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Want to know more
about Psychosynthesis?
Psychosynthesis brings together the two traditions of psychology and mysticism.
Psychology is then infused with a sense of soul and meaning, whilst the
mystery traditions benefit from the grounding and reflective qualities of
psychology.
Psychosynthesis is a practical system which is not about the application
of techniques, but learning to live with a vision that comes from deep within
oneself.
What is Psychosynthesis?
(a longer answer)
What group based courses do you offer?
What books can I read about Psychosynthesis?
Do you have any articles I can read
about Psychosynthesis topics?
Can I have Psychosynthesis counselling
or therapy?
Do you have links to other Psychosynthesis
sites?
Anything we haven't covered, please let us know
Available Now!
Psychosynthesis:
The Elements and Beyond
everything ypu need
to understand and use
the visions and technques
of psychosynthesis
In this article, Will Parfitt presents the psychosynthesis vision
of individual and collective responsibility as a way of furthering global
awareness. As Roberto Assagioli, the founder of psychosynthesis said: 'A
sense of responsibility, understanding, compassion, love, and harmlessness
are all links in the chain of right relationships which must be forged within
our own hearts.'
Relationship shapes our lives. There are times when a relationship is heart
shaped, and times when a relationship is another shape altogether, maybe
even dagger shaped. An individual mood can make all relationships conform
to a particular shape, from, for instance,' I love everyone' to 'everyone's
out to get me'. Sometimes relationship not only shapes a life, it controls
it. Sometimes not having a particular relationship may control a life, too.
The power of relationship for pleasure and for pain is undeniable. Yet we
cannot do without relationship nor would we want to. Everyone and everything
in the world is truly interdependent. We belong to families, social classes,
local action groups, unions, groups of work colleagues, football teams,
astrological types, ethnic minorities, and so on. And we belong, as the
human family, to the interdependent biosphere of all living things.
The psychosynthesis approach to life brings the spiritual into relationship
with the everyday ('as above, so below'), and the inner into relationship
with the outer ('as within, so without'). Psychosynthesis aims to deal with
all dimensions of human existence and recognizes that relationship is rarely
if ever simple. Problems arise between individuals and between different
groups which are similar to those that arise within an individual. The interdependence
of all the different spheres of experience needs to be recognized, individually
and collectively, to create the ground for more harmonious relationships.
The essential aim of psychosynthesis is to help people discover their true
spiritual nature, then to effectively utilize this discovery in everyday
life. Psychosynthesis can help both the individual and a group realize creative
potential, increase the ability to function harmoniously in the modern world,
and improve the quality of relationships.
Psychosynthesis is not just a theory, but is a practical, working method
that integrates principles and techniques from many approaches to personal
and spiritual growth. Whilst it concentrates on the personality, psychosynthesis
emphasizes the value of intuition, inspiration and creative insight, including
transpersonal and psychospiritual experiences. Yet, whilst it explores these
areas, it in no way imposes any form of doctrine or belief system. Psychosynthesis
is not a religion, nor would it ever want to be, so it is equally suitable
for everyone, whatever they choose to believe or not.
Diversity is created from unity in order that all beings can find their
own way to realise the source from whence they came and to which they are
returning. Divided for the sake of love, we can find ourselves through love
and, in finding ourselves, discover that our separation was an illusion.
We have the opportunity from a place of division to form a union, to coming
together with another being and be at one with him or her, or even to come
together with all other beings and realise a total union. Without division
no such knowledge would be possible. Whilst we are in this world of duality,
we help bring more beauty and harmony into the world through a clear consciousness
of loving what we do and doing what we love.
The psychosynthesis approach is not an ungrounded, 'mystical' view of life.
Of course, the reality of a mystical experience which separates an individual
from their mundane, earthly existence and, in a state of bliss, leads them
to temporarily forget all outer reality and the environment cannot be denied.
To become attached to such experiences, however, is to fall into the mystical
trap. Psychosynthesis stresses the importance of avoiding this through always
paying attention to bringing all transpersonal energies back to ground and
finding a way of expressing them in the 'ordinary world'.
The mystical experience is not an end in itself but rather a step along
the way from which the individual, who has the fortunate to have such an
experience, can draw creative energy and enthusiasm. Indeed, the true mystical
experience brings with it the desire to come back into the world to express
the energies involved and help one's fellow human beings to also experience
this enlightenment. The 'mystic' who remains spaced out has missed the boat,
as it were, that carries us all, irrespective of our experiences, towards
the final goal of fully realised and consciously shared union.
The other mystical trap is to believe that once one has reached some sort
of blissful state, or received some sense of enlightenment, that this is
all there is to it. It is the experience of all the great mystics that enlightenment
is neither an end in itself nor, as such, does it last forever. Nothing
remains the same, everything changes, and the enlightened state is no exception
to this cosmic rule. Everything that is alive is in a constant state of
movement, renewing itself as it moves from moment to moment. To stop moving
is, quite simply, to die (and even then this is an illusion for in death
there is, at the very least, decay and a return to an energy state). Each
revelation has to be grounded, expressed and also not clung to. In psychosynthesis,
the true mystic is seen as the one who is working to express the energies
with which he or she has connected, not the one who remains connected and
has nothing left to say, do or feel.
