Psychosis or Spiritual Awakening by Phil Borges – TEDx Talk
A very interesting perspective on mental “illness” and the different way that this is viewed in indigenous cultures around the world. Borges studies shamans, healers or oracles from a wide range of indigenous cultures and found they all have things in common:
- hallucinations begin when young
- this is recognised as a gift in these cultures
- they are mentored by someone who has travelled the same path
- when ready, they go through initiation that leads to death of the “old self” and rebirth of the new.
- expanded consciousness
- more compassion
- and the ability to travel to the spirit world at will to help people.
Borges compares this to the treatment in our society of people with hallucinations:
- medicated
- stigmatised
- and excluded from society