Draft:Spiritually Transformative Experiences

Spiritually Transformative Experience “STE”, is an umbrella term for a wide range of diverse spiritual and paranormal experiences whichhave a spiritual impact on individuals, often causing their values and beliefs to change in a more spiritual and altruistic direction. The first STE or a powerful STE often causes a “spiritual awakening”. The phrase “Spiritually Transformative Experience” was originally coined by C Dr. Yvonne Kason MD, in 1994 in her book A Farther Shore.

She groups Spiritually Transformative Experiences into 6 major categories: 1. Mystical Experiences; 2. Spiritual Energy/Kundalini Awakenings; 3. Near-Death Experiences; 4. Other Death-related STEs: End-of-Life Experiences/Deathbed Visions; Death-Watch Experiences; and, After-Death Communications; 5. Psychic/Intuitive Experiences of many types; and 6. Inspired Creativity and genius. The term “Spiritually Transformative Experiences” has now been adopted and is being used internationally by many researchers, scholars, counselors, and STE experiencers, for example ACISTE the American Center for the Integration of Spiritually Transformative Experiences, Spiritual Awakenings International, IMHU Integrative Mental Health for You, OBERF Out of Body Research Foundation, Eternea, Toronto Awakenings Sharing Group, The Paradigm Shift, The Formula for Creating Heaven on Earth, and the IANDS Journal of Near-Death Studies.

ETYMOLOGY

spiritually transformative experiences have been reported for centuries in all cultures, albeit by many different names. Many different words have been used to describe various STEs in the last 100 years, including “Extraordinary Experiences”, “Exceptional Human Experiences”, ”Spiritual Emergence Syndrome”, “Spiritual Emergencies”, “Ascension Experiences”, “Enlightenment Experiences”, “Transcendental Experiences”, ”samadhis” (mystical experiences in yoga), “siddhis” (psychic phenomena in yoga), “Holy Spirit”, or simply “visions”, and other terms. The mystical traditions of all major faiths include references to STEs occurring to their saints, prophets, and visionaries. In 1976, American psychiatrist Dr. Raymond Moody MD coined the term “Near-Death Experiences” for STEs that occur to persons while clinically dead then later resuscitated, a phenomenon described in 1969 by Swiss-American psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross MD, and reported for centuries. In the late 1980s, California psychiatrist Dr. Stanislav Grof MD and his wife Christina Grof coined the terms “spiritual emergence”, “spiritual emergency” and “Spiritual emergence syndrome”, to refer to STEs and their powerful after-effects. Dr. Emma Bragdon PhD and Dr. David Lukoff PhD have both written extensively about “spiritual emergencies”, psychological or spiritual crises that can occur after a powerful STE. In 1996, American researcher Bill Guggenheim coined the term “After-Death Communications”, for STEs wherein the spirit of a deceased person seems to communicate with the living. Kundalini Energy Awakenings are repeatedly described in various religious traditions as “Kundalini Awakening” (yoga/Hinduism), “Holy Spirit awakening” (Christianity), “Holy Wind: (Judaism), “Dumo Fire” (Buddhism), “spiritual energy awakening”, “life-force awakening”, and other terms. In the 1970s to 1980s, Indian mystic and philosopher, Gopi Krishna, raised awareness in the West about Kundalini awakening with his  book,  Kundalini: The Evolutionary Energy in Man,  and his 16 subsequent books. Kundalini aAwakenings have been described by practitioners of diverse spiritual traditions, including Christianity, Sufism, Buddhism, Yoga, and no spiritual path. Several other less well known Yogis and scholars have also written about Kundalini from the Yogic perspective.

