The deeper self: an expanded view of consciousness.

Three experts—a writer, a historian of psychology, and a neuropsychologist—discuss how unconscious impulses, desires, and feelings might be willfully brought into conscious awareness, whether this unveiling leads to genuine self-knowledge or empowerment, and whether the unconscious can be methodically tapped for creative inspiration. They explore how an expanded understanding of consciousness might help people flourish, think beyond preconceived categories, and frame spiritual experiences or offer spiritual nourishment. The conversation covers noetic experiences, intuition, peak experiences, and Jung's collective unconscious.

Study at a glance

Abstract

As science continues to explore the mysteries of the unconscious, two critical questions remain. First, can unconscious impulses, desires, and feelings be willfully raised to the level of the conscious self?, and, if so, would the unveiling of unconscious mechanisms lead to genuine self-knowledge or empowerment? Second, can we methodically tap into the unconscious to gear ourselves along more creative lines? If the unconscious is a source of intuitive and creative inspiration, how might a more expansive understanding of consciousness help us to flourish? How can we harness the intuitive parts of ourselves to think "outside the box," transcending the limitations of preconceived categories? And along those same lines, how would an expanded view of the unconscious frame our spiritual experiences or offer spiritual nourishment? Writer Siri Hustvedt, historian of psychology Sonu Shamdasani, and neuropsychologist Mark Solms will tackle everything from noetic experiences and the role of intuition to the phenomenon of peak experience and Jung's "collective unconscious."