Psychosis or Spiritual Awakening: Phil Borges at TEDxUMKC

TEDx Talks・2 minutes read

Visiting indigenous cultures showcases ancient living practices and strong spiritual connections, with tribal communities relying on each other for survival. Shamans play a vital role in mental health crises, offering unique perspectives and approaches that differ from mainstream pharmaceutical treatments.

Insights

  • Indigenous cultures rely on ancient practices and earth knowledge for survival, showcasing tight-knit communal relationships and strong spiritual connections with nature and spirits.
  • Shamans play a crucial role in mental health crises, offering unique perspectives and support due to cultural context, lack of stigma, and community-based mentorship, contrasting with the pharmaceutical-centric approach to psychological issues.

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Recent questions

  • How do indigenous cultures predict natural events?

    Indigenous cultures showcase intimate knowledge of the earth, allowing them to predict natural events like storms. For example, a Hawaiian woman foresaw a storm by observing a crab's behavior. This deep connection to the environment enables them to anticipate and prepare for natural occurrences, highlighting their reliance on earth knowledge for survival.

  • What is the significance of communal relationships in tribal communities?

    Tribal communities heavily rely on tight relationships for survival, seen in communal child-rearing and extended families. These strong bonds foster a sense of unity and support within the community, ensuring that individuals work together towards common goals. The interconnectedness and interdependence among members create a cohesive social structure that prioritizes collective well-being.

  • How do shamans induce trance states for spiritual practices?

    Shamans induce trance states through various methods like drumming, psychoactive plants, or unique practices such as burning juniper branches. These techniques allow them to access altered states of consciousness, facilitating spiritual experiences and connections with the spirit world. By altering their consciousness, shamans can engage in healing, predictions, and guidance for individuals seeking their services.

  • What are the key components of shamanism as a universal practice?

    Shamanism involves a "Call" leading to a psychological crisis, mentorship, initiation involving a death and rebirth, and service to the community without monetary gain. Shamans undergo transformative experiences that shape their abilities to heal, predict, and guide others. The universal nature of shamanism emphasizes the spiritual journey, sacrifice, and dedication to serving the community through their unique talents.

  • How do shamans approach mental health crises differently?

    Shamans have advantages in dealing with mental health crises, including cultural context, lack of stigma, mentorship, and community support. Their positive view of crises allows them to develop unique talents and perspectives on mental well-being. By incorporating spiritual practices and holistic approaches, shamans offer alternative methods for addressing psychological issues, emphasizing the importance of cultural understanding and community support in mental health care.

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Summary

00:00

Exploring Indigenous Cultures and Shamanism

  • Visiting indigenous cultures allows a glimpse into ancient living practices, highlighting differences in relationships to land, each other, and spirits.
  • Indigenous cultures lack modern amenities like grocery stores, utility districts, and fast food restaurants, relying on ingenuity and earth knowledge for survival.
  • Intimate knowledge of the earth is evident in predicting natural events, like a Hawaiian woman foreseeing a storm from a crab's behavior.
  • Tribal communities depend on each other for survival, showcasing tight relationships seen in communal child-rearing and extended families.
  • Strong spiritual connections are prevalent, with individuals like Malik and Yasmina spending extensive time together, praying to forest, mountain, and river spirits.
  • Encounters with mediums like Thupten channeling the Dalai Lama's oracle and predictors like Sukulen using visual hallucinations for healing and predictions.
  • Shamanism, a universal practice, involves a "Call" leading to a psychological crisis, mentorship, initiation involving a death and rebirth, and service to the community without monetary gain.
  • Shamans induce trance states differently, such as through drumming, psychoactive plants, or unique methods like burning juniper branches in Pakistan.
  • Shamans like Janduli Kahn provide guidance and predictions, with experiences like predicting a difficult journey but safety for a traveler.
  • Personal experiences with shamans and their practices lead to reflections on consciousness, spirits, and the interconnectedness of the spirit world with reality.

15:45

"Adam's Mental Health Journey and Stigma"

  • Adam experienced a profound connection to the universe, feeling like a part of it, but later faced a scary situation due to medication side effects, taking 15 pills daily and suffering from severe anxiety attacks and vomiting.
  • Adam, after four years on pharmaceuticals, went cold turkey and attended a Vipassana meditation retreat, stabilizing himself, getting a job at Whole Foods, and experiencing synchronicities.
  • Despite Adam's positive progress, he was rejected from a second Vipassana due to his mental illness history, highlighting the stigma surrounding psychological issues.
  • Statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health reveal that one in five individuals will face a psychological crisis in their lifetime, with 50% occurring before age 14 and 75% before age 24.
  • Shamans have advantages in dealing with mental health crises, including cultural context, lack of stigma, mentorship, and community support, allowing them to view crises positively and develop unique talents.
  • Eleanor Longden's TED Talk discusses her journey with schizophrenia, emphasizing the importance of not stigmatizing mental illness and exploring root causes rather than solely relying on pharmaceutical suppression of symptoms.
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