Themis Institute: States of Consciousness

States of Consciousness

Themis Institute offers safe ways to enter holotropic states of consciousness, supported by theoretical frameworks and professional guidance by trained and certified practitioners. Our philosophy is simple: the more each of us understands our selves the more we are able to understand others, and the world in which we live. The more we are able to understand the world in which we live, the more we can rise to our fullest potential and be the best we can be.

For pragmatic purposes the terms altered, shamanic, non-ordinary, and holotropic, when describing states of consciousness, will be viewed as interchangeable. Themis uses and works with the holotropic process as defined and described by Stanislav Grof, M.D., Ph.D.

Holotropic States of Consciousness

Originally coined by Stanislav Grof, MD, PhD, a pioneer in modern consciousness research, the word holotropic literally means, "oriented or moving toward wholeness," (from the Greek holos, meaning whole and trepein, meaning moving toward.) In our everyday state of consciousness we identify with only a portion of who we really are or our potential human capacity. In holotropic states of consciousness, we can transcend the narrow boundaries of our body ego and have access to our full identity.

Historic Use of Holotropic States of Consciousness

Both ancient and modern indigenous peoples have used a variety of methods for entering holotropic states of consciousness including:

Sleep deprivation - used by the Plains Indians in their rituals
Breathing techniques - the yogic practices of pranayama
Flagellation - Christian monks practiced fleshly mortification and some Native Americans whipped themselves or used physical endurance trials such as the Sun Dance
Temperature extremes - such as the native American Sweat Lodges and cold waterfalls were used
Chanting, Drumming, Rattling - using a type of sonic driving which synchronizes on body pulses
Meditation or Prayer
Fasting and the use of Sacred Plants - such as Ayahuasca, Peyote, Psilocybine Mushroom have been in use for thousands of years

Holotropic states of consciousness are also central to the mystical branches of traditional religions:

Sufism (Islam)
Yoga (Hindu)
Buddhism (Zen)
Christian Mysticism
Kabbalism (Jewish Mysticism)