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Lewis, Robert M. The Abandoned Heart. San Diego: Behavioral Science Applications,
Revised and Abridged Edition, 2000
Copyright © by Robert M. Lewis, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2000.
Printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
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Preface
To the
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Preface
Revised and Abridged Edition
Version 2000
In its original form, The Abandoned Heart monograph is a collection of three papers presented to the
Association for Transpersonal Psychology at annual conferences during the summers of 1982, 1983 and
1984 held at Asilomar near Pacific Grove, California.
These papers have gained a degree of recognition that could not have been anticipated. Inquiries for
reprints have been requested throughout the 50 states as well as Canada and Europe. These continue to be
received as of this writing, nearly twenty years since the first paper was presented. In several instances,
one or more of the papers have been placed on required reading lists in graduate psychology departments
that introduce their students to transpersonal issues.
Although the original monograph included several additional papers that address peripheral issues, the
majority of requests have been for the first two papers, which specifically discuss issues of onset and
recovery of the borderline personality phenomenon.
In order to meet this need, the revised edition is being made available in this abridged format.
Nevertheless, since the first papers were presented, there has been a natural progression of research and
understanding, which has led me to the following conclusions: 1) The original premise is correct, 2) there
are many who suffer from an abandoned heart who do not display the full extent of the syndrome, and 3)
the personal, interpersonal and transactional processes of human nature are imbedded far more deeply in
man’s spiritual nature than I had originally assumed. These conclusions support the original assumptions,
but extend them far beyond what is presented here.
It is my hope that those who suffer from an abandoned heart, or who know and love them on a personal
level as well as those who work professionally with these issues, will continue to explore their own
spiritual nature ever more deeply. The rewards are worth the journey.
Although I am presently retired from my private practice, I remain open, as I have in the past, to receiving
inquires and calls from those who wish to discuss these important issues. I can be reached at the address
and numbers listed below.
If you wish to order additional copies of this abridged version, the cost is USD $29.95, which includes
shipping and handing.
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The Abandoned Heart
A Dynamic Energy-Shift Model
of the Borderline Personality Syndrome
Table of Contents
5
The Abandoned Heart
A Dynamic Energy-Shift Model
of the Borderline Personality Syndrome
Introduction
Historical Perspective
The borderline personality syndrome is one of the more puzzling, complex, and
difficult to differentially diagnose of the major personality disorders. It is also not without
its special challenges in treatment.
Historically, the borderline syndrome has been surrounded with controversy and a
certain skepticism. Although the clinical picture had been formally described in 1911 by
Bleuler, who used latent schizophrenia as the diagnosis, and while the terms borderland
and borderline were utilized in 1918 by Englishman L. Pierce Clark, it was not until 1938
that the term borderline was introduced formally in American journals by Stern.
Following a paper by Hoch and Polatin on pseudoneurotic schizophrenia in 1949, and
two papers in 1953 by Knight, who used borderline as the descriptive term, the diagnosis
of a discrete clinical entity became more common. The diagnosis has only recently been
given permanent clinical status by the American Psychiatric Association, which has for
the first time included the borderline personality as a diagnostic classification in the
DSM-III.
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Clinical Picture of the Borderline Personality 1
Much has been written concerning the clinical picture presented by the borderline
personality. Although a comprehensive review is beyond this paper’s scope, a brief
description will be useful. The text of the disorder, as presented in the DSM-III manual,
is reproduced below:
The symptoms presented by the borderline are varied, and overlap with other
1
The contributions of Vincenzo G. Adragna to the development of this model are gratefully acknowledged.
2
It is now interesting to note that the current DSM-IV includes abandonment issues as an essential feature of the
borderline personality diagnosis.
7
(6) Anxiety, phobias, and panic anxiety states;
(8) Feeling of being empty, unfulfilled, bored, with difficulty being alone;
(10) Difficulty being in touch with true affect, or lack of congruence between
thoughts or feelings and their expression;
personality as a discrete syndrome stems from the fleeting and cyclical nature of the
symptoms, and the not uncommon shift from neurotic patterns, to the loss of ego
boundaries associated with psychotic-like episodes of relatively short duration, and back
again. In addition, many borderline patients function within normal ranges a good portion
It is the complexity of these processes, which shift and recycle between neurotic,
normal, and psychotic-like episodes, and the observation that many symptoms of the
borderline are shared with other diagnostic categories, which have contributed to the
clinical controversy, and have delayed its acceptance as a diagnostic category. Even now
Questions such as the following continue to be asked: What is the person afflicted with
this disorder borderline to? Is it primarily a thought disorder, associated with the
8
manifesting as depression, countered by explosive episodes of anger? Is its onset
This paper is the initial attempt to present an alternative, yet integrative, approach
However, it is not an attempt to dispute or to replace the current ideas of others. It is,
rather, an attempt to further explain the puzzling dynamics of the borderline, using a
The concepts herein are presented in terms of a model, rather than to prematurely
elevate them to the level of theory. In addition, the idea of a model more adequately
encompasses the dynamics of energy flow central to this presentation, although many of
the concepts lend themselves readily to the generation of testable hypotheses required of
procedures must await the prerequisite of more intensive clinical observation, from which
The model to be presented has had its own historical development. Although
covering a relatively brief time span, it has evolved through certain stages, each one
The author made the initial observations and tentative hypotheses in the clinical
setting of his private practice in individual and family psychotherapy. As the clinical
these observations were shared and explored with research associate Vincenzo Adragna
during weekly discussions. It was during these discussions that many of the spiritual
9
Stage I was a period of exploring the dynamics of reactive (functional, uni-polar)
depression with clients responding to some form of situational loss, great or small, and its
relationship to anger.
Stage II, a closely related and natural extension of the first, involved the complex
reactions, dynamics and symptom development of clients working through the grieving
process of separation, death, or their own terminal illness. It was during this period that a
most interesting observation was made. Each of these clients was able to describe a
certain set of somatic complaints, primarily involving deep visceral pain, in the region of
the lower thorax, heart, and upper abdomen. Also experienced was a great emptiness, or
symptom was more commonly expressed during periods of depression, and was often
As this observation was pursued, it was noticed, consistent with object relations
theory, that the symptoms disappeared when a strong emotional connection was made.
This fact in itself is not surprising. It has always been a part of the human condition.
However, we began to ask the question “why?” Why did the symptoms disappear? Were
they related to an inner process, perhaps an energy dynamic, which could, if understood,
be helpful in the recovery phase of loss and grieving? Was the feeling of emptiness or
void a literal subjective interpretation, rather than a psychological metaphor? If so, what
“disappeared” to produce the void and pain, and what “returned” to provide the feeling of
fullness?
Sometimes the fullness was associated with love, and a yearning to give of
oneself. In these moments, the pain disappeared, replaced by a sense of warmth and
of depression. At other times, the emotional response was fully experienced anger, in
10
which the pain temporarily disappeared, and a sense of personal power returned, but
Stage III was a period of working with clients experiencing phobias, a large
proportion of whom were diagnosed as agoraphobic. It was during this period that an
dependency, deep visceral pain, emptiness, depression, anger, panic responses and the
fugue states of ego boundary dissolution, which were key to recycling and perpetuating
the process. Later, similar processes were to be seen again and again in the borderline
personality.
observations mean? The most important observation seemed focused on clients who were
experiencing intense loss of an important emotional relationship. For these clients, there
seemed to be genuinely something we could describe as a “broken heart.” But what was it
that was “broken?” Certainly it was not the physical heart. Besides, the symptoms were
not necessarily located in the left lower thorax, but were in a broader, although still
circumscribed, region. And rather than broken, it was more as if something vitally
important was temporarily missing. It was, as some clients would describe, as if there
were a deep hole in their very center, a hole which, when present, produced such a deep
ache or pain that it seemed at times unbearable, and which prompted many of them to
first seek medical attention, before being referred for psychotherapy when all diagnostic
An assumption about human nature, which had gradually been evolving into
acceptance over the years, was the eastern religious philosophy of an energy matrix or
system contiguous to and interactive with the structural system of the physical body. Was
it possible that the broken heart and the symptoms, which corresponded to it, were
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actually the predictable outcome of a vital energy depletion of the Heart Center, or Fourth
Chakra? It was recalled that Shafica Karagula had reported observations by certain
sensitives concerning swirling energy vortexes, or “holes”, receding into the body
the pain of a broken heart associated with a “negative” energy vortex, and the fullness of
being in love associated with a “positive” energy vortex which extended outward beyond
the boundary of the physical body to make a literal energy connection with the loved
one?
symptoms. With very few exceptions, there was a subjective response in which the idea
made intuitive sense to them. In some instances, simply the idea itself seemed helpful. If
nothing else, it “explained” to them something that had been so puzzling. Some clients
also began to consciously attempt to “move” the energy outward, resulting in the
alleviation of symptoms.
concentrated period of work with borderline patients for the answer to become clearer.
presented a basic paradox. Energy extending outward from the Heart Center produced
more fullness, whereas attempts to “take in” energy from someone else from a state of
neediness eventually produced a greater emptiness. Teaching the nature of this paradox,
the flip side of our normal world view, became a basic task in psychotherapy with
borderline patients were being seen in therapy during this phase. Gradually, some basic
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patterns began to emerge, which drew quite naturally upon the experiences and
understandings of the previous four stages. In fact, the symptoms and dynamics of the
borderline seemed a composite of these stages, with the addition of certain unique
Third, from this genesis arose a reasonably predictable set of dynamics which,
when set into motion, could be viewed as accounting for the fleeting, cyclical, and
arose to apply some unique therapeutic interventions derived directly from the model.
The results were far beyond expectations. Indeed, for some patients recovery came so
swiftly and so completely that one had to wonder if these patients were in fact borderline,
even though they fit well the clinical picture. We were reminded of the medical
case after case, it was felt that there might be value in sharing the model. The validity of
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1.0
The Model
Borderline Predisposition,
Basic Assumptions,
and Healthy Development
The most significant observation, which will be detailed as we progress, was this:
heart pattern, but with some fundamental differences. The basic symptoms of deep
visceral pain, emptiness, and depression were the same. However, the symptoms of the
broken heart were temporary, being the acute stage of response to intense loss.
In the borderline personality, the symptoms of loss had become chronic. There
had, for whatever reasons, developed a certain permanency to the depletion of energy in
the Heart Center. Although it could, and often did, return temporarily, resulting in illusive
Although the depletion and void was the result of inner dynamics and processes,
the emptiness and pain so often felt was not experienced as such, but was instead attached
to the presence or absence of a loved one, or nurturer, which contributed to the feeling of
helplessness and dependency: It was others who were perceived as ultimately in control
of the borderline’s sense of well-being on the one hand, or vast emptiness and pain on the
Thus the defense of projection developed and was maintained, and prevented the
borderline from seeing the singular truth that would ultimately set them free. At a critical
point in their development, the borderline had made a most crucial decision. Out of an
agonizing sense of survival and self-protection, the decision was made to prevent the
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possibility of any further pain from abandonment. This was accomplished, in one
intuitive leap, by removing awareness from the locus of pain, from their own Heart. With
the removal of awareness, the energy of the Heart Center became increasingly depleted,
numbing the pain through denial, but with ever so costly results.
The borderline had made the decision that began the process of their own
pathology. They had made the decision -- to abandon their own Heart.
From this point onward, the constellation of personal beliefs, feelings, and
manner. However, the predictability that was observed was not simply the end result of
enough to account for the disorder. Gradually it became more and more evident that
persons with the disorder had certain general characteristics in common, characteristics
which, if isolated within normal development, were certainly not pathological. As these
individuals.
believe there are three primary predisposing characteristics. These are: (1) A highly
sensate body, (2) a capacity for high emotional intensity, and (3) a naturally creative
Borderlines have a highly sensate body, with lower than usual sensory input
thresholds of pain and touch. Their bodies are very responsive to external stimuli, and
15
therefore the environment, especially other people. They are also unusually aware of
inner body states. As a result, they tend to be sensual and pleasure seeking, as well as
The borderline’s low thresholds involve the peripheral nervous system. This is
not the same as the inadequate CNS filtering of information input hypothesized to
account for some schizophrenic processes. They, therefore, have the capacity for
accurately “mapping” the external world, sometimes in great detail, which seems not to
Borderline’s have a higher than usual capacity for emotional intensity. The
its natural, undistorted state, we might view this as a love-giving, love-receiving trait, that
is, having a “full heart.” When distorted, it will shift to a deficiency state of neediness,
and may become a preoccupation with sexuality, perversions, or gender identity, often
expressed only in fantasies, which act as substitutes for the fulfilling emotional
or physical abandonment, this emotional intensity will eventually provide the fuel for the
pain-generated anger and later, when insulated from awareness, will account for much of
cognitively responsive. Paradoxically, this quality, as we will see later, is necessary for
the development of the disorder. Their minds are often constantly active, and they
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develops from attempting to avoid pain and find fulfillment.
To use the colloquial, their minds are “sharp,” with a quick wit, and “fluid,” being
able to make cognitive associations easily. These quick and fluid qualities also make their
cognitive processes slippery,’’ being unable to maintain certain cognitive sets required
for a consistent self-identity, and making long-range goal-setting and attainment difficult.
These qualities may also make them prone to using dry humor, often to a degree that
attempt to spontaneously bring relief to the pain or emptiness they are experiencing.
Although they are able to put cognitive constructs together in unusual ways, this
creativity may be for better or for worse. While it allows them to problem solve
productively, it also provides the mechanisms for developing intricate defensive patterns,
the cornerstones of which are projection and denial, which eventually become their
undoing.
These three predisposing factors, each of which in their positive forms are
potentially enhancing of the self, have a negative side if distorted. In Abraham Maslow’s
terms, they can become Deficiency-needs rather than Being-needs, with predictable
adverse consequences.
In combination, these three factors can account for the tripartite essence of the
combined with (2) an affective disorder, involving both a preoccupation with sensation
and a denial of true affect, resulting in (3) relationship difficulties, which not only
provide the primary genesis, but serve to perpetuate the disorder as well. These factors
intertwine to form the relatively predictable dynamics, which are the predominant
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1.2 Constitutional Factors: A Tentative Hypothesis
Individuals with a borderline disorder often report somatic complaints in the
general region of the throat, thorax and upper abdomen. These generally include vague
We believe it may be of heuristic value to note that this is the region served by the
Tenth Cranial (Vagus) Nerve, an autonomic efferent and afferent system, with motor
fibers to the larynx, pharynx, lungs, esophagus, heart and stomach. It has lesser branches
to several abdominal organs, and sensory fibers to the larynx and lungs (see Figure 2).
We have noted, for example, that upper thoracic and laryngeal tension increases
as primary emotional energy moves upward, away from the Heart Center, and decreases
as the energy returns to the Heart Center. Voice register, an indication of laryngeal
tension, also seems to rise and fall in correlation to the upward and downward energy
movement.
upper respiratory ailments, heart and chest pain associated with the chronic nature of an
abandoned Heart.
Cranial Nerve activity (e.g., inhibition; dis-inhibition) and the instability of primary
emotional energy of the Heart Center in borderline prone individuals? The question
Several assumptions are basic to the model. These are treated “as if” true for purposes of
support the validity of these assumptions with empirical evidence for, in fact, there is
18
energy state, process or dynamic is advanced to account for an observable event. This has
theory.
19
to the Heart Center, it will undergo a natural transformation analogous to
biological metabolism, making the energy more readily available to the self and
others.
11.1: This natural transformation will change the emotion from a state of
constraint (form) to a state of undifferentiation. This is analogous to the
change that occurs when H20 is transformed from ice, to water, to vapor.
The process allows the new thought-energy to re-fill the void once created
by its shift away from the Heart Center.
Assumption 12: The steady state of the return of all primary emotional energy to
the Heart Center will produce a state of internal integration, and the subjective
experience of fullness and wholeness, resulting in a natural, spontaneous giving of
self: A parable’s parable of the Prodigal Son.
Ideal development for the borderline-prone infant and child (i.e., childhood
interactions that will prevent development of the disorder) focus primarily on qualities of
the nurturing parent. Although we will often use the term “mother,” this denotes function
rather than gender, and could just as easily be provided by an appropriate male or
Proposition 1.1: The ideal mother (of a borderline-predisposed infant) has a full
Heart. That is, her own primary emotional energy is strong and stabilized in her
Heart Center. She is therefore centered within herself.
