___Definitions of Psychosynthesis summary:
Persona– Part of our social “I”, the professional role we play, the status “I”.
Typology– Conscious part of our psyche. Since our attention can follow only one or 2 activities at a time, we narrow our attention on a field of awareness that for practical reasons favors our most dominant typology: i.e. thinking, feeling, sensing or intuiting.
Illusion– One of the greatest blindspots, One of the greatest and most dangerous illusions, that prevents us from achieving the high goal we are destined to attain, is to believe we are ‘all in one piece’ ; that is, we have a well-defined personality.
Ego– That part of the “I” that identifies our identify with Sensation, Feeling, thinking and or intuition functions. Creating harmony in life by a dominant function of our type; our identification with the executive function of ego creates the illusion that this ego dominant function is the SELF. This lack of knowledge becomes a burden in later life if one is absorbed totally in its duties.
Self– We can create and attain a unity by powerful identification with a higher regulating, a spiritual element, complex in the psyche. It contains, opposites: positive and negative feelings side by side. It represents the synthesis of catabolic and anabolic functions of the organism. The Soul is another name for this part.
Subpersonalities– As we recognize the multiplicity of roles and conflicts within us, we see chaos. Autonomous entities from ancestral, atavistic elements within us that determine motives behind our behaviors.
Disidentification– A process of detachment from the ego identifications and subpersonalities as well as desires, needs of the body, emotions and mind through an act of will.
Meditation– Spiritually passive activity in which one observes and attends to the flowing of images that emanates from our unconscious.
Sublimation– the way of working with the subconscious that actively engages us as an active observer, not reactor. Contemplation to relieve the burden of ideas, worries, emotions, and personal impulses.
Will– self-directed attention resulting in pure consciousness; the objective is to achieve freedom from attachments and identification from the body, the emotions, and the mind.
Superior Transpersonal “I”– Superconscious information that rarely descends to conscious awareness. It is facilitated by meditation and contemplation
Collective unconscious– Images and ideas swarming in the depths of the psyche, indirectly revealing themselves in dreams, fantasies, frenzies. These primordial elements burst out and motivate our attitudes, moods and behavior without our willing it.
Telepathy– Information that is transmitted by the collective unconscious that has parapsychological characteristics, premonitions, mind-reading, mystical experiences both positive and negative, and ecstasies.
Self-actualization– Being our own authority and our behavior , being self-directed and based on our wills.
Based on the book by Roberto Assagioli called Creating Harmony in Life which I received from the Psychosynthesis Institute in Florence.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Psychosynthesis is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes the integration of different parts of the personality, including the persona, ego identity, and sub-personalities. It recognizes that individuals have multiple identities and roles, and that our sense of self is often tied to what we do in our daily lives. However, psychosynthesis encourages individuals to detach from these ego identifications and focus their attention on the “Superior I,” which represents the higher and more authentic aspect of the self. The process of disidentification involves detaching from our sub-personalities, desires, sensations, feelings, and thoughts. This is achieved through the defense mechanism of sublimation, which allows individuals to direct their attention and will towards the self as a center of consciousness. By focusing on the conscious superior self rather than transient ego attachments, individuals can experience true freedom and take responsibility for piercing the illusions of their ego identities. This process of discipline can lead to self-actualization and may even open the door to transpersonal experiences and inspiration. Overall, psychosynthesis offers a path towards personal growth, self-realization, and the integration of different aspects of the self. It encourages individuals to explore their true identity beyond societal roles and attachments, leading to a more authentic and fulfilling life.