DOCSLIB.ORG

Psychosynthesis Quarterly December 2017

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Psychosynthesis Quarterly December 2017 PSYCHOSYNTHESIS QUARTERLY The Digital Magazine of the Association for the Advancement of Psychosynthesis Volume 6 Number 4 December 2017 “Take Your Grandmother Home” by Ann Gila Sleepers, Awake! by Jan Kuniholm Driving the Carriage by Dorothy Firman Opening the Gateway to the Storyless Land by Richard Lamb The Stone of Villa Serena by Isabelle Küng Psychology and Spirituality by Shamai Currim You Too are a “Self” by Margret Rueffler Psychosynthesis Life Coaching: A Transpersonal Process by Cristina Pelizzatti Using “Your Own Star” in Subpersonality Work by Pelizzatti and Burr Book Reviews: Handbook of Individual Family Constellations Always About Anxiety Courses: Psychosynthesis Life Coach Training Psychological Functions: Certificate Training Mothers and Daughters - Healing the Feminine And More . Psychosynthesis Quarterly Notes from the Editor Editor: Jan Kuniholm Even though we do not solicit material with any kind of “theme” in mind for the Quarterly, there are inner connections between many of Assistant Editors: Audrey McMorrow, Walter Polt and Douglas Russell the articles our writers share with you in this issue, which run the gamut from death to life, from habits to spirit. Design and Production: Jan Kuniholm, Walter Polt Ann Gila’s memoir, “Take Your Grandmother Home” is about Psychosynthesis Quarterly is published by recovering connections with family, and we have also a review of a AAP four times a year in March, June, September Handbook of Individual Family Constellations that shows the vital and December. Submission deadlines are February 7, importance of family relationships. Death makes an appearance in May 7, August 7, and November 7. Catherine Ann Lombard’s interview with Massimo Rosselli, and also Send Announcements, Ideas, Reviews of in Shamai Currim’s reminiscence of a Journey of Love. A dream is Books and Events, Articles, Poetry, Art, remembered in the Stone of Villa Serena, and the object of that dream Exercises, Photos, and Letters: Tell us what is mentioned by Dr. Rosselli in his closing words. has helped your life and work, what can help others, and examples of psychosynthesis theory in action. The new book Always About Anxiety alerts us to general anxiety Notice of Events should be 1500 words or less, and disorder from a first-person perspective. Life struggles on in an Old articles should usually be 4500 words or less. We Fighter’s Work. Richard Lamb shares ways of finding peace. accept psychosynthesis-related advertising from members. Non-members who wish to run psycho- synthesis-related advertising are requested to make Alan Haras shows how psychosynthesis is yoga, helping us find our a donation to AAP. Send submittals to: “true guru,” and Richard Lamb invites us to “invite the witness” in [email protected] the practice of presence. Didi Firman shows us that we cycle through psychological functions, as one triggers the next, and therein we find The Association for the Advancement a gift: awareness of the sequencing can break the chain. In of Psychosynthesis: Sleepers, Awake! I note how habits also function in cycles. Founded in 1995, AAP is a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation with tax exemption in the United States. Cristina Pelizzatti and Bill Burr share an application in It is dedicated to advocating on behalf of psycho- subpersonality work for “Your Own Star,” the interactive map of the synthesis and conducting psychosynthesis educa- tional programs. Membership and donations are tax psychological functions that made its debut in last issue. Cristina goes deductible in the United States. on to give a more detailed account of the work of psychosynthesis life AAP membership supports this publication and coaching. Shamai Currim contemplates the connections between the other educational activities of AAP, including psychology and spirituality, and finds them inextricably intertwined. scholarships. To become a member or to donate to AAP, Click Here. or you may contact us at Workshops and courses are coming up: A certificate training series (413) 743-1703 (leave a message if you call) with Didi Firman, in person in Amherst, MA, and also online as a or email [email protected] teleconference, in December and January; The Synthesis Center will If you are NOT a member we invite you to join offer a distance-learning program for Level 1 Psychosynthesis Life AAP and support psychosynthesis in North Coach Training beginning