LSD: Doorway to the Numinous: The Groundbreaking Psychedelic Research into Realms of the Human Unconscious by Stanislav Grof

LSD: Doorway to the Numinous: The Groundbreaking Psychedelic Research into Realms of the Human Unconscious Reviews

• 
  Carlton Brown

  A very interesting read for anyone wishing to understand LSD (psychedelics) and the transpersonal/transcendental realm. Whilst the book is tilted toward Stan´s extensive experience in the therapeutic benefits for psychotherapy, it offers huge insight and classification of the phenomenal experiences encountered with LSD in the transcendental realm. Few authors can compare with this experience and as such i have found this extremely helpful for organizing/rationalizing my own transcendental experiences using psychedelics, meditation and those which have occurred spontaneously.
  
  Its fundamental premise is the human mind is an epiphenomena of our spiritual-consciousness connection to the source of all life. Of course we are all born or raised into amnesia of this connection - which becomes part of life´s riddle to then figure out. That in some individuals (needing psychotherapy) the process from conception-gestation-birthing and the early years of life can be incredibly traumatic, which leads to mental scars, which further accumulate "bad experiences" to compound the initial trauma, leading to severe dysfunction in life. The therapeutic benefit of LSD and regressional psychotherapy helps that individual become aware of the true nature of reality, their experiences and to spiritually heal. As a vet i have huge admiration for any form of healing and Stanislav is a great healer and shaman in my view. As one of the founders of the 4th force in psychology (transpersonal field) we have much to learn from Stanislav Grof.
  
  This book is a MUST for those wishing to learn about the transcendental/transpersonal realm, and without any religious-spiritual biases. The corollary of this is you begin to see how religion-spiritual faiths happen(ed) and that in itself is a HUGE wake-up call! A GREAT Doorway to the meaning of life! Thanks Stanislav Grof for being a brave pioneer and leader of this cause without dogma:)
• 
  Bert

  This book was monumental not only in describing the pharmacology of the LSD reaction but mostly in reporting and categorizing the multilevel and transpersonal aspects of it.
  All of this is done with a completely rational approach, even when tackling controversial experiences such that of regression to various stages of birth, phylogenetic and ancestral memories, expansion of consciousness beyond time and space, and other similar transpersonal phenomena.
  Although the book intends to present the remarkable achievements of psycholythic therapy on patients with mental disorders, the result of 17 years of research in this therapeutic setting led to much more: a significant extension of psychology and a striking cartography of the human mind, along with all its faults and its potential.
  I strongly suggest this book to anyone who wishes to have an unbiased view on LSD or is trying to make sense of some of their own experiences if they had one.
  For instance, I was completely unaware of the possibility of exploring the perinatal realm and this book really shed light on many of my own experiences.
• 
  Tiago Faleiro

  Stan is arguably the biggest authority in the LSD world. He has performed more clinical research with LSD than anyone else on the planet, so at least reading what he has to say is the minimum you can do.
  
  I liked the book. Grof is obviously a smart guy, and his input on LSD and psychedelics is obviously very valuable. However, I have a hard time believing some of his claims. And everyone should. I think he takes the experiences of his patients too literally, which is odd considering he's a Jungian. When you're more or less claiming supernatural events that defy modern science, you're gonna need a little bit more than anecdotes. I don't care how frequent they are or how consistent they are with his own theories of transpersonal psychology. As the famous saying goes: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. And that's most definitely not provided by Grof.
  
  Nevertheless, I think it's worth reading and was well written. You just have to take some his claims with a grain of salt.
• 
  nico

  come for the psychedelic therapy research, leave in a big goddamn hurry once dude starts blaming rape victim for being victimized, including being raped *as a child*
• 
  Artist

  You would think that someone who has hosted a few thousand of LSD therapy sessions would have insightful interesting things to say. The only parts that really gripped me were the few areas that described the trips, as well as the childhood trauma root of it all. Other than that, the first half is full of fluff and the same stuff over and over again, and the second half is full of very speculative (and often outlandish) ideas, where you can take what you want. The author of the book took LSD more times than me and in higher quantities, so I feel like I have to put my brain on the deep fryer before I`ll be receptive to Grof`s concepts.
• 
  James Jesso

  A brilliant book on developmental psychology.
• 
  Sophy H

  1.5 stars
  
  This has taken me a while to read.
  
  This book starts out well, full of promise, interest and enlightenment. I have a genuine interest in the use of alternative medicines for treatment of traumas. Grof however, slowly ground that interest right out of me!! His writing is tedious, repetitive, at times nonsensical. There is way way way too much focus on "revisiting the birth experience"! I got sick of reading accounts of traumas while remembering navigating the birth canal! Just shh!
  
  The few nuggets of brilliance in here are over-shone by the banal and vapid detritus that presents as the rest of the book.
  
  Disappointing.
• 
  Calvin

  My third Grof book. This guy is amazing. A pioneer, a voracious scientist/researcher, a healer and an explorer.
• 
  Aleks Koval

  I read it in mental hospital within two days, just eaten whole text blown my mind
• 
  will

  Overview of Stan Grof's pioneering work in LSD research, and puts forth his theories of COEX's or Condensed Experiences, the Perinatal Matrix, and Transpersonal Experiences.
• 
  cd

  Very interesting descriptive account of psychedelics-assisted psychotherapy conducted by the author in Czechoslovakia and the USA in the mid-20th century. Lots about gestation / birth trauma and its speculative effects on the psyche, about which I'd previously read nothing, and the positive effects of integration and reconciliation through transpersonal and spiritual experiences from such therapies. Interesting epilogue about the resurgence of such research at the present time, to accompany the reissue of this book.
• 
  Rose

  I really liked this book. It discusses a number of different applications and the variations in experience of LSD psychotherapy. While some of the terminology is difficult to pick up at first for someone who isn't that familiar with it, it does a good job of not overly complicating concepts. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in psychedelic research and its therapeutic applications.
• 
  Tyrone

  Psychedelic psychiatry doesn't sound like a bad thing at all once you've a) read this book and b) tripped to the point of ego death and understand the entire process.
  
  Either way, this is a fascinating read.
• 
  Michael

  The rational science behind LSD. An extremely potent substance, capable of altering ones life.
  
• 
  Jef

  The myth of re-birth was visited many times with these clinical LSD sessions.
• 
  Sam

  Supplementary reading for a 15 pg psych paper I'm writing. Fascinating shit, yo.
• 
  Josh Livingroom

  This book is amazing!
• 
  Damon

  see my blog for retort:
  http://damonconsciousnessmusings.word...
• 
  Gigo

  Great read, somewhat ''not for beginners''