The following passages come from LSD Psychotherapy, by Stan Grof. The four Basic Perinatal Matrices refer to our experiences in the womb, namely (1) blissful floating in the mothers womb, (2) the first contractions and related chemical changes, (3) being pushed through the birth canal, which is painful and feels like dying, and (4) actual birth itself.
"The changes caused by activation of different levels of COEX [Compressed Experience] systems are usually not very dramatic and stay within the range of various neurotic and psychosomatic manifestations, unless the activated layer is from very early childhood and/or its emotional charge is excessive. When an important COEX system is activated and remains unresolved, the subject experiences in the post-session period an intensification of the clinical symptoms related to this system and perceives the environment with specific distortions reflecting its content. In addition, he or she may manifest a tendency to exteriorize the general theme of the system, or certain specific characteristics of one of its layers, in the treatment situation and in various aspects of everyday life."
"If the subject is under a strong influence from one of these matrices at the time that the pharmacological action of the drug is wearing off, he or she can experience its influence in a mitigated form for days, weeks or even months. If a deep level of a negative matrix is activated, the individual difficulties following the session can reach psychotic proportions. The consequences are quite distinct and characteristic for each of the perinatal matrices."
"When the termination period of an LSD session is governed by BPM [Basic Perinatal Matrix] II and the subject stabilizes under its influence, the post-session interval is characterized by deep depression. Under these circumstances, individuals are vexed by various highly unpleasant feelings, thoughts, and physical sensations. They have access only to unpleasant memories and cannot see any positive elements in their entire life history. Guilt, inferiority, and shame seem to dominate their thinking about the past. Their present life appears unbearable and fraught with problems that have no solution; they do not have any perspective on anything, and the future looks equally hopeless. Life is devoid of any meaning, and there is an absolute inability to enjoy anything. The world is perceived as threatening, ominous, oppressive and without colors. Suicidal ideation is not uncommon in this situation; it typically has the form of a wish to fall asleep or be unconscious, forget everything, and never wake up again."
"Stabilization of an LSD session under the dominance of BPM III results in feelings of intense aggressive tension, frequently associated with strong but vague apprehension and anticipation of a catastrophe."
"Subjects whose LSD session terminates under the influence of BPM IV present a very different picture. The most remarkable aspect of this state is a dramatic alleviation or even disappearance of previous psychopathological symptoms, and a decrease of emotional problems of all kinds. Individuals feel that they have left the past behind and are now capable of starting an entirely new chapter in their lives. Exhilerating feelings of freedom from anxiety, depression and guilt are associated with deep physical relaxation and a sense of perfect functioning of all physiological processes. Life appears simple and exciting, and the individual has the feeling of unusual sensory richness and intense joy."
"As far as BPM I is concerned, the individual can stabilize under the influence of its positive or negative aspects. In the former case, the postsession interval resembles the one described for BPM IV. However, all the feelings involved are much deeper and are experienced in a religious or mystical framework. Subjects see new dimensions in the world and in the universe, have strong feelings of being an integral part of creation, and tend to regard ordinary things and activities in everyday life - such as eating, walks in nature, playing with children, or sexual intercourse - as manifestations of the divine. The experience of cosmic unity has an unusual therapeutic potential and can have lasting beneficial consequences for the individual."
"If the subject remains after an LSD session under the influence of the negative aspects of BPM I or negative transpersonal matrices, he or she experiences various forms and degrees of emotional and physical distress associated with conceptual confusion. These difficulties are typically interpreted in a metaphysical framework - in spiritual, occult, mystical, or religious terms. These unpleasant conditions are attributed to the adverse forces of destiny, "bad karma", malefic astrological or cosmobiological influences, or various evil spiritual entities. In extreme cases this condition can reach psychotic proportions. After the individual works through and integrates the experience, he or she assumes a more tentative and metaphorical approach to such extreme interpretations."
"The recurrences of LSD-like states days, weeks, or even months after the actual administration of the drug has stirred much publicity and deserves special attention in this context. Careful study of the psychodynamics of the LSD reaction over many years has convinced me that episodes, popularly known as "flashbacks," have a very similar basis to the prolonged reactions and psychotic breaks immediately following the sessions. The difference is that in this case the defense mechanisms are strong enough to cover up the activated and unresolved material in the termination period. The experience appears to be completed, but this is true only on the surface; the result is a very precarious dynamic balance between the unconscious forces and the psychological resistance against them. As time passes, any number of circumstances can disturb this problematic equilibrium, and the individual starts consciously experiencing the unfinished gestalt. Since it is a continuation of a process that started during the LSD experience, the uninformed subject will usually see it as an insidious, belated attack of the drug, rather than as a manifestation of his or her unconscious."
To read more passages from the book, specifically dealing with the role of the sitter(s) in facilitating the optimal conditions for the termination period (usually 5 to 6 hours after ingestion), see pages 1 and 6 of
this thread.
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