Many people in the modern world suffer from what is sometimes called the
'crisis of meaning'. Particularly in the western world but increasingly
over the whole planet, many people live in an existential vacuum, where
life has lost its meaning (beyond, at the best, the purely material). In
this modern world, with its collective lack of meaning, there is much strife
between people. The state of the world on an ecological level is poor due
to the greed of some people and the mindlessness of others. There often
seems to be such an appalling lack of care and understanding and so much
unbalance, particularly in the interaction between people. Psychosynthesis
helps with the healing of this 'illness' through assisting an individual
to know her- or him-self. To know oneself is to bring meaning back into
life which then creates a context for living a life in accord with others.
Psychosynthesis is not only a method for self realisation, but is a continuous
and organic process that is happening in the psyche of everyone at all times.
This process happens naturally, but it tends to become blocked. Psychosynthesis
includes techniques for unblocking this process which are not used mechanically,
but are applied with care and attention. They can then act as transforming
agents, putting the individual and the group in touch with the natural flow
of growth and development.
Psychosynthesis includes the whole person, which is composed of the personality
plus the spiritual realms, including our connection to the divine, whether
that is seen as some outside energy or ultimately within us. Psychosynthesis
aims to develop the individual and group on all levels: as growth occurs
in the personality, more effective ways to experience life and to express
ourselves are found. As growth happens in the connection to the transpersonal
realms, more positive, beneficial qualities are unleashed into life. More
effective ways of utilizing creative energies are discovered. Creativity,
in the psychosynthesis sense, is not just about drawing, painting, making
music, sculpting or whatever (although it is these things as well), but
acknowledges the fact that everyone is creative in their own ways. With
the right attitude, it is as equally creative doing housework as in painting
a masterpiece, in changing a baby's nappy as in encouraging it to walk and
talk.
An important, underlying principle of synthesis is that the whole is greater
than the sum of the parts. If we look at a painting and analyze it into
its component parts we may find the different colours, brush strokes, shading
and light, figures and background, we may even find beautiful scenes depicted
within it, trees, people, places ... but we have to see it as a whole, in
its entirety before we can realise the value of it as a great work of art.
What comes out of that synthesized whole is something beyond any or all
of the individual components, perhaps something that even transcends the
artists original conception.
Whilst looking towards wholeness, psychosynthesis respects the individuality
of each part. No bit of us is 'better' or 'worse' than another bit. On the
contrary, psychosynthesis says that each part of us has its purpose and
has the potential to be truly synthesized and integrated. Conflicts can
then be experienced in this light - as the source of the energy which allows
us to know more about ourselves. When we work on our inner conflicts, we
can utilize the energy this releases to bring ourselves into a more effective
state. In other words, apparent obstacles are gifts with as much value as
the more obvious gifts received when things are going well. This is true
for groups, of course, as much as for the individual.
Some of the more spiritual connections made in psychosynthesis foster the
realisation that all life forms, not just human beings, are part of a totally
interconnected and inseparable energy field. Whilst most of us may spend
a large part of our lives experiencing separation and disconnection, once
we start to explore the deeper aspects of our being we discover the underlying
truth of our connection. We may not be able to 'be there' all the time,
indeed it may not be right for us to stay in such a state, but once we have
the intimation of its existence, once we actually experience it in ourselves,
there is no looking back. We have 'set our sights' on the clarity and connection
that comes from such realizations and try to make each move we take a step
in that direction.
The realisation that we are connected to everyone and everything else brings
a different perspective on time and space wherein we can cultivate within
ourselves a sense of 'global consciousness'. Many of the exercises and techniques
of psychosynthesis help us have an inkling of this awareness and, perhaps
more importantly, ground this awareness in our everyday lives. When we ground
this awareness it helps us take actions that move the total collective consciousness
forward along its positive evolutionary path. It is not an exaggeration
to say that one small act made by one individual at one moment in time can
make a profound difference. To care for others, both those immediately within
our field of awareness and activity, and also all living and non-living
things generally, is the way to ground this consciousness
When we care for our environment, both locally and generally, we are also
grounding our deepest, psychospiritual consciousness. We shape our relationships
with care and consideration. Every conscious act that includes such qualities
furthers the cause of global awareness. Psychosynthesis can aid us in finding
many different ways to contribute to this cause, and recognize that each
way adds to the richness of our experience. Perhaps such awareness will
bring about some cures for the ills which currently threaten not only our
individual existence but the existence of life as we know it on this beautiful
planet.
Will Parfitt is a UKCP registered psychotherapist and an experienced
and innovative group leader. Trained in Psychosynthesis, he has more than
thirty years experience of working with psychospiritual development, and
he travels internationally to run courses on a variety of subjects including
kabbalah and psychosynthesis. Will is author of several books
including 'Kabbalah for Life' and 'Psychosynthesis: the Elements and Beyond'.
© Will Parfitt 2006 (v7.1)