Issue 11: Focus On Trauma
"Trauma can be defined as any unresolved autonomic nervous system response. It's about the nervous system's response to an event, not necessarily the event itself." - Jennifer Mulson
Trauma has many different aspects, but essentially it boils down to emotion that is too much to be dealt with in the moment of the causative event, and which subsequently affects the body-mind organism of the person affected. It is surely positive that there is much more recognition of trauma in our society than previously; the alternative is an identification with its effects as if they are an irreducible part of our being, rather than a temporary malady which can potentially be healed.
Feeling that ‘I’m just broken like that and there’s nothing I can do’, compared to ‘I can recover from the PTSD which is currently affecting me’: the former implies a profound powerlessness, while the latter acknowledges the agency of the individual to come through the situation, maybe even with an increased wisdom on the other side.
We can however, become fixated on the concept of trauma itself and try to avoid it at all costs, claiming to be traumatized at the slightest thing (see Jonathan Haidt’s work for more on this). Life is itself, inevitably traumatizing, and it may be the best approach to learn to accept a certain amount of trauma as part of living, while becoming more expert in letting go and allowing ourselves to heal.
This issue, our extraterrestrial dakini explains why we need a new vision for humanity. Did someone say ‘uncanny valley’...?
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Thanks again to Camilla Carlsen for permission to use her wonderful paintings. If any other artists out there feel their works might be suitable for inclusion in this newsletter, and you would give us permission to use them, please let us know by leaving a comment here or emailing socials@mail.theelevator.earth and we will be pleased to have a look.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Neuroscience News Articles of 2023
Bhutan's New ‘Mindfulness City’
Dean Radin Explains How You Can Be Part Of His Upcoming Sigil Experiment
An Ancient Technique Can Improve Your Attention Span
Childhood Brain Growth Linked to Gut Microbiome - Neuroscience News
Podcast: Gary Habermas on the Scientific Evidence for Near-Death Experiences | Mind Matters
Bernardo Kastrup: We Have No Free Will… And That’s Great!
Can Psilocybin Treat Eating Disorders? A New Study Aims To Find Out | High Times
Beyond Consciousness: How Meditators Voluntarily Enter Void States - Neuroscience News
The psychological battle over trauma - UnHerd
Peter Levine’s Approach To Healing Trauma
A way to heal trauma | Live Well | Health | gazette.com
MAPS Statement on Trauma and Crisis Response in Palestine and Israel
The neuroscience of trauma - Big Think
Climate change, fragmentation and collective trauma. Bridging the divided stories we live by
Could Trauma Healing Be The Solution To Our Toughest Social Challenges?
How to Feed Your Demons - Lions Roar
Esther Perel and Jack Saul – Breaking Intergenerational Trauma
How you attach to people may explain a lot about your inner life | Psychology | The Guardian
The Trauma & Awakening Program
Healing Wetiko, the Mind-Virus that Plagues Our World
Can Hearing Be Restored by Making the Brain More Childlike? | Scientific American
Total recall: the people who never forget | Memory | The Guardian
‘If the land is sick, you are sick’: An Aboriginal approach to mental health in times of drought
Forthcoming Events
Illuminating Consciousness with Yangten Rinpoche & Dr Elena Antenova
Wednesday, January 17 · 8 - 9:30pm CET, at Jamyang Buddhist Centre London, and online. A discussion where the scientific viewpoint, courtesy of a doctor of psychology, meets the Tibetan Buddhist view of a lama.
DMT vs 5-MeO-DMT: Science, Conciousness & Therapeutic Applications
Mon 29th Jan 2024, 7pm – 9pm GMT (UTC +00:00), Online.
Dr Christopher Timmermann investigates the differences, and different uses of, the two most popular formulations of the DMT molecule among psychedelic explorers, including both brain imaging results and stories from trippers.
Addressing The Failure of Pharma: Exploring a New Model for Psychedelic Healthcare with Dr Bennet Zelner & Dr Rosalind Watts
Thu 8th Feb 2024, 8pm – 10pm CET (UTC +01:00). Online.