Characteristics – Types of Spiritually Transformative Experiences

'''a. Mystical Experiences:''' Mystical experiences are called “samadhis” in the yogic tradition. Noted psychologist Dr. William James identified the following four main characteristics of mystical experiences: 1. Ineffability: 2. Noetic quality; 3. Transiency; and 4. Passivity. Dr. Yvonne Kason MD further categorizes mystical experiences into seven major sub-types based on their strongest features: 1) Unitive or Communion Experiences; 2) Ecstatic or Bliss Episodes; 3) Mystical Visions; 4) Expansive Episodes; 5) Spiritual Rebirth, conversion, purification experiences; 5) Revelations or Illumination; 7) Dissolution Experiences.  Detailed contemporary descriptions of the spectrum of mystical experiences can be found in William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism, Richard Maurice Bucke, Cosmic Consciousness, Paramahansa Yogananda, God Talks with Arjuna,  Dr. Yvonne Kason Touched by the Light,  and in esoteric and mystical literature of many religious traditions.

'''b. Spiritual Energy/Kundalini Awakenings:' According to Indian Kundalini researcher Gopi Krishna, in Kundalini: The Evolutionary Energy in Man'', and his other books, a Kundalini Awakening is characterized by 3 classic features: 1) Sensations of energy rising up the spine and/or body, which may make the body physically jerk, become rigid, or shudder;  2) Inner Sounds which have been variously described a roaring like the roar of an ocean or waterfall, a rushing sound like the blowing of wind or the flapping of large wings, or a low “OM” vibratory sound, or alternatively ringing; and 3) Light perceptions which may be perceived as an inner light, radiance, surrounding luminosity or light, or sometime the flow of liquid light up the spine.      Gopi Krishna added that unusual sexual sensations may sometime accompany a Kundalini Awakening, such as a male developing a penile erection that is not caused by sexual stimulation. Per traditional yogic theory, the upward flow of the kundalini energy rises up the body’s astral spine called “shushumna”, piercing/opening the astral spine’s energy centers called “chakras”, as the kundalini energy strives to ascend to the head’s “crown chakra”. A full kundalini awakening to the crown chakra usually culminates in a mystical experience, (samadhi), powerful psychic experience, (siddhi), and/or inspired creative experience, either immediately or shortly thereafter. Sometimes persons have a partial kundalini awakening, wherein the kundalini energy does not rise all the way to the head, or crown chakra, but rather to a lower chakra. Following the initial kundalini awakening experience, the experiencer usually continues to have episodes of kundalini sensations, and find themselves launched into a long-term process of psycho-spiritual cleansing, spiritual deepening, and expansion in the range of normal consciousness. Many other international authors have described similar features of a kundalini awakening.

'''c. Near-Death Experiences:''' Near-Death Experiences have several similar definitions, and are currently defined by Dr. Yvonne Kason MD as an out-of-body and/or mystical white light experience that happens to persons when they are clinically dead and then resuscitated, close to death, critically ill, facing imminent death, or facing imminent severe trauma. Note, simply being clinically dead and then resuscitated, or having a close-call or “brush with death” does not constitute a near-death experience type of STE. One must have an out-of-body experience or mystical experience during this brush with death for this episode to be considered a Near-Death Experience type of STE. Some persons today are mislabeling any close call, or every episode of cardiac arrest followed by resuscitation a “near-death experience”. In fact Dr. Pim Van Lommel documented in his research that only 18% of cardiac patients in his study who had a medically documented cardiac arrest, reported having a NDE type of STE while they were clinically dead. Near-Death Experiences usually have at least 7 of the 15 characteristic features first defined in 1975 by Dr. Raymond Moody MD: 1. Ineffability; 2. Auditory awareness of things being said around your dead or unconscious body; 3. Strong feelings of peace – all pain and fear disappears; 4. Unusual inner sounds; 5. Out-of-body experience; 6. Passing through a dark space or tunnel; 7. Meeting spirits – beings of light who are often departed loved ones or a spiritual teacher; 8. White light experience – a mystical experience in a realm filled with light and love, feeling the intense unconditional love of a higher power; 9. Life-review; 10. Life barrier or choice whether to return to the body; 11. Abrupt return to the body; 12. Conviction of the reality of the experience, with the memory of the NDE extraordinarily firmly etched into memory; 13. Transformational impact – psychologically, spiritually, and psychically; 14. Loss of fear of death; 15. Independent corroboration of events witnessed while out-of-body. Extensive research and clinical reports from around the world have been made in the last 40 years documenting the worldwide occurrence of Near-Death Experiences.

d.	Other Death-Related STEs: Other death-related STEs include: i.	STEs shortly prior to actual death: variously called Deathbed Visions, End-of-Life Experiences, Terminal Lucidity, and other terms. ii. STEs occurring at the moment that somebody else dies: variously called Death-Watch Experiences, Shared Crossings, Shared-Death Experiences. iii. STEs that occur days, months, or years after the death of another person: often called After-Death Communications or mediumship experiences.

