Altered states of consciousness.Introduction Dr. Andre Eggelletion gave a lecture on "Altered States of Consciousness altered states of consciousness, n.pl the various states in which the mind can be aware but is not in its usual wakeful condition, such as during hypnosis, meditation, hall-ucination, trance, and the dream stage. See also alternative states of consciousness. " which is one of the most mysterious and awesome subjects, besides God (Elohim), for humans to understand. In fact, humans need consciousness to contemplate God, the universe, and himself. Without consciousness there is nothingness noth·ing·ness n. 1. The condition or quality of being nothing; nonexistence. 2. Empty space; a void. 3. Lack of consequence; insignificance. 4. Something inconsequential or insignificant. . Simply put, consciousness is more than the awareness of our physical surroundings; it is also an awareness of our inner most subjective feelings and thoughts. It is this inner awareness or consciousness that is the means by which God (Elohim) reveals himself to mankind. Now as things occur within the world and within mankind's mind, altered states of consciousnesses arise to fit the situation. For example, normal waking consciousness is altered when one's wife is having a baby and when one is in a dangerous situation. In fact, modern psychologists have documented hundreds of altered states of consciousness besides the three obvious states: waking, sleeping and dreaming. These three normal states of consciousness correspond with the threefold tabernacle Tabernacle (tăb`ərnăk'əl), in the Bible, the portable holy place of the Hebrews during their desert wanderings. It was a tent, like the portable tent-shrines used by ancient Semites, set up in each camp; eventually it housed the Ark . There are hundreds of theories put forth to define consciousness, but none have fully explained it because it is not physical even though it manifests through the brain. In fact, the motory/sensory impressions of an infant, the first consciousness that humans understand, emerges through the brain and the nervous system. Modern science has begun to understand altered states of consciousness as a structural arrangement of the brain cells and a biochemical process in the brain, which is where Andre begins his discourse. Can one measure consciousness in the brain? Medical science has been able to measure consciousness as the product of the brain's activity. There are four levels of brain-wave activity with corresponding Greek letters Greek letters, n.pl symbols based on the Greek alphabet that are used to represent phenomena and objects in science. to designate each: beta, alpha, theta Theta A measure of the rate of decline in the value of an option due to the passage of time. Theta can also be referred to as the time decay on the value of an option. If everything is held constant, then the option will lose value as time moves closer to the maturity of the option. , and delta. The electroencephalogram electroencephalogram /elec·tro·en·ceph·a·lo·gram/ (EEG) (-en-sef´ah-lo-gram?) a recording of the potentials on the skull generated by currents emanating spontaneously from nerve cells in the brain, with fluctuations in potential seen as (EEG EEG: see electroencephalography. ) machine measures these brain-wave activities. The Beta Level The Beta Level defines our normal waking consciousness. Now 75% of waking consciousness is consumed with monitoring the body's physical functions. The other 25% of the Beta State deals with the thinking and planning state of the mind. The brain waves brain waves Neurology Oscillations/sec that correspond to various types of cerebral activity, as measured on an EEG. See Electroencephalogram. range from 14 to 27 cycles per second. The Alpha Level The Alpha State is the "resting state" of the brain. It is a passive state where one is non-critical and non-analytical. Listening to music and relaxing is reflexive of this state. One is aware of stimuli. Mystical states of consciousness happen in the alpha state and they usually occur prior to and just after sleep. The Alpha State also occurs voluntarily during light hypnosis, meditation, biofeedback biofeedback, method for learning to increase one's ability to control biological responses, such as blood pressure, muscle tension, and heart rate. Sophisticated instruments are often used to measure physiological responses and make them apparent to the patient, who , day dreaming, hypnogogic hyp·no·gog·ic adj. Variant of hypnagogic. Adj. 1. hypnogogic - sleep inducing hypnagogic, somniferous, somnific, soporiferous, soporific and hypnapompic states. The brain waves activity range from 8 to 13 cycles per second. Theta Level The Theta State is the "Reverie State" of conscious that is open to intuition and inspiration. Now stimuli are often ignored in this state. Theta occurs during light sleep. It is accessible during biofeedback and meditation. During this level, one is unaware of one's surroundings. The brain wave-activity ranges from 4 to 8 cycles per second. The Delta Level The lowest level of brain activity is the Delta State Delta State is a state in Nigeria, named for the Niger Delta. The state borders Edo State, Ondo State , Imo State, Anambra State and Bayelsa State. In the south west and south it has approximately 122 kilometres of coastline bounded by the Bight of Benin on the Atlantic ocean. . In this state the individual is unreceptive to any stimuli. The Delta State usually occurs during a deep sleep. These four levels of brain-wave activity enable science to understand the various components of consciousness. What are Altered States of Consciousness? Andre told the audience that medical science and psychology have determined that humans experience countless numbers of altered states of consciousness everyday of their life, such as day dreaming, internal scanning of one's inner states, joy, rapture, or sadness. Besides these states, there are the ones which everyone experiences: the normal waking state, sleep, and dreaming. Scriptures and various religious teachings show that the mind can be trained to enter meditative med·i·ta·tive adj. Characterized by or prone to meditation. See Synonyms at pensive. med  i·ta and trance-like states. The eastern
religions have documented this process along with modern science.
