Ralph Metzner Book order

A classic guide to expanding perception and consciousness development

Exploring themes of consciousness and spiritual growth, this collection of poems spans 30 years of the author's travels in America and Europe. The work reflects teachings on meditation, psychedelics, and shamanism, and includes pieces recorded on a spoken voice CD, enhanced by music. Notably, "The Song of the Pearl" adapts a 5th-century Gnostic hymn, illustrating the soul's journey from incarnation to its ultimate return to the origin, offering profound insights into the nature of existence and transcendence.

Exploring the concept of entheogenesis, the author posits that humans are complex beings encompassing spiritual, cosmic, and physical dimensions. Drawing on five decades of engagement with entheogenic substances, the work highlights their potential for spiritual awakening, healing, and creativity. The text emphasizes the inherent connection between Spirit and all forms of existence, advocating for a thoughtful evaluation of these substances in addressing contemporary life challenges rather than promoting specific methods or treatments.

Drawing on over 30 years of firsthand observations, the author explores the underground use of psychedelic and entheogenic substances among various user groups in the US and Europe. The ethnographic field reports reveal insights from participant-observers, emphasizing that the impact of these substances extends beyond mere physical and psychological effects. Many experiences delve into profound cosmic and spiritual dimensions, highlighting the complexities of human existence and the cultural context surrounding these explorations.

Exploring the roots of domination and war, Dr. Metzner delves into the psychological impacts of violent child abuse, historical resource competition, and distorted predator behaviors. He connects these themes to modern capitalist and imperialist practices, while also examining mythological narratives, including Buddhist tales of power-addicted demons and Sumerian legends of extraterrestrial colonizers. Additionally, he investigates the teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff, suggesting that the causes of conflict may extend to cosmic history. His aim is to inspire further inquiry into resolving humanity's challenges.

Transformational experiences are as unique as they are profound, yet each portrays universal truths of human nature. In The Unfolding Self: Varieties of Transformative Experience, Ralph Metzner, PhD, unveils common dynamics and archetypes of the transformative experience, offering seekers and those in the throes of personal or societal transformation a reliable guide. Drawing from multiple disciplines ranging across the world's cultures (beginning with his collaborations with Dr. Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert at Harvard University in the early 1960s), Dr. Metzner explores subtle concepts using a tapestry of myth, allegory, and historical context. The Unfolding Self promises to provide its reader with valuable tools to become wise, impartial judges in their process of transformation into becoming a more integrated and fulfilled person. Readers who immerse themselves in these masterful descriptions can catalyze their own process of evolution. No comparable psychology of spirituality exists that draws from such a rich lifework of scholarship, experiment, and spiritual practice. Drawing from multiple disciplines and ranging across the world's cultures, Dr. Metzner goes beyond his roots in transpersonal psychology to uncover universal structures of spiritual transformation. Readers who immerse themselves in these masterful descriptions can catalyze their own process of evolution.

A personal account of the scientific, shamanic, and metaphysical encounters that led to the development of Metzner's psychological methods.

Stories and practices from the casebook of pioneering transpersonal psychotherapist Ralph Metzner

The book features a dialogue between two influential figures in consciousness research, Ram Dass and Ralph Metzner, as they share personal experiences and insights. Their conversational memoir explores themes of spirituality, personal growth, and the evolution of consciousness, offering readers a unique perspective on their groundbreaking work in the field. Through their reflections, they delve into the transformative power of awareness and the journey toward understanding the self and the universe.