Business Professor Bennet A. Zelner and Psychedelic Therapist Dr Rosalind Watts will talk about the interplay between psychedelics, capitalism, and societal structures, and how we can create healthier and more ethical ways of boosting health through the use of psychedelics.
Unfolding Consciousness: A Comprehensive Journey through Wisdom and Science
Starts on Saturday, February 10 · 5pm CET - online.
This course looks very interesting, although maybe we should point out that it’s from the Theosophical Society and will have their biases built in. But any course has its own biases, naturally, so maybe check it out with an open mind.
Course: Contemporary Spirituality · advaya
This course aims to examine the place that spirituality has in the modern world. It will touch on entheogens, sacred activism and eco-spirituality.
Links
Top 10 Neuroscience News Articles of 2023
Did you know that aggression is a result of self-control, not a lack thereof? That high caffeine consumption reduces the brain’s neuroplasticity? Or that the Lion’s Mane mushroom may have a positive impact on neurogenesis and overall memory? These and seven other nuggets here.
This "Mindfulness City" is Coming to Bhutan
This very slick short video explains how Bhutan is going to create a new city in the jungle, with mindfulness and environmental stewardship as the priorities. Is this a genuine attempt to push the needle in a positive direction via development, or simply another greenwash, or we might say, ‘mindwash’...? We can predict it will probably be a nicer place to live than Neom, the new Saudi project, at least.
Dean Radin Explains How You Can Be Part Of His Upcoming Sigil Experiment
In this video, Dean Radin of the Institute of Noetic Sciences explains their latest inquiry into whether there is anything actually to ‘magick’, and how members of the general public, well those who know how to create sigils, can get involved.
An ancient technique can improve your attention span
Kevin Dickinson discusses the concept of attention as a scarce economic resource and the impact of modern distractions on our attention spans. He interviews neuroscientist Amishi Jha, who emphasizes the importance of mindfulness training in strengthening attentional systems. She compares attention to a currency that can be spent, given, requested, or stolen, highlighting its value and limited nature. The article also explores the trainability of attention through mindfulness, offering a four-week regimen to help build mindfulness habits and an exercise to strengthen the attentional system.
Childhood Brain Growth Linked to Gut Microbiome - Neuroscience News
A recent study, published in Science Advances, has revealed the significant impact of the gut microbiome on cognitive function and brain structure in healthy children. The research, which analyzed data from 381 children, identified specific microbial species associated with higher and lower cognitive abilities. Advanced machine learning models were used to demonstrate the potential of gut microbial profiles in predicting cognitive performance and brain development. This study sheds light on the crucial role of the gut-brain-microbiome axis in early childhood development and its potential for future interventions.
Podcast: Gary Habermas on the Scientific Evidence for Near-Death Experiences | Mind Matters
In this podcast episode, Dr. Gary Habermas discusses the scientific evidence for near-death experiences. He claims that while personal testimonies about other realms are subjective, there is objective evidence that can be evaluated in real-world situations. Dr. Habermas, having studied numerous cases, presents various instances with strong evidential support and outlines five verifiable phenomena. His research indicates a wealth of evidence that could persuade even skeptical observers about the validity of near-death experiences.
Find MORE Meaning WITHOUT Free Will! | Bernardo Kastrup Explains
In this video, scientist and philosopher Bernardo Kastrup discusses the concept of computational irreducibility of choices and its link to the perception of life's meaning. He argues that the notion of free will and the illusion of personal agency contribute to how we find meaning. Kastrup also critiques Laplace's determinism, emphasizing the complexity and unpredictability of the universe and the role of randomness as a stand-in for the unknown.
No, DMT Aliens Aren't Real
The belief in DMT entities, such as machine elves, is a common experience reported by individuals who have consumed the psychedelic N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). This belief may be down to Terence McKenna, who famously described encountering otherworldly beings during DMT trips. However, claims the author of this article, Zeus Tipado, it’s possible that these experiences are likely a result of the brain's response to the drug, combined with cultural expectations and the power of suggestion. While the idea of DMT entities may be alluring, it’s important to approach such experiences with a critical and open mind, considering the scientific understanding of the brain's role in creating subjective realities.
