Whichever path a New Ager chooses, several goals are on the horizon, the first of which is personal transformation.
Personal transformation requires a personal mystical or psychic experience resulting in a paradigm shift from an old belief system to Aquarian beliefs.
The first step is usually to embrace a monistic worldview. However, this comes about through mystical experiences rather than through the cognition of spiritual truths or the acceptance of creeds.
Among the movements that contribute to this transformation process are the holistic health movement, the consciousness movement, and the human potential movement, each of which are part of the New Age movement.
New Agers are generally cautious of the medical industry, and are apt to consider traditional medicine to be unnatural. In its place, they hold up the holistic health movement, the premise being that people should be treated as individuals rather than as physical bodies with diseases that need to be treated. Although many aspects of holistic treatments are compatible with orthodox Christianity, others are borrowed from various Eastern religions and may present a problem.
New Age philosophy holds that human beings are part of the natural order, along with all other living things, so natural healing methods should be used. Holistic medicine might include vegetarian or other restrictive diets or natural remedies derived from plants, as well as several other therapies, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, biofeedback, exercise, and massage techniques. Generally avoided are artificial drugs, surgery, and psychiatric care. Holistic medicine is intended to enable the universal life force to take its natural course.
Although there is no organized consciousness movement, the phrase can be used to describe the collective efforts of individuals and organizations within the network to bring about a greater realization of New Age ideals. This occurs across the human spectrum, including art, business, culture, philosophy, training seminars, and so on.
To this end, the consciousness movement includes those who advocate for the inducement of altered states of consciousness, which is the premise that the experience of spiritual awareness outside of traditional norms will enable the practitioner to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds, which may be termed monism. Early New Age advocates of this were Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, who believed that the use of hallucinogenic drugs and hypnosis were important elements in achieving altered states of consciousness.
It should be recognized that Richard Alpert later dismissed the use of hallucinogenics as being too temporary, and that most New Agers today do not use LSD or other hallucinogenics to this end. Rather, this is pursued through meditation, lucid dreaming, yoga, fasting, prayer, or through other means.
The human potential movement has done much to spread New Age ideals.
Operating largely within the New Age movement, but sometimes separate from it, the human potential movement included such techniques as large-group awareness training (LGAT), Erhard Seminars Training (EST), and transactional analysis (I'm OK, You're OK). The human potentential movement emphasized the essential goodness and potential of humanity.
Associated with the human potential movement was the concept that thoughts and consciousness were superior to the material world. Carried to its natural conclusion, a person can think into reality things that he would like to have.
Organizations and established seminars that were associated with the human potential movement included the Esalen Institute, Lifespring, Forum, Arica, Summit Workshops, Scientology, the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, and others.
Businesses, corporations, schools and colleges, and government agencies have often sponsored employee training sessions designed by one or more of these groups
For many New Age individuals and organizations, the ultimate goal is for these personal transformations to become a planetery transformation, as personally transformed New Agers take over the reins of the world's governments to bring about a one-world government.
Personal transformation, as a concept of the New Age movement, is the focus of sites listed in this category.
Recommended Resources
Dr. Eric Berne, the author of "Games People Play," was the founder of the transformational program known as transactional analysis. An introduction and biography of Dr. Berne is presented, along with excerpts and a review of his book, as well as a discussion of transactional analysis, are put forth. Other resources include a bibliography, a photo gallery, video, links to related online sites, and other content.
http://www.ericberne.com/
Although the seminars took place from 1971 to late 1984, est spawned a number of books, garnered a lot of attention, and trained millions of people. This site is a tribute to Erhard Seminar Training, better known as est training. It includes reminiscences, interviews with Werner Erhard and other significant people in est training, as well as graduate reviews, news stories, and an archive of The Graduate Review, which was then the newsletter of the movement.
http://www.erhardseminarstraining.com/
European Association for Transactional Analysis
EATA was formed to promote the knowledge and research into transactional analysis, to develop its theory, ensure standards of practice, and promote cooperation in Europe in the field of TA. Its members are affiliated members of EATA. An introduction to TA training is put forth, including its fields of application, training standards, and a list of trainers. Scheduled exams, a calendar of events, and other resources are included.
https://www.eatanews.org/
International Transactional Analysis Association
The ITAA is a non-profit, member-driven, educational organization founded by Eric Berne, and charged with helping to advance the principles, methods, and theory of transactional analysis. Its membership policies and memberships are highlighted, along with its training and certification programs, publications, conferences, awards, scholarships, and grants. The ITAA also publishes the Transactional Analysis Journal, which can be accessed through the site.
http://www.itaaworld.org/
Personal Transformation Institute
Offering Transformative EMDR therapy training, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a form of psychotherapy in which a person is asked to recall images representing past incidences of stress while generating one type of bilateral sensory input, such as hand-tapping or side-to-side eye movements. It is used as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. EMDR sessions and training programs may be scheduled through the site.
https://emdr-training.net/
Rick and Mary host two transformative retreats in Oklahoma each year, offering a balanced schedule of meditation, inner reflection, yoga movements, transformative practices, group meetings, and deep rest, as well as a yoga and meditation retreat for mental health professionals, this one in North Carolina. Retreat locations, schedules, and details are posted to the site, and an online shopping area offers books and meditative audio recordings.
https://www.personaltransformation.com/
Offering training and educational programs to transform lives, the Ford Institute teaches personal development courses, professional coaching training, and corporate programs, as well as virtual and in-person trainings and workshops, all intended to bring about personal transformation. Its founders and other key personnel are introduced, along with a calendar of events, details of its programs, and products which may be purchased online.
http://thefordinstitute.com/
Located in Issaquah, Washington, the Wellness Institute offers hypnosis and hypnotherapy training available to practicing Masters and PhD-level professionals, using a treatment model that addresses the body, mind, and spirit, known as heart-centered hypnotherapy (HCT). Information about its training and certifications is provided, and a resource library featured books, e-books, guides, and journals, which may be purchased or downloaded online.
https://www.wellness-institute.org/
TOPUCU is a transformational program designed to identify goals, and to transform an individual's thinking and actions in seven lessons, which are habits, motivation, pain, the seven E's, visualization, the value of time, and burning the bridge, as well as a Finisher program that guides the student through the process of taking an inventory of his life and creating a mission statement for life. Its foundation, sectors, and policies are set forth.
https://topucu.com/
Highlighting the founder of the model of transformational learning known as Erhard Training Seminars (est), which began in early 1971. Biographical data, career information, a documentary, and the text of several of his papers and articles are featured, along with a discussion of his influence and impact, transformational successes, and breakthroughs, and other people and groups that his work has influenced. Also included is a photo gallery and a list of his books.
http://www.wernererhardinfo.com/
