Coming Out Of The Spiritual Closet

Would you like to help raise awareness by hosting your own community screening and discussion? Let’s bring the issue of how to reframe ‘madness’ and better support people who are experiencing mental health challenges into our local communities; together with united voices we can create a momentum for change…

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO HOST YOUR OWN SCREENING

To give you an idea of what might unfold at an #EmergingProud screening, here are some valuable personal reflections from Jeannet, who attended the screening that took place in Brighton, UK on Sunday 25th June;

I really enjoyed seeing the film again (I always hear new things in it!) and I felt exited by the energy in the room during the Q&A and discussion with Lori Morrison, Jordana Jyoti Goldstein (who both called in via video link) and Susie Moate, all of whom feature in the film.

We touched on a range of issues, such as how language and perspective (e.g. psychiatric, psychological and shamanic ways of understanding) make a huge difference in how our experiences are supported by practitioners and ‘held’ in the community. There is a huge difference between diagnosing, medicating and suppressing ‘symptoms’ to return the person to how they were before their ‘illness’, as opposed to offering a safe space to support a person’s process running its course, so that the person can find insight, meaning and purpose as a new inner balance establishes itself.

We noted the importance of not ‘demonizing’ psychiatry – there are psychiatrists with a deep respect for the mystery of our process, who are valuable allies in growing our understanding and developing a truly supportive and healing response, including through mainstream services. Equally, we didn’t want to romanticise indigenous or alternative therapy approaches, and wondered whether, although there are common elements of expressions of shamanism through the ages, the Western world (which seems to have gone furthest in losing connection with shamanic practices) may need to adapt this ancient wisdom to a form that is accessible to those shaped by the dominant Western world view.

We went on to share information about pragmatic, hands-on support being offered by organisations like Soteria (which runs a safe house using only minimal amounts of medication, only as a last resort). We noted how prescriptions for anti-psychotic medication tend to be long term and how difficult it is to come off it.

http://soterianetwork.org.uk/

The Windhorse Project supports people going through a psychotic process in their own homes.

http://windhorsecommunityservices.com/…/the-windhorse-proj…/

The Mind Freedom organisation support people to free themselves from the effects of mind conditioning.

https://www.facebook.com/Mind-Freedom-Movement-10746388825…/

The Hearing Voices movement and support groups offers support to people hearing voices.

http://www.hearing-voices.org/

RADAR is developing protocols for coming of anti-psychotic medication.

http://mcpin.org/radar/

Finally, I found out that Brighton has a Spiritual Emergence Network peer support group, one of only three in the country so far, and as a result of the screening, more people will be attending in the future;

https://www.facebook.com/SpiritualCrisisNetworkUK

We reflected on the importance of considering writing an advance directive to record what you want to happen, if in the future you become unwell and people conclude you can’t decide for yourself what you want to happen or communicate what you want.

CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON ADVANCE STATEMENTS

I was particularly struck by a line of discussion around how difficult it is to put into words what we are talking about. As one person put it – the word spiritual is not very accessible. When we talk of spirituality and think of experiences we are going through, how do we talk about that in a way that someone else is going to really know what we are going through. How do we know we are talking about the same things when we share experiences?

Personally, I have found this definition of spirituality helpful:

‘Spirituality is something that characterises the relationship of an individual to the universe and does not necessarily require a formal structure, collective ritual or mediation by a priest. […] It provides a context for personal discovery of the numinous dimensions of reality.’ — Stan and Christina Grof, The Stormy Search for Self – Understanding and living with spiritual emergency, 1991

But it only gets us so far in talking about our experiences …

A related question that emerged (in a private discussion in the programme break) is whether there might be different processes which need different responses – are all our experiences part of a spiritual emergence, of an inner movement towards healing and evolution to higher levels of functioning? Are there ever dysfunctional processes which need ‘treatment’ in a more traditionally medical way? Is a distinction even helpful?

In the wider discussion we wondered whether, whatever view you have on this, the important thing is to offer people a safe space in which they can go through whatever is happening for them, without the risk of them harming themselves. A space which allows them, when they are ready, to start to express what they need to and to make sense of their experiences. They would be supported by feeling deeply heard and seen, which would give people the opportunity to let things come into awareness that may have been to frightening to look at before. It was thought that some of that material for many of us is related to early trauma.

It was suggested we need language that allows us to deeply connect on levels we may never be able to completely define or put into words – a language we can use to connect to one another, rather than divide and separate us out. More generally, we need to create a society that supports such communication and support.

Finally, we reflected on the importance of validating everyone’s deep process and experiences, whether these are explosive, overwhelming and disruptive of a person’s life, or whether they are more subtle, gradual and ongoing over many years, but profound, deeply healing and supportive of that person’s evolution all the same. I was very glad to see there were people from right across that spectrum at the screening. However confused we can be about what exactly is going on for any of us at any time, we can all stand together in our demand for recognition of our right to live from the full height, depth and breadth of what it means to be human! 😊

The experience was a beautiful depiction of how discussing our vulnerabilities and challenges can be the very thing that unites us, whatever path brought us together…

If you’d like to attend a community screening and discussion, CLICK HERE to see if one is happening in your local area, or HERE to find out how to host your own. 

If you can’t get to a community screening but would like to see the film, don’t forget it’s available to WATCH HERE

There are numerous ways to watch!