Can Psilocybin Treat Eating Disorders? A New Study Aims To Find Out | High Times
Researchers are exploring the potential of psilocybin to treat eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, by addressing the underlying mechanisms behind these conditions. Psilocybin's therapeutic benefits in combating rigid thought patterns and its ability to improve cognitive flexibility are being studied as a possible breakthrough in the treatment of eating disorders, which have a high mortality rate and are often resistant to conventional therapy. A recent study combined psilocybin with therapy and found it to be a safe and effective treatment, with most participants reporting a positive impact on their quality of life and some entering remission after three months.
Beyond Consciousness: How Meditators Voluntarily Enter Void States - Neuroscience News
Experienced meditators can voluntarily induce unconscious states, known as cessations, without the use of drugs. This ability, observed in Tibetan Buddhist practice, allows meditators to experience a momentary void of consciousness, followed by enhanced mental clarity. This study, conducted across multiple countries, utilized EEG spectral analysis to objectively measure brain activity during these cessation events. By correlating the meditator’s first-person experience with neuroimaging data, researchers have gained insights into the profound modulation of consciousness achievable through advanced meditation practices.
Cause of Matthew Perry’s Tragic Passing Brings to Light the Stigma Still Tied to Ketamine and Other Psychedelics Being Used to Save Lives
The recent death of ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry has brought to light the ongoing stigma associated with the use of ketamine and other psychedelics for therapeutic purposes. The autopsy report revealed that his cause of death was due to the acute effects of ketamine and subsequent drowning. This has sparked misinformed and speculative comments about the use of ketamine, highlighting the existing stigma. Despite the effectiveness of ketamine in treating various mental and physical health conditions, the incident has raised concerns and emphasized the need to address the long-standing stigmas attached to these substances.
Focus On Trauma
“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.” ― Laurell K. Hamilton, Mistral's Kiss
The psychological battle over trauma - UnHerd
The cultural discourse around mental health and trauma has become increasingly prevalent, with a focus on sharing vulnerabilities and examining personal trauma. This has led to a new problem where trauma has become a cultural fixation, and there is a lack of consensus on its definition and treatment. The concept of trauma is divisive, with progressives and conservatives, as well as psychologists, holding different perspectives. While there are benefits to destigmatizing trauma, there are also dangers, such as increasing the narrative centrality of trauma throughout society, which can keep people stuck in their trauma. A healthy society should acknowledge both the fragility and resilience of humans and exercise wisdom in knowing when to focus on trauma and when to let it go.
Peter Levine’s Approach To Healing Trauma
The approach to healing trauma, as described by Peter Levine, emphasizes the importance of understanding the body's response to traumatic experiences. Trauma, defined as any unresolved autonomic nervous system response, can affect individuals differently, and there is no universal approach to healing that is appropriate for all. Levine's Somatic Experiencing therapy focuses on allowing the body to complete the natural process of releasing traumatic energy, which can help resolve unresolved traumas and alleviate associated symptoms. This approach highlights the significance of supporting individuals in completing the restorative cycle of trauma to facilitate healing and recovery.
A way to heal trauma | Live Well | Health | gazette.com
Jennifer Mulson discusses the unconscious responses of the autonomic nervous system when faced with a threat, such as fight, flight, or freeze. She also delves into somatic experiencing, a gentle form of renegotiating and resolving trauma in the body, and how it can help individuals complete the trauma response, returning the autonomic nervous system to balance, and clearing the associated symptoms. She emphasizes that trauma can be healed and that there are various effective methods for doing so, allowing people to escape from the shadow cast by past events.
MAPS Statement on Trauma and Crisis Response in Palestine and Israel
This statement by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies emphasizes the importance of understanding, healing, and preventing trauma, and recognizing the complex and intergenerational nature of the trauma experienced by Palestinian and Jewish communities. MAPS emphasizes the need for compassion, kindness, and the importance of allowing space for the expression of emotions while resisting false binaries. The organization is involved in various initiatives, including providing crisis trauma interventions, sponsoring psychedelic research for trauma healing and peacebuilding, and facilitating the education of MDMA therapists in the region.