Proposition 1.2: Because she is centered in the Heart, the mother experiences
herself as full and whole, and is therefore able to give freely.
Proposition 1.3: Being centered in the fullness and wholeness of her own Heart,
the mother is free from projection. There is no need to attribute her internal state
to those around her, including her infant.
Proposition 1.4: Being integrated and whole, the mother is free from denial.
There is no pain of unfulfillment, and therefore no need to withdraw awareness
from any portion of herself, including thoughts, feelings, or actions.
Proposition 1.5: Being free from projection and denial, the mother can maintain
full awareness of her child’s essence and needs, including the infant’s needs for
fusion and oneness, and later the child’s needs for separation and individuation.
Neither oneness nor separation are cause for anxiety, either for the mother or her
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child.
Proposition 1.6: The strong, stable primary emotional energy of the mother
establishes and maintains connection with the infant’s Heart Center.
1.6.1: The stability and consistency of this connection gradually serve to
anchor the child’s primary emotional energy.
1.6.2: The child’s subjective experience is warmth, contentment, trust,
openness, and freedom to explore fully their own nature. The experience
of fullness allows for the development of their own capacity for giving to
others.
Proposition 1.7: The stability and consistency of the primary emotional energy
connection between mother and child continues through both the separation-
individuation (going away from mother), and the rapprochement (coming home to
mother) sub-phases of development. This further reinforces the strength and
stability of the child’s primary emotional energy, thus setting the stage for normal
and fully adaptive adolescent and adult development.
2.0
Borderline Pathogenic Development
The idea that developmental factors contribute to the borderline disorder is not
new. Masterson (1981), for example, argues well for this viewpoint.
This model does not differ greatly from others regarding what is objectively
observed about the borderline disorder. Where the model departs is the level of
primary moving force. This may account for the difficulty traditional clinicians have
experienced in circumscribing the phenomena. Even so, psychoanalytic writings are not
the borderline. The first is the infant stage, from birth to 18 months. The second is the
toddler stage, from 18 to 36 months. The third stage occurs around age seven, plus or
minus one year (6 to 8 years), and is the critical turning point of the disorder. The fourth
stage occurs during puberty at approximately age 12, plus or minus two years (10 to 14
years), and signals the onset of a prolonged period of formalizing and rigidifying the
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personality infrastructure. This is the period, from adolescence through adulthood, in
which the social consequences of endogenous factors reinforce and perpetuate the
syndrome.
so than other infants), for a strong, intense Heart Center. However, as described above,
the infant requires a nurturing parent with a strong, stable Heart Center to ensure the
Proposition 2.1.2: During periods in which the infant does not experience the
stable primary emotional energy connection with the parent, there will begin to
occur a dissipation, shift or “drift” of energy away from the infant’s Heart Center.
Proposition 2.1.3: In the infant this will be recognized to be a generalized
irritability and/or crying, as if in discomfort or pain, but with no identifiable
physical source.
Proposition 2.1.4: Over prolonged periods, this drift of primary emotional energy
away from the infant’s Heart Center will eventually produce a deeper ache of
emptiness and unfilled “hunger.”
2.1.4.1: The infant may begin to show symptoms of eating difficulties or
digestive problems. Behaviorally, there may begin to be signs of either
passivity or hyperactive movement, and may be difficult to hold, console,
or put to sleep.
Proposition 2.1.5: Because (1) the natural tendency of the infant is for a strong
Heart Center, (2) and because the infant has not yet developed a cognitive
understanding of the source of its vague, internal discomfort (i.e., a parent with an
Empty Heart), and (3) because there may be other children, family members or
part-time surrogate parents who nurture the infant’s Heart Center, the drift of
energy may occur slowly, and may in fact return to fullness for periods of time,
only to drift again if not anchored by the mother’s primary emotional energy.
It is during the toddler stage, without a “change of Heart” occurring within the
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mother, that the developmental process and symptom formation will become more
ominous.
It is between 18 and 36 months that the child begins the important process of
moving away from its mother, establishing separation and mdividuation, and then
development.
Proposition 2.2.1: It is during the active process of moving away from mother
that the child establishes the ability to separate self from the parent, and develops
a sense of self, or individuation.
2.2.1.1: At first, this may cause little difficulty or anxiety for the child.
Since the mother has an Empty Heart, it may even provide a sense of relief
from the discomfort, or energy drain, it experiences in her presence.
Proposition 2.2.2: The critical event for the child is its return “home,” for its
need is to reestablish the connection with mother’s primary emotional energy.
2.2.2.1: In the early stages, the child is ever hopeful that, upon return, he
will experience the warmth, the fulfillment, the contentment and the
oneness associated with being-in-connection with her Heart Center.
Proposition 2.2.3: When the borderline-prone child returns, he finds “no one
home,” for he returns to a parent with an Empty Heart.
2.2.3.1: Again and again, the child experiences the emptiness, the hunger,
the ache of having hopeful expectations broken.
2.2.3.2: Although separation is being accomplished successfully, there is a
gradual erosion of a sense of self, as the pattern of emptiness, hunger, and
unfulfillment is re-experienced upon each return, for the true self-identity
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of the borderline-prone child is in its awareness of its own Heart Center.
First, the highly sensate nature of the child makes them acutely aware of their
own body states. They are natural bedfellows to both pleasure and discomfort, and may
be unusually sensual as well as pain avoiding. These two qualities may predispose them
Second, their capacity for high emotional intensity and responsiveness to primary
emotional energy connections with others which, when present, provide them with
fulfillment or, when absent, are associated with emptiness and pain, make them acutely
aware of human relationships, and to the movement of people in and out of their life.
24
In combination, these two qualities create projection, which is the process of
attributing the cause of their own internal states to the thoughts, feelings, or actions of
others.
and developmental factors associated with the borderline condition have not yet solidified
Proposition 2.3.1: At the approximate age of seven, if the nurturing parent is still
not capable of “being home” in the Heart Center (thus providing connection and
stabilization of the child’s primary emotional energy) a situational crisis may
occur, which will precipitate a decision by the child that will take them a critical
step closer to becoming borderline.
2.3.1.1: The crisis may be either major (e.g., a death), or minor (one more
rejection, or emotional abandonment) in objective terms. However, it will
be perceived as irrevocably traumatic by the child, thus by definition
producing the crisis.
Proposition 2.3.2.: Because of the now intolerable pain associated with a sudden
shift of energy away from the Heart Center, the child makes the self-protective
decision to withdraw awareness from the locus of pain, creating a chronic state of
void or emptiness.
2.3.2.1: Not realizing that to withdraw awareness from the pain in their
Heart Center is to unavoidably create more emptiness, the child
unwittingly makes the decision to abandon their own Heart. Thus,
motivated by a sense of self-preservation, the child initiates a process
which eventually leads to their down-fall.
Proposition 2.3.3: The child has now firmly established the defense of denial,
which is temporarily helpful, for through it the pain is dampened. It results in the
denial of awareness, but also the denial of self. Self-identity thus becomes an on-
going issue as the disorder progresses.
Proposition 2.3.4: Although the child has made the decision to abandon their own
Heart, this is protected from awareness and therefore self-responsibility through
the defense of projection, already firmly established from the preceding stage. In
the eyes of the child, others still remain the cause of their emptiness and pain.
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Proposition 2.3.5: This stage is critical in the development of the borderline
dynamics because the child is now actively directing the energy shift.
2.3.5.1: This is made possible by the maturation of the child’s creative
intelligence. He is now in control of logical processes, which, inevitably,
given his nature, dictate an upward shift of energy to the region of his
“mind” (i.e., his head). At the moment of decision, his mind has been
given the role of savior, rather than his heart. Self-protection has taken the
place of love.
2.3.5.2: This shift could (and eventually will) also be made downward to
the sex center. But at age seven, the child is entering into the latency
period, reducing awareness of genitals and sexual energy. Further, school
is serving to give heightened attention to the mind, adding to the logical
choice of shifting energy upward to the head region.
Proposition 2.3.6: As the energy is shifted upward, it may accumulate
inappropriately and excessively in various body parts along the midline, including
upper thorax, neck, larynx, pharynx, tongue and lips, creating tension and
awareness of discomfort, resulting in various possibilities for communicative
disorders.
It is a paradox of the disorder that the borderline-prone child has a higher than
average capacity for love-giving, while those in advanced stages are often viewed as
excessively selfish, needing to take from others and, in fact, seeming to have little to give
in return. They can be a continual drain on those around them, and may receive more than
their share of social rejection as a result. When in a state of excessive need, the borderline
may actually draw primary emotional energy from others, quickly raising the discomfort
level of those around them, without others consciously knowing why they are
uncomfortable. When this occurs, there can be the feeling of simply wanting to escape
inappropriate ways, which serves only to create more distance and fewer opportunities
They may not only feel lonely, they may in fact be socially isolated for extended
26
periods. As a result, they often have a delayed social and sexual development.
compulsive quality. These may include unusual sexual practices, excessive masturbation,
questions of gender identity, and masochism, to suggest the more common. These may
exist primarily or solely at the fantasy level for long periods, or may break forth into
episodes of acting out during the reduction of impulse control following periods of
excessive stress.
Many of these dynamics have their genesis during and following the onset of
27
Center, sexuality becomes a means of “getting” fulfillment, rather than giving it.
Sexuality becomes a substitute for love, rather than love’s expression.
Proposition 2.4.5: Sexual perversions, in the true sense, are acts of taking rather
than giving. It is therefore not the act itself, but its motivation, coming as it does
from the deepest form of confusion about the nature of one’s self, which is the
perversion.
The sexual pathologies of the borderline are precipitated by the bi-polar energy shifts
of the Split Heart. This dynamic results inevitably in confusion about self-identity, and
the identity of self-in-relation-to others as sexual beings. It is compounded by the
obsessive-compulsive tendencies that result from the never-ending cycle of attempting to
substitute sexuality for self-fulfillment, love-taking for love-giving.
3.0
Energy Dynamics and Symptom Formation
into symptom constellations. However, they will change and fluctuate cyclically,
In this section, we have organized the symptoms into groupings, which correlate
of the borderline.
Six major energy shift patterns are hypothesized. They tend to occur in time-
Each energy pattern is presented in two parts: First, a description of the energy
28
3. 1 Phase I: The Upward Vertical Shift
Description
As a pain avoidance response, awareness is withdrawn from the Heart
Center. Awareness is focused on thinking processes, which are then defined as
the essence of self. Primary emotional energy follows awareness in an upward
vertical shift. Primary emotional energy changes from its original
undifferentiated state, to the constraint of specific emotions, from formlessness to
form. Initially vitalizing the natural creative intelligence, it later serves to distort
reality as it is used for self-protection through the mechanisms of projection and
denial.
Symptom formation
29
3.1.5 Avoidance patterns
The essential formula is: “A void produces avoid.” The void in the
Heart Center produces pain. A consistent motivation of the borderline is pain-
avoidance. Social avoidance is the response to anticipated pain of eventual
abandonment in relationships.
30
Symptom Formation
The quick shift of energy outward from the Heart Center, which
makes a connection with a loved one, will often produce a crying response of
sheer joy.
The opposite, a quick shift inward, signaling a disconnection from
loss or pain in a relationship, may also produce the crying response, this time as
sadness.
This dynamic may also be similar to a “flutter,” in which the shift
occurs in and out quickly, producing a crying response, in which the person is not
sure whether they are happy or sad.
31
Symptom formation
3. 5. 1 Explosive anger
Intense anger is generated in response to the pain, emptiness and
personal powerlessness experienced from the Abandoned Heart.
Projection maintains the delusion that the cause of the anger lies
outside of oneself.
Anger is withheld for long periods, since the anger is usually felt
toward those whom the borderline feels most dependent upon. Therefore, to
express anger directly might lead to driving away the very person upon whom the
borderline relies for love, support and caring. Anger is experienced as threatening
to oneself, since adverse social consequences may follow.
When anger is expressed, a duality is experienced. First, there is a
temporary shift of energy to the Heart Center, helping to create a feeling of
strength and the return of personal power. However, guilt will often follow as
awareness is gained of the social consequences, along with a renewed feeling of
threat to self.
3.5.2 Depression
In response to the guilt and threat, the energy of anger is
encapsulated through denial and the withdrawal of awareness, which temporarily
deactivates the energy, eventually producing, through the mechanism of
depression, the slowing of motor, affective and cognitive responses.
The borderline then becomes less effective, adversely influencing
social, self-expressive, and career patterns.
Gradually, as the energy of anger is added to the dynamics of the
depression, tension builds beyond the capacity of the protective encasement of
depression to contain it.
The energy of anger, fed by projection, is finally forced into
awareness by the disequilibrium, and the cycle repeats.
Helpless to stop the pattern, hopelessness seeps in, undermining
self-worth.
3.5.3 Suicide risk
Awareness of depression, dependency, helplessness, sense of loss,
emptiness, lack of self-worth and hopelessness combine with the energy of anger,
guilt, and awareness of social threat to produce high suicide risk.
32
3.6 Phase VI: The Up and Out Shift
Description
In response to a severe life stress, often involving separation,
primary emotional energy is depleted almost completely from the Heart Center as
it is directed upward and “compressed” into the head region during a panic anxiety
state.
Symptom formation
3.6.1 Pseudo-psychotic episodes
Activated by the energy, an information processing over load stress
occurs, which creates intolerable subjective experiences of tension, obsessive,
circular and redundant thinking.
Since the borderline does not have the healing strategy of returning
energy to the Heart Center, there may be one further last-ditch attempt to push the
energy upward, as a response to the intense stress.
With no other directional options, the energy is expelled upward
and “outward,” away from the “self,” producing an energy under load stress which
creates the additional feeling of void in the head region, resulting in the feeling of
non-being and unreality. Temporary fugue states may occur, in there are short-
term memory lapses, and short-term hospitalization may be required.
4.0
Recovery
Initial Considerations
33
recovery. Derivations of the model, they are straightforward, and essentially simple to
understand and implement.
The emphasis, in therapeutic terms, is always on the basic principles underlying
the development of this disorder, rather than on the symptoms. The symptoms, however,
are useful therapeutically, for they signpost the underlying energy dynamics, and their
disappearance in the course of therapy will be viewed as great cause for hope, something
the borderline desperately needs. Further, knowing the symptom constellations, and how
they interact, can be used sensitively and caringly by the therapist to communicate
empathic understanding of the client’s disorder, and thereby engender the trust so
necessary for successful recovery. The client is hopelessly confused by the internal
disorder they subjectively experience. The therapist need not be.
The basic principle, for both understanding the disorder, and implementing
therapeutic processes and techniques, is the “Law of Awareness,” discussed earlier under
Principle 4.1.1
A cognitive map of the disorder, including predisposition, development, and
energy-symptom dynamics, has proven useful to clients. This should follow an
intense period of exploring the unique subjective experience of the client.
Because of the natural creative intelligence of the borderline, they often can take
this information and make it work for them at a conscious level, reversing the
unconscious decision they earlier made to abandon their own Heart.
Principle 4.1.2
In therapeutic use of the model, the therapist should feel free to continue using all
the therapeutic skills acquired through training and experience. Nothing about this
model implies discarding the old for the new.
Principle 4.1.3
The overriding purpose of therapy is to return primary emotional energy to its
home, the Heart Center or Fourth Chakra.
34
Principle 4.1.4
The only guideline for the implementation of any therapeutic skill, process or
technique should be the question: Does this action help return primary emotional
energy to the individual’s Heart Center?
Principle 4.1.5
Primary emotional energy follows awareness. To return this energy to its home,
one first returns awareness to the Heart Center. Concentrated, focused awareness
on the Heart Center will transform an emotion, or emotional state (e.g., anger,
guilt, sadness, anxiety, depression, and sexuality) into the subjective experience of
warmth, peace, contentment, fullness, and desire for love-giving.
4.2 Techniques
The techniques for recovery described below involve a reversal of the original
decisions and energy dynamics that led up to and perpetuated the borderline disorder.
