Episode
#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
2:50:42
Published: Tue Nov 20 2018
Description
"I realized people were not having LSD experiences; they were having experiences of themselves. But they were coming from depths that psychoanalysis didn't know anything about." — Stanislav GrofStanislav Grof, M.D., (stanislavgrof.com) is a psychiatrist with more than 60 years of experience in research of "holotropic" states of consciousness, a large and important subgroup of non-ordinary states that have healing, transformative, and evolutionary potential.Previously, he was Principal Investigator in a psychedelic research program at the Psychiatric Research Institute in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Chief of Psychiatric Research at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, and Scholar-in-Residence at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA.Currently, Stan is Professor of Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco, CA, and conducts professional training programs in holotropic breathwork and transpersonal psychology, and gives lectures and seminars worldwide. He is one of the founders and chief theoreticians of transpersonal psychology and the founding president of the International Transpersonal Association (ITA).His publications include more than 150 articles in professional journals and books like Psychology of the Future, The Cosmic Game, and Holotropic Breathwork, among many others.In this wide-ranging interview, we cover many topics, including:Some of his main takeaways after supervising or guiding ~4,500 LSD sessionsThe place and role of "wounded healers"Limitations and uses of traditional psychoanalysis and talk therapyHolotropic breathwork and some similarities to MDMAStories of odd synchronicities and the seemingly impossibleStan's strangest personal experiences on psychedelicsWhat Stan believes humanity most needs to overcome: division and destructionI hope you'll enjoy this in-depth conversation with Stan Grof!This episode is brought to you by Peloton, which has become a staple of my daily routine. I picked up this bike after seeing the success of my friend Kevin Rose, and I’ve been enjoying it more than I ever imagined. Peloton is an indoor cycling bike that brings live studio classes right to your home. No worrying about fitting classes into your busy schedule or making it to a studio with a crazy commute.New classes are added every day, and this includes options led by elite NYC instructors in your own living room. You can even live stream studio classes taught by the world’s best instructors, or find your favorite class on demand.Peloton is offering listeners to this show a special offer. Visit onepeloton.com and enter the code TIM at checkout to receive $100 off accessories with your Peloton bike purchase. This is a great way to get in your workouts or an incredible gift. Again, that’s onepeloton.com and enter the code TIM.This episode is also brought to you by LegalZoom. I’ve used this service for many of my businesses, as have quite a few of the icons on this podcast such as Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg of WordPress fame.LegalZoom is a reliable resource that more than a million people have already trusted for everything from setting up wills, proper trademark searches, forming LLCs, setting up non-profits, or finding simple cease-and-desist letter templates.LegalZoom is not a law firm, but it does have a network of independent attorneys available in most states who can give you advice on the best way to get started, provide contract reviews, and otherwise help you run your business with complete transparency and up-front pricing. Check out LegalZoom.com and enter promo code TIM at checkout today for special savings and see how the fine folks there can make life easier for you and your business.***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Please fill out the form at tim.blog/sponsor.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapters
Peloton offers cutting-edge indoor cycling bikes that allow you to work out at home with live classes or on-demand classes with thousands of other riders across the country.
00:00 - 03:17 (03:17)
Summary
Peloton offers cutting-edge indoor cycling bikes that allow you to work out at home with live classes or on-demand classes with thousands of other riders across the country. By using real-time metrics to track your progress, you are motivated to beat personal bests and workout in the convenience of your own home.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Psychiatrist and founder of transpersonal psychology Stanislav Groff joins Tim Ferris to discuss his 60 years of research of holotropic states of consciousness and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics such as LSD and MDMA, as well as how to overcome division and destruction in humanity.
03:17 - 09:15 (05:58)
Summary
Psychiatrist and founder of transpersonal psychology Stanislav Groff joins Tim Ferris to discuss his 60 years of research of holotropic states of consciousness and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics such as LSD and MDMA, as well as how to overcome division and destruction in humanity.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The interviewee was a medical student in the 1950s and began to work with LSD in phenomenological research.
09:16 - 15:15 (05:58)
Summary
The interviewee was a medical student in the 1950s and began to work with LSD in phenomenological research. He shares how they had no idea what the substance would do and believed it could change psychology and psychiatry forever.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Dr. Stanislav Grof discusses his experience with non-ordinary states of consciousness, such as those induced by LSD, and the importance of language and paradoxicality in describing these experiences.