The neuroscience of trauma - Big Think
“Your body does not keep the score. Your brain keeps the score”. Trauma-informed approaches are gaining prominence in various fields, but neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett offers a different perspective, focusing on the brain rather than the body. She posits that trauma is rooted in the brain's predictive models and the construction of experiences. When an adverse experience is traumatic, the brain reinforces this perception in future predictions, strengthening the neural connections and perpetuating the cycle. Feldman Barrett suggests that healing involves changing these predictive models, leveraging the brain's plasticity to transform traumatic experiences and foster lasting healing.
Climate change, fragmentation and collective trauma. Bridging the divided stories we live by
The Jungian psychologist Steffi Bednarek explores the psychological responses to climate change, drawing parallels between the desensitization and fragmentation processes that enabled the Holocaust and contemporary contexts. It discusses how corporate executives, in pursuit of profit, may be perpetuating similar dynamics to those that allowed the Holocaust to occur. She also makes use of the concept of compartmentalization, which allows people to maintain an emotional equilibrium but inhibits mobilization in the face of unprecedented danger. Western culture, built on layers of unprocessed collective trauma, has had detrimental effects on its ability to respond to the climate emergency, and Bednarek suggests that there is a need for collective ways to reclaim fragmented parts, bridge existing polarities, and meet the challenges ahead with maturity.
Could Trauma Healing Be The Solution To Our Toughest Social Challenges?
The retired President and CEO of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, Thomas G. Bognanno, advocates for a shift in addressing societal challenges by focusing on trauma healing. He emphasizes that trauma, occurring repeatedly and cumulatively, is a root cause of many social ills. Bognanno makes the case that leaders in business, government, academia, and philanthropy should incorporate trauma treatment into social programs, citing its impact on mental and physical health, as well as its potential to save lives and reduce costs.
How to Feed Your Demons - Lions Roar
Lama Tsultrim Allione presents an unconventional approach to dealing with inner struggles, advocating for feeding our demons instead of fighting them. She explains that demons are not external entities but rather internal energies such as fear, illness, depression, and addiction. The imaginative practice, based on the principles of Chöd, involves personifying the demon, understanding its needs, feeding it with nectar, and meeting the ally. This method aims to lead to psychological integration and inner peace in the face of inner and outer conflicts. The process, called Feeding Your Demons, is claimed to be a revolutionary path to resolving conflict and achieving inner peace, offering a fresh approach to dealing with our inner and outer enemies.
Esther Perel and Jack Saul – Breaking Intergenerational Trauma
In this podcast Esther Perel and Jack Saul discuss with Thomas Hübl how trauma impacts relationships, intimacy, and consciousness, focusing on the interplay between personal and intergenerational trauma. They highlight trauma's effect in creating expectations of danger in relationships, perpetuating harmful patterns, and hindering the ability to experience pleasure and joy. The discussion also emphasizes the role of creativity and engagement with the unknown as crucial elements in reconnecting with life and healing after trauma, underscoring the resilience and beauty of the human spirit in adversity.
How you attach to people may explain a lot about your inner life | Psychology | The Guardian
Psychotherapy mirrors the nurturing bond between mother and infant, focusing on empathy, reframing, and de-shaming to facilitate change. The therapeutic alliance is vital for client improvement, highlighting the influence of early caregiver interactions on adult behavior, beliefs, and emotional regulation. Therapists use a call-and-response approach to foster self-compassion and help clients process deep emotions. This co-regulation of emotions, akin to the mother-infant dynamic, leads to self-mastery and the development of internal emotional resources.
The Trauma & Awakening Program
Two solid introductory videos from Gabor Maté and AH Almaas on the subject of trauma and how it can be a portal to awakening. Maté in particular has a lot of resources on trauma which can be found here.
