Defining Spiritually Transformative Experiences

Abstract

Dr. Yvonne Kason first coined the phrase “Spiritually Transformative Experiences” (STEs) in 1994—further defining them in her book, Farther Shores (2008)—to describe how NDEs and other mystical and paranormal experiences tend to transform the experiencer, changing them in a more spiritual direction. In this presentation, Dr. Kason will share the stories of her own four near-death experiences, her kundalini awakening, and “calling” mystical experience, which changed the course of her life—prompting her to research a wide range of Spiritually Transformative Experiences, and ultimately to become the first Canadian medical doctor to specialize her practice in the counseling of patients who had diverse STEs.

Dr. Kason will outline how she divides STEs into five major categories, each with several sub-types, which will be described in detail in this presentation: mystical experiences, kundalini/spiritual energy awakenings, psychic experiences, near-death experiences and other death-related STEs, and inspired creativity. She will describe the importance of accurate definitions for STEs in order to minimize the mislabeling of STE experiencers, as happens all too frequently today. She will describe how all STEs tend to transform the experiencer, initiating or accelerating a long-term process of spiritual transformation of consciousness. Dr. Kason concludes that STEs, once understood and integrated, can be a powerful catalyst for spiritual growth and personal healing.

Presenter Bio

Dr. Yvonne Kason MD, MEd, CCFP, FCFP, is an internationally renowned medical expert on Near-Death Experiences, Kundalini, and Spiritually Transformative Experiences, (STEs). She has 38 years of experience researching and counseling persons with STEs, in a variety of university and clinical settings. Dr. Kason first coined the phrase “Spiritually Transformative Experiences” in her groundbreaking 1994 book, A Farther Shore, and elaborated on her personal and clinical experience with STEs in Farther Shores (2000, 2008). This term has now been adopted by many of the foremost researchers in the field. She was the first Canadian medical doctor to specialize her practice on the research and counseling of patients who had near-death experiences, kundalini, and other mystical and paranormal experiences. She is the author of four books, and has more than 20 published articles.

As a pioneer in this field, she co-founded the Spirituality in Health Care Network in 2000, and chaired the University of Toronto’s first international conference on Spirituality and Health Care in 2002. She founded the Spiritual Emergence Research and Referral Clinic in 1992, and was Canadian coordinator for the Spiritual Emergence Network for many years. Dr. Kason was a co-founder of the Kundalini Research Network (KRN) in 1990, and longtime KRN board member.

Dr. Kason retired from medical practice following a traumatic brain injury in November 2003. Following a spontaneous brain healing in February 2016, a miracle of brain neuroplasticity, Dr. Kason has now resumed writing and making professional and media presentations regarding her extensive personal and professional experience with NDEs and STEs. She is also a mother and devoted long time practitioner of yoga meditation. She divides her time between living in Toronto, Canada, and Encinitas, California.