Date of Award

5-1980

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Conrad Sommer

Second Advisor

Diana Richards

Abstract

The Voyage of Consciousness in People explores the complex, layered development of human consciousness through a psychological and spiritual framework rooted in transpersonal and yogic traditions. Deborah M. Rogers presents consciousness as a dynamic process, best understood as a "voyage" through a spectrum of internal experiences and developmental stages. Drawing heavily on Eastern philosophy—particularly the chakra system of Tantric Yoga—she maps human awareness across seven levels: Physical, Affect, Effect, Mental, Ego, Transpersonal, and Pure Consciousness. Each level correlates with one of the seven major chakras and includes a progression through seven depths or "bands" of consciousness, adapted from Ken Wilber’s spectrum model.

The work integrates insights from psychology, mysticism, and physiology, asserting that consciousness both shapes and is shaped by the interplay between personal experience and universal awareness. The author emphasizes the role of energy (Prana or Ki) in sustaining life and consciousness, including the potential of Kundalini (latent energy) as a driver of spiritual evolution. Through theoretical exposition, personal narrative, and illustrative case study, Rogers demonstrates how individuals navigate these levels—often in nonlinear ways—as they integrate fragmented aspects of self and move toward wholeness.

Notably, the thesis underscores the importance of integrating transpersonal experiences (e.g., out-of-body states, altered awareness) with grounded psychological development to avoid fragmentation or instability. The journey is portrayed as both deeply personal and universally accessible, reflecting the shared human potential to awaken to Pure Consciousness, or awareness itself, beyond subject-object duality. Rogers’ work contributes to the field of transpersonal psychology by offering a schema that bridges esoteric philosophy with experiential insight, aimed at guiding individuals on their own voyage toward self-realization and expanded awareness.

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