“If your parents’ faces never lit up when they looked at you, it’s hard to know what it feels like to be loved and cherished. If you come from an incomprehensible world filled with secrecy and fear, it’s almost impossible to find the words to express what you have endured. If you grew up unwanted and ignored, it is a major challenge to develop a visceral sense of agency and self-worth.” ― Bessel A. van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Nuggets From The Archive
Healing Wetiko, the Mind-Virus that Plagues Our World
Paul Levy introduces the concept of Wetiko, about which he is the author of three books. It is conceptualized as a mind-virus, which influences our perceptions and actions by exploiting psychological blind spots and shaping our narratives. It feeds on cognitive biases, fostering division and polarization. Overcoming Wetiko involves adopting an ‘omniperspective’ - a widening of our understanding and compassion, integrating multiple viewpoints and embracing our inherent wholeness. This approach, transcending fixed narratives and biases, is crucial for personal and collective evolution and contributing effectively to global challenges.
Can Hearing Be Restored by Making the Brain More Childlike? | Scientific American
New research suggests that the auditory system in the adult mouse brain can be induced to revert to an immature state similar to that in early infancy: opening a ‘critical period’ for learning, and improving the animals’ ability to learn new sounds. The findings, published in Science, indicate potential new ways of restoring brain function in human patients with neurological diseases and improving adults’ ability to learn languages and musical instruments. The study shows that by halting adenosine signaling, plasticity in the auditory cortex can be reinstated in adult mice, enhancing their perception of sounds and ability to discriminate between tones. This discovery could also have implications for new treatments for conditions such as stroke and tinnitus.
Total recall: the people who never forget | Memory | The Guardian
Jill Price, the first person ever to be diagnosed with highly superior autobiographical memory (HSAM), can remember most of the days of her life as clearly as the rest of us remember the recent past, with a mixture of broad strokes and sharp detail. Her memories are triggered involuntarily, making it like living with a split screen: on the left side is the present, on the right is a constantly rolling reel of memories, each one sparked by the appearance of present-day stimuli. Her unique condition has drawn the attention of researchers, and her case was published in the neuropsychology journal Neurocase in February 2006, marking a significant milestone in the understanding of this extraordinary ability. In this article she goes into what it’s like to live with total recall.
‘If the land is sick, you are sick’: An Aboriginal approach to mental health in times of drought
The Australian Aboriginal approach to mental health in times of drought emphasizes the interconnectedness of the land, culture, and individual well-being. The concept "If the land is sick, you are sick" encapsulates the idea that personal, social, and ecological health are closely linked. This approach, rooted in Aboriginal traditions, seeks to address the mental distress caused by environmental degradation and loss of connection to the land. Through practices such as cultural continuity, storytelling, and ‘yarning’, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities are encouraged to find common ground, learn from each other, and develop a sense of responsibility towards the environment. The approach also aims to counter the feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness associated with climate change, offering a way to cope with the conflict and stress it brings.
Power Causes Brain Damage
The possession of power, particularly power associated with overwhelming success, can lead to a variety of negative effects on the brain and behavior. Research suggests that powerful individuals may exhibit manifest contempt for others, loss of contact with reality, restless or reckless actions, and displays of incompetence. This phenomenon, known as "hubris syndrome," is characterized by a lack of empathy and an inability to see things from other people's perspectives. Scientific studies also indicate that power impairs a specific neural process related to empathy, leading to an "empathy deficit." Despite the potential for these harmful effects, some strategies, such as reflecting on past experiences of hubris and seeking ordinary perspectives, may help mitigate the impact of power on an individual's behavior and mindset.
Bigelow Institute Essays
Climbing Mount Evidence: A Strategic Assessment of the Best Available Evidence for the Survival of Human Consciousness after Permanent Bodily Death [PDF]
Dr. Michael Nahm's paper, 'Evidence for Survival of Consciousness in Near-Death Experiences: Decades of Science and New Insights,' presents a comprehensive study on the survival of consciousness beyond death through near-death experiences (NDEs). It explores various phenomena such as telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, retrocognition, and psychokinesis, arguing against the notion that consciousness is solely a product of brain chemistry. He emphasizes the importance of studying survival-related phenomena scientifically and impartially, using Hans Driesch's principles of remaining open to new facts, constructing bridges to established sciences, and not precluding facts as impossible. The research underscores the need to explore these phenomena to understand consciousness and its potential survival after death better.
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