altered states of consciousness变性意识状态

In The Early Sessions Book 2, the treatment of "altered states of consciousness," which at this stage appears specifically as the "trance" state or the "desired state," is highly concrete and embodied. These discussions not only reveal the practical operations of entering and exiting the state but also record in detail the accompanying psychological, emotional, and distinctive bodily perceptions.

First, regarding the control and safety of the trance state, the experiencer displays a high degree of self-control. In one experience, although the set time for the trance had arrived and the experiencer faced a strong temptation to continue exploring more deeply, she restrained the impulse to go further because she was alone at the time (her husband Rob was at work) and considered it safer and wiser not to continue. The process of exiting the state was accomplished through conscious self-suggestion, that is, by "counting to three" to leave the trance state smoothly and return to the ordinary waking state ^[1].

Second, this altered state of consciousness brought about extremely strong positive psychological and emotional responses. After exiting the trance state, the experiencer felt "terrific, refreshed, dazzled." The intensity of the experience was so great that it led the experiencer to wonder whether this was what people usually call the state of "ecstasy" ^[1]. This indicates that the altered state of consciousness at this stage was not only a shift of conscious focus but also accompanied by profound emotional elevation and energetic reorganization.

Third, the book records in detail the distinctive and definite physical perceptions produced in the body while pursuing or being in this "desired state." These bodily perceptions were not hallucinations but were "definite enough so that there was no doubt of their existence." Specifically, the experiencer felt a "tight or squeezing sensation" in the right leg, right foot, and both arms, while the upper arms and upper legs did not have this sensation ^[2]. In addition, the experiencer experienced a "feeling of enlargement," which was definite and generalized in the lower arms and hands ^[2]. These detailed differences in bodily location show how altered states of consciousness uniquely reshape the distribution of body energy and sensory focus.

Finally, the process of entering this altered state of consciousness was not unaffected by external conditions but was closely related to the physical environment. The records show that in hot and humid weather conditions, reaching this desired state of consciousness became very difficult ^[2]. This indicates that in this period of exploration, everyday physical environmental factors such as temperature and humidity played an important constraining or facilitating role in the shift of conscious focus and the attainment of the state.

In summary, the treatment of altered states of consciousness in The Early Sessions Book 2 focuses on self-control in the trance state, intense ecstatic emotional experience, specific localized bodily perceptions such as tightness, squeezing, and enlargement, and the influence of the physical environment on entering the state. These records provide an extremely realistic and richly detailed empirical perspective for understanding the early exploration of focused states of consciousness.

In The Early Sessions Book 9, Seth gives a concrete and practically instructive treatment of "alterations of consciousness." In the sessions of this period, Seth mainly uses the specific form of the "out-of-body state" to explore in depth the distinctive features of this state, its implications for artistic creation, and its far-reaching significance for the individual's experience of multidimensional reality.

First, Seth points out the unique immediate interactive relationship between thought and matter in the out-of-body state. In the ordinary waking state, the transformation of thought into matter requires time and is subject to physical laws; in the out-of-body state, however, the individual can very easily reach certain environments in which thought can almost instantly become a kind of "plastic pseudo material" ^[1]. This characteristic provides the individual with a highly workable testing ground. For example, an artist can test many ideas about painting and various different techniques within this framework of consciousness, and can immediately see the actual effects produced by these ideas and techniques ^[1].

Second, Seth emphasizes that this altered state of consciousness is not a vague or unconscious dream but a "conscious, alert experience" ^[1]. This state can give the individual a "unique freedom" that cannot be fully expressed in words, as well as "a perspective and a viewpoint above reality" ^[1]. This perspective, which transcends ordinary physical limitations, can be directly reflected and expressed in the individual's daily work or artistic creations ^[1].

In terms of concrete practice, Seth proposes a distinctive exercise of projecting consciousness into artistic creation. He suggests that the individual imagine walking through or passing through a painting one has created, attempting to project one's consciousness completely into the pictured environment one has depicted ^[1]. In this altered state of consciousness, the individual can observe many phenomena that cannot be perceived in the ordinary waking state:

1. Observe colors that can only be seen in the out-of-body state. These colors contain gradations unfamiliar in daily life, and they can bring entirely new inspiration and change to the individual's palette ^[1].
2. Explore various radically different spatial relationships, and attempt in subsequent daily creative work to reproduce and express these unique spatial experiences ^[1].