in February; and a Mothers & Daughters America and the world. Workshop series will be given by Karen Herold and Lauren Herold- Views expressed in Psychosynthesis Quar- Morgan in Bellevue, WA in January, February and March. terly are not necessarily those of the editors or of AAP. AAP makes every effort to ensure the accura- It is a pleasure for us to present theQuarterly to you. We are grateful cy of what appears in the Quarterly but accepts no to all who send us material to share, and look forward to the coming liability for errors or omissions. We may edit sub- year with you. If something in this issue inspires you, or moves missions for grammar, syntax, and length. you—or even makes you unhappy—please take a moment to share Psychosynthesis Quarterly is available as a your response with us. Your praise inspires us, and your constructive free download to all current AAP members and to criticism will help us to make the Quarterly even better. others who are interested in our work. To view pre- Send your comments to vious issues and an index of articles click here. [email protected]. © Copyright 2017 by AAP In the meantime, enjoy! 61 East Main Street Happy Holidays Cheshire, MA 01225-9627 and A Joyous New Year All Rights Reserved from all of us to all of you. www.aap-psychosynthesis.org Jan Kuniholm 2 contents “Take Your Grandmother Home” — Ann Gila 4 Support AAP’s Scholarship Program 12 Psychosynthesis Life Coaching: A Transpersonal Process — Cristina Pelizzatti 13 The Synthesis Center Level 1 Life Coach Training Program 19 Opening the Gateway to the Storyless Land:Presence in Reauthoring Our Stories — Richard Lamb 20 Old Fighter’s Work —Poem — Jan Kuniholm 22 The Path to Self Realization: Yoga, Psychosynthesis, and Goodness of Fit — Alan Haras 23 Reflections on the Soul, Healing, and Assagioli’s Last Hours on Earth: A Conversation With Massimo Rosselli —Catherine Ann Lombard 27 Driving the Carriage: The Gift of Psychological Functions — Dorothy Firman 31 Book Review: Handbook of Individual Family Constellations by Marco Moretti & Daniela Poggioli 34 Mothers & Daughters: A Legacy Lives On —Karen Herold and Lauren Herold-Morgan 36 Mothers & Daughters: Healing the Feminine — Workshop Series of All women 37 Psychology and Spirituality — Shamai Currim 38 Using “Your Own Star” in Subpersonality Work — Cristina Pelizzatti and Bill Burr 40 Sleepers, Awake! The Act of Will in the Field of Habits — Jan Kuniholm 45 The Synthesis 2018 Presenters Conference 52 The Stone of Villa Serena — Isabelle Küng 53 You Too Are a “Self” — Margret Rueffler 56 Book Review: Always About Anxiety by Jenny Nylén 58 A Journey of Love — Shamai Currim 59 Dive Deep in the Psychological Functions: In Person and Teleconference Certificate Training 62 3 journey “Take Your Grandmother Home” Ann Gila The following is a slightly abbreviated chapter from my recent memoir Stay Present and Love Him. I share it as an example of John Firman’s and my understanding of Self-realization. For Firman and Gila, Self-realization does not mean we become Self, but rather that we follow the invitations that Self extends to us—what both Assagioli and Jung referred to as “call”—even invitations that are sometimes beyond our immediate understanding. We don’t see Self-realization as experiencing a particular state of consciousness, but rather a deepening of our relationship with Self as we become increasingly able to listen and respond to its guidance. We found that Self’s invitations can come to us through various channels, following our conviction that Self is transcendent-immanent, and that these invitations are extended to us in every minute of our lives. Therefore, we view Self-realization as a moment-to-moment relationship between “I” and Self. [For an elaboration of Firman and Gila’s understanding of Self-realization, see Firman’s monograph, “Self and Self-Realization,” a free download on www.psychosynthesispaloalto.com .] ne day in mid-August 1996, I was at the noon weekday Mass in OSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church near downtown Palo Alto. I often went to this service because it was only thirty minutes long and could easily fit into my day, and its brief homily almost always had a message I needed to hear. On this particular day with the temperature in the low nineties, the coolness inside the church added to the peaceful quiet of the simple service, attended by only a small group of us. I easily fell into a reverie, and at the same time was aware of the ritual proceeding before me. In fact, the familiar liturgy may have