2. I will argue that Polarisation of psychosis and spirituality is a false dichotomy Both represent an experience of inner and outer reality that is qualitatively different from the everyday.

3. In defining psychosis and spirituality, I will Attempt to start from experience. Not from diagnostic label. Not from a particular theoretical framework.

4. Psychosis: a state in which Anomalous experiences occur Interpretation of experience is out of line with other people’s Everyday life is difficult Usually, but not always, involves unpleasant emotions.

5. Spiritual experience - towards the end of the following continuum: Non-focussed state of reverie deep relaxation - meditation non-ordinary states of consciousness - trance or ecstatic timeless sense of unity: mystical experience

6. Instead of psychosis and spirituality, I propose two ways of operating in the world: The everyday The transliminal Both of these are available to all human beings. THE DISCONTINUITY exists between these two states.

7. 1. Everyday Ordinary Clear limits Access to full memory and learning Precise meanings available Separation between people Clear sense of self Emotions moderated and grounded

8. 2. Transliminal Numinous Unbounded Access to propositional knowledge/memory is patchy Suffused with meaning or meaningless Self: lost in the whole or supremely important Emotions: swing between extremes or absent

9. Looking at this cognitively Two complementary approaches Kelly’s Personal Construct Theory Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (Teasdale and Barnard).

10. Constructs Are based on past experience/memory New experience is filtered through our constructs They colour and help to define our world Each person’s construct system is unique to them.

11. Transliminal Experience = operating Beyond the Construct System No means of anticipating or discriminating A state without boundaries Both/and - two contradictory things can be simultaneously valid

12. The self beyond the constructs Our understanding of our “self” is a construct Losing the construct of “self” = loss of fixed identity The individual might be supremely important They might be worthless, or not exist as a separate person.

13. Moving beyond the constructs Is hard for most but not for others - cf. Schizotypy Is often mediated by change in state of arousal/consciousness - e.g. mind altering spiritual practices or drugs. It can be a response to crisis or impasse

14. Stages in the experience Not all experienced by everyone. First: ecstatic - unitive When prolonged - becomes frightening

15. Living without Constructs and Boundaries Mind is no longer private Open to any influence or “insertion” Loss of the construct “safe/dangerous” - danger can come from anywhere.

16. Looking at this cognitively Two complementary approaches Kelly’s Personal Construct Theory Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (Teasdale and Barnard).

17. Interacting Cognitive Subsystems An information processing model of cognition. Developed through extensive research into memory and limitations on processing. What follows is a simplified diagram of the aspects of the system to be referred to here.

18. Propositional subsystem Implicational subsystem Body State subsystem Implicational Memory Propositional memory Auditory ss. Visual ss. Interacting Cognitive Subsystems. Verbal ss.

19. Good everyday functioning = good communication between implicational and propositional This is impeded by high arousal I suggest that this communication is temporarily, or partially, blocked, in psychosis. This leaves the implicational level in charge Which leads to the range of experiences I am calling the transliminal.

20. Implicational Subsystem concerns Meaning and meaningfulness The self; threat and value Intense, extreme feelings (all or nothing) Loss of fine discrimination and boundaries (domain of the propositional subsystem)

21. Instead of psychosis and spirituality, I propose two ways of operating in the world: The everyday The transliminal Both of these are available to all human beings. THE DISCONTINUITY exists between these two states.

22. I suggest Both ways of encountering reality are equally valid Both are intrinsically incomplete Human beings have always honoured the transliminal Made space for the sacred.

23. Advantages of this model It brings psychosis into the realm of universal human experience It helps to explain common psychotic experiences, such as: –thought insertion –distortions in the sense of self

24. Further advantages of this model It clarifies the characteristics of the transliminal; –both/and, not either/or – emotional extremes –numinosity It sheds light on the relationship between the transliminal and scientific enquiry.

25. Web of Relationships Imp. Ss Prop.ss Self as subject self as object Sense of value comes from rel. with the spiritual primary care-giver