Joan Halifax is a Buddhist teacher, Zen priest, anthropologist, hospice caregiver, and the author of several books on Buddhism and spirituality. Joan mentions that she isn’t against psycho-pharmacology to treat mental distress, but she also believes that its important to not overlook or override the healing process of the psyche which underlies the symptoms.
Joan received her Ph.D. in medical anthropology and psychology and over the years has studied indigenous and tribal cultures in Africa, Asia and the Americas. She currently serves as abbot of Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Joan had just gotten back from Asia and in spite of being jetlagged, graciously agreed this interview.
Joan tells us that many people have experienced unsolicited states of non-ordinary reality in our culture, but are afraid to talk about it because it is not socially sanctioned. She adds that even though the experience is typically met with fear, there is usually a narrative that wants to unfold in the psyche that can help the individual reconstruct their life at a higher level. She considers this is a healing process that nurtures our relationship with our psyche, each other and the natural world.
Joan mentioned to us, that she has experienced these episodes and that they are not easy. She said that her meditation practice and having a reference point or context to frame what she was going through made her experience much more manageable. As Joan sees it, there are many opportunities to bring a sort of Shamanic perspective, based on a vision of the natural world and interconnectedness, into our culture.
