. Practical steps are also provided, with an intention to help readers along their personal and spiritual journey.
Chapter 9 Story – The Queen Ant
From Certainty to Probability
How do we influence potentiality?
Akashik Records
Brain and Intelligence
Epsilon and Gamma States of Consciousness
The Shamanic Realm
Characteristics of a Shaman
Shamanic Journeys
Illness and Healing
Shamanism in the 21st Century
The Shamanic Crisis
In this chapter, we interweave ancient wisdom and cutting-edge scientific research relating to quantum physics and brain functioning. Together, these threads create an overall picture that makes sense from every angle. The ‘Queen Ant’ story is particularly powerful too.
Chapter 10 Story – I’ll Wait for You…
The Realm of Death
Non-Physical Entities
States of Possession
Love
Photons and Love
Story: Dancing with the Beloved
This chapter starts with another great story followed by philosophical speculations on death. Moving from parallel universes to quantum physics, we then delve deeper into our exploration of life & death, love & light, science & spirituality. The chapter closes with another story of a life-changing spiritual experience.
Chapter 11 Story – When Iron Birds fly and Horses have Wheels
Enlightenment experiences
The Holographic Brain
The Holographic Universe
Story: An Atom in the Giant’s Liver
Complexity Science
Initiations
Spiritual Initiations
Mysticism versus Schizophrenia
In this chapter, many pieces of the spiritual jigsaw puzzle come together. True stories, mysticism, new physics and Western medicine all contribute to an expanded understanding of the psyche, its challenges and infinite potential. Further distinctions between spiritual emergency and symptoms of mental illness are addressed.
Chapter 12 Story – The Guru and the Mirror
The Dance of Ego and Self
One-Sided Perspectives
Wild Swings in Consciousness
Suppression
Inflation of the Self
Offensive Spirituality: Ego-Inflation
From Imbalance to Balance
Enlightenment
The Benchmarks of Enlightened Living
Psychoid Events
Psychokinesis
Synchronicity
The Genie Within
Story: The New Car
Conclusion
Once again linking entertaining true stories with Eastern and Western knowledge, the author keeps expanding on her model of consciousness. The new material introduced in this chapter links everything learnt so far. As a result of their expanded awareness, readers can now expect a more joyful journey to higher states of consciousness, leading to a more loving global consciousness.
Epilogue Story – The Key
Enjoy the Journey!
As a temporary farewell between author and reader, ‘The Key’ is another inspiring true story that will make your heart and soul sing!
Glossary
Reading Notes
Index
What Others Say