Once this principle is understood, the therapist to suit the individual needs and
unwanted state or condition in one’s life onto someone else. It is an attempt to reduce the
internal tension of misdirected primary emotional energy by expelling it, and projecting it
outward onto someone else, rather than to return the energy to its original home, the locus
Alone, or with someone you trust, lie or sit down in a comfortable position.
Become aware of the anger, in all its intensity, with all the accompanying thoughts.
Become aware, but do not express your awareness verbally.
Next, “move” your awareness to the region of your Heart Center. This may
involve a spatial reorientation, bringing thoughts and imagery from outside of
yourself, back to your body’s centerline, and then downward to the Heart Center.
At first, there may be experienced a burning sensation in the throat or lungs,
and a strong desire to run, mentally, emotionally, or physically, from this
experience by shifting awareness.
However, by maintaining awareness of the anger at the location of the Heart
35
Center, within a short period (20-40 minutes) the burning will change to warmth,
and the Heart Center will be experienced as calm, strong, and full. This indicates
that the natural transformation of the emotion into primary emotional energy has
occurred. This can be repeated during each occurrence of anger, but each
successful attempt will reduce the total amount of anger, acquired during your life
time, until it is eventually eliminated, and replaced by compassion and a desire for
love-giving.
denial encapsulates the energy of the emotion by removing awareness from it. The energy
in therefore deactivated, and is temporarily unavailable for use, either for self-expression
or work.
Therapeutic paradox can be useful here. For example, “We accept your
depression. It is useful to you now, and you do not need to change. Therefore, we would
encourage you to be as depressed as you need to be. However, as you allow the
depression, become aware of it. Become aware of all the body states that accompany your
depression. Then, express to the fullest possible extent your awareness of the many body
At the point the client becomes aware of the unacceptable emotion (e.g., anger,
Pain in the Heart Center is a signal that primary emotional energy has been
withdrawn. However, the borderline is unusually sensate, pleasure seeking, and pain
avoiding. Their natural tendency is to avoid pain. This is attempted by the strategy of
removing awareness. However, the result is the perpetuation of the pain. Pain is seen as
This view can be reversed. Pain now can become the “friend,” since pain can now
tell the individual exactly where primary emotional energy is needed for recovery.
36
Therefore, when the pain of emptiness occurs, it can be used as the locus for
awareness. As awareness is maintained, the natural transformation will occur. The pain
will become warmth, strength, peace, contentment, the experience of fullness as the
5.0
5.1 Summary
The borderline personality disorder, recognized only recently by the American
public attention. Increasing numbers of cases are being seen in both private and publicly
It has been hypothesized, for example, that Vietnam veterans who have
experienced extreme difficulty adapting upon their return may include relatively large
abandonment depression, low frustration tolerance, explosive anger and high suicide risk,
among other features. John Hinkley, the man who attempted to assassinate President
Reagan, fits many of the borderline criteria. However, there are many others in our
society, with less extreme public visibility, who suffer the constantly shifting emotional
37
pathological affective, cognitive, and behavioral-social components, it is confusing and
difficult for the patient to subjectively understand. It breeds hopelessness, despair, and
suicidal tendencies, among other symptoms. It has therefore been a most perplexing and
difficult phenomenon for psychotherapists as well, with treatment times averaging three
years. However, with increasing numbers being seen for therapy, length of treatment has
Traditionally, the borderline personality has been considered the primary clinical
diagnosed and seen for treatment by psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and
clinical social workers who, although confronted with a patient in crisis and in need of
skilled professional assistance, may not have the orientation, resources or time to provide
a long-term psychoanalytic treatment program. Further, a three year time span in pursuit
of recovery has enormous costs to the patient, both economically and socially.
practice, I began a process, brought into focus through necessity, of reconceptualizing the
borderline disorder. This activity culminated in a paper (attached) which was presented to
the Association for Transpersonal Psychology (1982) and the California Association of
Marriage and Family Therapists (1983), with additional presentations and workshops
observations have proven encouraging far beyond expectations. In some cases, recovery
time has been reduced to under three months, thus giving hope for addressing a present
38
5.2 Chronic Loss, Energy-Shift Patterns, and the Borderline
Syndrome
The original model was based on the observation that the borderline patient
displayed symptoms strikingly similar to people experiencing the intense pain, grief,
anger, and depression of a “broken heart.” However, rather than reflecting an acute, one-
time loss, the borderline had patterns suggesting their experience of loss had become
emptiness or void, which they invariably identified as being located in their lower chest
We began our clinical research with the assumption that, in addition to a bio-
of being “in love” and “in loss.” Invariably, with these patients, being in a love
sense of connection with another, a feeling of expanding beyond the body’s physical
On the other hand, the experience of loss produced a profound and often
and a compulsive desire therefore to take into their own bodies something, anything,
which would reproduce a feeling of fullness, alleviate the pain and boredom of
emptiness, and recreate the experience of oneness sought for in their love relationships.
Drug, alcohol and eating dependencies are therefore not uncommon secondary features of
the disorder. In sum, our observations suggested that something (e.g., energy) was
“present” in the Heart Center during the love experience, and “absent” in loss.
39
means with borderline patients to assist this energy to “return to its natural home,” i.e.,
the Fourth Chakra or Heart Center, even (and particularly) in the absence of a love
the defense of projection, well recognized as a cornerstone, along with denial, of the
borderline pathology.
of emptiness or pain in the Heart Center, we observed indications of symptom relief and
recovery. Although clinically hypothesized from the model, the speed with which the
following assumptions: (1) the pain and emptiness resulted from a void or breakdown in
the underlying energy-matrix system, (2) the energy-matrix system responds sensitively
to awareness, thought and choice, (3) returning awareness to the locus of pain produces a
return of primary emotional energy to that location, and (4) it is possible to eventually
anchor this energy by maintaining the new locus of awareness for a sufficient period of
time so that it no longer shifts erratically, thereby eliminating the cyclical, fluctuating
pain-avoidant patterns of the borderline. Although the exact process remains unknown,
permanence seems to require only that the energy be “anchored,” and the length of
subjective result of this internal process, reported by clients, is the sensation of warmth
and fullness in the Heart Center usually associated with emotional connection in a love
Nevertheless, we also observed that some patients were resistant to the elusive
that other treatment modalities also be found. In general, we found that those who
experienced the most difficulty with awareness techniques (1) experienced more
emptiness than pain, (2) had not yet broken through major areas of denial, (3) had little
40
experience differentiating between thought and awareness (e.g., had not previously
engaged in meditation) and (5) had a greater tendency to view the therapist as an expert
to whom they could look for solving their emotional and behavioral dilemmas.
5.3 Conclusions
The borderline personality syndrome is a composite disorder initiated by
shift of primary emotional energy away from the Heart Center or Fourth Chakra. As the
energy moves away from the Heart Center, it accumulates in other energy centers and/or
body parts of the individual, producing several discrete sets of symptoms, which
awareness from self and/or one’s life situation, including social contact (e.g.,
41
and unrealistic appraisal of self);
from panic response to intense life stress, such as separation (e.g., obsessive,
repetitive and circular thinking, with an attempt to forcefully expel excess energy
episodes); and
social pathology, which serve to both trigger and perpetuate the disorder.
5.5.2 Puzzling and confusing to both the borderline and therapist due to the
5.5.3 Recovery can come swiftly once the basic principle of therapy is
returned to the wholeness and fullness of its natural state by following the Law of
primary emotional energy to return to its natural home, producing peace, strength,
42
6.0
Onset and Breakdown:
Setting the Stage for Recovery
Transformation
43
The Seven Stages of Onset and Recovery
perspective of the disorder, from its onset to full recovery in its entirety.
Although the description of onset and breakdown is bleak, and the borderline’s
subjective experience filled with pain, turmoil and emotional anguish, the
recovery is not only possible but can occur swiftly, changing a person’s life not
only in ways unforeseen, but (and I admit to editorial license here) awe-inspiring.
The transformations I have been privileged to observe have touched me, as deeply
experienced an intense emotional loss, and with it the pain that we are often able
to locate in a particular area of our body, usually our chest or upper abdomen. The
pain may be so intense that we feel genuine concern for our physical and
medical attention.
What we may not yet recognize is that a broken heart, far from being simply
another metaphor, is a valid subjective phenomenon. The pain and emptiness are
real, because something has been torn from us. Whereas before something was
present that provided a feeling of fullness and well being, that “something” is
44
now absent. There is, in a literal sense, a hole in our middle. It is, if we are to
throughout their lives until the final crisis which brings them to therapy, the
broken heart of the borderline patient is the same experienced by all who have
known catastrophic emotional loss. There is only one major difference. The
borderline has known this loss not once, but literally hundreds of times.
patient if they sense the therapist has an intuitive and sympathetic understanding
therapist to know their own emotional pain in this way. And it is useful to be
sympathetic to that special insanity that can follow loss: The grieving process,
helpful for the therapist to intuitively know this, and more, for these comprise the
Often, however, the borderline’s walk through life is not met with empathy,
much less sympathy. They are in actuality quite disabled for lengthy periods in
their life, but appear to others to be very much the master of their own fate.
Expectations from others are often high, yet their own competencies, particularly
may falter for these underlying, unseen reasons, thus leading to greater frustration
45
The pain of a broken heart leads to symptoms interpreted as physical. These
may range from appetite loss to nausea, from irregular heartbeat to symptoms
mimicking angina. Physical pain in other body parts is not uncommon. Although
physician until a mental health referral is finally made. The psychotherapist who
can assess within the first session or so the presence of a borderline syndrome,
and then work immediately toward uncovering the multiple experiences of loss by
encouraging them to tell their life’s story, will often be rewarded by the
statement, “This is the first time I have ever felt understood.” Although payment
for therapy is always appreciated, it will never replace the feeling one receives
For most of us, our first broken heart does not occur until adolescence, or later,
constitutional factors and family history, has lived through that experience
greater than usual need of consistent, stable emotional nurturing from a parent
well-grounded and secure in their own sense of self, and whose primary
fulfillment comes from resources not directly tied to the child. The nurturing
46
So, imagine the child in vital need of this nurturing. Yet also imagine that each
time the child comes to the parent to fulfill this need, the parent is unable to
respond. The parent has an “empty heart,” unable to connect emotionally with the
child. For the child, the parent may be physically there. But emotionally, no one
is home. For the child, seeking merely to have their own Heart Center affirmed,
each time they approach the parent without the fulfillment of connection, their
primary emotional energy drifts. It moves away from its center. And each time it
drifts, each time it is not allowed to connect and to stabilize, there is an empty
ache. At first the ache may be but a gnawing hunger. But each time it becomes
stronger, more and more a dominant part of awareness, until finally it becomes
This process, for the borderline-prone child, occurs not once, but again and
again, a thousand times, uncountable times, until the pain reaches intolerable
limits.
Drastic measures for self-survival are necessary now, and the child responds.
The acute pain of a broken heart has multiplied once too often: It has become
chronic. And the child responds, attempting to forever remove awareness from
the pain’s locus. However, without recognition of the enormous implications, the
child has abandoned not their pain, but their own Heart. They have abandoned
awareness of their own essence. And thus doing, they have begun a process of
breakdown, which will lead them, step by anguished step, toward the syndrome
47
7.0
The Recovery Process3
The decision to remove awareness from the locus of pain is the unknowing
decision to abandon awareness of one’s own Heart Center. Because, for the borderline-
prone child, primary emotional energy is a dominant aspect of the self, the decision to
remove awareness from their Heart Center is also the decision to abandon their own
essence.
The natural state of the pre-borderline child is warmth, caring, and unconditional
love giving, which comes from the experience of a full Heart. However, when empty and
filled with pain, there are few more needy, more dependent, more rageful, or more
potentially harmful to themselves and others in close relationships. Nonetheless, they are
not a sociopath. They respond to misdeeds and harmful action with more than the
ordinary shame and guilt. Indeed it is this underlying guilt, coupled with eventual
hopelessness, which may drive them to acts of self-destruction. They believe desperately
that they have lost their way; and they do not know the way home, for to come home,
home to their own essence, strong and full in Heart, they perceive only a path of pain,
leading to a void. But not until they return full awareness to their own Heart (thereby
allowing primary emotional energy to return to its natural state) will the borderline ever
find fulfillment.
To understand the pathology of the borderline is to understand the dynamics of
this underlying energy shift, the perverting influence of projecting need-fulfillment onto
sources outside oneself, the debilitating consequences of denial, and the cognitive,
affective, behavioral and interpersonal results of these dynamics.
The original paper (1982; Sections 1- 6) dealt in detail with these issues. Now the
intent is to look more closely at the processes and dynamics of recovery which, when
allowed to follow fully their natural course, will lead, we believe, inevitably to a
transformation we might best describe as a spiritual transcendence of self.
3
This section is based upon a paper presented in 1983 to the Association for Transpersonal Psychology.
48
A Patient’s Description of Recovery
Subjectively the experience is felt as a mutual, harmonious coexistence of self with all that is, but
which may focus, in the earlier stages at least, on a profound, newly discovered way of viewing self-in-
relation to others. In the words of one patient, who kept a daily journal of the process:
I am understood
I am loved
I am trusted
I am seen
I am so happy
I cry
I’m Real.
Welcome Home.
Dawn
49
7.1 Stage Ill. Crisis: The Awakening Heart
A crisis is a life-event which penetrates our defenses, leaving our core exposed
and vulnerable. A crisis increases our awareness of the core by peeling off the protective
layers and unveiling it from the outside-in. A crisis presents us with a critical choice,
often perceived as a dilemma, between two basic, limited alternatives: Either we choose
to risk expressing our core experience, thereby opening our self to a sense of threat, but
with a possibility for growth; or, we choose the old defenses, with their seductive illusion
of security. This latter alternative can result in thickening the facade, thereby delaying
growth, or worse, making future growth more difficult.
The true core of the borderline is one’s own Heart. The primary defense is
projection, which is the process of attributing an internal state to something or someone
outside oneself. The facade is that protective armor which has prevented awareness of the
true self. The crisis may be any event--a death, the dissolution of a marriage, a faltering
career. But whatever the source, it signals the death of illusion. And therein lies the crisis-
-the hopelessness--and the hope.
Before the borderline can begin the recovery process, they must experience
personal crisis, a crisis of the self. It is the crisis that may bring them to therapy; but not
necessarily so. They have experienced many crises in their life, but each time they have
chosen the path that leads them further and further away from their true self, the ultimate
course of which is suicide.
But in the crisis that brings them to therapy, they have had a glimpse of their core,
and in so seeing they have made a tentative decision to take another path, yet not fully
aware of what this means. There is something inside which seems to say, “There’s got to
be a better way.” And just as ominous as the other is positive, “I’ll give it one more try; if
this doesn’t work, I may as well die.”
For both the patient and therapist, the crisis is a double edged sword. The
existential and psychological crisis provides the motivation and energy for change, and
can (indeed must) be utilized immediately for therapeutic work. There is little time for
prolonged assessment and evaluation procedures disconnected from therapeutic
50
involvement. And while there is the energy pushing for change, there is another part
waiting for a reason to withdraw and fail.
The crisis is a place of pain and depression for which no escape is seen. The old
ways do not work now, for the crisis was precipitated by the death of an illusion that
functioned to sustain them for awhile.
But beware progress. For in it also lies the seed of hopelessness and despair.
Once they begin to feel the reduction of pain and tension, and the lifting of depression,
they may easily choose again the path of illusion, not uncommonly seen this time in
transference issues. And further, if the therapy falters, it may precipitate a withdrawing or
self-destructive course of events, which may not easily be reversed.
Nevertheless, assuming the best, the crisis is both powerful and necessary. And it
is productive, for its essence is the reversal of projection. The borderline has been thrust,
unwillingly, back upon their self, and must now learn the strength of their own support. It
is this need that can ultimately bring them home, home again to their own Heart. This,
always, is the ultimate goal.
51
contributed to the anguish experienced prior to the initiation of the recovery process.
While they recognize they are now headed home, they intuitively know the road may be
long ahead of them.
It is important to recognize that this heaviness is not the leaden slowness of
feeling, thought and action characteristic of clinical depression. In fact, there can be a
certain lightness and buoyancy in this stage.
