The Hidden Experience - unusual experiences in Transpersonal Psychology

Abstract

Paranormal experiences are still a taboo in our society, in spite of their acceptance by the transpersonal psychology. The parapsychological counselling office in Freiburg gives to persons a possibility to cope with such experiences. The aims and the work of the counselling project are described in the paper.  A singular collection of more than 2500 letters of the counselling project shows impressively that characteristic. Some of the reporters, however, do not ask for help, but offer their own recipe to “explain” their paranormal experiences. It is argued that such esoteric and occult belief-systems can serve as a first therapeutic step. On the other hand, authentic reports of paranormal experiences seem hardly to fit with the paradigm of spiritual development as it is proposed by transpersonal psychology due to their inconsistency, banality or even atavistic character. A meta-perspective seems to be necessary to see the spiritual relevance of paranormal experiences.