You can rent or download it here:

To order your own DVD CLICK HERE

Or to see if there is a community screening happening near you: CLICK HERE 

Testimonials from the world premier on 12^th May 2017

 “Thank you so much for working to further this movement. You’ve given me a safe space to shed many tears of joy and hope.” Theodore

“The film was extremely affirming and emotive to watch. I found myself relating deeply to the people discussing their experiences of spirituality within mental health, and resonated with the struggle of being severely misunderstood. It was especially inspiring to witness each beautiful person have the courage to speak openly about their awakening with such depth and humour.” Thomas

 “The film blew me away – it was beautifully put together, and totally inspiring. More than just addressing the stigma attached to mental health, it speaks to the human condition in general and I think we all have a lot to learn from the stories that are being told. Absolutely loved it.” James

Please spread the word; by purchasing this film you are helping the campaign to continue and this vital message to spread….we need you! Thank you, Katie ❤

The registration documents have been submitted; it’s time to make this official!

The launch of #EmergingProud on the 12^th May 2017 saw passions for our message take off at an unprecedented rate.

Discussions revolved around the question; “Rethinking Madness; how can we create a society in which it is safe to talk about our madness?”, with the aim is to create a society in which people can speak openly about extreme experiences without having to worry about being diagnosed and marginalized. It’s about not seeing these experiences as something ‘wrong’ to be ‘fixed’ but as potentially part of a process of inner healing, growth and spiritual development – saying that it is possible to find deep meaning and wisdom in psychological trauma, while acknowledging the process can be extremely traumatic to go through.

#EmergingProud is grassroots movement. It’s about creating positive change which will make old understandings, forms and social structures obsolete.

The problem with being a ‘grassroots’ movement is the usual funding issue; the only way we could continue the campaign activities, including providing an online platform on which people can #EmergeProud and tell their stories, was by forming an official not-for-profit organisation that enables us to apply for official monies. We therefore decided to set ourselves up as a Community Interest Company (CIC), which will allow us to raise money from grant making trusts, etc. to work on the outcomes from our Launch events.

‘We’ are Jeannet Weurman, Dr Mick Collins and myself (Katie). Last weekend we met up and worked on the constitution documents, and this weekend they are winging their way over to Companies House! I am immensely grateful to Jeannet and Mick for their invaluable dedication and support to make this happen.

#EmergingProud C.I.C.’s official objectives are:

The objects of the Company are to carry on activities which benefit the community and in particular (without limitation) to create a more inclusive society focusing on mental wellbeing and human transformative potential. The Company supports the promotion of human rights and the advancement of social inclusion by expanding the public perception of ‘normal’. It aims to normalise psychological distress and extreme human experiences, and offers a view of psychological crisis as part of a transformative process (‘emergence’). The company is aligned with theoretical and research perspectives found in the fields of humanistic and transpersonal psychology, which values the full spectrum of human potential.

Our proposed activities: 

1. Creation of opportunities for discovery of personal meaning and purpose in our psychological / spiritual distress, through the development of platforms for inner exploration and mutual sharing of insight.
2. Community inclusive events
3. Facilitating empowering community action, including grass-roots, peer support and advocacy initiatives.
4. Creation of awareness-raising platforms, including education and training.
5. Research

 How will these activities benefit the community? 

1. Encouragement of human transformative potential, self-awareness and self-actualisation.
2. Increasing inclusivity and reducing isolation. Enabling contributions to community cohesion.
3. Personal and collective discovery that we can all make a positive difference; encouragement of self- and social efficacy.
4. Access to a way of understanding the meaning in psychological distress and extreme human experience, which offers validation and a positive approach to facilitate transformative human potential. Development of compassion for self and other. Provision of a vision of hope and opportunity, resulting in e.g. reduction of distress and risk of suicide.
5. The capture of both qualitative and quantitative evidence of the benefits derived from this innovative approach. Improvement in our understanding of the most beneficial ways to carry this approach forward.

If the company makes any surplus it will be used for…

It is hoped that surplus funds will be raised in order that the aims and objectives of the C.I.C. can be increased in the future to assist as many people as possible to live more fulfilling lives.

We will continue to be transparent in our activities and blog regular updates on progress.

In solidarity, Katie, Jeannet and Mick ❤

Local Artist, Samantha Symonds kindly showed her support of the #EmergingProud campaign by submitting some of her beautiful paintings to be displayed at the launch.

Here she describes how art offers her a spiritual connection to nature:

Sometimes it’s good to get a different perspective on life, especially the natural world. For example, I like to look closely at small creatures, or to look upwards at flowers, as in Oxeye Daisies here. This is one of my favourite paintings, I enjoyed working on it and it makes me feel peaceful to look at it.

I’ve always loved drawing and painting, and found it a natural thing to do, so I’m often at my happiest and most fulfilled while I’m painting. It is the way I explore and absorb the world, and it is an important part of my spirituality. I particularly love the moment inspiration comes to me for a new painting, and I have a vague image of it in my mind. However it takes a lot of time and work to materialise the idea, and that initial image is tricky to keep hold of, so the final result may evolve a fair bit from its conception!

Currently my life is busy with things other than painting, so it’s difficult to make time for the very thing that is my purpose in life. I’m grateful though to have such a purpose, it keeps me going!

Find more of Samantha’s work here:

www.samanthasymonds.co.uk

www.facebook.com/awencreative

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AwenCreative

12th May 2017 saw the official launch of the #EmergingProud campaign, a grassroots social movement aiming to change the conversation around mental distress.

12 countries hosted 16 events based around Open Space discussions of the question;

“Rethinking Madness: How can we create a society in which it’s safe to talk about our ‘madness’?”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL INTERNATIONAL REPORT

What does the world have to say about necessary change?