However, there now can be periods of true terror. The path to recovery is
becoming clearer; but with it comes the recognition that, to be ultimately successful, one
must eventually surrender completely to the Heart, a feeling akin to the beginning
parachutist who, once airborne for the first time, realizes that to reach the ground they
must eventually jump. There must eventually come a moment which is truly a leap of
faith. And the terror of that moment for the borderline must never be underestimated.
During these times, gentle are the ways of successful psychotherapy.
52
This period may be experienced as a time of great testing, as they see the anguish
precipitated in their personal relationships. Although periods of uncertainty and
vacillation may again produce the illusion of their own weakness, there comes an
increasing recognition that there is no real option to return. Leaden heaviness is being
transformed to tensile strength.
The Strong Heart is the stage during which primary emotional energy reconnects
and stabilizes in the Heart Center. The energy, once utilized almost exclusively for
defending against the pain, emptiness, anxiety, anger and depression associated with
abandonment, is neutralized upon returning to its true home, being now available for
fulfilling one’s purpose, meaning, or function in this existence. The primary experience is
that of freedom, coming as it does from the recognition of one’s strength, for
individualistic self-expression.
This stage is usually considered the successful end of orthodox psychotherapy.
53
times the awareness of love becomes an ache so strong it feels unbearable, stretching,
pushing out, beyond the body’s boundary, a pregnant fullness yearning, unseen labor
preparing for its birth.
Primary emotional energy knows no boundaries. Directed by the single desire to
give, it bursts forth and flows, performing, without the need for conscious volition, its
only function of connection. It’s only purpose is the extension of wholeness it now
experiences, given now freely to others.
The individual with a full heart begins to sense, and then see, a change
take place in those around them. Often without being able to explain why, people are
drawn to them, sometimes just to sit and talk, at others to fulfill more specific needs. And
in so living, the individual begins to sense more clearly their own unique purpose,
meaning and function. They may change occupations, or relationships, or experience
their fulfillment where they are. Whichever is the case, it seems as if it’s done with ease.
Manipulative patterns quickly fall away, and trust in life replaces tension and anxiety.
They soon become aware that they are different now, transformed sometimes
beyond all recognition, within the context of their relationships.
54
8.0
Psychotherapy
and the
Recovery Process
Psychotherapy within the context of this model is a mix of the traditional, the
innovative, and the transpersonal. Each is viewed as having its special function within the
whole. Neither one, by itself, is sufficient, I believe, given the recovery goals and
processes outlined above.
Some specific comments regarding psychotherapy are interspersed throughout the
preceding text. However, it may be useful to discuss psychotherapy in terms of some
general principles and procedures applicable to working with borderline patients.
First, nothing is implied by this model to suggest the need for discarding either
ones knowledge, training, or experience from a traditional, clinical viewpoint. It is only
asked that the therapist be open to the possibility that man, in addition to a bio-psycho-
social being, is also an energy-matrix system capable of responding sensitively to
awareness, thought and choice. It is also useful to assume that this energy, far from being
tightly constrained, has a certain plasticity capable of moving within and extending
beyond the boundaries of the physical body. Beyond that, the model, particularly as
presented in the original paper, should speak for itself.
The question of the model’s validity should rightly be raised. In this regard, it
should be noted the model does not assume the validity of objective, external viewer
confirmation. At this point, it only hopes for a fair degree of internal consistency, or
construct validity, and leaves the idea of content validity open to the reader.
What the model does purport, however, is that for many borderline patients, there
is a certain subjective validity, in that clinical use has demonstrated a high degree of what
we might term “empathic validity. “ This is to say that the earlier version speaks
significantly to the patient’s subjective experience of the disorder. The model should
55
therefore be considered phenomenological in nature, and any tests of validity should take
this characteristic largely into account.
In terms of actual process, I have found some general procedural guidelines
helpful. These are:
Guideline 8.1.1
Allow the patient, from the start, to tell their story as completely as time allows,
without unduly exploring personal history beyond the major developmental and social
issues of the disorder.
Guideline 8.1.2
Allow opportunities to briefly summarize the patient’s experience, and to help
them become aware that their disorder is not only understandable, but that hope exists. I
have found it useful to encourage expectation of recovery within certain time limits,
leaving room for individual differences. I am beginning to see patients move toward full
recovery within three months. However, follow-up observations are lacking at this time,
so that my optimism remains guarded. I also believe that those patients who respond
immediately to the model should be considered in the high functioning range, and have
relatively few tertiary or third order symptom constellations involving depleted
interpersonal and economic resources.
Guideline 8.1.3
Being aware of transference issues, and to work with them as they arise, is useful
practice. Although I do not encourage transference, I know that it can and does occur, and
must be dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner.
The borderline patient is prone to splitting, and may view the empathic and caring
therapist as a love object. Equally as quickly they can demonize the therapist by
projecting upon him/her the painful feelings associated with recovery, viewing the
therapist as a new source of pain. This shift in perceptions during early phases of therapy
can occur quickly and unexpectedly, not only over time, but in a single session.
56
Guideline 8.1.4
I have found that therapy is most effective when the patient is made an active
partner in the process. I have found it helpful for them to know where they have been,
where they are now, and where we can expect to go in the future.
I have thus found it useful to share with them the model, both in written form and
verbally. The result has been a cognitive map they can utilize both during therapy and
also beyond. Many patients have reported that they have referred to the written materials
months and years later as a reminder and guide.
57
that were developed or utilized in response to an issue of theory, rather than an
individual’s uniqueness.
9.0
Technological Advances and Recovery:
Hemispheric Synchronization
the borderline personality. Perhaps their most important contribution is the hypothesis,
generated from theory and clinically substantiated, that the borderline has an all-or-
nothing, “all-good” vs. “all-bad” perception of relationships, which can shift back and
motivated by desire for oneness and, because it often involves infantile sexuality, is
considered regressive. The “all-bad” perception occurs where the relationship is viewed
as incapable of fulfilling the oneness fantasy, is therefore punitive, and elicits a profound
rather than as a “whole.” Each “all-good” part-object percept, and each “all-bad” part-
object percept is emotionally charged and volatile. However, there is virtually no affect
void in the Heart Center. Object-relations theorists identify this “in-between” state as
abandonment depression. Missing is a recognition that neither of these two percepts are
Furthermore, when the borderline is in one of these two states, there is virtual amnesia of
the other part. When the borderline views you one moment as his savior, capable of
fulfilling his oneness fantasy, he does not have a concurrent memory of his anger and
58
It is this dynamic that contributes significantly to the cyclical, fluctuating quality
of the borderline disorder. It is also the most difficult aspect to manage effectively in
therapy. Several years are thought to normally deal with this dynamic from a
psychoanalytic orientation, the solution of which lies in gradually confronting first the
withdrawal part and then the regressive part, each time dropping the patient existentially
into the reality of their abandonment depression. Gradually, the no-affect state is filled
with an expanded sense of both external reality and self, leading eventually to the
Because of the treatment time ordinarily involved, and the therapeutic complexity
of transference issues, I felt that a need existed for a conceptually useful and
pragmatically effectual bridge, which could span the void, emptiness and cognitive-
As serendipity would have it, I discovered this possible bridge in the form of a
relatively recent advance (i.e., 1975) in audio technology, discovered and patented by
Robert Monroe (author of Journey’s Out of the Body), through the Monroe Institute of
Applied Sciences.
sound (which) help create simultaneously an identical wave form in both brain
short for hemispheric synchronization. Sound patterns are introduced into both ears
stereophonically, each ear receiving a slightly different audio pattern. Because the sounds
entering into the right and the left ear “cross over in an “X” pattern to be processed by the
opposite hemisphere, and because each audio pattern is slightly different, the two
hemispheres of the brain must act in unison to process the discrepancy. The result is an
internally generated electrical signal, which is some predictable product of the two
59
slightly different audio inputs.
For example, if you hear a sound measuring 100 (cps) in one ear and another signal of 125 in the
other, the signal your whole brain will “generate” will be 25. It is never an actual sound, but it is
an electrical signal that only can be created by both brain hemispheres acting and working
together. (Institute publication)
Further, Monroe states “If the ‘25’ signal is one that produces a certain type of
consciousness, then the whole brain - both hemispheres - is focused in an identical state
of awareness at the same time.” The process has been applied to sleep disturbances,
I had been utilizing a Hemi-Sync tape personally for some time for personal
reasons. It was during one of these 30 minute sessions that I began to wonder if the part-
normal pathways, perhaps involving the corpus collosum, were either inhibited or un-
useful in assisting the borderline patient to overcome one of the most difficult and
patients, have been hopeful and in some instance dramatic. In conjunction with normal
written materials, the actual recovery process has begun within the first three sessions.
One such instance is a 33-year-old female patient, with a severe history of the disorder
since age 13, including several suicide attempts and history as a psychiatric inpatient,
4
The tape utilized for this procedure is termed “Concentration,” and was chosen because it has minimal verbal commands
that might prove distracting, or might otherwise complicate the results.
60
multiple marriages and inconsistent career patterns. To date, there have been 20 sessions,
two to three times a week. Symptoms have significantly diminished, including pain from
five spinal disk operations. She has moved steadily through six of the seven hypothesized
Although the model predicted the stages of recovery and transformation, it did not
predict the speed of her process. Present indications suggest that full recovery and
termination will be possible within three months of the crisis that originally brought her
to therapy.
10.0
Altered States of Consciousness
and Recovery
concentric spaces, one smaller circle inside a much larger one. The small inner circle
contains the borderline’s “self” which is composed of very few good self-aspects. The
outer, much larger circle contains all the goodness that he seeks, but which exists outside
the self.
The outer circle is in essence the process of projection, i.e., a fantasy of the
people existing “out there” who have the resources and capability to provide him with
The inner circle is in essence the process of denial, in which the true nature of the
self has been hidden from awareness. An important part of the recovery process is to
assist the patient expand the inner circle. The larger the inner circle, the less projection is
required for the patient to maintain equilibrium, thus shrinking the outer circle.
61
Under normal conditions this is a slow and labored process, met with much
resistance if approached directly. There is much invested in the constricted self, for it
competencies.
based on the “Law of Awareness,” presented in earlier sections of this monograph, which
states that primary emotional energy provides the connection necessary in all
relationships; and further, that this energy responds to awareness. It does not matter
simply provides the rationale (see below) for a step-by-step extension of awareness, via
Having the patient sit comfortably, I usually begin by directing their attention
forward, on a horizontal plane, following normal lines of sight, and to simply observe
where their own awareness ends or is constrained. Normally they respond by indicating
the boundaries of the room, at an angle no greater than 45o-50o (25o to right and left).
180o. This is comfortable for them, not presenting an unusual situation. Their response
remember or imagine what is beyond. The next step may present some difficulty,
accompanied by anxiety. The direction now is to repeat the process, but this time do it
62
horizontally behind them. It is not unusual for them to have a “goose bump” sensation, or
to actually express their paranoia about “not wanting to know what’s behind them.” To
counteract this, I direct them to look forward again, remembering what was there, and
then either physically or in imagination slowly turn around so that what was “in front” is
now “in back,” and they can view directly what was behind them. This they accomplish
easily, and often report a “rush” of energy as their horizontal awareness extends to 360o.
Typically, they “have the hang of it” now, and approach the exercise in a playful
way.
Using the same basic procedure, we gradually extend awareness upward (to
create a half sphere) and then “below,” toward their feet and into the earth, and beyond,
out the other side of the earth. The earth’s surface usually provides an understandable
The final result, from a technical point of view, is an infinite sphere of awareness
extending outward in all directions from their own “center” toward the stars, and beyond.
energized.
Using the analogy that their awareness rides on gentle waves of light, and that this
light is now a gentle gift for all it touches, they begin to experience first a warmth and
then a fullness in their Heart Center. Not uncommonly nor surprisingly, they find, for the
first time, a way of “loving” all that is, without risk to their sense of self.
which can be read silently by the patient or aloud by the therapist, also produces some of
There are times when our sense of self becomes constricted, when it may seem there is more
goodness or O.K-ness “out there” (i.e., not-me) than there is “in here” (i.e., me-ness). During these
63
times we may feel small, or weak, or tense, or depressed, or angry, or abandoned, or not very
competent, or even ugly.
This is a simple and easily performed exercise to counteract these feelings about our self. But
before we describe, and then do, this expanded awareness exercise, let’s discuss what we mean by
“awareness” and “expanded.”
Awareness occurs whenever and wherever we focus our attention. Since we can literally
“place” our attention anywhere we choose, our awareness has no limits--no limits at all. We can
choose to make our attention come in very, very close to us, so that it does not go beyond our own
skin. Then our “self,” at that moment, may seem quite small. Or, ~e can choose to allow our
attention to “move” out and out and out, all the way to the stars, and beyond. Then our sense of
self seems very, very large. It is expanded. Even to infinity. And then something very special can
happen.
Before we go on to describe how we can do this, there are some helpful things to know. These
helpful things are what we call “paradoxes.” A paradox is something that may seem contrary to
common sense but is actually true. What we sometimes think is a mystery of life is often a
paradox. An example of a paradox we may already know is “the faster I go, the ‘behinder’ I get.”
In other words, the harder I try (and perhaps the more tense I become), the less able I am to
accomplish what it is I’m trying to do. The opposite of this is what we sometimes call “effortless
effort”-- that when we just let go, and let ourselves “be,” and do whatever it is we’re trying to do
in a relaxed way, then it just comes along; it just happens, so to speak.
This expanded awareness exercise has a paradox or two (actually four). The first paradox has
to do with ‘‘outer’’ versus ‘‘inner’’ awareness. When we try to increase our awareness in an
“outer” way, we will probably use our eyes, or maybe our ears, and try to see a long, long way, or
hear a very faint sound. But soon, when we do this, we discover that we have some very definite
limits (and remember, we were talking about “infinity”). Perhaps our eyes aren’t that good (maybe
we’re near sighted). Or perhaps our eyes are 20/20, but the weather isn’t. Maybe it’s foggy, or
rainy, or smoggy or snowing up a blizzard. Then we’ve got a problem. Our awareness is limited.
Even on a clear day, with our eyes open, we can’t see forever. Remember the horizon? So what
can we do? We can shift from “outer” to “inner” awareness.
So here is the paradox. When our eyes are open, there is just so much we can see. Even on a
clear day. But when we close our eyes, we can shift from “seeing” to what we’ll call ‘‘vision.’’
Vision is infinite and, at first, involves using our imagination. We can “imagine” that we can see
anywhere we want to. Even to the stars. And beyond.
The second paradox is that when we first close our eyes, we think it is dark. But if we wait a
short while, and pay attention, we can begin to see light. (Yes, even in a dark room, at night). This
light starts out as tiny little pinpoints. But the more we pay attention to them, the more they will
grow, or coalesce, so that more and more of our inner vision is filled with this light.
This light is related to awareness. When we let this light grow, even just a little, we can then
imagine that this light is moving, oh so very gently, out beyond us, away from us. And with our
imagination, we can let this light go wherever we want it to. It can go all the way to the stars. And
beyond. It has no limits. It can travel to infinity. (And you know how far that is). Our awareness,
then, if we let it, if we allow it and give it just a little direction, can expand in all directions around
us, going outward, beyond all conceivable limits, in an infinitely expanding sphere - above,
around, behind, and below us.
It is now that something very, very special can happen--if we let it. Whatever we become
aware of, when we use this inner vision, can become a part of us; and we can become a part of it.
64
When we let this happen, when we allow our awareness to expand, we have actually allowed our
own self to expand. We have, all of a sudden, shifted from feeling small, weak, tense, depressed,
angry, abandoned, or ugly--to feeling infinitely expanded, strong, relaxed, joyful, loving,
supported and very, very beautiful. Can you imagine feeling as beautiful as the Milky Way?
Our awareness, then, and so too our own sense of self, expands -riding gently upon waves of
light.
And now, another paradox. Our awareness, riding as it does upon this light, is always going in
two directions. It is always going out. And it is always coming back. (That’s really nice to know,
just in case we’re afraid of getting lost out there somewhere). But there’s more to it. When it goes
“out” first, then it comes back, bringing with it all we need to know. It also brings back a gentle,
but very powerful energy. We start to feel buoyant, stronger, and more energetic.