contributed to what was to occur. In my head I began to hear the following command, repeated over and over: “Take your grandmother home. Take your grandmother home. Take your grandmother . .” I didn’t know where the message was coming from or what it meant. I had tears in my eyes and didn’t know why. I even tried to push it out of my mind, but it was insistent, as if it had a life force that wouldn’t be denied. After a while I surrendered to it, hoping that if I didn’t fight it I would learn its meaning. Mass ended, and the command was less intense but stayed with me as I walked home. I was eager to tell John about what had just happened. We talked. What does this mean? Is there something I’m supposed to do? Is this significant, or is it just some nonsensical intrusion? I certainly didn’t know where it came from, although at times in the past I had had the experience of being guided by something that felt beyond myself.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Thinking About “I”
    THINKING ABOUT “I” Compiled and Edited by Andrew S. Curtis Copyright 2007 For In-house Use Only by The Synthesis Center 274 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002 (413) 256-0772 WHAT IS THE PERSONAL SELF/“I”? 1. The Lower Unconscious 2. The Middle Unconscious 3. The Higher Unconscious or Superconscious 4. The Field of Consciousness 5. The Conscious “self” or “I” 6. The Higher “Self” 7. The Collective Unconscious Assagioli's Egg Diagram • “At the heart of the self there is both an active and a passive element, an agent and a spectator. Self- consciousness involves our being a witness – pure, objective, loving witness – to what is happening within and without. In this sense, the self is not a dynamic in itself but is a point of witness, a spectator, an observer who watches the flow. But there is another part of the inner self – the will-er or directing agent – that actively intervenes to orchestrate the various functions and energies of the personality, to make commitments and to instigate action in the external world. So, at the center of the self, there is unity of . will and love, action and observation” (Assagioli w/ Keen as quoted by Brown in Unfolding Self, 2004). “Self-expression or Self-realization refer to the expression of Self through the personality (with “I” acting as administrative agent [through awareness and will]. We always have the choice to resist this expression out of ignorance or confusion; this often leads to problems that bring people into therapy or counseling. Guiding is the process of helping some rediscover and 'tune into' the expression of Self” (Brown, 2004).
    [Show full text]
  • Diss 2 1 8 OCR Rev.Pdf
    Stanley G. Smith, Ph.D., is affiliated with the department of who displayed both human and non-human alters orsubper­ Psychology, Mississippi State University and the Choctaw sonalities and met the DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric As­ Community Mental Health Center, Philadelphia, Missis­ sociation, 1987) criteriafor MPD. Data are presented on the sippi. hypnotic susceptibility and visual acuity of the alters, the developmental process of the individual's MPD, and treat­ For reprints write Stanley G. Smith, Ph.D., Department of ment of the alters in the course of the psychotherapy. Psychology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762 METHOD Subject ABSTRACT The subject was a 70 year old male of Native American ancestry. While a more detailed description of his tribal Clinical data arepresented on a NativeAmericanpatientdiagnosed affiliations would be of considerable psychological and an­ with multiple personality disorder. Eleven subpersonalities were thropological interest, it is omitted in deference to consid­ found to contain four human and seven non-human components. erations ofconfidentiality. He was a traditional Indian herb­ Findings indicated child abuse was at the core ofthe developmental alist (a highly esteemed form of medicine man) by profes­ process. However, once alter components manifested themselves, sion and a full blooded member ofa Native American tribe. culturalfactors reinforced and maintained the process. Evaluation In addition to his presenting personality, the subject dis­ ofhypnotic susceptibility indicated all subpersonalities were highly played four human alters: a male warrior (Man Killer), a hypnotizable. Analysis ofvisual acuity on two occasions, separated male child (Small One), a female (Moon Walker), and an l7y 30 days, indicated significant differences amonga numberofthe elderly male (Old One).
