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| The Transpersonal Spirituality in Psychotherapy and Counselling |
I had expected this book to provide detailed descriptions of the characteristics of psychological defense mechanisms at each developmental stage, but it did not. Instead, I learned about intuition.
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One of the most enlightening takeaways from John Rowan's book, "The Transpersonal Spirituality in Psychotherapy and Counselling," second edition, is the classification of intuition into six developmental stages. This book explores how intuition differs at each stage of adult ego development, paralleling the differences in values and worldviews across the stages.
Each level is nested, meaning we can access previous levels but accessing higher states of consciousness from a lower one is more challenging.
The Child Self
This is a level of consciousness where fantasy and reality are not always well distinguished. Fantasies from childhood can take on permanent expressions in the form of paintings, constructions, or writing, influencing creative processes and methods in adulthood. Many creative individuals practice returning to this child-like state of thought and sensation to enhance creativity.
The Magical Self
Utilizes intuition to separate and deny isolation and fear. Intuitive individuals resonate with the needs of the group, often expressing fears and their answers in tangible forms. This is common among relatives and can occasionally manifest in our culture through enchanting speeches or popular music.
The Role-Playing Self
Used for obtaining social rewards, with an emphasis on problem-solving. Manifests in scientific discoveries and as products marketed as technologies or commodities. It's a skill.
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The Autonomous Self
Considered the most central expression of the self. Identified with the sentiment, "I am my intuition." At the boundary with the everyday self from previous stages. Intuition is linked to creativity and improvisation in real situations. Individuals at this level can respond with fresh and entirely new insights.
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The Surrendered Self
At this stage, which is the subtle level of consciousness, intuition is essentially seen as coming from a source other than the self. Inspiration is conceptualized as archetypes, goddesses, or similar entities. There is a feeling of serving something beyond oneself and being 'used' in this manner. It represents accepting inspiration and energy from external sources and being open to the flow of forces beyond oneself.
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The Intuitive Self
Entering a concrete unity with otherness through meditation or prayer. "I am the intuition. Intuition has trumped my persona. I have no interest in solving problems or even seeing them." For someone at other stages, it can be an interesting exercise to approach any issue with the spirit of confirming that there is no problem. It might enable more constructive action.
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These insights into the stages of intuition and how they correlate with the developmental stages of the ego provide a fascinating perspective on the evolution of our inner knowing. This was an insight related to the definition of the concept of 'creativity.' It offers a perspective that differentiates what was previously conflated. The differences in 'creativity' at each developmental stage, and the varying values placed on this 'creativity,' are insights that can contribute to realizations in the field of business.