But--and here’s the catch--if we try to bring the light and energy to us first, like we felt we
needed it a whole lot, and had to “take it,” it will come to us. But remember it always goes in two
directions; so it goes away from us, too. And if we keep this up, if we continue trying to “take it”
first, before we “give it,” then we can begin to feel less and less energy, until we feel exhausted.
Then we’re not really doing what we started out to do. But don’t worry. If this happens, just stop
for awhile, and then start again, this time sending it out first, and simply allowing it to come back,
bearing its gentle gifts.
The final paradox involves something very important and dear to us. It is awareness of our
“self,” our own Center. This is important to us for several reasons. The most important is balance.
In order for us to be healthy, and effective, and happy, we have to be balanced. Being aware of our
Center gives us this balance.
We also need to know our own individuality. Sometimes we call this being centered. Well, if
we are expanding, even to infinity, what happens to our unique sense of self? Will it get lost “out
there” somewhere? No. Not if we remember a very simple rule. We always start the expanded
awareness exercise from our physical center. This is usually located in that soft spot just below the
sternum (breastbone), but above the stomach. This is our Heart Center. And it is a very special,
very loving, very joyful, and very healing place. The paradox is this: When we start by focusing
our attention there (instead of between our eyes, for example), and then in an ever expanding
sphere -- around, above, behind and below us -- gently allowing our awareness to expand from our
Heart Center, it will always (remember, always) come back to that point. When it returns to our
Heart, it will increase rather than decrease our sense of self, individuality, and centeredness. But--
that sense of self will now include a new sensitivity and caring for others--something we may not
have had before.
And, remember--it is a very gentle, strong, caring, loving, healthy place (and way) to be.
~~~~
65
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness
Transformational Stages of Psychospiritual Development
Copyright © 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
All rights reserved.
No portion of this work may be reproduced by any medium without the express written permission of the author.
Printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Preface…………………………………………………………………………………............................. 4
Prologue……………………………………………………………………………….............................. 5
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
The Soul in Space………………………………………………………………………………………... 17
The Soul in Time…………………………………………………………………………………………. 27
Transformational Stages………………………………………………………………………………….. 30
How to Use the TSPD……………………………………………………………………………………. 41
Endnotes……………………………………………………………………………….............................. 44
Epilogue…………………………………………………………………………………………………... 47
Addendum………………………………………………………………………………………………… 48
S
hortly after completing a landmark series of papers presented to the Association for
Transpersonal Psychology titled collectively The Abandoned Heart (1982, 1983,
1984), which described a unique interpretation of the borderline personality
disorder, it became apparent that additional research was needed, along with a theoretical
foundation for the model.
Additional clinical observations were gathered during the course of a private practice in
which both the borderline syndrome and co-dependency issues merged theoretically and
the framework for a formal model was gradually put into place.
In the process of this work it became increasingly likely to this clinician and researcher
that there was much to be gained by hypothesizing an energetic-information processing
structure to the human soul that contained at least seven subsystems, two of which—the
Spiritual Heart Center and the Solar Plexus—were fundamentally involved in both
borderline and co-dependency issues.
This work is the report of that research, which was conducted over an approximately 20
year period, during the course of which were illuminated many surprises not anticipated
when the work first began in 1981.
Throughout this report the reader will notice the occasional use of several simple
mathematical concepts. These are included out of necessity to show the formal structure
and inherent logic of the soul in space and time, but are not needed beyond that to
comprehend the psychosocial and psychospiritual implications of the concepts for every
day life. If one feels uneasy with information conveyed as mathematical symbols, that
portion of the discourse can easily be skipped altogether, or returned to as one feels the
need for a greater understanding of the logic behind the model.
It is with these thoughts that I release the reader to explore the concepts further and,
perhaps, to experience the many surprises—as I once did—that are contained herein.
Robert M. Lewis
March, 2007
San Diego, California
4
Prologue
D uring the early war years of the 1940s a young boy sat cross legged in the middle
of an empty road on a hill overlooking Main Street in Julian, California, once a
mining town during the brief gold rush years of Southern California.
The late spring sun shown warmly on his bare back and blue jays chattered endlessly in
the live oaks above his head. They were interrupted only by the echoing rat-a-tat-tat of a
lone red headed woodpecker drilling holes in a nearby pine tree that served as a vault for
its annual stash of acorns.
Wafting lazily from the road was the warm acrid—but to him delectable—aroma of fresh
asphalt and road tar laid down earlier that day by a county road crew, whom he had
watched with unabashed curiosity and admiration.
There was no place the boy would rather be. His family was at work or school and it was
here he came to be alone with his thoughts as he stared aimlessly across the short valley
and toward the hills rising 4500 feet above sea level to the west.
Having taken his daily ration of the natural beauty around him the boy leaned back and
looked skyward into the pure azure atmosphere that beckoned above the Cuyamaca
Mountains and which drew his thoughts, ever expanding like helium in a blue party
balloon.
Soon he was thinking, not about the sky, which itself filled his heart with joy, but the
inscrutable realms that surely lay beyond, where the night time stars twinkled with the
secrets of their enigmatic mysteries. How far did the sky go, he wondered? What lay
beyond the stars and where did the sky end, and if it did how could that possibly be—a
brain numbing thought that introduced the ideas of infinite impossibilities. He wondered
where it all ended but more. He yearned to know how it all began and his young heart
ached to know the answers. It was here, on this sunlit hill, that his first thoughts of
creation were born, forming preverbal images he could not possibly articulate.
And hence began a life’s journey, unable to rest until the seeds of thought sewn that day
sprouted into coherent form that finally made sense to him.
This work is the summary of that journey, which along the way became an insatiable
thirst for understanding—not the exquisite mysteries of the physical universe—but rather
the sublime secrets of the human soul.
A
s proposed in this work, the term “wholeness” is a hypothesized state of being
available to every human from the moment of birth to the moment of physical
death—and beyond. The state of wholeness exists independently of the
biological, psychological or social condition that any human being finds itself at any time
during its developmental history. This state of being is our birthright, but normally exists
beyond the reach of our awareness until such time that we determine, through our own
decision making process, to become aware of this state and to make it a living part of our
own reality.
It is hypothesized that we were created from a state of original wholeness, present at the
moment of creation, and in fact are intended to be whole. However, we labor under a
burden that consistently and effectively draws our attention away from this awareness:
we were born into this world as biological-psychological-social organisms. The very
nature of our bio-psycho-socio self filters and distorts our awareness of wholeness and
redirects our attention toward the temporary world of duality and separation, which is the
antithesis of the original state. Each time we learn a word for a new and exciting object
in this world, for example, we learn to separate it from all others. Each time we see the
boundary state, or the form, of another human and learn their name, we have separated
that person from all others. Each time we learn the name or visit a street, a city or a
nation, we have learned to separate that piece of geography from all others. And hence,
the original state of wholeness from which we were created, and of which we were
intended to be aware, recedes further and further from our awareness and our thoughts.
From birth, the very nature of our sensory and cognitive processes impels us into the
world of perceived separation.
Of course we can effectively argue that our sensory and cognitive discrimination of
object groups into their respective parts is necessary in this world and essential for our
survival. It would likely be disastrous to walk down the wrong street and into the wrong
house and give the wrong person a kiss! We need the art of sensory differentiation and
cognitive discrimination.
Our educational system is predicated on this view, and in fact the student with a doctorate
has, in all likelihood, learned more object and process names and functions than one who
has simply finished high school. We cannot possibly argue that this learning is
dysfunctional or that we should not pursue it with all vigor. Nevertheless, there is a cost.
There is a price to pay for our education that goes beyond school tuition. Wholeness is
our birthright, but a belief in separation, no matter how well intentioned initially, leads us
further and further away from that which gives us peace.
How, then, can we reconcile these two disparate views of our essential nature? The
answer lies in the very nature of original wholeness itself.
Here we will insert another of several basic assumptions. They are assumptions because
we cannot present a credible proof. Neither can we proceed without them. They are
presented to acquaint the reader with an understanding of the author’s starting point, at
least from the viewpoint necessary to establish this as a dynamic model, which is
preliminary to creating a working theory capable of developing testable hypotheses
generated from a coherent set of propositions. In so doing we make it clear that this
information is not presented as fact, but rather as a presumed plausible framework for
understanding other observations about the human condition that otherwise might remain
an enigma.
Let us first begin with the assumption that there was indeed an original state of creation,
one that pre-existed the Big Bang, so familiar to modern cosmology. Following the first
instant of the Big Bang, energetic forces and subatomic particles quickly formed and
coalesced into larger and larger units of energy and matter, leading to the visible universe
of which we are now aware. Of course, the term “quickly” refers to time scales that
range from microseconds to years counted in the billions. During these epical periods,
quarks, electrons, photons, atoms, molecules, galaxies, solar systems and, of course, the
earth, were formed. Energy and matter co-acted to form the visible universe in which we
now reside. Only later did matter and energy co-act further to create bonds and networks
capable of forming and processing organized bits of energy and matter, or information, in
such a way that viable self-directed life as we know it could arise.
Let us presuppose, however, that prior to the Big Bang another state existed. Let us also
presuppose that this state was undifferentiated. It existed without parts of any kind, and
without parts there was no space and consequently there was no time. The fabric of
space-time did not exist as we know it.
Let us further suppose that this state, although not particulate—because particles infer a
space-time fabric—was instead, vibratory. 1 It was vibratory at the energetic level in a
way analogous to the vibrations of air molecules as they are affected by an orchestra.
They are felt and heard but not seen, but are nevertheless interpreted by the listener as a
coherent whole filled with significant information that affects the listener physically and
affectively at many levels. Of course, this analogy breaks down quickly under scrutiny,
because the air molecules are particles, and both the source of the music and the listeners
themselves, as well as the auditorium and its acoustics, are particle and space-time
dependent. Nevertheless, there is something to be gained from the analogy, incomplete
as it may be.
1
With apology to the physics of string theory, we nevertheless begin to see echoes of this specialty within
these ideas. For a highly technical discussion of some connections between string and information theories,
see: Samir D. Mathur, Ashish Saxena and Yogesh Srivastava, Constructing `hair' for the three charge hole,
in Nuclear Physics B, Vol. 680, pages 415-449. A review of this article can also be found in Ohio State
Research News, March 2004.
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 7
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
Let us further assume that this vibratory state was self-organizing. The vibrations
themselves, being without any limits imposed by a space-time continuum, or dependent
upon the physics of a material universe, would, could and did organize into networks
capable of both producing and processing infinite amounts of information. As infinite,
this matter-free information generating and processing suprasystem—the original state of
wholeness—homogenous yet dynamic, co-acted with itself to further create infinite
matrices or probability states in which all conditions of life and choice existed as
possibility. It was only later in this creation scenario, following the coupling of parts and
individual choices, that possibilities became (and become) probabilities.
We will also assume that the vibrations themselves were coherent wave forms capable of
producing and self replicating within the entire matrix to form a holographic infinite
multi-verse. The vibratory patterns, rather than linear, coalesced into geometric
resonance states or quasi-crystalline structures imbedded within a holographic matrix 2 in
which any bit of information in one area of the matrix was also available in all areas, and
the information of the whole was also imbedded naturally in any conceivable portion of
that whole.
Being an infinite information processing suprasystem, original wholeness was self aware.
Being whole and self-aware it had a primal imperative: to create that which was
possibility. In other words, the original imperative of wholeness was to extend itself.
However, being whole, it could only create its likeness. Wholeness could only beget
wholeness. It could not create parts that extended beyond itself. To do so would be to
create a state of separation, an act impossible for wholeness. It therefore was faced with
a creative dilemma. Its imperative was to create, yet physical creation as we know it is
replete with uncountable parts and thus was impossible for original wholeness to create
from its volition alone.
In this one instant unity became duality. One became two; yet the second wholeness
unavoidably retained all characteristics of the original wholeness. Here the first one plus
the second one became two; still, the two remained one, with all information within one
passing simultaneously between and being present within both.
Thus we are reminded of Fibonacci, the famous Italian mathematician and the number
series that bears his name, which begins with one, with another one added, and then the
one and one make two, and the one plus two make three, and the two plus three make
five, and so on, each previous two numbers summing to create the following number,
2
A similar viewpoint has been explored in The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot, HarperCollins
Publishers, 1991.
3
Stem cell: an undifferentiated cell from which specialized cells, for example, blood cells, develop.
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 8
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
until we finally arrive at a permutation in which the last number divided by the
immediately previous number creates the transcendental number Phi. Phi is the ratio of 1
: 1.618, which is the Golden Mean, and forms the foundation of what we now often refer
to as Sacred Geometry. It is this geometry that will form the basis of much of the work
that follows.
Table 1
The Fibonacci Number Series Resulting in the Transcendental Number Phi
Table 2
Permutations of the Fibonacci Series, Phi, and Derivations of Phi
Permutation
28th = A
29th = B
30th = C
31st = D
32nd = E
33rd = F
Derivation of Phi
1. B/A = 1.618 Phi
2. C/A = 2.618 Phi2 Phi + 1
3. A/B = .618 1/Phi Phi – 1
4. √A/B = .786 √1/Phi √Phi – 1
5. A/C = .382 1/ Phi2
6. A/D = .236 1/Phi3
7. A/E = .146 1/Phi4
8. A/F = .090 1/Phi5
4
For more information on the Fibonacci number series and its relationship to Phi, see:
http://www.halexandria.org/dward093.htm by Dan Sewell Ward, Copyright 2003.
5
Of all the transcendental numbers in mathematics, Phi is the most unusual. It is the only value, for
example, that when squared retains its original identity, and likewise, when divided into one also retains its
identity. That is, where Phi = 1.618, Phi2 = 2.618; and where 1/Phi = .618.
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 9
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
As will be formalized later, these permutations, singly and in combination, create patterns
that define the geometry of the soul in space along the vertical axis of the human torso.
Thus it is suggested that the Fibonacci number series is a fractal set that corresponds with
processes inherent to original spiritual creation. It is further suggested that, when ordered
or organized by constraints inherent to the series, a coherent sacred geometry is formed
that becomes the structure of the human soul in space and time.
At the very instant of completion, during which the infinite multi-verse became whole
unto itself, the energetic imperative of creation became too powerful for any conceivable
restraint. The Big Bang exploded into the void. Duality overcame the homogeneity of
original wholeness. It thus created the time-space fabric and the conditions necessary for
particles and parts, necessary for physical creation, to manifest in the forms we now
recognize. Yet, the state and condition of original wholeness remained intact.
The quintessential nature of wholeness is to extend itself. Having replicated itself as the
first act of extension, thus creating its dual expression, it continued the creation
imperative by creating fractal 6 portions of itself from the fabric of its holographic matrix.
These fractions of wholeness, referred to now as the soul, thus were bequeathed the very
nature of wholeness from which they sprang. The inheritance of the soul is the
wholeness of its creator.
The soul, having been created following the dual expression of wholeness, took on two
essential imperatives. (1) The soul was incapable of leaving the oceanic environment of
its original state, while at the same time (2) being endowed with the capacity to enter into
physical form for the purposes of experiencing the results of dualistic creation. In its
physical form, the soul would exist in a bio-psycho-socio environment that would, by its
nature, pull the soul away from awareness of wholeness and toward the perceived state of
separation and eventual amnesia of that wholeness.
These fractal portions, or souls, were inevitably endowed with seven creator functions, or
subsystems, for the express purpose of: (1) allowing its inheritance of wholeness to be
always available to the soul through awareness; (2) as information processing devices
capable of communicating with the state of original wholeness, even while in a physical
body, thus acting as a transceiver for sending requests and receiving guidance for the
return journey to its original state of wholeness, and (3) a method for the soul to fulfill its
quintessential purpose of co-creation by extending wholeness within the environment in
which it resides.
6
Fractal: a geometric shape or pattern that can be repeatedly subdivided into parts, each of which is a
smaller copy of the whole. Fractals are used, for example, in computer modeling of natural structures that
do not have simple geometric shapes, such as clouds, mountainous landscapes, and coastlines. A subclass
of Penrose tiles, used to solve a unique problem of geometric repetition in space, uses Phi as the basis for
its solution.
