and 2006). Over the last 30 years, Rick and I have jointly explored astrological correlations of holotropic states. My main task has been to collect interesting clinical observations from psychedelic sessions, Holotropic Breathwork workshops and training, mystical experiences, spiritual emergencies, and psychotic breaks. Rick’s main focus has been on astrological aspects of holotropic states of consciousness. This cooperation has yielded convincing evidence for systematic correlations between the nature, timing, and content of holotropic states of consciousness and planetary transits of the individuals involved. The first indication that some extraordinary connections might exist between astrology and my research of holotropic states was Rick’s realization that my description of the phenomenology of the four basic perinatal matrices (BPMs), experiential patterns associated with the stages of biological birth, showed astonishing similarity to the four archetypes that astrologers link to the four outer planets of the solar system: BPM I to Neptune, BPM II to Saturn, BPM III to Pluto, and BPM IV to Uranus. I must emphasize that my description of the phenomenology of the BPMs was based on clinical observations made quite independently many years before I knew anything about astrology. Even more astonishing was the discovery that in holotropic states the experiential confrontation with these matrices regularly occurs when the individuals involved have important transits of the corresponding planets. Over the years, we have been able to confirm this fact by thousands of specific observations and discover further astrological correlations for many other aspects of holotropic states. Because of these surprisingly precise correlations, astrology – particularly transit astrology – has turned out to be an invaluable instrument for consciousness research. This is a vast and extremely important topic and I cannot do it justice in the context of this paper. Interested readers will find more information in my two articles on holotropic states and archetypal astrology (Grof 2009, 2012), but adequate discussion of these remarkable findings will require a separate volume to be written by a professional astrologer. But I have seen enough evidence in the last 30 years to say at this point a few words concerning my present understanding of the relationship between the timing and nature of holotropic states, spontaneous or induced, and transit astrology. We have repeatedly seen that the experiences of individuals who enter holotropic states of consciousness seem to be attuned to and informed by the archetypal fields of the planets forming significant transits to their natal charts at this particular time. This selectively activates the COEX system having content with the corresponding archetypal qualities. This COEX then governs the inner experiences, as well as the perception of the external environment. The emerging unconscious material consists of biographical, perinatal, and transpersonal elements carrying these archetypal characteristics, often combined in very creative ways. The depth and intensity of this process depend on the power of the archetypal energies involved and on the number of previous experiences with holotropic 30 (28) Stanislav Grof
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzgxMzI=