Human consciousness is far more expansive than our everyday waking state. Across cultures and throughout history, people have accessed healing, insight, and transformation through non ordinary states of consciousness. These states are not pathological or abnormal. They are natural capacities of the human mind and nervous system that allow access to deeper layers of perception, memory, emotion, and meaning.
One of the most powerful ways to safely access these states in a modern therapeutic context is through Grof Breathwork, a method rooted in transpersonal psychology and experiential self exploration.
What are non ordinary states of consciousness?
A non ordinary state of consciousness is any state that differs from our usual ego based, linear, time bound awareness. In these states, perception changes, the sense of self may soften or expand, and awareness can move beyond ordinary thinking.
People may experience vivid inner imagery, emotional release, physical sensations, memories, symbolic visions, or deeply meaningful transpersonal experiences. Time and space can feel altered, and there may be a sense of connection to something larger than the individual self.
Within Grof Breathwork, these experiences are often referred to as holotropic states, meaning states oriented toward wholeness. These states arise naturally when the mind is allowed to move beyond habitual control and the nervous system shifts into a different mode of functioning.
What is Grof Breathwork?
Grof Breathwork is an experiential approach to self exploration and healing originally developed by Stanislav Grof together with Christina Grof. It was created as a non pharmacological way of accessing non ordinary states of consciousness in safe, structured settings.
The underlying principle is that the psyche has an innate intelligence that knows how to heal and reorganise itself when given the right conditions. Rather than analysing problems or directing the experience, the process allows inner healing dynamics to unfold spontaneously.
The role of the facilitator is to create a safe container, offer support when necessary, and trust the intrinsic wisdom of the participant’s process.
How the holotropic state is reached?
The non ordinary state in Grof Breathwork emerges through the interaction of several key elements.
The first is continuous, accelerated breathing. The breathing is deep, connected, and sustained, without pauses between inhalation and exhalation. This alters the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body, influencing the nervous system and gradually quieting the analytical, controlling mind.
The second element is evocative music. Carefully selected music supports the inner journey by amplifying emotional depth, imagery, and movement through different layers of experience. Music acts as a bridge between conscious awareness and unconscious material.
The third element is the therapeutic container. Participants lie down, usually with eyes closed, in a safe and supportive environment. There is minimal verbal interaction during the session, allowing attention to turn inward. Trained facilitators are present to ensure physical and emotional safety.
As these elements combine, the brain shifts away from ordinary cognitive dominance. Holotropic states arise naturally, allowing access to biographical material, unresolved emotional or somatic patterns, birth related experiences, and transpersonal dimensions of consciousness. The body often plays an active role through sensations, movement, or emotional discharge, enabling stored stress and trauma to complete and release.
Why these states can be therapeutic?
In holotropic states accessed through Grof Breathwork, healing does not occur through talking or intellectual understanding alone. Experiences are lived directly in the body and nervous system, where trauma and emotional conditioning are stored.
This experiential access allows incomplete responses, suppressed emotions, and deeply held patterns to emerge and resolve organically. Many people report a sense of relief, clarity, emotional freedom, and renewed connection after sessions.
Rather than suppressing symptoms, the process supports integration and reorganisation at a foundational level.
Integration and embodied understanding
After the breathing session, time is dedicated to integration. Creative expression such as drawing, reflection, and group sharing helps anchor the experience and translate insights into everyday life.
Integration is a vital part of working with non ordinary states. It ensures that what emerges is not overwhelming or confusing, but becomes a source of growth, stability, and embodied understanding.
A natural doorway to wholeness
Non ordinary states of consciousness are not exotic or reserved for mystics. They are part of the natural human potential. Grof Breathwork simply offers a structured and respectful way to access these states without substances.
When held within ethical boundaries, skilled facilitation, and proper integration, holotropic states can support deep healing, personal insight, and a renewed sense of meaning and connection.
Reach out for more information on the next breathwork workshop.