It may, but does not necessarily, translate directly to specific forms of health or personal
wealth. The actual conditions of one’s personal life may differ from the human ideal
belief system because an individual may be using alternative conditions to further an
awareness of wholeness within one’s self or the world at large. A physical disability or a
condition of poverty does not disqualify a soul from being aware of the wholeness that is
its birthright or from offering wholeness to others. The fruit of a soul aware of its
wholeness is an increased sense of wholeness within others with whom that soul comes in
contact, as well as some degree of greater wholeness within the world and environment in
which it resides. A soul aware of its own wholeness and of the wholeness of its original
creation is incapable of withholding that wholeness from any person or aspect of its
environment. It flows naturally from that awareness. The one caveat to this assertion is
the soul’s humanity itself, which may function to attenuate 9 or dampen 10 its own
awareness of wholeness from moment to moment, thus affecting its ability to offer or
extend that wholeness to others.
The seven subsystems of the soul are reflections of characteristics contained within its
creator. The functions of these subsystems are:
7
Equanimity: calm temperament; evenness of temper even under stress.
8
Maslow, Abraham, Toward a Psychology of Being, 3rd Edition, John Wiley and Sons, 1968, 1999.
9
Attenuate: to reduce the size, strength, or density of something, or to become thinner, weaker, or less
potent.
10
Dampen: to deaden or stifle something, or to become deadened or stifled
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 11
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
Subsystem 1: Creative Energy for Wholeness
The first subsystem of the soul provides a source for creative energy that must be first
understood before it can act on behalf of wholeness. In the normal human condition, this
energy is most often experienced as psychosexual and is used to experience sensory and
emotional pleasure. However, it does have additional expressions.
When used for procreation, it is best understood as a means of creating children whose
parents nurture their wholeness, which is a means of further extending wholeness by
proxy within the physical world.
However, this energy can also be used for driving the creative process of the artist, writer,
musician, physician, priest or plumber. All work that is completed for the good or well
being of another has a component of wholeness driven by this energy.
The highest forms of creative energy expression are those that are used to extend
wholeness to others and to the world in which we live. First subsystem energy is the
foundation for all subsequent subsystem functions, which sequentially evolve into higher
and higher forms and processes for the extension of wholeness.
Diminishment at this level serves to diminish the energy available for all levels.
Conservation and focused expression at this level serves to amplify one’s awareness of
personal and original wholeness and extend it to others.
Once the soul has a sufficient reservoir of creative energy at its disposal, it is available
for the use of purposeful intent or will. Will or intentioned focus is the power source for
the soul and is available from the second subsystem. It is akin to the difference between
electricity (creative energy) and voltage (will), since a voltage differential is defined as
the ability to perform work.
However, will or intention can be used for the purpose of separation as well as
connection and wholeness. When used for separation, however, it ultimately results in
the collapse of will, to the detriment of the soul, because separation draws down the
energy available at the first subsystem for creative endeavor. When used for wholeness,
it increases creative energy and strengthens the ability of the soul to perform its intended
mission as a co-creator of wholeness.
Being is the function of the third subsystem. It is the integrity of the individuated
personal self. Strong being energy results in a confident sense of self possession, and is
unique to each individual.
Unfortunately, being energy is often mistaken for romantic love and may be mutually
exchanged with a partner for the unconscious purpose of preventing abandonment in the
relationship. The end result of this misuse is a diminished sense of self knowledge and
personal power. These dynamics are discussed in greater detail in a later section of this
work.
Creative energy, will for wholeness and a strong sense of self produce emotions
associated with fullness and overflowing, with a natural desire to offer this intrinsic sense
of wholeness to others. There is no need to take what one needs from others since there
are no perceived needs. This sense of having one’s needs fulfilled results naturally in a
heartfelt desire to offer this fullness as a gift to others. As this occurs at the energetic
levels of the soul there is a sense of being loved and a desire to offer this love, at first to a
selected few and then to greater and greater numbers until, ultimately, the gift of
wholeness is offered without equivocation to all. When offered, the healing of self and
others occurs naturally and spontaneously because it is wholeness that is being offered
and received.
The foundation for this fullness of heart is developed naturally during the early stages of
normal childhood development from parents or parent surrogates who are themselves
whole and therefore overflowing with the desire to offer wholeness to those entrusted
with their care.
When a child has parents who themselves feel incomplete and needy, the child may
experience a paucity of this natural healing and growth enhancing energy. When this
occurs chronically the child will experience this loss as pain. Many children, especially
those particularly sensitive to the sensations or cognitions of loss, may attempt to remove
awareness of the pain itself by disengaging from an awareness of their own Heart Center
with disastrous results. This strategy of removing awareness from one’s own Heart
energy is termed The Abandoned Heart. 11
11
Lewis, Robert M. The Abandoned Heart: A Dynamic Energy-Shift Model of the Borderline Personality
Disorder. San Diego: Behavioral Science Applications, 1982, 1983, 1984, 2000. Also see:
http://www.borderline-personality.info .
When the self is experienced naturally as whole and is offering wholeness spontaneously
to others it becomes amenable and receptive to higher truths associated with wholeness. It
can then act as a source of genuine guidance for others who are open to the path of
wholeness. These individuals become the natural teachers and healers of the world.
It is not necessary, however, to be formally ordained into this ministry. There are many
who, in the natural course of their lives, offer this form of guidance to those around them
in inconspicuous, subtle and understated ways that do not bring public attention to their
gift. The life lived quietly in wholeness is itself one form of guidance, uncomplicated by
words or imperatives, as they act as modest models of a transcendent existence.
The ability to offer truth to the world undergoes several developmental stages. During
the first stage the individual becomes increasingly willing to speak their personal truth
without veiled facts or intentions. This form of honesty then allows higher spiritual
truths to become known to the individual and expressed in ways that guide both
themselves and others along the path of wholeness.
The lack of truth telling has a cascading, debilitating effect on the self, soul and
relationships. Heart energy becomes masked and love attenuated; the self as a strong
individualized being becomes weakened; the will for wholeness is dampened; and
creative energy is attenuated, less and less available for endeavors that further the cause
of wholeness.
When in contact with the truth of wholeness, Wholeness reciprocates with images and
directions that assist us see the larger perspective that Wholeness has in store for us and
for those entrusted with our care. This form of vision, however, is not external but rather
internal, and is accessed in our more quiet moments, devoid of frantic egoistic thoughts
about what we think the world “ought” to be.
Approximately every eleven years, a time frame coincidental to the periodic phases of the
solar cycle, the preceding developmental work of the soul is integrated prior to the next
essential stage and phases of psychospiritual development.
Assumption Description
1. Man is more than a physical body. Man has an underlying matrix or
energy/information processing system with a functional and discernable
organization.
2. This matrix is an independent system that may co-act with but is not
ultimately dependent upon the bio-neurological structure or function of the
efferent-afferent sensory systems, the central and peripheral nervous systems
or the motor system for its organizational and functional integrity.
5. Each of the seven subsystems has a predictable spatial organization within the
human body. They co-act with each other spatially (in space) and temporally
(in time) in a predictable manner.
7. The natural patterns imposed by Phi are seen in Pythagorean and Platonic
geometry and have been replicated in the religious art and architecture of the
Renaissance and the mathematical intricacies of the Great Pyramid at Giza.
Phi as a mathematical function is imbedded in what we sometimes refer to as
Sacred Geometry. It is viewed as the quintessence of balance and harmony.
13. The ultimate function of the transformational stages is to return the soul
inexorably to an awareness of its wholeness and to its relationship to original
spiritual creation.
14. These transformational processes are negentropic, that is, they co-act to move
the psychological self and the soul away from chaos and towards unified
balance, harmony and an awareness of spiritual wholeness.
16. This awareness of one’s relationship to the creative source occurs when
certain conditions exist in the functional processes of the subsystems and
results in states of psychological wholeness and, ultimately, spiritual
transcendence.
17. However, when the functions of these natural processes are distorted and an
awareness of one’s original spiritual creation is obscured, there occur
predictable processes of psychological, behavioral and personality
malfunction and psychopathology.
18. Distortions of the natural state of psychospiritual transformation are entropic,
that is, they inexorably move the psychological and spiritual self towards
imbalance, disharmony and an ultimately chaotic organization of the self.
T he subsystems of the soul are oriented along the vertical midline axis of the torso,
from the base of the spine to the top of the head.
Table 4
12
Observed clairvoyantly to resemble circles with equally divided “petals” or divisions, such as pieces of a pie.
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 17
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
Table 5
The foremost criterion for evaluating the successful functioning of any or all of the
subsystems is the degree to which it contributes to a life directed by the goal of
wholeness. A fully functioning subsystem contributes to an awareness of wholeness of
both the self and of those in our immediate environment. Fully functioning subsystems
are negentropic 13 , and thus add to the self-organizing and self-regulating capabilities of
the self-in-relationship to the environment. Dysfunctional subsystems are entropic 14 ,
gradually becoming a disorganizing force within the soul and the life of the individual.
Fully functioning negentropic subsystem processes appear to have an energy flow pattern
opposite of dysfunctional entropic processes. In Table 5, above, these flow patterns are
denoted by the arrows. For example, creative energy for wholeness is increased and
harbored by allowing this energy to come into and accumulate at the level of the first
subsystem. As creative energy increases, much as a voltage differential might in an
electric system, the capacity for will also increases; the sense of self or being becomes
stronger; the strength of the spiritual heart and the capacity for love and giving increase;
truth and guidance for wholeness become an integral part of the well-lived life; the
capacity for imaging true wholeness increases; and the developmental sequences
associated with wholeness become strengthened and formalized.
When allowed to dissipate through misuse, however, weakened first subsystem energy
ultimately collapses the will for wholeness, weakens the sense of self or being, weakens
the sense of fullness and healing associated with the Spiritual Heart, undermines the
capacity for knowing truth and offering guidance for wholeness, diminishes ones inherent
vision for true wholeness, and disrupts the unfolding of the ultimate healthy
developmental sequence. These entropic processes contribute to psychological and social
dysfunction, among which are the seeds for personality disorders.
The Golden Mean (Phi) as Geometric Method for Determining the Spatial Location
of the Fourth Energy-Information Processing Subsystem:
The Spiritual Heart Center
The Golden Mean and The Golden Spiral, both based upon the Phi ratio of 1:1.618, lies
at the foundation of all sacred geometries. Although geometry is a favored method of
determining Phi, there are in fact two additional commonly accepted ways. One method
is algebraic, in which the square root of five, plus one, divided by two, equals Phi.
Symbolically, this is seen as (√5 + 1) / 2 = 1.6180338…. Like Pi, there is no end point to
the calculation, but is commonly accepted as simply 1.618.
13
The term negentropy is the inverse of entropy, and is often used in living systems theory to denote inputs
to an open system that contribute to its increasing complexity and/or self-organizing and self-regulating
capabilities.
14
Originally used in the Second Law of Thermodynamics, entropy refers to inevitable reductions of
organization within a closed system. See also: http://www.entropylaw.com/
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 19
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
In his illuminating and beautifully illustrated book Sacred Geometry, Robert Lawler
states:
As described earlier, the second method for determining Phi is based upon a well known
Fibonacci number series, in which the numerical sequences themselves yield Phi. The
series begins with 1. The second number is also 1. From thereon in the series each two
preceding numbers are added to produce the next number, such that 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13,
21, 34, 55… and so on. When we take the last number and divide it by the previous
number, the result yields Phi, or 1.618. Although in this example, 55/34 = 1.6176470…,
which is a close but not exact approximation of Phi, by the 28th derivation in the series
the calculation is exact and remains so to infinity.
As a transcendental number, Phi is more unusual than most numbers of which we are
commonly aware, such as Pi. For example, when we divide the number one by Phi
(1/1.618), the outcome is, astonishingly, Phi – 1, or .618. When we square Phi (1.6182),
the outcome is, once again to our astonishment, Phi +1, or 2.618. In each case the
identity is exact, to as many places one wishes to carry out the calculation.
However, for our present discussion, it is the geometric method for calculating Phi that
concerns us, and the identity 1/Phi = .618, for, as we shall see, these calculations will
form the foundation for determining the spatial location of the Fourth Subsystem of the
soul, commonly known as the Spiritual Heart Center.
How can this be? Dan Sewell Ward, in his exceptional and highly recommended web
site http://www.halexandria.org offers a quote from Michael S. Schneider pointing to the
heart of the matter:
15
Lawlor, Robert, Sacred Geometry, Philosophy and Practice, Thames and Hudson, London, 1982.
16
Schneider, Michael S., A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe, Harper-Collins Publishers,
1994.
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 20
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
While conducting a private practice in individual and family therapy during the 1980’s I
observed that clients experiencing loss of a profound love, when speaking of the
emotions associated with that loss and with that love, inevitably pointed to the center of
their chest or thorax, approximately beneath the sternum or breast bone. Further, it
seemed plausible that this location was similar to what Eastern spiritual traditions refer to
as the Fourth Chakra, or Spiritual Heart Center. The term chakra is Sanskrit for
“spinning wheel or circle,” and refers to a subtle energy center identified with human
love and compassion. In Eastern philosophical and religious traditions, this center has
been viewed clairvoyantly as having twelve equal parts, or “petals,” similar visually to
the equal portions of a pie. In this work, however, we will refrain from further use of this
Sanskrit term, preferring instead to westernize the concept by couching any associated
phenomena in terms of energy and information processing system characteristics.
In a leap of intuition, I sensed that this location along the midline of the human torso was
identical to the visual impressions I had when reading descriptions of the geometry of Phi
in Peter Tompkins’ Secrets of the Great Pyramid 18 , upon which the following graphic
(Figure 3) is loosely based.
I eventually wrote three papers describing this phenomenon entitled The Abandoned
Heart, which were presented to the Association for Transpersonal Psychology in 1982,
1983 and 1984. 19 See also www.borderline-personality.info. 20 The papers described an
inherent logic of energy shift patterns that seemed to be associated with shifts of
awareness away from or back toward the Spiritual Heart Center, particularly when loss
experiences had become chronic. Shifts of awareness away from the Heart Center, which
are maladaptive attempts to ameliorate the pain of loss, produced various forms of
psychopathology, the sum of which were definable as the borderline personality. These
shifts of awareness away from the Heart Center were conceptualized as “abandoning
one’s own heart,” with deleterious consequences. Shifts of awareness back toward the
Heart Center produced healing and healthier patterns of thought, emotion and behavior.
17
See also: http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_251_300/fibonacci_numbers.htm
18
Tompkins, Peter, Secrets of the Great Pyramid, Harper Colophon Books, 1978. Previous hard cover
version published by Harper & Row, 1971.
19
Lewis, Robert M. The Abandoned Heart: An Energy Shift Model of the Borderline Personality
Syndrome, Parts I, II, & III, Behavioral Science Applications, San Diego, CA, 1982, 1983,1984.
20
Robert M. Lewis, Ph.D, http://www.borderline-personality.info, Copyright 2003.
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 21
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
Table 6
To create Phi using this simple geometric method, refer to the graphic below (Figure 3),
and perform the following steps:
The Logic of Phi and the Spatial Location of the Remaining Subsystems
The next phase of research involved another intuitive leap. If one can locate the Fourth
Subsystem using Phi and the derivation 1/Phi, I wondered, was it then possible that Phi or
its derivations might underlie the spatial orientation of the remaining subsystems?
As I continued my private practice, working first with victims of emotional loss, and then
with increasing numbers of clients with a diagnosis of borderline personality, I noticed
there were times when clients, rather than pointing to their Heart Center, pointed instead
to their third subsystem, or solar plexus area, the center of which lies approximately two
inches above the navel but below the diaphragm. Initially puzzled, for I did not expect
this behavior, I asked the client to describe the sensations they were experiencing. Rather
It was these observations that reinforced the idea that the solar plexus center also played
an important role in the dynamics of self, relationships and, possibly, personality
disorders. Consequently, I decided it was time to explore whether Phi or a derivative
might determine the spatial location of the third subsystem.
Rather quickly I discovered what I believed to be the answer. Recalling that 1/Phi
determined the location of the fourth subsystem or Heart Center, I experimented with
several additional derivations. The answer soon became apparent. By taking the square
of 1/Phi, or .6182, the result of .382 did indeed locate this center exactly when using the
same measurement parameters used to determine the location of the Heart Center.
