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Unusual Spiritual Experiences in the context of Occulture
Horská, Kateřina ; Nešpor, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Pokorný, Vít (referee) ; Václavík, David (referee)
This work studies the environment of contemporary alternative spirituality in the Czech Republic, specifically unusual spiritual experiences and techniques for inducing them. It is based on long-term field research utilizing the method of participant observation carried out primarily in the environment of neo-shamanism, but also the use of psychedelics, dark therapy, and other movements and practices. I perceive and analyze these practices both as psychotechnologies - i.e. techniques through which their users strive to alter their thinking - as well as spiritual techniques aimed at establishing and cultivating a relationship with the spiritual world. The focus of this study is a comparison of neo-shamanism and other practices in three main aspects: the induction of experiences, the connection between spiritual experiences and the actor's life as a whole, and the changes in the perception of reality brought about by long- term practicing. I point out that in all these areas, techniques traditionally thought of as closely related exhibit fundamental differences. A non-negligible part of this study consists of methodological and theoretical considerations. I show that the field of alternative spirituality has many specifics compared to other religious environments, and that mainstream methodological...
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To thin from psychedelic experiences - a transdisciplinary interpretation
Pokorný, Vít ; Komárek, Stanislav (advisor) ; Horák, Miroslav (referee) ; Dadejík, Ondřej (referee)
Pokorný, V., To think from psychedelic experiences. Transdisciplinary interpretation. Diseration Thesis, Departement of General Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University Prague, 2016 Abstract: The goal of this text is to think from and according to psychedelic experiences. To think from psychededic experiences means to introduce a transdisciplinary model of psychedelic domain. This model is based on autoethnographic, cognitive, phenomenological and psychopharmacological types of analysis. These analyses allow to demonstrate: 1) place of psychedelics in contemporary globalised czech society; 2) possible heuristic (theoretical and experiemental) value of psychedelic experience for understanding human situation. This text interprets psychedelic experience as a process of deteritorialization and reteritorialization that occurs on different, intertwinned levels of our experience, and, thus, it is a contribution to explication of a philosophical concept of intertwinning. Keywords: psychedelic experience, transdisciplinarity, autoethnography, cognitive anthropology, anthropology of experience, enactivism, phenomenology, embodiment, analogy, intertwinning
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Possibilities and limits of alternative treatment and recovery from addiction by the psychedelic experience
Césarová, Eva ; Kalina, Kamil (advisor) ; Mravčík, Viktor (referee)
Backgroud: Current research suggests that psychedelics might have a significant therapeutic potential for the treatment of addictions, as well as the treatment of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses. The current renaissance of psychedelic research, as well as changes in the approach towards these substances we see in some countries, suggest that it is only a matter of time until psychedelics are officially used as a therapeutic tool in treatment. The progressive field of addictology in the Czech Republic could be one of the pioneers of psychedelic research in the treatment of addictions. Aim: The theoretical part of this work provides insights into the current events in the field of psychedelic research in the Czech Republic and in the world. The research part maps the perspectives and attitudes of Czech experts and representatives of leading institutions (areas of addictology, research on psychedelics and mental health and state administration) on the use of psychedelics in the treatment of addictions. The aim of this work was to find out how these experts approach this issue and what possibilities and limits of implementation of research on psychedelics in the treatment of addictions they perceive. Methods: Twelve respondents took part in a qualitative...
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The Imagination as a Link Between Dream and Art
MOLÍKOVÁ, Veronika
Where is the area, in which dream and art unite and in which they mingle situated, and, on the contrary, where is the borderline between them? What do our inner images mean for us? Is the imagination a link of artistic creation and dreaming? If we admit this, can we consider dreaming as a form of art, as an intentionally focussed activity inside us? The form of art with its proper author-recipient, with denying its servitude? Could we achieve an aesthetic attitude to a figure, to a construct, when its fundamentals cannot be revealed? Or is that consideration absolutely misled? Besides those consideration, some people confirm, that dreams are too elusive to be judged But works of art are not? And is not the solution hidden in spaces of our consciousness? The fusion of dream and art becomes the topic of the following lines.
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Altered States of Consciousness
Křečanová, Alena ; Hnilica, Karel (referee) ; Kebza, Vladimír (referee)
This theoretical study contains a systematic analysis of altered states of consciousness. The study is based on a reflection of the qualitative altered states of consciousness, that offers some potential and attempts to describe altered states of consciousness in their complexity as well as to map all their aspects in a structured. It utilises the notion of consciousness to define the altered states of consciousness. The chosen method is to work with literary sources where an emphasis is placed on an interdisciplinary approach. The structure of the thesis is divided into three chapters. The key topic of the first chapter is an examination of the phenomenon of consciousness and interdisciplinary theories of consciousness. The second chapter is focused on the description and analysis of altered states of consciousness, concentrates on the history and methods of research of altered states of consciousness and delineates their basic characteristic and their functions. The last chapter divides the altered states of consciousness into categories and gives them a detailed description. The thesis ends with a final conclusion which brings an integration of the findings above mentioned with the focused on the second chapter. Keywords: consciousness, altered states of consciousness, sleep and dreaming, near...