What causes Altered State of Consciousness An altered state of consciousness is any condition 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. ? Now altered states of consciousness fall into three categories: physical, mental, and spiritual and they can be voluntary and involuntary. Physical things, such as drugs, alcohol, sensory deprivation sensory deprivation n. The reduction or absence of usual external stimuli or perceptual opportunities, commonly resulting in psychological distress and sometimes in unpleasant hallucinations. , fasting, staring, and fatigue, can cause altered states of consciousness. On a mental level, hypnosis, dreaming, and yoga exercise, to list a few, can alter a person's consciousness. Finally, on a spiritual level the Holy Spirit can alter a person's consciousness by divine visions and revelation (Rom. 12:2). In the eastern religions this is called cosmic consciousness Cosmic consciousness is the concept that the universe is a living superorganism with which animals, including humans, interconnect, and form a collective consciousness which spans the cosmos. . Can one acquire knowledge in this altered state of consciousness? Throughout history most cultures believed that humans could obtain knowledge in an altered state of consciousness whether through drugs, induced trances, or dreams. The Bible shows that Yahweh revealed knowledge to man and inspired him through visions and dreams (Num. 12:6; Joel 2:28-29), which are altered states of consciousness from the normal waking state. Most of the time the knowledge obtained during these altered states of consciousness far exceeds that which humans obtain during their normal, analytical, waking state of mind. Prophecies, instructions on how to handle the various affairs of men, healings, and communication with spirits reflect some of these messages given during the non-waking state. For example, Moses received a vision of an angel in a burning bush (Exo. 3:2-5). While he was in an altered state of consciousness, the angel spoke to him and gave him signs and powers to perform before the Pharaoh in Egypt. The Apostle Peter fell into a trance and Yahweh gave him instructions to go to Cornelius, a Gentile, to preach the gospel to him and his household (Acts. 10th Chapter). Here the Holy Spirit induced a trance, an altered state of consciousness, to show Peter a vision. Edgar Cayce Edgar Cayce (March 18, 1877 – January 3, 1945) (pronounced IPA: /ˈkeɪsiː/ or 'Casey') was an American who claimed psychic abilities. (1877-1945) entered a trance to diagnose various illnesses. Can the tabernacle pattern explain altered states of consciousness? Andre Eggelletion ended the discourse by showing how altered states of consciousness operate according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the three compartments in the tabernacle pattern (Exo. 25:8-9). The various states of altered consciousness correspond to the compartments in the tabernacle. The seven steps Now moving from one state of consciousness to another corresponds to the high priest ascending and descending Ascending and Descending is a lithograph print by the Dutch artist M. C. Escher which was first printed in March 1960. The original print measures 14" x 11 1/4”. The lithograph depicts a large building roofed by a never-ending staircase. through the steps in the tabernacle: 1. The Gate of the Court Round About is symbolic of the beginning of our search within and a desire of a transformation of consciousness. 2. The Altar of Burnt Offering burnt offering n. A slaughtered animal or other offering burned on an altar as a religious sacrifice. : The death or sacrifice of the normal waking state of consciousness 3. The Laver: The cleansing of the mind. 4. The Door: A division between the normal and altered state. 5. The Holy Place: (a) The 7-branched lampstand typifies the elevation of one's consciousness through the 7 steps of the pattern. (b) he Altar of incense represents the Holy Spirit interceding for the souls in clay houses (Rom. 8:26-28). (c) The Table of shewbread shew·bread n. Variant of showbread. represents the words of the Holy Spirit in a man's consciousness, which elevates or alters a man's consciousness to a higher or mystical state (John 15:3). 6. The 2nd Veil is the doorway or the veil concealing the presence of Yahweh in one's consciousness. (Rev. 4:1-4) 7. Most Holy Place represents the source of visions and revelations, which is the Spirit or Yahweh. Conclusion These seven steps show how one leaves one state of consciousness and resurrects into the next by the death of one state and resurrection of another. The Apostle Paul explains this experience as follows. He said that he was lifted up to the third heaven, which is the Most Holy Place by the tabernacle pattern. "I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of Yahweh (the Lord). I know a man in the Messiah (Christ), fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; Elohim (God) knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; Elohim (God) knoweth), how that he was caught up into Paradise Into Paradise were a group from Dublin, Ireland whose influences included Joy Division and Echo and the Bunnymen. They formed in 1986 as 'Backwards into Paradise', and released their debut EP 'Blue Light' in 1989 on the independent label Setanta. , and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter (2 Cor 12:1-4)." Dr. Lee Warren, Plim Report |
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