existential research lines
Reclaiming the imaginal
The “imaginal” refers to an experiential world at the interstices between the empirical reality that comes to us through the senses, and the imaginary world that is a projection of our fantasy. In the middle lies a razor edge of real imagination, a potential expressions of a deep connection with reality that goes beyond the sensorial. It is the birthplace of dreams, visions, mystical experiences, collective experiential fields, and intuition. Prior to sense-making, expressed in a language of symbols and images, it gives access to true insights in ourselves and the world. Simultaneously real and unreal, fact and fiction.
In this research line we investigate how we can reclaim the “imaginal”.
voices in the dark
In Ancient Greece, incubation was a widespread practice to find healing or guidance from the gods. Attended by the lords of the lair (phôlarchos), seekers would gather in darkness and lie down, like an animal in hibernation, in utter stillness (hêsichia) doing absolutely nothing, until they could let go of all wanting, even wanting something to happen. And then ... the gods started whispering.
This research line wants to reactivate this old tradition. Based on the writings of ancient (Parmenides, Empedocles, Pythagoras) and contemporary (Kingsley, etc.) authors, and inspired by other traditions that include darkness practices, we will design and experiment with darkness and inertia as tools to induce altered states of consciousness, including trance.
reinventing tradition
Transgressive (antinomian) rituals and practices were designed for a particular culture at a particular time. They were meant to help practitioners break through adherence to group identities and compliance to social pressure. Repeating them in the traditional way while living in a different time and place may render them weak or even useless. They were designed for a purpose. Staying with the tradition means to protect and seek what they were seeking. Redesigning the structure and specifics of traditional practices is unavoidable.
This research line is an investigation and reactivation of the practice of avadhūta: radically embodying the meditative insights of non-duality and non-localised awareness, to become utterly free of worldly concerns and without consideration for the standard social etiquette. The end state is hypothesised to be total spontaneity and unconstrained self-expression, with neither desire for representation nor fear of social rejection.
initiation rituals for young men
In this research line we investigate rites and symbols of initiation for young men into adult masculinity. Traditionally, this meant that a boy was taken away from his mother and had to undergo strenuous challenges in which he had to prove willingness to face his fears and give his life to protect the tribe. Times have changed. There is no longer a clear tribe to protect, the content of our fears has changed, and with feminist and queer theory playing in the background, it is not straightforward what it means to be a man.
In contemporary western society masculinity is unclear and under critique. A sizeable number of young men wander around without purpose, get caught up in consumerism, entertainment, aggression or vandalism, and/or numb themselves with porn, drugs, or social media. We hypothesise that a proper initiation into critical adult masculinity can give direction and strength to young men, help them touch a shadow, connect to a calling, and accelerate the development of adult masculinity.
circling as a technology of love
(completed)
In this research line we experiment with "circling" as a technology of love. Circling is a technique of self-exploration and relating that creates transparency and intimacy by exploring and exposing your inner experience with radical honesty. It combines 1) carefully noticing the constituents of your experience (e.g., sensations, thoughts, feelings), 2) taking ownership of them, and 3) exposing/disclosing them to others, without expecting any particular response.
Bare-bone, the circling technique carries some risks: boundaries can be crossed without consent, there is little protection against re-traumatization, oppressive societal structures can be unconsciously perpetuated (e.g., ignorance about how difference in privilege influence access to self-leadership), celebration of narcissism and self-centredness, lack of care, etc.
To compensate for these shortcomings, we use a framework of "love", defined as "the will to extend oneself to support oneself and others in growing in self-recognition and full, selfless expression" (definition inspired by Peck, the road less traveled). It is an attempt to expand the locus of awareness, extending it from the individual self to inclusion of all group members.
tantric christianity
coming up soon...