Further, I observed that 1/Phi + 1/Phi2 equaled exactly one. That is, .618 + .382 = 1, or
Unity. Intuitively, this suggested a mathematical unity between the fourth and the third
subsystems. In other words, there seemed to be indirect evidence of an interaction effect
that warranted further study.
Whereas pathological energy dynamics associated with the fourth subsystem had been
described as an abandoned heart, the pathological dynamics associated with the third
subsystem were described as “the betrayal of being.” While the individual suffering from
a borderline personality disorder had abandoned their own heart, the individual with
symptoms associated with the solar plexus had abandoned some essential sense of self.
They had betrayed the integrity and self possession of their own being, often with
disastrous results. The resulting pathology is similar to those dynamics associated with
co-dependency.
Further exploration unveiled the following energy dynamics associated with the third
subsystem and the betrayal of being, offered below as an incomplete summary:
3. People with a diminished sense of self often seek others with the same disorder.
4. Two people with the same disorder of emptiness will seek to be filled by that
person’s energy of being, forming an energy-based co-dependency.
6. This dynamic of energy exchange is possible because the energy of self obeys the
Law of Awareness. The energy of being will go where we place our awareness,
which is then leveraged by intent or personal will.
7. The primary motivation for this energy exchange is the fear of abandonment. The
unspoken agreement between the two parties is “I want you to fill me up and
make me feel whole with your energy of being and, in return, I will place my
energy of being inside you. In this way we will be connected and will never leave
each other.” This motivation forms the basis of an unconscious and therefore
unspoken agreement or social contract between the two parties. When broken, the
sense of pain and betrayal is immense, triggering episodes of fear and anger that
in themselves may endanger the relationship.
8. The initial response during this energy exchange, however, is joy and
exhilaration, and is usually described by the two parties as “being in love.” It is
given cultural currency by most of our pop songs and lyrics, which confirm the
misplaced idea that “I need you and can’t live without you.” The idea is given a
certain self-fulfilling validity once one’s energy of being is given over to another.
Because one’s own energy of self is no longer present, the individual feels empty
and devoid of self, which naturally leads to confusion, loss of vitality, depression,
anxiety and eventual loathing of both self and the other person. Only by taking
more and more energy of self from the partner is this feeling of emptiness
ameliorated temporarily. It becomes the psychological equivalent to a fix in
which each partner ultimately becomes addicted.
9. After a period of time, problems begin to develop with this energy dynamic.
First, each person becomes focused and eventually obsessed with their partner, for
within the other is one’s own being. The individual may reach a state in which
they know more about the partner than they do themselves, and may make
statements such as “I don’t know who I am anymore.”
10. There often follows a period of self doubt and then resentment, followed further
by an increasing desire to reclaim one’s being energy or sense of self. However,
because this underlying desire in not usually conscious, their also results a period
of guilt because the very idea of reclaiming one’s own being seems to be an act of
betrayal against the partner. This betrayal can become real, however, when the
dynamic is not recognized for what it is and one partner seeks out another
individual who they believe may help them regain some essential sense of self.
The actual betrayal, however, is toward one’s self and the “being energy” of
individuation.
12. This vacillation dynamic may recur many times, and in fact may never be
resolved. Fortunate are those who finally regain their own centers of self, for only
then can they share the true nature of love with another from a position of
personal strength, thereby supporting the warmth, compassion and harmony of
energy that flows naturally from the spiritual heart center. Contented is the
relationship in which both partners have a strong sense of self, capable then of
sharing with each in committed love.
Table 7
Location of all subsystems as function of Phi
21
These values have been determined experimentally, and represent a “best guess” set of assumptions.
22
Note that “Being” plus “Love” equals Unity, that is, .382 + .618 =1. Serendipitously, this in itself can
serve as a functional definition of Spiritual Creation.
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 26
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
The Soul in Time:
Transformational Stages of Psychospiritual Development (TSPD)
O nce the spatial orientation of each subsystem as a function of Phi and its derivations
had been observed and formalized and the framework for energy-shift dynamics
stabilized, there arose naturally another intriguing question: Does the sacred geometry of
Phi, hypothesized earlier to emanate from original spiritual creation, also have an
influence on the temporal evolution of the soul over a normal human life span? 23 24
Both perplexed and excited by this possibility, I was unsure how to proceed with this line
of research. The questions were many, the most notable being “If Phi indeed had an
influence, in what unit or measures of time would it become manifest?”
After several false starts, a promising hypothesis emerged. Was it possible that an
influence of Phi, if any, was simply linear and associated in some way with the solar
year? This did not seem implausible since most biological systems are directly affected
by the solar cycle during the course of a lifetime. Although gestation periods differ from
species to species, for example, they are nonetheless consistently precise and repeatable
within that species. What if, then, each subsystem either 1) evolved within its own
spiritual “gestation period,” or 2) had a predictable structured temporal influence on
human psychospiritual development? In either case, what repeatable period of time
might this be?
I further hypothesized that each subsystem, beginning with Subsystem 1 and continuing
in sequence through Subsystem 7, had its own gestation period of 590 days, or 1 Phi-
year. And further, because each subsystem was functionally different, each succeeding
Phi-year would have its own unique developmental characteristic or influence on the
course of a normal human life span.
23
It may not be unreasonable to presuppose an interaction effect between Phi as a temporal variable and
human endeavor. See, for example, http://www.davidmcminn.com/pages/summ2.htm in which it is
asserted that Phi and the Fibonacci numbers have been associated with market forces and the Elliott Wave.
(See footnote 20). The Spiral Calendar is based on lunar years and the square root of Phi. This technique
gives numerous turning points in the markets and is linked to Moon - Sun cycles. Moon - Sun eclipse
cycles can be related to Phi and the Fibonacci - Lucas numbers. This offers theoretical support for the use
of these factors in financial forecasting via such techniques as the Elliott Wave and the Spiral Calendar.
24
Elliott Wave Theory interprets market actions in terms of recurrent price structures. Basically, Market
cycles are composed of two major types of Wave: Impulse Wave and Corrective Wave. For every impulse
wave, it can be sub-divided into 5 - wave structures (1-2-3-4-5), while for corrective wave, it can be sub-
divided into 3 - wave structures (a-b-c). See: http://www.acrotec.com/ewt.htm
Birth
Note that for each Stage there is also one Phase, illustrated by the arrow, color coded with the same
characteristics as the Stage in which it is active. Beneath the multicolored bands that represent the seven
phases is a colored bar that represents the subsystem influence over the entire Stage. The confluence of
Phase and Stage in this color coded model suggests that during this time period the active Stage/Phase
variable is particularly emphasized.
The process begins at birth (Stage I) and evolves toward Stage VII, thus taking the individual through the
79th year, which is consistent with current actuarial tables of average life span.
Table 9
The Seven Stages Color Coded in Sequence
The first application of this hypothesis was to take 590 days and multiply this time period
by seven. The result can be seen in Table 11. The initial test would be to see if a
correlation existed between the function of each subsystem and what is already known
about normal or typical human development. The assumption was that major influences,
if they existed, would be readily observable and would correlate with what we already
know about human development.
I was foremost intrigued to observe that 7 x 590 days equaled 11.326 years, a
developmental period that falls approximately within the onset of puberty (10-12 years).
I next noticed that the second “Phi-year” (age 1.618-3.236), hypothetically influenced by
“Will,” coincided with what we commonly and affectionately refer to as “The Terrible
Twos” in childhood development, which can be interpreted as the exertion of will, but in
a negative form. 25
In another example, ages 4.8 to 6.5 years (approximate) occurs during Kindergarten to
first grade, and is influenced by the 4th subsystem or Heart Center. It is during this time
that children are especially open to developing relationships. Further, it is also during
this period that borderline personalities with childhood onset first describe their chronic
pain that eventually leads to their abandoned heart during that time period also associated
with the 4th subsystem of the Spiritual Heart Center.
With the original hypothesis of a Phi-year influence strengthened but not confirmed, I
proceeded to duplicate this seven phase approach for a total of seven “Stages” equaling a
final total of 79.28 years. (See Tables 8 and 9) It did not go unnoticed that this value was
close to the actuarial normal life span utilized by insurance companies, especially for
females, hinting further that this approach was probably neither random nor without
merit.
Although the hypothesis of a seven stage sequence (each with its seven phase subsystem
sequence) had been formalized, there remained the question of how each of these stages
would be functionally different from each other.
The answer seemed to emerge from its bas relief when I asked the question, “What if
each Stage of seven Phi-year Phases (11.236 years) was also influenced in temporal
sequence by each of the subsystem functions?” If so, then Stage I, from birth to 11.236
years, would be influenced throughout by the accumulation of “Creative Energy for
Wholeness.” In other words, the function of early childhood was to garner sufficient
creative energy and wholeness to support a full future life.
25
Young children, while exerting their will, often do not have a positive goal toward which they can direct
the force or intention of their will. Hence, their only option to express personal will is to resist by verbally,
behaviorally or symbolically saying “no” to a direction or request from another.
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 29
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
Stage II
Similarly, Stage II (ages 11.33 – 22.65 years), or the period commonly known as
“adolescence,” would be influenced throughout by the development of “Will,” in addition
to the seven subsystem Phase influences. (See Table 12) For example, the Will for
Creative Energy (puberty), the Will to exert ones Will, the Will for Independent Being,
and so forth. It did not go unnoticed, for example, that the fourth sequence (i.e., the
Heart Center), occurring between ages 16.18 to 17.8, coincides with what we
affectionately refer to as “Sweet Sixteen,” which is a social metaphor for an acute interest
in romantic relationships.
Further, the period of adolescence ends by age 22, and is the normal age for graduating
from college, after which the individual is expected to focus attention on “self-in-
relationship-to-work” where the expectation will be to further develop a strong sense of
individualized Being.
Stage III
Enter, then, Stage III: Individuation for Wholeness (Being) between the ages of 22.65 to
34.00. (See Table 13) It is during this period that Young Adulthood is attained, which is
the development of Being for Wholeness, Survival and Independence. By age 34, the
unique self, strong and independent, would have emerged, ready to face the remaining
challenges of life.
Stage IV
Stage IV, Giving for Wholeness (Love, Healing) ushers in the period of Mature
Adulthood, in which energies are normally directed outward toward one’s family and
work. (See Table 15) It is also during this period that humans often face a most
formidable crossroads known culturally as “The Midlife Crisis” at the approximate age of
40. It is during the age range of 38.8 to 40.5 years that we are faced with a double
influence of the Heart Center, first as an overall eleven year Stage imperative and also as
a shorter Phase 4 influence.
If the TSPD has validity, we might interpret a mid-life crisis thusly: During the Stage IV,
Phase 4 influence, might it be possible that we become more acutely aware of what we
genuinely love or are attracted to? If we had chosen a career in, for example, accounting
or engineering for its potential financial rewards, but had forsaken our true love for art,
music or nature (or vice versa) might it be possible that an internal conflict could ensue?
If so, then we might also expect that during the following Phase 5 influence of “Truth on
Behalf of Wholeness” (ages 40.45 – 42.00), a felt imperative might develop to either
speak of this truth openly and/or act upon it. When this occurs abruptly or unexpectedly
within the context of work or home, there could easily follow an aftermath of conflict
with self, co-workers or domestic partners. This same reasoning would also apply to
issues of relationship, in which a person recognizes they have fallen “out of love” with
No two people are identical, of course, so we would expect wide variance in the details
and eventual resolution, with the general exception of the timing brought about by the
confluence of Stage and Phase influences. We might expect, however, that persons who
early on held true to their path of wholeness would be less likely to experience the
nudging of Heart Center influences as conflict inducing, and more likely to find
compatible ways to enhance and extend their capacity for love-giving, healing and self-
expressions within parameters that do not unduly introduce conflict, abandonment or
betrayal into their existing social milieu.
Stage V
Moving beyond Stage IV, the natural expression of Stage V influences is toward
mentoring and teaching. In whatever field of endeavor, the outcome should be directed
toward not only skills but the extension of wholeness.
During early phases of this stage (see Table 16), one may observe an increased tendency
toward speaking one’s personal truth which, if previously hidden or veiled, may cause
some consternation or conflict with close associates. Although early attempts at speaking
truth may be perceived as blunt or even tactless due to the force of pent up desire for
congruency or simply inexperience, later phases typically become tempered with
compassion and the desire to assist with another’s growth. Eventually, for the well
prepared, wholeness itself will bring insights of the greater truths that lie beyond
perceptions of the physical world.
Stage VI
During Stage VI (Vision for Wholeness) there is an increasing tendency to look beyond
or beneath the errors or blemishes of another’s life. When one sees beyond the external
to the latent wholeness within, one is then practicing spiritual forgiveness, which is a
potent healing force (see Table 17).
While paying less attention to the foibles of others does not mean that one supports
anomie 26 , anarchy, chaos or nihilism, as some may fear, it is nonetheless an important
ingredient of wisdom, which may allow the recipient to move beyond the cultural labels
of past mistakes.
This is often the influence that grandparents, for example, can bring to their extended
families and broader social systems to which they belong. While an essential function of
parenting is to teach behavioral controls, the vision for wholeness brought to the child by
elders can offer the necessary perceptions of unconditional love that are necessary for
healthy childhood development.
26
Anomie, a social condition characterized by an absence or diminution of standards or values. See also
chaos and nihilism in http://www.answers.com/topic/anarchy-disambiguation .
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 31
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
Stage VII
Where significant relationships have been broken, rapprochements may now be desired,
and the soul prepares for the final stages of its journey – into the light of wholeness from
which it originally came and for which it yearns to return.
Before proceeding, it is important to note that the Stages and Phases of psychospiritual
development do not imply “fate.” Each individual has complete control over its own
destiny. They are not imperatives, but rather subtle nudges, hints and encouragements
that speak to us from the still small voice of spirit within. Nevertheless, they can be
ignored or overridden using our own formidable will. However, to neither listen to or to
ignore the whispers that come from deep within has its own attendant risks, among which
are the entropic processes of a gradually disorganizing self.
Following are detailed descriptions of each Stage with its seven Phase influences, a
process we have termed:
Table 11 28
Stage I:
Creative Energy for
Wholeness
Childhood Development
Creative Energy for Wholeness
(Survival and Expansion)
27
The seven stages align themselves naturally into two groups of three, while the seventh stage stands
alone. The first sequence of stages includes Creative Energy, Will and Being, ranging from birth to age 34.
This is termed the “Physical-Life Awareness Sequence.” The second sequence includes Heart Center,
Truth/Guidance and Vision for Wholeness, ranging in age from 34 to 68 and is termed the “Psychospiritual
Awareness Sequence.” Unfolding of Wholeness is the final stage. Although coincidental, it is perhaps
nonetheless useful to note that the colors in Sequence One are warmer while the colors in Sequence Two
are cooler, suggesting the changes from physical to spiritual awakening.
28
Table 6 is color coded to assist the reader understand the progressive influences of each subsystem
during the first 11 + years of life. The same principles apply to each succeeding Stage.
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 33
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
Table 12
Stage II:
Will for Wholeness
Adolescence
Development of Will for Wholeness
(Will for Survival)
29
Each Phase influence has been assigned a unique reference number for research purposes. The “Phase
Influence” has been called a “Phi,” which equals a total of 7 x 7, or 49 total Phi, throughout the TSPD.
30
Also for research purposes, each Phi has been assigned a Stage/Phase Code. For example, Phi 8 = S2P1
(i.e. Stage II, Phase 1).
