Synopses & Reviews
In this revised, expanded edition of Opening to Inner Light, Dr. Ralph Metzher, world-renowned pioneer in the field of consciousness studies, gives us twelve metaphors for stimulating psychospiritual transformation. These metaphors, such as "From Fragmentation to Wholeness" and "Integrating Human and Animal Consciousness", occur in major cultures and sacred traditions throughout the world.
Using his gift for insightful explanation of metaphor and symbol, Metzner draws on the writings of Eastern and Western mysticism, mythology, shamanic traditions, and Jungian and transpersonal psychology. He concludes that the evolutionary transformation of society and of humanity must take place first in the individual as a transformation of consciousness.
Rich in symbolic imagery and the personal experience of Ralph Metzner's colleagues, clients, and students, this is a book for all who have undergone deep personal change. Those who immerse themselves in these metaphors will find a rich and practical source for understanding and guiding their own process of transformation.
Synopsis
This book identifies the universal structures that underlie the varieties of transformative experiences, much as William James did a century ago in The Varieties of Religious Experience. Featuring dozens of illustrations, this book, now a "One Spirit" Book-of-the-Month-Club selection, is a brilliant cross-cultural examination of the power of archetypal metaphors to nurture profound experiences of transformation.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 301-311) and index.
About the Author
Raplh Metzner is world-renowned as a pioneer in the study of consiousness and transformative experience. He worked with Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert on psychedelic research at Harvard, where he received a Ph. D. in clinical psychology. He has since practiced psychotherapy and pursued research in consciousness studies in a variety of settings. Today he teaches at the california Institute of Integral Studies, where he was Academic Dean for 10 years. His other books include The Psychedelic Experience, Maps of Consciousness, and The Well of Remembrance.