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Integrity Being
Křečanová, Alena ; Soukup, Martin (advisor) ; Balcerová, Michaela (referee)
This theoretical study attempts to reflect the general problematic of modern society in complexity, the gradual constitution and development of estranged being as well as the contemporary effort to interconnect being as an integral whole. The study also contains an analysis of altered states of consciousness, which are understood as a certain means to view the world as integrated. We use the notion of consciousness to define the altered states of consciousness. The structure of the thesis is divided into five chapters. While the first chapter is focused on description and analysis of alienation and other negative aspects of modern society, the second chapter is based on this reflection of the crisis of western society. Its subject is the work of several scientists who contribute by their works to a qualitative change of the mechanistic and materialistic conception of the world and who promote holistic approach to reality. The key topic of the third chapter is phenomenon of consciousness and interdisciplinary theories of consciousness. We deal also with the qualitative altered states of consciousness, that offer some potential. The fourth chapter concentrates on the history and methods of research of altered states of consciousness and delineates their basic characteristic and their functions. The...
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To thin from psychedelic experiences - a transdisciplinary interpretation
Pokorný, Vít ; Komárek, Stanislav (advisor) ; Horák, Miroslav (referee) ; Dadejík, Ondřej (referee)
Pokorný, V., To think from psychedelic experiences. Transdisciplinary interpretation. Diseration Thesis, Departement of General Anthropology, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University Prague, 2016 Abstract: The goal of this text is to think from and according to psychedelic experiences. To think from psychededic experiences means to introduce a transdisciplinary model of psychedelic domain. This model is based on autoethnographic, cognitive, phenomenological and psychopharmacological types of analysis. These analyses allow to demonstrate: 1) place of psychedelics in contemporary globalised czech society; 2) possible heuristic (theoretical and experiemental) value of psychedelic experience for understanding human situation. This text interprets psychedelic experience as a process of deteritorialization and reteritorialization that occurs on different, intertwinned levels of our experience, and, thus, it is a contribution to explication of a philosophical concept of intertwinning. Keywords: psychedelic experience, transdisciplinarity, autoethnography, cognitive anthropology, anthropology of experience, enactivism, phenomenology, embodiment, analogy, intertwinning
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Possession in voodoo - perspective of psychology and science of religion
KRONIKA, Ondřej Alexandr
The work concentrates on going through possesion conected with professing Haitian voodoo. Theoretical part provides an insight to this issue by usig view of religion psychology and transpersonal psychology orientation. There´s a part devoted to types of religous experiences, to problems of changed mind levels, psycho-spiritul crisis, etc. By using view of comparable religious, possession is also presented as a phenomemon which occures across different cultures. Possession is mainly presented in context of Haitian voodoo, which takes a separate. Quantitative research was choosen for practical part of work. In form of half-structured interview, there were mapped religion experiences of persons who have experiences with possission referring to professiong and practicing Haitian voodoo. Experiences of 4 respondents are observed by a psychological view. Research primarily focuses on psychical processes and symptoms connected with experiences with voodoo possession. Wider context as motives for making possission, circumstances when changed mind level can occurs, or influences which can endure from possession state even after the experience subsudes, is also taken into consideration.
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The context of first use of illegal drug
SMEJKALOVÁ, Tereza
This bachelor thesis deals with the context of using illegal drugs, especially during pubescence, adolescence and early adulthood, and focuses on the circumstances of first use of particular illegal drugs. The theoretical part defines an issue of gaining experiences with drugs and its overuse in context of socially pathological phenomenon and in context of psychopathology, mentions various personal and external motivation factors leading to the decision to use a psychoactive substance. In this part, there are described psychoactive effects of frequently abused drugs as well as risk impacts of usage drugs on consumer. This thesis also provides peripheral outline of the present situation in the matter of using drugs in Czech Republic. It also contains reflections about prevention possibilities. The empirical part includes a qualitative research, concerned to a wider context of first experiences with various illegal drugs, to description of these events and their consequences. The research questions are also stated in this part. The essential method, used in this research, is a semi-structured interview, realized with three respondents. The results of research are specified in particular case studies, containing some sequences of the interviews. The answers to research questions come after.
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