These are the questions for working through the first chapter of States of Consiousness
by Charles Tart. A copy is online. You will
note that the structure of the questions, and what you are expected to do with the material gets harder
as things go along. Yes, that's deliberate.
Glossary: How would Tart define the following:
A. Consciousness
B. Structures
C. d-SoC
D. d-ASC
E. b-SoC
Terminology/Explanations
What is Tart's first postulate?
What are the 10 major subsystems Tart discusses in relation to d-ascs?
According to Tart, what 2 basic operations are used to induct someone into a d-asc?
According to Tart, why are structures important to the development and exploration of states of consciousness?
According to Tart, what are the three factors that limit our ordinary soc?
According to Tart, what are the factors or processes that stabilize a d-soc? Theorize as to why these factors might be important to our exploration of d-socs.
According to Tart, a d-soc is stabilized in four ways. List them.
Application/Speculation
A d-asc would also be stabilized in four ways. What stabilizes your d-soc in ritual?
Describe the patterning forces that shape consensus reality in America. Compare these with the patterning forces that shape Gardnerian culture.
Considering state-specific sciences in relation to magick, do you think that seeing auras, second sight or something similar would constitute a change in d-soc?
Possible Additional reading:
Chapter on "modes of being" in Joel Tannenbaum's "Male and Female realities".
