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An 'altered state of consciousness' is any state which is significantly different from a normative waking beta wave state. The expression was coined by Charles Tart and describes induced changes in one's mental state, almost always temporary. A synonymous phrase is "altered states of awareness". An associated body of research has been conducted in trance and this is becoming the predominant auspice terminology. Trance includes all "altered states of consciousness" as well as the various forms of waking trance states.
An altered state of consciousness can come about accidentally through, for example, fever, sleep deprivation, starvation, oxygen deprivation, nitrogen narcosis (deep diving), or a traumatic accident.
It can sometimes be reached intentionally by the use of sensory deprivation, Isolation tank, or mind-control techniques, hypnosis, meditation, prayer, or disciplines (e.g. Mantra Meditation, Yoga, Sufism or Surat Shabda Yoga).
It is sometimes attained through the ingestion of psychoactive drugs such as alcohol and opiates, or psychoactive plants and chemicals such as LSD, DXM, 2C-I, peyote, marijuana, mescaline, Salvia divinorum, MDMA, psychedelic mushrooms, ayahuasca or datura (Jimson weed).
Another effective way to induce an altered state of consciousness is using a variety of Neurotechnology such as Hemi-Sync, psychoacoustics, Mind machines, light and sound stimulation, Cranial electrotherapy stimulation, and such; these methods attempt to induce specific brainwave patterns, and a particular altered state of consciousness.
Naturally occurring altered states of consciousness include dreams, lucid dreams, euphoria, ecstasy, psychosis as well as purported premonitions, out-of-body experiences, and channeling.

Contents

Typology

See also

References

External links

Typology

The following are the types of altered states of consciousness with the associated brainwave frequencies.
ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS:
Alpha 12.39 ~ 9.9 Hertz (Hz) Start of Meditation
Low Alpha 9.89 ~ 8.2 Hz Inspiration, Mental Mediumship, Clairvoyance etc.
Alpha/Theta 8.19 ~ 7.7 Hz Light Trance, Overshadowing
High Theta 7.69 ~ 7.1 Hz Partial Loss of Awareness
Theta 7 ~ 4.9 Hz Further Loss of Awareness
Low Theta 4.89 ~ 4.3 Hz Deeper Trance
Theta/Delta 4.29 ~ 3.9 Hz Out of Body Feeling
High Delta 3.89 ~ 3 Hz Spirit guides Controlling
Delta 2.9 ~ 1.5 Hz Passive Body
Low Delta 1.49 ~ 0.5 Hz Full Deep Trance
Panning 0.49 ~ 0.01 Hz Where Have You Gone?

See also

★ Psychology of religion

★ Neurotheology

★ Freedom of thought

★ Places of power

★ Aldous Huxley

★ Carlos Castaneda

★ Charles Tart

★ Claudio Naranjo

★ John C. Lilly

★ Timothy Leary

★ Stanislav Grof

★ John Curtis Gowan

★ Bruce Eisner

★ Psychedelic experience

★ Psychonaut

★ Flow (psychology)

★ Trance

★ Lenard

★ Hemi-Sync

★ Psychedelic drug

★ Meditation

References

★ James, William ''The varieties of religious experience'' (1902) ISBN 0-14-039034-0

★ Tart, Charles T., editor. ''Altered States of Consciousness'' (1969) ISBN 0-471-84560-4

★ Tart, Charles T. ''States of Consciousness'' (2001) ISBN 0-595-15196-5

★ Wier, Dennis R. ''Trance: from magic to technology'' (1995) ISBN 1-888428-38-4

★ Hoffman, Kay (1998). ''The Trance Workbook: understanding & using the power of altered states''. Translated by Elfie Homann, Clive Williams, and Dr Christliebe El Mogharbel. Translation edited by Laurel Ornitz. ISBN 0-8069-1765-2

External links

★ HypnosisAndSuggestion.org exploring the science behind hypnosis and suggestion

★ Explorations in Consciousness Online community dedicated to the exploration of consciousness through out-of-body experiences, lucid dreams and altered states of consciousness.

★ Mind Media Guide to Hypnosis and Altered States

★ Trance Meditation

★ Dual-Induction Hypnosis, Guided Meditation