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 34
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
Table 13
Stage III:
Individuation for Wholeness
(Being)
Young Adulthood
Development of Being for Wholeness
(Being for Survival and Independence)
Table 15
Stage IV:
Giving for Wholeness
(Loving / Healing)
Mature Adulthood
Giving and Healing for Wholeness
(Love and Compassion for Wholeness)
Stage V
Truth for Wholeness
(Guidance)
Later Adulthood I
From Personal Truth
to Guidance for Wholeness
--Receiving/Giving Truth for
Wholeness (Guidance)—
Stage VI
Vision for Wholeness
(Forgiveness)
Later Adulthood II
Wisdom and the Vision of Wholeness
--Vision of Wholeness (Forgiveness)–
Table 19
Stage VII
Transformation
The Final Stage
The Unfolding of Wholeness
for Transformation (Freedom)
Stage
I
Stage Stage
VII II
Stage Stage
VI III
Stage Stage
V IV
T he TSPD has been shown to be useful for an individual as a traveler might use a
roadmap to determine their current position along their journey, or to regain an
overview of the distance and landmarks already traveled. 31
You can start the process by selecting the Stage that contains your current age (See Table
9).
Next, go to the Table that contains your Stage and, in the right hand column, select the
Phase that contains your current age. (See Tables 11 – 19).
As an example, if you are currently 35 years of age, proceed to Table 15 (Stage IV:
Giving for Wholeness). In this example, if you are less than 35 and a half, you are
currently in Stage IV, Phase 1 “Creative Energy for Giving and Healing.” Typically,
when in the first Phase of a Stage, the promptings, if you experience them, are more
general than specific. You may have had idle thoughts about assisting a friend, joining a
volunteer group, or in general wondering how you might be more helpful to others in
your life. If you are more than 35.5, your thoughts may have taken the form of action in
which you are exerting your will in that direction. If 37 +, you may have begun to
restructure your self perceptions and sense of Being to incorporate the view of yourself as
someone who organizes helping opportunities into your life.
You can also assess past actions or important events in your life using the same
procedures, but with retrospective results.
The process is also useful for understanding current or past relationships in which either
convergence or divergence of life journey markers may have played a part.
Although this question has not yet been studied in depth, the initial response to the
question is yes. Assuming the validity of the material for individuals, it is reasonable to
also assume that two individuals in a close relationship who are not the same age might
benefit from understanding the stage and phase not only of themselves but also their
partner.
One of the greatest risks that any relationship faces is the tendency of each individual to
assume that their particular set of traits or patterns is of greater value or benefit than those
of another. It is wise to understand not only the similarities of the relationship but also
31
A software engineer, Kirk Kryger, has created a simple software program that will plot the entire TSPD.
By simply entering in your birth date and, if you choose, dates of important events in your life, you will be
able to create and print your current profile. You may reach Mr. Kryger to discuss ways to obtain a copy of
the program by going to his website http://www.toltectraders.com/ . You may also contact him at Toltec
Trading Company, 7135 Navajo Road Ste 1205, San Diego, CA 92119, 760-207-5814.
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 41
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
the differences, and to assume that each partner has qualities that can be of benefit to the
whole as the two dissimilar patterns interact synergistically.
The answer to this question has not been the subject of research. Nevertheless, it is
suspected that once an individual reaches 80 or more the TSPD re-cycles back to the
beginning. For example, at age 80 the individual may once again have an opportunity to
increase and harbor “Creative Energy” that can be used for new additional life tasks or
perhaps those that had not been completed during the first 79 years.
The same assumptions regarding the TSPD would continue to generally apply as the
person continues to advance in age, so that by age 85, for example, there would be
additional opportunities for strengthening one’s sense of Being on behalf of wholeness.
These are seen as opportunities to revisit earlier decisions or mistakes and make
corrections, or to have new experiences not possible earlier in life.
Once again, the answer is unclear but it is suspected that it might. To use a well known
illustration from history, Jesus is said to have died at or around age 33. Using the TSPD
for interpretive purposes, we might conjecture that this was in fact a propitious time for
this event since he had by that age completed the first three Stages, or the “Physical Life
Awareness Sequence.” Since his spiritual development is presumed to already have been
complete, it would have served no purpose to move forward into the next period, or the
Psychospiritual Awareness Sequence. Living his life during the first sequence allowed
him to demonstrate his mastery of the physical awareness stages of development.
This discussion has focused on the time frame of 7 x 7 phases equaling 49 phases, for a
total of 79.282 years. If this time frame is valid, might there also be longer periods of
psychospiritual influence over the course of human events? In order to begin answering
this question, it was hypothesized that significant human events might fall into 7 x 79
year eras or generational cycles, or 555 years. It was further hypothesized, given the
spiritual focus of the TSPD, that spiritual leaders might come along approximately each
555 years. Below is the initial result of this study:
Stage Spiritual
Influence Leader Birth Date % 555 yrs Comments
1. Unknown x
2. Moses 1200 BC .86 Second Stage Influence. Considered one of
the early great prophets that led his people
through sheer will.
Solomon 1000 BC .80
Second Stage Influence. The Bible portrays
Solomon as great in wisdom, wealth, and
power, which may have been due to the
influence of Will.
3. Siddhartha 563 BC .98 Third Stage Influence. Although there are
Buddha many Buddha’s, he is considered the first.
His contribution may have been the
fulfillment of Being, with focus on solar
plexus: “He has the demeanor of a great man.
His navel is without blemish. He has a deep-
shaped abdomen. He has clockwise marks on
the abdomen.”
4. Jesus 0 BC 0 Fourth Stage Influence. May be significant
to note that his social influence is perceived
as one of compassion, healing and the
spiritual heart. Resonant frequency of 4th
Center is 12, equal to the number of apostles.
5. Mohammed 570 AD .97 Fifth Stage Influence. May be significant to
note that the religion he founded is
characterized by the five pillars of Islam.
Formal call to prayer is five times a day.
6. Unknown x It is unclear whether we have had great
spiritual leaders during the past 1665 years.
Muslims believe that Mohammed is the last
Prophet.
The results of this study, although not definitive, are nonetheless provocative and suggest
that further hypotheses along this line of inquiry are warranted.
It was with some astonishment I observed that not only does Phi and its derivations
define the spatial orientation of each subsystem, as well as the transformation of the
soul through time, but that the derivations may be viewed as a virtual lexicon emanating
from Original Creation, including its own syntax. In short, there appears to be a
‘language of Phi.”
It was as if the simple mathematics of Phi, associated with the subsystems of the soul,
echoed Genesis of the Old Testament: “In the beginning was the word.” This simple
lexicon with syntax is laid out below:
Table 22
The Lexicon of Phi = 1.618
Table 23
Syntax of Phi
Translation
“In the beginning was Unity. When Love was added to Unity, the Creation Principle was
born. Love was the outcome of Will and Being. When Unity was extended by itself to
produce a second Unity, the Relationship Principle was born. When Love was added to
the Relationship Principle, the Extension Principle was born.”
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 44
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
General Systems Theory as a Framework for Understanding
Characteristics of Original Creation
Since this is a study involving a model of Spiritual Creation, it might be useful to explore
a particularly vexing disagreement that exists between several of the major religions.
Specifically, how can the idea of a “Triune God” (i.e., Trinity) co-exist with the essential
assumption of a “One God” theology?
I will suggest here that the difference is readily understandable and does not pose an
inherent contradiction. The answer lies in understanding some primary characteristics of
living systems described by General Systems Theory. 32 33 34 35
A living system can be defined as a coherent collection of subsystems and processes, i.e.,
an organized self-directing, self-organizing and self-regulating whole that, collectively, is
greater than the sum of its parts. At the very foundation of systems theory is the
observation that three essential characteristics must first exist before a system can be
considered viable. These characteristics are:
1. Degrees of Freedom. That is, there must be more than one part to the system and
the parts must be able to co-act in more than one way. The parts of a system may
number from two to infinity. However, infinite degrees of freedom can also result
in randomness or chaos.
2. Constraints. Where there are degrees of freedom, there must also be constraints,
or rules of organization, that guide the system and prevent randomness from
becoming ruinous chaos.
3. Communication. Whenever two or more parts of a system exist, there must also
be communication possible among those parts, which is necessary for self-
organization and self-regulation to occur and to maintain its goal-directed
function. It is this communication that provides feedback to the parts of the
system thereby preventing what otherwise would become the entropic spiral of
disorganization and the eventual dissolution or death of the system.
Thus we can hypothesize that when a religion posits a Triune God (e.g., a Holy Trinity)
within the context of a One God theology, it is speaking to these three essential
characteristics. First, degrees of freedom refer to the creator principle in which multiple,
32
Buckley, Walter. (Ed.) Modern Systems Research for the Behavioral Scientist: A Sourcebook.
Chicago: Aldine Publishing Company, 1968.
33
Miller, James G. Living Systems. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978.
34
Lewis, Robert M. Information Processing, Humanism and the Helping Relationship: The Application of
System-Theoretic Models to Counseling and Counselor Education. Unpublished doctoral dissertation,
University of Wisconsin, 1973.
35
Lewis, Robert M. “Human Information Processing: The Essence of Counseling.” Counseling and
Values, Volume 19, No. 2, February 1975.
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 45
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
perhaps infinite, possibilities are available to the system. However, to prevent infinite
possibilities from becoming random and chaotic, constraints on the variables are also
necessary in the form of rules governing the behavior of the system and its organization.
And finally, to prevent the variables from becoming isolated and therefore impotent to
affect system behaviors, communication among the parts is required.
Thus the Triune God of Christianity, for example, may be viewed as a description of the
general system requirements of Degrees of Freedom, Constraints and Communication, in
which the Creation Principle (i.e., God) equals the degrees of freedom of the system, the
Son equals the necessary constraints required for system coherency, and The Holy Spirit
is the medium of communication that exists between all parts.
T his report is the culmination of an odyssey that has taken a virtual lifetime to
complete. It is based on questions that are designed to explore the nature of
original spiritual creation and the consequent nature of the human soul in space
and time.
Nevertheless, it is not presumed to be infallible, for this level of Truth is still ultimately
unknowable. It is, however, a “best guess” model that begins with a set of explicit basic
assumptions that are linked to each other with rigorous logic. And it is with this logic
that the research is extended to its conclusions.
If the reader can accept the assumptions as being plausible, then it is likely the remainder
of the work will be understood, if not accepted. If, however, one cannot accommodate
the beginning assumptions, or at least entertain them transiently through a “willing
suspension of disbelief” as one might do when viewing a movie or theatrical production,
then the remaining observations and conclusions will be viewed as moot.
It is not my intention to convince. My purpose only is to report what I have observed and
to utilize the forms of logic that apply especially to system processes and to take them to
their natural conclusions. I am still in awe of the many coincidences and serendipities
that have been bared along the way, hidden jewels strewn along the journey’s path found
in unlikely places.
These jewels remain with me still, self-illuminated and sparkling as each facet has been
unveiled and stored in those receptacles of the soul that seeks its own self-awareness and
an understanding of its place within the womb of its creation.
I have found that in accepting my own wholeness and in extending an awareness of this
same wholeness to those around me that my own path has been illuminated before me. It
is my hope that those who read this work will be encouraged to seek the peace of their
own wholeness and to share this awareness with each of those with whom they journey.
It is through this sharing that we speed the return to Original Wholeness we all ultimately
seek.
Author’s Note
Several months after completing this work I became acquainted with a web site that
richly describes the abundance of examples in nature displaying the Golden Mean and the
Golden Spiral, which is related to the Fibonacci Number Series described earlier.
It is included here for those not familiar with the mathematical and natural beauty of Phi
and its derivations, and adds credence for its application to spiritual creation and to
human affairs, as suggested in this work.
I personally find it intriguing that the author of the site is a Muslim scientist and
mathematician, since this fact broadens the cultural milieu in which these truths are
acknowledged.
The author, Adnan Oktar, who goes by the pen name Harun Yahya, gives de facto
permission to quote his work as long as it is included in its entirety. Out of respect for
this request, I have included his web page, below.
http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_251_300/fibonacci_numbers.htm
The internal surface is smooth, while the outside surface is fluted. The mollusk’s
body is inside the shell. The outside edges of the shell augment its rigidity and,
thus, increase its strength. The shell’s form is astonishing in its perfection
highlighting the beauty of its creation. The spiral idea in shells is expressed in the
perfect geometrical form, in a surprisingly beautiful, “sharpened” design.[i][8]
The shells of most mollusks grow in a logarithmic spiral manner. There can be no
doubt, of course, that these animals are unaware of even the simplest mathematical
calculation, let alone logarithmic spirals. So how is it that the creatures in question can
know that this is the best way for them to grow? How do these animals, that some
scientists describe as “primitive,” know that this is the ideal form for them? It is
impossible for growth of this kind to take place in the absence of a consciousness or
intellect. That consciousness exists neither in mollusks nor, despite what some
scientists would claim, in nature itself. It is totally irrational to seek to account for such
a thing in terms of chance. This design can only be the product of the Almighty Allah.
Growth of this kind was described as “gnomic growth” by the biologist Sir D’Arcy
Thompson, an expert on the subject, who stated that it was impossible to imagine a
simpler system, during the growth of a seashell, than which was based on widening and
extension in line with identical and unchanging proportions. As he pointed out, the
shell constantly grows, but its shape remains the same.[i][9]
One can see one of the best examples of this type of growth in a nautilus, just a few
centimetres in diameter. C. Morrison describes this growth process, which is
Toward a Psychology of Wholeness 51
© 1985, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2007 by Robert M. Lewis
exceptionally difficult to plan even with human intelligence, stating that along the
nautilus shell, an internal spiral extends consisting of a number of chambers with
mother-of-pearl (calcium carbonate and conch Olin secreted by the mantle of mollusks)
lined walls. As the animal grows, it builds another chamber at the mouth of the spiral
shell larger than the one before it, and moves forward into this larger area by closing
the door behind it with a layer of mother-of-pearl.[i][10]
Growth in a spiral form in the animal world is not restricted to the shells of mollusks.
Animals such as antelopes, goats and rams complete their horn development in spiral
forms based on the golden ratio.[i][11]
The cochlea in the human inner ear serves to transmit sound vibrations. This bony
structure, filled with fluid, has a logarithmic spiral shape with a fixed angle of
**The author, who writes under the pen-name Harun Yahya, has published many
books on political, faith-related and scientific issues. Some of the books of the author
have been translated into English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese,
Albanian, Arabic, Polish, Russian, Bosnian, Indonesian, Turkish, Tatar, Urdu and
Malay and published in the countries concerned. Visit his website at
www.harunyahya.com or contact him at info@harunyahya.com
[1] Mehmet Suat Bergil, Doğada/Bilimde/Sanatta, Altın Oran (The Golden Ratio in
Nature/Science/Art), Arkeoloji ve Sanat Yayinlari, 2nd Edition, 1993, p. 155.
[2] Guy Murchie, The Seven Mysteries of Life, First Mariner Boks, New York, pp. 58-
59.
[3] J. Cumming, Nucleus: Architecture and Building Construction, Longman, 1985.
[4] Mehmet Suat Bergil, Doğada/Bilimde/Sanatta, Altın Oran (The Golden Ratio in
Nature/Science/Art), Arkeoloji ve Sanat Yayinlari, 2nd Edition, 1993, p. 87.
[5] A. L. Goldberger, et al., “Bronchial Asymmetry and Fibonacci Scaling.”
Experientia, 41 : 1537, 1985.
[6] E. R. Weibel, Morphometry of the Human Lung, Academic Press, 1963.
[7] William Charlton, Aesthetics: An Introduction, Hutchinson University Library,
London, 1970.
[8] “The ‘Golden’ spirals and ‘pentagonal’ symmetry in the alive Nature,” online at:
http://www.goldenmuseum.com/index_engl.html
[9] D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson, On Growth and Form, C.U.P., Cambridge, 1961.
[10] C. Morrison, Along The Track, Withcombe and Tombs, Melbourne.
[11] “The ‘Golden’ spirals and ‘pentagonal’ symmetry in the alive Nature,” online at:
http://www.goldenmuseum.com/index_engl.html
[12] Emre Becer, “Biçimsel Uyumun Matematiksel Kuralı Olarak, Altın Oran” (The
Golden Ratio as a Mathematical Rule of Formal Harmony), Bilim ve Teknik Dergisi
(Journal of Science and Technology), January 1991, p.16.
[13] V.E. Hoggatt, Jr. and Bicknell-Johnson, Fibonacci Quartley, 17:118, 1979.
The works posted on this page reflect solely the opinions of the authors.
Note that the values expressed, although in a different format, are the same derivations of Phi that define
the spatial location of the subsystems of the soul, as hypothesized earlier in this work.
END