Why We Need to Take Alternate States of Consciousness Seriously

When we think of "alternate states of consciousness" (ASCs), our minds often jump to hallucinogenic drugs. But these states can also be reached through deep meditation and other practices. In my own experience, people who have ventured into these states often report back with fascinating insights.

Reflecting on the work of psychologist Charles Tart, I've come to believe that our reality becomes limited when we fail to acknowledge its entirety. By curiously and authentically opening ourselves to altered states, we can access deeper levels of healing and wholeness.

Our "Normal" Consciousness Is Just One Map

Tart argues that what we call "ordinary consciousness" is not a given reality, but a construction. It’s a "map" of the world that has been shaped by our culture and language in ways that are often arbitrary. When we hold the belief that this one map is the only valid one, we close ourselves off from other ways of knowing.

It's tempting to dismiss ASCs as "bad" or "forbidden," but doing so means we lose the opportunity to learn from them.

The Need for a "State-Specific Science"

A key point from Tart's work is that the goal isn't to understand altered states from our "normal," waking point of view. That's like trying to understand what it's like to be a fish without ever getting in the water.

Instead, he advocates for developing "state-specific sciences." This means applying the same rigorous scientific methods we use to study our ordinary state of consciousness to these alternate states, allowing us to gain an accurate and familiar understanding of them on their own terms.

The Danger of Neglect

Tart makes another crucial point: if we, as professionals, don't study the field of alternate states to understand how they work, we leave these powerful experiences in the hands of the unprofessional and inexperienced.

This reminds me of a film I watched in a previous course about young people experimenting with altered states without any guidance. While some had positive and enlightening experiences, others suffered from drug overdoses.

This is the real-world consequence of treating ASCs as taboo. By refusing to study and understand them, we abandon vulnerable people to navigate these profound and potentially dangerous territories all on their own. Taking these states seriously is not about promoting reckless behavior, but about harnessing their incredible potential for healing while minimizing the risk of harm.