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of the Internal Family Systems Model Applied to Remarried Couples of Stepfamilies in Different Stages of Adjustment
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 1998 A Study of the Internal Family Systems Model Applied to Remarried Couples of Stepfamilies in Different Stages of Adjustment Susan Marie Carter Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, and the Social Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Carter, Susan Marie, "A Study of the Internal Family Systems Model Applied to Remarried Couples of Stepfamilies in Different Stages of Adjustment" (1998). Dissertations. 264. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/264 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type o f computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction.
    [Show full text]
  • Digging up the Past Object Relations and Subpersonalities
    DIGGING UP THE PAST OBJECT RELATIONS AND SUBPERSONALITIES by Chris Meriam Psychosynthesis Palo Alto Monograph Series ψσ Published by: Psychosynthesis Palo Alto 461 Hawthorne Avenue Palo Alto, California 94301 U.S.A. Copyright © 1994 by Chris Meriam All rights reserved. CONTENTS Preface .............................................................................. 4 Digging up the Past ....................................................... 7 Three Components of Current Subpersonality Theory ........ 8 Some Limitations of Current Subpersonality Theory ........ 11 The Nature of Object Relations ............................................... 15 A Psychoanalytic View of Splitting ......................................... 16 Psychoanalytic Object Relations ............................................. 22 A Psychosynthesis View of Splitting ...................................... 28 Psychosynthesis Object Relations ........................................... 32 The Development of Subpersonalities ................................... 37 The Anxious Pleaser ................................................................... 39 In Conclusion ............................................................................... 45 About the Author .......................................................... 49 Bibliography .................................................................. 49 P REFACE Roberto Assagioli (1965) used the term “subpersonalities” to refer to those often-conflicting, semi-autonomous subsystems within the personality which have
    [Show full text]
  • Psychological and Culture Workshop As a Universal Module in Social Education Programme
    ISSN 0798 1015 HOME Revista ESPACIOS ÍNDICES / Index A LOS AUTORES / To the ! ! AUTORS ! Vol. 39 (# 25) Year 2018. Page 28 Psychological and culture workshop as a universal module in social education programme Taller psicológico y cultural como módulo universal en el programa de educación social Tatiana Vitaljevna PUSHKAREVA 1; Darya Vladislavovna AGALTSOVA 2; Elena Michaylovna SHEMYAKINA 3; Ekaterina Vladimirovna PUSHKAREVA 4 Received: 18/02/2018 • Approved: 20/03/2018 Contents 1. Introduction 2. Methodology 3. Results 4. Conclusions Bibliographic references ABSTRACT: RESUMEN: The article describes the author's experience of El artículo presenta la experiencia de taller psicológico psychological and culture workshop "My doll and me" y cultural "Mi muñeca y yo" en el educación social y conducting during Social studies training in Russian pedagógica como módulo universal. La base teórica y State Social University and Moscow Pedagogical State metodológica del taller fue el enfoque Gestalt y la University. The methodology for the workshop psicología analítica. El realizada en el trabajo grupal conducting is described. Gestalt approach and sobre la creación e interpretación de la imagen de una analytical psychology have become the workshop muñeca que representa a una mujer eslava del theoretical and methodological basis, realized in pueblo. La experiencia analiza y muestra sus practice in Slavic folk dolls creation and resultados positivo. interpretation. The experience was analyzed and the Palabras clave: taller psicológico, taller de cultura, workshop results to be used as a universal educación social, muñeca popular pedagogical module in the program of social higher education and pedagogical higher education are revealed. Keywords: psychological workshop, culture workshop, social education, folk doll.
