Transliminality: Comparing Mystical and Psychotic Experiences on Psycho-Phenomenological Grounds
Open Theology January 10, 2021 Feise-Mahnkopp Patricia
On a phenomenal level, mystical and initial psychotic experiences are indistinguishable, both characterized by transliminality—consciousness transcending the psychophysical and rational realms. However, integrating psychodynamic implications reveals a key difference: mystical experience, given sufficient ego stability, offers personality-strengthening potential, while psychotic transliminality, with insufficient ego stability or pronounced vulnerability, offers personality-weakening potential. Successful therapeutic ego-stabilizing impulses can make conscious incorporation of transliminal experience helpful. The analysis draws on Gerda Walther's phenomenology and responsive phenomenology, exploring the roles of ego-center, self, and basic essence in mystical and psychotic experience, raising further research questions on transliminality's therapeutic implications.