Manchester Academy for Transpersonal Studies
Director: Elliot Cohen PGCE(HE) PhD CPsychol
Psychology, Philosophy and Psychotherapy
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UK Institute of Psychosomanautics
The Northern School of Daoist Studies at Leeds Metropolitan University and Manchester Academy for Transpersonal Studies
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UK Institute of Psychosomanautics
Definition: Comprised of the three Greek words for mind
(Psyche), body (Soma) and navigation (Nautic).
We may already be familiar with Astronautics as the means to navigate
and explore outer space; Psychonautics may then be understood as the
means to navigate and explore the reaches of inner space (the mind).
The term Psychonaut has been used by the Buddhist scholar Professor
Robert Thurman to describe Tibetan yogis, by Freke and Gandy to
describe the ancient Gnostics and by Dr Elliot Cohen to describe Daoist
adepts (though this was later amended to Psychosomanaut).
Psychonautics is the means to study and explore consciousness
(including the unconscious) and altered states of consciousness (ASCs);
it rests on the realisation that to study consciousness is to transform
it. In this way Psychonautics may differentiate itself from more
mainstream approaches in Psychology (Gk: Psyche logia the ‘study of the
mind’) which are, arguably, more concerned with passive theoretical
understandings than with active experiential transformations.
Its roots are revealed within many of the world’s great and ancient
Wisdom Traditions (Shamanistic and Mystical); its fruits can be found
in many modern Transpersonal, Holistic and Integral approaches within
Psychology.
Somanautics suggests an enhanced awareness of, and a cultivated
sensitivity towards, the body’s physicality and physiology and may
include such practices as Yoga, Qigong, Daoyin, Tai Chi and many
martial arts (this is not an exhaustive list and we are constantly
exploring other practices).
Not wishing to reinforce certain dualistic tendencies commonly
encountered within Western Philosophy and Psychology, or to suggest a
disembodied consciousness, Psychonautics should be coupled with
Somanautics; leading us to develop Psychosomanautics™.
Courses
There are three courses on offer at the Manchester Academy for Transpersonal Studies. Buddhist philosophy and meditation, Daoist philosophy and cultivation and Kabbalah and Chasidic philosophy
Click here for more info on Transpersonal Studies at MATS