'''e. Psychic or Intuitive Experiences:''' Psychic Experiences are called “siddhis” in the Yogic tradition. Psychic or intuitive experiences include a broad range of diverse experiences, including: abstract intuition, astral travel, automatic writing. bilocation, channeling, clairaudience, clairsentience, clairvoyance, communication with spirit guides, healing abilities, higher guidance, information “downloads”, materialization,   mediumship,  out-of-body experiences,  past-life recall, precognition, premonitions, stigmata, telekinesis,  telepathy,  tele-pyrokinesis,  trans-dimensional experiences including some UFOE, and more paranormal phenomena of consciousness. Detailed descriptions of various psychic phenomena may be found in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

'''f. Inspired Creativity and Genius:''' Inspired creativity and genius is a type of STE wherein the experiencer enters an expansive state of consciousness somewhat similar to a mystical experience, but in which they receive profound original insights, inspiration for innovations, or new creative inspirations. Inspired creativity may relate to any field, the arts, philosophy, science, medicine, music and more.

After-Effects of Spiritually Transformative Experiences

Many STE Experiencer discover after their first Spiritually Transformative Experience, that they are launched into a long-term process of transformation which affects their body, mind, and spirit. Dr Kason and Dr. Bonnie Greenwell PhD both describe this long-term transformation with after-effects in detail. They both report that according to their research and clinical experience counseling STE Experiencers, many STE after-effects continue for the rest of the Experiencer’s life, especially after a powerfully impactful STE such as a mystical experience, a kundalini awakening, or a white-light mystical type of near-death experience. After their first STE, the “spiritual awakening”, people often find their consciousness more open to other types of STEs, they become a “Multiple STE Experiencer”, suggesting there is an interconnectedness or relationship between different types of STEs. Additionally, many STE Experiencers discover that they begin to have repeated episodes of the same type of STE as their first STE.

Most people find that their STE creates long lasting after-effects which may be physical, psychological, psychic, and/ or spiritual in nature. Common physical STE after-effect symptoms include: increased sensitives; metabolic changes; changes in sleep patterns with frequent middle of the night waking; electromagnetic sensitivity; rapid healing; sensations of energy movements; and chakra sensations. Common psychological STE after-effect symptoms include: abandoning former unhealthy habits; setting healthier boundaries with others; stronger sense of life purpose or “mission”; new spiritual interests; more creative; and, embracing personal healing and recovery work. Challenging psychological STE after-effects may include: difficulties in relationships because the Experiencer’s values and attitudes have changed; fear that the STE is a sign that they are developing a mental illness, or may already have a mental illness; and fear of incorrectly being labeled as “crazy”. Common psychic STE after-effect symptoms may include: development of new psychic abilities; an increase in previous psychic abilities; clairvoyance; clairsentience; clairaudience; mediumship ability; past-life recall; healing abilities, ability to perceive higher guidance from spirit guides, development of “downloads” of inspiration. Common spiritual STE after-effect symptoms include: conviction of an afterlife; conviction of the reality of the Higher Power; more tolerant and less dogmatic religious views; loss of fear of death; new belief in reincarnation, more spiritually focused; increased desire to be of service to others; and a desire to express love and unconditional love.

