METAREALITY
is about to unfold? In usual psychiatric parlance,
these experiences are confidently described as illusions, hallucinations, ideas of reference and delusions. By definition, such experiences represent
signs of psychosis. Indeed, when accompanied by
signs of deteriorating functioning or wellbeing, it is
truly important that people seek help from mental
health professionals.
However, in other circumstances, such phenomena
might represent legitimate extraordinary, or even
sacred, experience. This alternative view is rarely
considered in mainstream mental health care settings. This is despite such paranormal phenomena
being recognized by a wide range of cultures across
the millennia as potentially representing aspects of
a fuller, elevated experience of the human condition.
These issues have intrigued me for a long time.
As a clinical psychologist, I entered the field as an
atheist. I believed that any belief in a deity or other paranormal experience represented an uninformed, superstitious bent, or a weaker, untrained
mind. But then something changed. As a 25-yearold skeptic I was introduced to the notion of synchronicity, or markedly uncanny and meaningful
coincidence. I read about it in a book called The
Aquarian Conspiracy by Marilyn Ferguson. I was
intrigued to learn more about why a number of
scientists had turned further to mystical thinking
in response to findings of quantum physics. Until
then I had assumed that any scientist worth their
salt would be agnostic. Then it happened. Whilst
reading about synchronicity, I started to experience an explosion of remarkable coincidences that
I could not dismiss as random.
Fast-forward 20 years to 2005. By this stage I’d long
come to view synchronicity as an important, core
aspect of my life experience. I’d long felt that remarkable coincidences were related to a hidden
order or organizing force in the universe, which
seemed benevolent in further pointing me towards
my destiny. I came to see synchronistic experience
as an affirming “tick from the universe” that I was
on the right track in pursuing the path I was on. I
didn’t discuss this much with many of my clients,
as this would extend well beyond my mainstream
clinical psychology practice. However, it was clear
from occasional comments that numerous others,
including clients, shared similar views.
63 | NEW CONSCIOUSNESS REVIEW
These issues have intrigued
me for a long time. As a
clinical psychologist, I entered
the field as an atheist. I
believed that any belief in
a deity or other paranormal
experience represented an
uninformed, superstitious
bent, or a weaker, untrained
mind.
Then in 2005 I faced a cluster of wicked problems
associated with circumstances around my mother’s impending death. My usual rational ways of
dealing with a range of challenging circumstances
would not be enough. I had a compelling feeling
that I would need to mindfully and deliberately G&r