This essay argues for the reciprocal benefits of joining the new theories of matter emerging out of critical posthumanism and the psychedelic drugs currently experiencing a so-called “renaissance” in global north societies. While the former’s twin emphasis on relationality and embodiment is perfectly suited to capture and ground the ontological, epistemological, and ethical implications of...
The scope of unconscious processing has long been, and still remains, a hotly debated issue. This is driven in part by the current diversity of methods to manipulate and measure perceptual consciousness. Here, we provide ten recommendations and nine outstanding issues about designing experimental paradigms, analyzing data, and reporting the results of studies on unconscious processing. These...
Anesthesia represents one of modern medicine’s most profound enigmas–a controlled, reversible modulation of consciousness whose precise neurophysiological mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated despite over 175 years of clinical utilization. Contemporary theoretical frameworks, predominantly predicated on classical physicochemical interactions at receptor and ion channel levels, exhibit...
This essay explores the profound implications of recognizing the sacred theological origins of Cartesian mind-body dualism for contemporary healthcare transformation.Drawing from the thesis that Descartes' supposedly secular philosophy emerged from Neoplatonic, Augustinian, and mystical Christian traditions, this work proposes a revolutionary healthcare model that reclaims medicine's sacred...
This paper discusses the role of energy and movement in facilitating experiences of well-being from an anthropological perspective that considers energy as a situated form of knowledge. Drawing on fieldwork among Core Energetics (CE) and 5Rhythms (5R) groups, I examine how the circulation of energy is achieved through bodily movements and dances, attention to the senses, somatic...
Although mindfulness is widely acknowledged to foster resilience, limited research has examined how palliative care providers sustain this practice and how it shapes their resilience. This study explores how providers with sustained mindfulness practice, understand, and embody the cultivation of resilience across personal and professional domains. Fifteen palliative care providers (three...
Those living with chronic pain and comorbid functional disabilities are often confronted by a physically and emotionally transformative experience, impacting their identity and ability to derive meaning in life. Despite the use of various pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments to moderate symptoms, the degree of analgesia and functional recovery are far from optimal. Psychological...
The environmental crisis confronting humanity demands not only technological solutions but also a profound philosophical reimagining of our relationship with nature. This paper examines how panpsychism, the philosophical position that consciousness or mentality is fundamental and ubiquitous throughout the universe, offers valuable resources for environmental ethics and conservation practices....
This thesis develops an understanding of the Pratyahara Paradox. Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses) is a core tenet of yoga philosophy. Through pratyahara, a yoga practitioner can transcend the material world and unite with spiritual consciousness. While a withdrawal from the sensory-material world is embedded in the aims of yoga, it isn’t clear how, and if, pratyahara is part of...
Education must foster growth on all levels intellectual, emotional, ethical, and spiritual. NEP 2020's holistic vision is in line with the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, a highly regarded Indian philosophical text that promotes ethical behaviour, mindfulness, and character development. The study aimed To assess how well a mindfulness-based program inspired by the Bhagavad Gita can help...