15:15 - 26:14 (10:58)
Summary
Dr. Stanislav Grof discusses his experience with non-ordinary states of consciousness, such as those induced by LSD, and the importance of language and paradoxicality in describing these experiences. He also emphasizes the variability of individual experiences and the idea that consciousness is mediated, but not generated, by the brain.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Holotropic states of consciousness are a subcategory of non-ordinary states that have healing, therapeutic, and transformative potentials.
26:14 - 32:42 (06:27)
Summary
Holotropic states of consciousness are a subcategory of non-ordinary states that have healing, therapeutic, and transformative potentials. Developed by Stanislav Grof, holotropic refers to moving towards wholeness and entails experiences that challenge the conventional way of thinking.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Dr. Stanislav Grof, a psychiatrist and one of the founders of the field of transpersonal psychology, discusses the various categories of holotropic experiences, including ancestral, ritual, and religious practices, and modern methods such as psychedelic substances.
32:42 - 43:25 (10:43)
Summary
Dr. Stanislav Grof, a psychiatrist and one of the founders of the field of transpersonal psychology, discusses the various categories of holotropic experiences, including ancestral, ritual, and religious practices, and modern methods such as psychedelic substances.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode, psychiatrist and pioneering researcher Dr. Stanislav Grof explains how psychedelic substances like LSD can activate the self-healing intelligence of the psyche and take us to the different layers of traumatic experiences underlying emotional and psychosomatic symptoms.
43:25 - 51:23 (07:58)
Summary
In this episode, psychiatrist and pioneering researcher Dr. Stanislav Grof explains how psychedelic substances like LSD can activate the self-healing intelligence of the psyche and take us to the different layers of traumatic experiences underlying emotional and psychosomatic symptoms. He shares how this new tool has expanded the map of psychology, and discusses the potential of using psychedelic therapy for psychiatric treatment as well as its relationship with traditional psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The host discusses the use of psycholytic dosages of psychedelic materials and holotropic breathwork for inducing non-linear states.
51:23 - 1:02:54 (11:31)
Summary
The host discusses the use of psycholytic dosages of psychedelic materials and holotropic breathwork for inducing non-linear states. He explores the limitations of psychoanalysis in addressing emotional and psychosomatic problems that may have roots in perinatal and transpersonal experiences.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker is a mythologist who has seen many psychedelic experiences.
1:02:54 - 1:12:24 (09:29)
Summary
The speaker is a mythologist who has seen many psychedelic experiences.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The use of psychedelic drugs to induce mystical experiences has been a topic of debate in the philosophical world, with some arguing that it accelerates spiritual development, while others, like materialistic scientists, believe it is all just chemistry.
1:12:24 - 1:20:47 (08:22)
Summary
The use of psychedelic drugs to induce mystical experiences has been a topic of debate in the philosophical world, with some arguing that it accelerates spiritual development, while others, like materialistic scientists, believe it is all just chemistry. However, experts in the field have agreed that chemically induced experiences are phenomenologically indistinguishable from traditional mysticism.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast, the speaker discusses the concept of synchronicity, which is the meaningful connection between an intra-psychic event and a material universe event, and shares his personal experience with this phenomenon, including encounters with the Indian saint Muktananda and the ancient psychedelic plant soma.
1:20:47 - 1:28:36 (07:49)
Summary
In this podcast, the speaker discusses the concept of synchronicity, which is the meaningful connection between an intra-psychic event and a material universe event, and shares his personal experience with this phenomenon, including encounters with the Indian saint Muktananda and the ancient psychedelic plant soma.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Stanislav Grof talks about various synchronicities and unexplainable experiences in the field of transpersonal psychology, including a story involving a dream, a fossil nautilus, and the collision of tectonic plates.
1:28:36 - 1:38:50 (10:13)
Summary
Stanislav Grof talks about various synchronicities and unexplainable experiences in the field of transpersonal psychology, including a story involving a dream, a fossil nautilus, and the collision of tectonic plates.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this conversation, the speakers discuss unconventional healing methods such as holotropic breathwork, Sephardic chanting, and ayahuasca trips that have helped people overcome depression and psychological problems.