    [Show full text]
  • Digging up the Past, 1994
    DIGGING UP THE PAST OBJECT RELATIONS AND SUBPERSONALITIES by Chris Meriam Psychosynthesis Palo Alto Monograph Series ψσ Published by: Psychosynthesis Palo Alto 461 Hawthorne Avenue Palo Alto, California 94301 U.S.A. Copyright © 1994 by Chris Meriam All rights reserved. CONTENTS Preface .............................................................................. 4 Digging up the Past ....................................................... 7 Three Components of Current Subpersonality Theory ........ 8 Some Limitations of Current Subpersonality Theory ........ 11 The Nature of Object Relations ............................................... 15 A Psychoanalytic View of Splitting ......................................... 16 Psychoanalytic Object Relations ............................................. 22 A Psychosynthesis View of Splitting ...................................... 28 Psychosynthesis Object Relations ........................................... 32 The Development of Subpersonalities ................................... 37 The Anxious Pleaser ................................................................... 39 In Conclusion ............................................................................... 45 About the Author .......................................................... 49 Bibliography .................................................................. 49 P REFACE Roberto Assagioli (1965) used the term “subpersonalities” to refer to those often-conflicting, semi-autonomous subsystems within the personality which have
    [Show full text]
  • A Foundational Bridge Between Psychology and Spirituality
    Pastoral Psychol DOI 10.1007/s11089-017-0753-5 Psychosynthesis: A Foundational Bridge Between Psychology and Spirituality Catherine Ann Lombard1,2 # The Author(s) 2017. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract Pastoral psychologists have long tried to establish a working model that encom- passes the seemingly conflicting disciplines of science and religion. Psychosynthesis, a transpersonal psychology and therapeutic approach, offers such a model of the human personality, in which the psychological and spiritual perspectives can converge. This article explores psychosynthesis psychology and therapy as a theoretical framework for pastoral psychology. Although psychosynthesis psychotherapy relies on an array of techniques, it fundamentally works with the clients’ will while emphasizing, exploring, and cultivating their relationships on all levels—intrapersonal, interpersonal, and with the Higher Self. In addition to the subconscious, psychosynthesis includes a higher psychological plane, called the superconscious, from which our higher ethical, aesthetic, scientific, and spiritual values are derived. This article begins by introducing psychosynthesis concepts and techniques. It then provides qualitative findings showing that psychosynthesis counseling helped to awaken spirituality in three out of eleven clients who had formerly identified themselves as atheists. In addition, testimonies are included that show that psychosynthesis counseling also helped all eleven clients to attain personal growth. Finally, the
    [Show full text]
  • The Administration of the Flesh
    The Administration of the Flesh The discourse of self-improvement and neuroplasticity Elliot Sturdy Institutionen för etnologi, religionshistoria och genusvetenskap Examensarbete 30 hp Etnologi Etnologi - masterkurs Masterprogram i estetiska vetenskaper 120 hp Vårterminen 2012 Handledare: Barbro Blehr The Administration of the Flesh The discourse of self-improvement and neuroplasticity Elliot Sturdy Abstract This study looks at the discourse of four books that use neuroplasticity as a basis for their project of self-improvement. By using the genealogical techniques developed by Michel Foucault this study focuses upon the process of subjectivization and the techniques employed by the discourse. In particular it focuses upon the relationship between the mind and brain that is formed by the discourse. Keywords Michel Foucault, neuroplasticity, neuroscience, cultural critique, discourse, governmentality, Catherine Malabou, Kant, mindfulness. Contents Introduction ............................................................................................ 2 The Buddha’s Brain ............................................................................... 14 Rewire Your Brain ................................................................................ 21 You Are Not Your Brain ........................................................................ 30 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Workbook for Dummies ........................ 36 On the Ethics of Self-Improvement and Neuroplasticity from a Kantian Point of View ........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Identity Search: Special Media Interest in a Clinical
    IDENTITY SEARCH: SPECIAL MEDIA INTEREST IN A CLINICAL LEARNING DISABILITIES POPULATION A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Stuart Whomsley Centre for Applied Psychology (Clinical Section) University of Leicester October 2000 1 UMI Number: U135665 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Dissertation Publishing UMI U135665 Published by ProQuest LLC 2013. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Acknowledgements I am grateful to the following people for their help with the current research. My thanks go to the participants for their time and insights. Jennifer Clegg provided knowledge and support. Meena O’ Neil was a generous, committed reader and co-assessor of clinician transcripts. Jo Theasby remained a good humoured and precise transciber. Fred Fumiss provided some fresh ideas. Carol Sherrard and Konstantine Loumidis improvered the overall quality of this document. Harriet Crofts was a courageous proof-reader demonstrating her understanding of grammar, syntax and how to make