In addition, Seth explains the long-term value and multidimensional significance of training in this altered state of consciousness. He points out that these disciplines involving alterations of consciousness can help the individual not only in all other areas of daily life but, more importantly, can allow the individual to become acquainted with and familiar with other realities in a very personal and intimate way ^[1]. This experience is also a necessary preparation for the future stage when the individual will no longer have a physical body with which to operate and act ^[1]. In this way, the individual can obtain "personal evidence" that cannot be gained through any other means ^[1]. Therefore, Seth strongly recommends joint out-of-body explorations to deepen mastery of this state ^[1].

Finally, regarding the transition from the ordinary state to this altered state of consciousness, the body and mind show specific reactions when the individual leaves such a deeply focused state of consciousness. For example, after Jane quickly leaves this kind of state, although she can recover rapidly, her body still remains in a very drowsy, relaxed, and warmly affectionate state, reflecting the gentle aftereffects that shifts of consciousness have on the physical body ^[2].

In Seth Speaks, Seth offers an in-depth treatment of "other stages or states of consciousness," that is, altered states of consciousness. He points out that human consciousness is not a stable, single beam like a flashlight, but is constantly flickering, fluctuating, and varying in intensity [136, 316, 357]. The so-called stream of waking consciousness is only a small brook of thoughts, images, and impressions, while it is part of a much deeper river of consciousness that represents the self's more far-reaching existence and experience [9527]. First, ordinary waking consciousness has great fluctuations and rhythms [357, 9566, 10010]. In daily life people often experience expansions, contractions, or shifts of consciousness, such as being absorbed in a book, daydreaming, or momentary "blank periods" [316, 357, 359]. These fluctuations, like meditation and creative moments, are excellent entry points into other areas of consciousness [359, 360]. However, the ego often deliberately covers over these areas and pretends upon returning that no interruption ever occurred [357, 10010]. Second, sleep and dreams are the most commonly experienced altered states of consciousness. In sleep, consciousness turns from external physical data inward, and the barriers between multiple layers of reality disappear [310]. In this state, consciousness can leave the body, communicate with other portions of its own entity and with people existing in other realities, including the "Speakers," and creatively maintain and refresh the physical body [310, 9533, 9537, 9614]. In the deepest levels of sleep, people communicate with other portions of their own entity and with the other realities in which those portions exist [9533]. Third, in different stages of consciousness, the way people perceive things changes, and changes in "symbols" are signposts indicating shifts in the state of consciousness [316, 322, 327, 10040]. For example, when resting with closed eyes, the pictures and images seen by the inner eye change rapidly like a kaleidoscope, representing the characteristic of consciousness turning away from worldly stimuli [10040]. Understanding the meaning of personal symbols can be used not only for dream interpretation but also as "road signs" for identifying which state of consciousness one is in [322, 327]. Fourth, Seth specifically describes several adjacent layers of consciousness, such as the "A-1 state" immediately adjacent to normal waking consciousness [337, 10068]. In this state, consciousness can enter one's own or another's body for healing, manipulate matter from within, observe physical events and solve problems from a clearer vantage point, and give more effective self-suggestions [337, 10068]. The "A-5 state" is an extremely deep and rarely reached level of consciousness, in which "people" from any time, space, or probable system can communicate with crystal clarity [10085]. Finally, information obtained in these stages of consciousness must be interpreted for normal waking consciousness, otherwise it may appear only indirectly in the form of fantasy, fiction, or works of art [350, 10089]. By using an "alternate focus," people can bypass the root assumptions that ordinarily guide and limit perception, turning in non-habitual directions to perceive other legitimate realities that exist simultaneously [356]. When exploring these areas, one must try as much as possible to set aside the basic assumptions of the human system, otherwise one will be forced to perceive them through the basic assumptions of one's own system, for example by translating fear into demons [10002, 10089]. Recognizing and learning to "shift gears," that is, consciously moving focus between different stages of consciousness, has great practical value [10012]. People can use these states to solve problems during sleep, direct physical healing, achieve reconciliation with distant friends, or seek psychological guidance from the "Speakers" [10012]. When the personality becomes aware of the existence of these other realities, it changes the electromagnetic connections within the brain and the psyche, causing the conscious ego to undergo a transformation and release broader potentials, no longer confined to a single physical reality [359, 10094].