1:38:50 - 1:49:38 (10:47)
Summary
In this conversation, the speakers discuss unconventional healing methods such as holotropic breathwork, Sephardic chanting, and ayahuasca trips that have helped people overcome depression and psychological problems.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast, psychiatrist and psychedelic researcher Stanislav Grof discusses his experiences with high dose psychedelic sessions and the various psychological insights that can be gained from them.
1:49:39 - 1:55:50 (06:11)
Summary
In this podcast, psychiatrist and psychedelic researcher Stanislav Grof discusses his experiences with high dose psychedelic sessions and the various psychological insights that can be gained from them. He also touches on the topic of microdosing and the difference between naturally occurring spiritual emergencies and those precipitated by psychedelics.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Dr. Stanislav Grof speaks about his experience with psychedelic therapy and discusses the benefits of having a larger map of the human psyche for diagnosing and treating mental illnesses.
1:55:52 - 2:02:10 (06:18)
Summary
Dr. Stanislav Grof speaks about his experience with psychedelic therapy and discusses the benefits of having a larger map of the human psyche for diagnosing and treating mental illnesses.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Stanislav Grof, a psychiatrist and researcher, shares his experiences with psychedelics, spirituality, and exploring the human psyche through holotropic states.
2:02:11 - 2:13:46 (11:34)
Summary
Stanislav Grof, a psychiatrist and researcher, shares his experiences with psychedelics, spirituality, and exploring the human psyche through holotropic states. He discusses the systematic exploration of the psyche in Eastern spiritual philosophies, and how his entire professional career has been related to these holotropic states.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The host talks about the paradigm shift in consciousness and the human psyche that is comparable to what the physicists experienced in the first three decades of the 20th century, and how it can complement the changes in the understanding of matter.
2:13:46 - 2:21:26 (07:40)
Summary
The host talks about the paradigm shift in consciousness and the human psyche that is comparable to what the physicists experienced in the first three decades of the 20th century, and how it can complement the changes in the understanding of matter. He also discusses the potential of psychedelics in unlocking human creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Psychiatrist Dr. Stanislav Grof discusses his deep commitment to bringing holotropic states into society and psychiatry, and highlights the significance of the ancient Greek Elusis mysteries' use of such states.
2:21:26 - 2:27:56 (06:29)
Summary
Psychiatrist Dr. Stanislav Grof discusses his deep commitment to bringing holotropic states into society and psychiatry, and highlights the significance of the ancient Greek Elusis mysteries' use of such states. He also clarifies the confusion between the territory and the map and the significance of normal science in problem-solving.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Stanislav Grof discusses the difference between organized religion and spirituality, emphasizing that spirituality is more inclusive and universal, whereas organized religion can create divisions and conflicts.
2:27:56 - 2:34:18 (06:21)
Summary
Stanislav Grof discusses the difference between organized religion and spirituality, emphasizing that spirituality is more inclusive and universal, whereas organized religion can create divisions and conflicts. He also talks about how direct spiritual experiences can lead to a deeper understanding of environmental issues.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Stan Grof recounts a transformative experience during a Native American sacred ceremony, where a professor of religion gave a speech asking for forgiveness for the wrongdoings of the colonizers towards Native Americans.
2:34:18 - 2:42:24 (08:05)
Summary
Stan Grof recounts a transformative experience during a Native American sacred ceremony, where a professor of religion gave a speech asking for forgiveness for the wrongdoings of the colonizers towards Native Americans. This led to a powerful moment of reconciliation and forgiveness, and Grof shared this experience to promote forgiveness and understanding among different cultures.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Stanislav Grof shares his insights on what humanity lost with the adoption of industrial civilization and how returning to the use of psychedelics in focused self-exploration can lead to inner transformation.
2:42:24 - 2:48:04 (05:40)
Summary
Stanislav Grof shares his insights on what humanity lost with the adoption of industrial civilization and how returning to the use of psychedelics in focused self-exploration can lead to inner transformation.
Episode#347: Stan Grof, Lessons from ~4,500 LSD Sessions and Beyond
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Peloton is an advanced indoor cycling bike that lets you join live studio classes anywhere at home.
2:48:04 - 2:50:34 (02:29)
Summary
Peloton is an advanced indoor cycling bike that lets you join live studio classes anywhere at home. With the option to ride on demand or live with thousands of other riders across the country, you can find the class structure, style and instructor that works best for you.