    [Show full text]
  • A Transpersonal Orientation: Psychosynthesis in the Counselor's
    A Transpersonal Orientation: Psychosynthesis in the Counselor’s Office* By Dorothy Firman, Ed.D. Introduction Defining transpersonal as simply that which goes beyond the individual or personal, it could be hypothesized that all counselors are, at least in part, transpersonal in their orientation. By and large Americans, in any profession, believe in God and in various other religious and spiritual perspectives (Harper, 2005). Given that this is the case, the transpersonal (or spiritual) dimension, is, almost inevitably, part of a counselor’s possible arena of concern. While it is important for counselors to orient themselves specifically towards areas of interest and expertise, it is also clear that broad knowledge and comfort in the widest possible area will serve both the counselor and client. It is therefore important that all counselors have a working knowledge of the transpersonal orientation in counseling and psychotherapy, simply to keep pace with their client’s concerns. It seems clear from the research, that counselors do, in fact, share an interest in and concern for the transpersonal dimension in their clinical work (Winston, 1990; Carlson, Kirkpatrick, Hecker, and Killmer, 2002). What is also likely to be true, is that counselors are not trained to work in that dimension nearly as thoroughly as they are trained, for instance, to work in family of origin issues. It is not surprising, at least historically, to find counselors dealing with spiritual or transpersonal issues with their clients, but not talking about that aspect of their work in supervision. And more often than not, there is little if any academic training in the transpersonal orientation in counseling and psychology (Shafranske and Malone, 1990).
    [Show full text]
  • NOTES on EDUCATION Roberto Assagioli, M.D. 1968
    NOTES ON EDUCATION Roberto Assagioli, M.D. 1968 1. introduction The subject of education is of such fundamental importance, of such vital interest to everyone of us, and covers such a vast field with all of its varied aspects, that we feel it opportune to devote this study to it (even though it is merely a partial one) and to train ourselves in reflective meditation on such a subject, and to indicate, in particular, the lines of development and objectives along which we must concentrate our creative action. It is difficult to assess the outer results of our meditation especially with regard to their wider and more long-term effects, but we may trust, or even better, we can have a strong faith that such results are assured and inevitable, because energy follows thought, and thought directed by the will, and animated by feeling, is creative. In the midst of the world events that are rapidly unfolding, and of the whirl and pressure of outer activity, we must remember that all visible material events have inner causes stemming from the imagination, from thought, and from the will. Hold this firmly in your awareness and live accordingly; spread its acceptance; apply it with persistence in promoting the new forms that will be taking the place of tile old ones. 2. the meaning of education (semantics) The first thing we must do in order to approach our subject (as must be done in dealing with any topic) is to define its true nature and meaning in clear terms; i.e. to make a terminological (semantic) specification.
    [Show full text]
  • The Seven Core Concepts –The Soul of Psycho- Synthesis
    Fall 2017 The Seven Core Concepts –The Soul of Psycho- synthesis Kenneth Sørensen Even if Psychosynthesis is presented as a synthesis of different therapeutic and educational approaches it is important to remember that it has its own original and central essence. (Roberto Assagioli)1 Abstract where mainstream psychology largely denies the existence of a soul as a spiritual core, Psy- hortly before his death at 85 in 1974, Dr. chosynthesis places the soul at its center. I S Roberto Assagioli, one of the founding have chosen the title because my aim is to fathers of transpersonal psychology, described identify what is the core, the essence or the what he regarded as the essence of Psychosyn- soul in Psychosynthesis. thesis. It was, for him, a psychology which had the soul as a spiritual Being at its center. It is Psychosynthesis presents such a broad and in- no surprise that Psychosynthesis has since clusive view of humanity and of our spiritual been seen as a “Psychology with a Soul.” journey that we can easily lose sight of its cen- tral ideas. In Psychosynthesis – A Collection of This article presents the essence of Psychosyn- Basic Writings, Assagioli’s first book, he uses thesis through the Seven Core Concepts that a wide range of ideas and psychotherapeutic Assagioli defined as the foundation of his techniques from many different sources. This work, and which some today see as his “Last can easily confuse a reader and give the im- Will,” his final statement about these ideas and pression that more or less everything can be their practical application.
    [Show full text]