The Vortex

Interesting bit of video here. Stan Grof, one of the founders of transpersonal psychology, talks about altered states, journeys in consciousness.

He begins this segment talking about the vortex. This is very true for the decent into an altered state, in my experience.

Once you reach a certain level of relaxation and focus you are drawn in, pulled down into darkness until you reach a kind of threshold and the images begin. There are often several additional experiences of falling into various layers of the inner world.

Much like waking life, I don't seem to have the choice to just return to normal if it's not all enjoyable. It's as if the task must be completed before it will let me go. Only when the journey is finished can I try to analyze, and figure out what was supposed to be learned from it all. I don't know if this is true for everyone.