Psychedelics, Altered States and Transpersonal Psychology

The one-year Psychedelics, Altered States and Transpersonal Psychology Certificate Programme at Alef Trust is a 100% online program led by David Luke, Ph.D. The program provides a collaborative environment to study the transpersonal nature of the psychedelic experience, altered states of consciousness and exceptional experiences. The program starts in February, and the tuition fee is £3,000.

  • 200 Enrolled
  • All levels
  • Last updated Oct '23
  • English
Visit Course
Course Description

The one-year Psychedelics, Altered States and Transpersonal Psychology Certificate Programme at Alef Trust is a 100% online program led by David Luke, Ph.D. The program provides a collaborative environment to study the transpersonal nature of the psychedelic experience, altered states of consciousness and exceptional experiences. The program starts on February and the tuition fee is £3,000.

With a renaissance in psychedelic research suggesting that traditionally prohibited substances such as psilocybin and MDMA might have a valuable role to play in revolutionizing psychiatry and in the treatment of mental health problems, this program offers a roadmap through the complex psychological terrain of the psychedelic experience and other altered states of consciousness within the intellectual and therapeutic envelope of transpersonal psychology.

This program of study will explore the transpersonal nature of the psychedelic experience and other altered states, drawing upon transpersonal psychology, parapsychology, cross-cultural psychiatry, neurobiology, cognitive neuroscience, anthropology, ethnobotany, and the study of religions, among other disciplines. Students will learn of recent research developments in understanding the state induced by, and the potential applications of, psychedelics. The program will take a cross-disciplinary approach and will both encompass and challenge the prevailing ontology of materialistic-reductionism, drawing upon multiple cross-cultural worldviews in the epistemology and interpretation of the psychedelic experience and other altered states. It will cover the study of a range of transpersonal and exceptional experiences, such as mystical, shamanic and mediumistic experiences, inter-species communication, entity – e.g., divine beings – encounters, psi experiences, out-of-body and near-death experiences, insight and creativity, love, compassion, connectivity, and empathy, and other experiences and concomitants of the psychedelic encounter.

You will learn:

  • What is Bwiti?
  • Roles in Bwiti initiation/treatment
  • Instruments in Bwiti: ngombe, mogongo
  • What is an Nganga
    • Maboundi/Yombo
    • Maboundi/Yombo
  • Sustainability/reciprocity

You will learn:

  • History of the Fang tradition
  • Dissumba vs. Dissumba Fang
  • Ombwiri/Mbumbayano Fang
  • The kambo
  • State of Fang Bwiti in Gabon
  • Impact of Westerners coming to work with the sacred wood

You will learn:

  • History of the Missoko tradition
  • Various branches of Missoko initiation:
    • Miobe/Mioba
    • Ngonde Na Dipuma
    • Sengedia
  • The impact of logging on the tradition
  • What the future of Bwiti could look like in Gabon

You will learn:

  • History of Dissumba
  • Various branches of Dissumba initiation:
    • Abanji/Mabanji
    • Ilombo
    • Ombwiri
    • Ombudi
    • Loro
  • The ngombe (sacred harp)
  • Healing rituals involved in her tradition
  • Training to serve the wood
    • What does it involve?
    • How long does it take?

instructor-image

Tatayo

Instructor

About Instructor

Tatayo (“Fruit of the Wind”) first arrived in Gabon in 1971 at the age of 21 and became a Gabonese citizen. In 1979, he became the first white person to be initiated into the Bwiti Fang tradition in Gabon. In 1994, he was initiated into the Misokko tradition. As a guide for numerous expeditions and missions, including those of National Geographic, the BBC, and others, Tatayo is considered to have “opened the door” to westerners in Gabon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for start and finish dates/times. This course is currently being offered live and dates/times will change throughout the year.

$3600

This course includes

  • Modules 3
  • Duration 12 Months
  • Skills All levels
  • Language English
  • Availability Cohort
  • Certificate No
Psychedelics, Altered States and Transpersonal Psychology Course Image