Spiritual Physiology?

Much research and many scientific journals are devoted to psychophysiology.  I find it quite interesting to peruse papers being published in this field.  Most of the focus seems to be on helping people overcome trauma, anxiety or helping people get to an emotional state of OK.  Many detailed methodologies have been developed, for instance in EMDR using bilateral stimulation, for the treatment of trauma. There is a lot of evidence and studies which show one’s emotional state can be influenced and changed by physiological activities like deep breathing, eye movement, bilateral stimulation, aerobic exercise, strength training, …

My own search to commune with God as deeply as possible during a 30-minute walk led to a specific coaxing routine that parallels certain psychophysiological protocols.  Indeed a few of the charts and diagrams in my book look like they could have come out of a therapeutic treatment manual.

Here’s a chart from page 53.

 One interesting parallel to EMDR is the speed of bilateral stimulation and where thoughts are focused.  EMDR has a fast stage where distressing memories are addressed. Then it slows and positive material is introduced. In the walks, a form of bilateral stimulation, I start out fast, when the mind is racing or distressing. The more agitated I am the faster I will walk. Then I’ll start to walk slower while consciously focusing my mind and heart on sharing love with God, a positive cognition activity. At the end I’ll be walking very slowly while focusing entirely on loving God.

Another graph visualizes the stages I go through on a walk.

It has been and is a remarkable repeatable process. I can feel distinctly in my body 3 basic stages. At first, the mind is racing and the body feels somewhat agitated or excited. Then a state of calm enjoyment ensues. The body becomes quieted. At the end, I focus totally, keep my gazed fixed with my eyeballs completely stationary relative to my head. At this point, I feel a distinct fluid flow in my brain for a moment and then I’m in a very deep state of communion, which probably can be described as abiding or the Holy Ghost is with you.  I am sure some physiological changes could be measured which correspond to this.

Maybe sometime in the future, psychophysiology will be extended to a study of “spiritual physiology”.  Where practices are detailed to help people get from just OK to states of deep communion.