The purpose of this study is to analyze experiences of shamanic healing

243 Pages·2014·1.2 MB·English

PSYCHOSPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH CHRONIC ILLNESS:
AN INTUITIVE INQUIRY
by
Patrick T. Baltazar

A dissertation submitted
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
in Psychology with a concentration in Transpersonal Psychology

Sofia University
Palo Alto, California
February 5, 2014

I certify that I have read and approved the content and presentation of this dissertation:

________________________________________________ __________________
Nancy Rowe, Ph.D., Committee Chairperson Date

________________________________________________ __________________
Kevin C. Krycka, Ph.D., Committee Member Date

________________________________________________ __________________
Ilka K. List, Ph.D., Committee Member Date
UMI Number: 3636764
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Formatted according to the Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association, 6th edition.
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Abstract

Psychospiritual Transformation Through Chronic Illness: An Intuitive Inquiry
by
Patrick T. Baltazar
The purpose of this research was to understand the subjective experience of psychospiritual
transformation among people who have lived with chronic physical illness for at least 7 years,
beginning in early to mid-adulthood. I define psychospiritual transformation as a profound
change in the core ways in which we function, see ourselves, and relate to other beings in the
world. I used the intuitive inquiry research method because it provides an interpretive structure
for exploring subtle topics of psychospiritual development close to this researcher’s own life
experiences (I have lived with Type 1 diabetes for 22 years and fibromyalgia for 7 years). This
method included (a) an inward examination of my own experience and perspective on the topic,
(b) an analysis of 8 previously published autobiographical narratives, and (c) a reflection on my
own shifts in understanding of the topic in light of relevant literature.
In my theory of psychospiritual transformation through chronic illness I describe a
process of change over time, touching upon a fuller range of transpersonal human experience and
development not present in previous studies and theories on this topic. These cyclical moments
include (a) an initial physical crisis and the shock of diagnosis, (b) an attempted return to one’s
previous lifestyle and a search for a cure; (c) losses and the disintegration of the self; (d) slowing
down/inward focus; (e) mourning losses; (f) fear and helplessness at uncertainty; (g) confronting
one’s shadow while learning self-observation and self-compassion; (h) integral self-care from
one’s own body consciousness; (i) new lifestyle and an expanded sense of self; (j) integration of
inner opposites and revisiting previously unresolved issues; (k) paradoxical movement between
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surrender and will; (l) embodied attention and joy, with a greater appreciation for the spiritual
dimensions of the self and the world; (m) a sense of interconnection with the world and
compassionate service for others; and (n) living in the moment with gratitude and acceptance of
impermanence.
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Dedication
To all people who suffer from chronic illness. May you find joy, meaning, hope, appreciation of
the moment, and light within the darkness.

v
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all of the people who have helped me during these past years of my
dissertation process, especially family and friends. I am also grateful to the authors of the
narratives that I analyzed in this study; these allowed me to reach a greater understanding of the
topic. Thank you to my chairperson, Dr. Nancy Rowe, for your patience, insightful
accompaniment, and motivation. Thank you to Dr. Ilka List and Dr. Kevin Krycka for your
valuable input on my research.

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Epigram
God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change
the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

~Reinhold Niebuhr, The Serenity Prayer (1943/2012, p. 695)

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Table of Contents

Abstract……………………………………..……………………………………………………………..…………………….iii
Dedication……………………………………..………………………………………………………………..…….….….…..v
Acknowledgements……………………..……………………………………………………………….…….………...…..vi
Epigram……………………………………..……………………………………………………………….…….………..…..vii
List of Tables……………………………..…………………………………………………………………...…..……....….xii
Chapter 1: Introduction……………………………………………………………..……………………………………….1
Transpersonal Relevance of the Research………………………….............................................................3
Justification...................................................................................................................................................................4
Definition of Terms…………..……….……………………………………………………………………...…....4
Research Questions……………..…….……………………………………………………………..………..…...6
Method……………………………..…………………………………………….……………….….…………….…..7
Potential Contributions to Transpersonal Psychology.………………………………………..……….7
Chapter 2: Review of the Literature………………………………………………......….………………………..….10
A Transpersonal Understanding of Development and Illness……………….……...……………..11
Transpersonal Models of Embodied Lifespan Development……………….……………..…….…16
Transformation and Healing………………………………..………………………………………..…..……33
Shamanic Explanations of Illness……………………………..……….………………..……….………….38
Empirical Findings on Psychospiritual Transformation and Psychospiritual
Benefits of Experiences in Nature……….………………………………….………..…….…….42
Conceptual Empirical Literature on Chronic Illness Experiences and
Transformation………………………………………………………………………..….…….……….45
Chapter 3: Research Method……………………………………………………………………………….………….. 67
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Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………….………………..67
Intuitive Inquiry……..………………………………………………………….…………………….…………...68
Intuition in Intuitive Inquiry…………....……………………….……………………………….….…..……70
An Overview of the Five Cycles of Intuitive Inquiry………..……………..………..……………....71
Validity………………………………………………………………..………………….……...................………...75
Research Questions……………..…………………………………………………….………………………….78
Data Collection………………….…………………..………………………………….………………………….78
Delimitations and Limitations………………...…………………..………………………………..…………79
Chapter 4: Cycle 1……………………………………………………………………………………….………………….81
My Personal Experience With the Research Topic………………………………………..……..……82
My Intuitive Style as Informed by My Illness Experience……………..………………………..…99
Engagement With a Personal Text Related to the Research Topic…………………...……..…105
Chapter 5: Cycle 2…………………………………………………………………..……………………………...….….109
Cycle 2 Procedures………………………….…………………………....………….…….……...............……109
My Cycle 2 Lenses………………………….……………………………….….…………………..…………..114
Chapter 6: Cycle 3…………………………………..…………….….……………….…………..……..…………...…...122
Cycle 3 Procedures………………………….……………………………………………………………....….122
Description of Narratives………………..………………………….………………………………………...126
Dean Kramer's Narrative………………………………..………….……………………………..……….…128
Adan William's Narrative……………..…………………………….……………………………………..…130
Carmen Ambrosio's Narrative…………………………..……………………………………………..……132
Sarah Manguso's Narrative……………..………….…………………………………………….…..………134
Phillip Simmons' Narrative………………..……….……………………………………………….……..…137
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