Transcendental psychology 101

July 9, 6:35 PMNorthern CA Psychology & Spirituality ExaminerHolly Wood

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AP NASA Science Institute: Transcending Contemporary Consciousness

Transcendental psychology embeds spirituality, situational versatility, universal-systems perspective, and self-actualizing human potential for any individual. The concept of transcendence is a realm of its own, of which Abraham Maslow surfaced the first scientific documentation of this human capability. He sought to document people he saw as self-actualizers, which he called transcenders, rather than focusing on those with mental deficiencies. He aimed to explore their creativity, values, education, and meta-motivation, which describes a post-conventional moral orientation. Maslow found these individuals particularly fascinating because of the direction society would take if more individuals were transcending their human experience.

The element of universality in the human psyche, found within existential and humanistic philosophies, connect individual with group theories. Archetypes and symbols, as explained by Carl Jung, are abundant, and although universal, take on different contextual meanings in different cultures. In modern society, it is unlikely one can deny the effect that media communications have on our society trends and social behavior.

Implementing more positive symbolism within media presentations will promote a positive effect. Chris Hoffman’s Hoop and Tree offers a contemporary archetype that establishes unity between the world's great religions; the tree symbolizes the self growing in actualization into the hoop of society’s actualization. Within Christianity, tree is symbolized by the crucifix, and the hoop is symbolized by Communion, in Judaism and Islam, the Tree of Life within the Garden of Eden stands for the hoop and tree, in Buddhism, the bodhi tree and the wheel of Dharma, and in Hinduism, it is the spine and the chakra wheels. The wisdom within different spiritual philosophies is acknowledged as global guidelines to preserving all forms of life.

Transcendent psychology is often interchanged with eco-psychology, because it acknowledges the process of transcending consciousness that radiates into and animates earth, referred to as anima mundi. It is reasoned that all humans must strive for self-actualization to sustain life on Earth. It is this collective consciousness that intertwines psychology and spirituality. It is the consciousness that will unite the entire world with a common purpose of promoting eternal life on Earth and ameliorating each individual's human experience.
 

For more information:
Abraham Maslow
Self Actualization