The Transpersonal Psyche: A History (Access Anytime)

Explore the roots and development of transpersonal psychology. Throughout the 20th century, dominant schools of psychology have seen consciousness as a function of the human brain, destined to end when a brain dies – frequently, they ignore religious questions and view spiritual experiences as pathology. The perspective of transpersonal psychology, however, has allowed for the exploration of the human mind’s capacity for spiritual insight, and examines the greater potential of our consciousness – from telepathy, genius and clairvoyance to mystical experience. Focusing on key figures, the course surveys the transpersonal outlook in psychological thought from the discovery of the unconscious in the late 19th century until the present day, considering its implications for how we view the possibilities and meaning of human life.

Suggested reading: Mark B. Ryan, A Different Dimension: Reflections on the History of Transpersonal Thought (Washington, DC: Westphalia Press, 2018).

Mark Ryan, a historian of American thought, holds a Ph.D. from Yale, where he taught for 22 years and was a residential college dean. At the Universidad de las Américas in Puebla, Mexico, he served as professor, Dean of the Colleges, and director of the graduate program in United States studies. A certified practitioner of Holotropic Breathwork, his writings include A Different Dimension: Reflections on the History of Transpersonal Thought.

You will receive a confirmation email upon registration, containing a private YouTube link to the class videos.  Please save this link, as it will be your only means of accessing this class.