Spiritual Emergencies – Crises related to Spiritually Transformative Experiences

“Spiritual Emergency” refers to a crisis during one’s spiritual transformation. Spiritual emergencies may happen after dramatic STEs, because of the challenging unusual states of mind that may occur. The term “spiritual emergency” were coined by California psychiatrist Dr. Stan Grof MD and his wife Christina Grof, and was elaborated upon by Dr. Emma Bragdon PhD. According to the Grofs and Bragdon, Spiritual Emergencies are not a mental illness, although traditional psychiatry might misdiagnose and treat spiritual emergencies as a mental illness. Spiritual Emergencies usually resolve on their own with adequate support for the Experiencer, with the passage of time, and with the Experiencer increasing their grounding activities.

STE Experiencers having a spiritual emergency may have some of the following signs: 1. Feel challenged by the intensity or nature of their STEs; 2. Have difficulty functioning fully. 3. Feel distracted by their inner experiences; 4. May have temporary inflated or unusual ideas with otherwise clear thought processes and judgement; 5. May at times have difficulty separating or feel overwhelmed by inner experiences. 6. Are aware that their STE experiences are part of an inner process; 7. May have fear of losing control, or a fear of having or developing a mental illness. 8. May be challenged by distressing inner visions; 9. Can ignore or block out inner voices and inner guidance heard; 10. Moral and ethical values remain intact.

Healthy Spiritual Transformation of Consciousness

Spiritually Transformative Experiences have been reported for thousands of years, by persons of impeccable repute: in scriptures, in sacred texts, and by great saints and mystics of all faiths. Research has documented that STEs are happening to millions of people around the world, to persons of all ages, of both sexes, of any sexual orientation, of any race, of any color, of any faith, and with no faith. STEs seem to be a universal human phenomenon of consciousness. STEs are NOT hallucinations. STEs are NOT a sign of mental illness. Rather, they support the Yogic theory that the range of human consciousness is expanding. STEs seem to add to and enrich the range of normal human consciousness. What was once considered “paranormal” is becoming the “new normal” for STE Experiencers worldwide.

Spiritually Transformative Experiences give experiencers many powerful insights into the nature of reality, and the potentials of consciousness. STEs often convince Experiencers that a Higher Power is exists and is real. STEs also convince experiencers that we are not just a physical body, but we are souls, spiritual beings having a physical experience in a human physical body, and that our souls live on after death of our physical body. Mystical experience and mystical NDE Experiencers gain a realization that our Higher Power emanates profound unconditional love for all, and that love is the most important attribute for us all to develop and to express.

After the spiritual awakening STE, many Experiencers want to develop spiritually. Kason and others recommend several practical guidelines for promoting a balance, healthy spiritual transformation process, including to: Live a balanced lifestyle in body, mind, and spirit; Do your worldly duties responsibly; Strive for self-development/self-improvement; Live an ethical honest life, in accordance with the universal spiritual principles such as the 10 Commandments, the Golden Rule, or the 8 Limbs of Yoga; Be of service to others; and Meditate and pray daily to spiritually deepen. According to yoga and many other mystical traditions, the long term goal of STE related spiritual transformation of consciousness is for each soul to “find their way home” to self-realization.

Dr. Kason also described Spiritually Transformative Experiences in her 1994 in the “Journal of Near-Death Studies”. She expanded her descriptions and elaborated upon definitions of Spiritually Transformative Experiences in her more recent books, Farther Shores, (2000, 2008), and Touched by the Light, (2019). In 2020, Dr. Kason Co-Founded and became President of “Spiritual Awakenings International”, a global network aiming to raise awareness about STEs globally.

Further Reading

Kason, Yvonne. Touched by the Light: Exploring Spiritually Transformative Experiences. Toronto: Dundurn Press, 2019. Krishna, Gopi. Living with Kundalini: The Autobiography of Gopi Krishna. Edited by Leslie Shepard. Boston: Shambhala, 1993. Yogananda, Paramahansa. Autobiography of a Yogi. Los Angeles: Self-Realization Fellowship, 2007. Yogananda, Paramahansa. God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhaghavad Gita, Royal Science of God-Realization. Los Angeles: Self-Realization Fellowship, 1996.

External Links

Spiritual Awakenings International