Perinatal Matrices according to
Stanislav Grof
Mário Resende
EARTh
July 2010
perinatal matrices - grof
«The exploration of Altered States of
Consciousness provides us indisputable
evidences that the memories from our
peri-natal experiences really stay stored
in our psique»
p.51
perinatal matrices - grof
COEX – Condensed Experience Systems
Each COEX contains emotionally charged
memories from different periods of life united by
the common denominator of sharing the same
emotional quality or the same physical sensation.
Each COEX contains numerous strata, but all refers
to themes, feelings and emotional qualities very
concrete. p.45
perinatal matrices - grof
The perinatal experience impact
The eminent danger or eminent death is lived
simultaneously with a great impulse to
survival
p.50
perinatal matrices - grof
4 Basic Perinatal Matrices (BPM)
BPMI The Amniotic Universe
BPMII The Cosmic Oppression
BPMIII The Struggle Death-Rebirth
BPMIV The Experience Death-Rebirth
perinatal matrices - grof
BPMI The Amniotic Universe
The intra-uterine life
Symbolism:
Oceanic, Cosmic
Paradisiacal or Infernal
Celestial or Infernal
elements
perinatal matrices - grof
BPMI
The good uterus
perinatal matrices - grof
BPMI
The bad uterus
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM I
in good uterus
Peace, tranquility, joy, beatitude; physical symptoms of
health and physiological well being
Associated in a COEX with spiritual experiences: deep
feeling of unity and oceanic ecstasy, unlimited access to
the power, wisdom and love source; also related to
playful moments in childhood and adolescence, familiar
harmony, agreabe sexual relations, peaceful and deep
friendships
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM I
in good uterus
still in COEX, association of the moments of a good
uterus with the contemplation of the splendorous
daybreak or nightfall, the pacific majesty of the
ocean, the magnificent of an mountain, the starred
sky in a dark night.
and equally the inspired human creations: music,
painting, architecture
perinatal matrices - grof
BPMI
in good uterus
The fusion experiences may exist at other levels:
human, animal, vegetal
There may exist experiences of encounter with
arquethypal goodness entities as Mother Earth,
Apolo, etc.
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM I
in bad uterus
Very negative experiences: death danger, attempted
abortion, serious intoxication; physical symptoms of flu,
hangover, muscular pains, metallic flavor in the mouth,
generalized malaise (mothers with diseases, addictions,
bad alimentary habits, etc.)
Less negative experiences and more frequents:
intoxication; associated with a COEX with an inhospitable
and polluted nature, poisoning and evil influences
perinatal matrices - grof
BPMI
in bad uterus
There may exist experiences of encounters with
arquethypal evil, destructive, sanguinary entities:
demons, goddess Khali, etc.
Memories of past life histories
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM II The Cosmic Oppression
The first contractions
Symbolism:
Expulsion from Paradise
Apocalypse
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM II
Physical symptoms:
malaise (due to hormonal changes, reduction of oxygen and
the pressure of contractions against the closed cervix),
stress and anxiety, muscle tension, and pain with increased
contractions
experience of being in danger, in the center of a tornado,
smashed, thrown out, overwhelmed, trapped, suffocated,
swallowed by the earth, devoured by a monster, and
absolutely out of time.
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM II
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM II
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM II
one BPM II in COEX connects with the most negative
aspects of human experience on the planet: terror,
catastrophe, war, suffer, diseases, epidemics, inhumanity,
automatisms; and it facilitates the identification with it’s
victims
When dominates, such COEX prevents from awareness of
positive qualities of the existence, such as love,
friendship, beauty, art, science, humankind achievements
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM II
in COEX relates with helplessness, defeat anticipation,
life as a quixotic fight with no victory possibility, any
ideal as naive;
and profound victim feelings in face of obscure forces
and
powers, namely accidents, chirurgical
interventions, and physical abuses in childhood
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM III The Life-Rebirth Struggle
The Chanel Passage
Symbolism:
Night and Day
Death and Resurrection
Phoenix
Danger, Fight and Victory from Solitary Hero
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM III
Some common experiences with BPM II: danger, the
existence in risk, tightness, overwhelming, etc.
Structural differences: fight for life; light at the end of
the tunnel; combat energy activated; impulse energy;
sexual sensations; possibility of victory in the end; the
volcanic ecstasy
perinatal matrices - grof
BPMIII
structural differences: as delivery is a more anxiogenic
moment for the mother, and as the consciences are
merged – corroborating with the findings in
Regression Therapy – the contents of the mother
consciousness are also experienced by the child in a
greater degree than in previous matrices
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM III
The experience of the energy: felt as electric
discharges of high voltage; in case of difficulties, this
energy may be blocked and felt in a very painful way
This energy and it’s impulse to expulsion may
generate symbolic contents of bombs, explosions,
fighting artillery, and all sorts of warlike
confrontations
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM III
Other symbolic contents associated with energy and
explosions: irrupting volcanoes, earthquakes,
tornadoes, all types of natural disasters that involve
violence
may arise symbolic contents of human violence:
revolutions, massacres, riots, murders
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM III
in the MPB III a COEX may be originated in witch
violence and sex are associated with blood,
excrements, urine, viscous liquids, etc. , attending to
what was said before, and to the the reality in many
labors; for Grof that could explain some sexual
perversions, namely sadomasochism, sexual abuse
with physical violence, etc.
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM III
mythical and spiritual elements:
good and evil struggle
creation and destruction of the world
«visions» of Khali, demons, Mars – war god
Christ crucifixion – martyrdom and resurrection
phallic adoration rituals, as in shivaísm
procreation and fertility rituals
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM III
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM IV Liberation
Get Out and Be Outside
Death and Resurrection
Ego’s Death
Phoenix
San George killing the Dragon
Teseu defeating the Minotaur
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM IV Liberation
Get Out and Be Outside
Body memories: head exit – or
feet or buttocks – from vaginal
channel;
first breathing
cordon cut and freed from the
mother
The sensation of being out
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM IV
experience of dying and revival: the fetus dies, the baby is
born, separated from the mother
anihilation experiences followed by light experiences physical and spiritual - of cosmic mother, angels, and
return to the ocean of BPM I ecstasy
experiences of liberation, of having space, salvation,
redemption
experience of light, physical and spiritual
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM IV
possible experience of symbiotic union with the
mother, similar to BPM I
the experiences of light, salvation, redemption, can
lead, in adults, to a different tune with the core values
of love, beauty, harmony with others, knowledge of
the truth, etc.
perinatal matrices - grof
BPM IV
in COEX the BPMIV is connected with experiences of
success, overcome great difficulties, to survive the
dangers, etc.
perinatal matrices - grof
MPBIV
Final note: «The birth without complications appears
to be an extremely important condition for
successfully addressing the difficult situations of life.
Complications - in turn - as a strenuous and prolonged
labor, use of forceps, anesthesia, induced labor,
premature delivery and caesarean section, for
example - appear to correlate positively with the
difficulties in solving all kinds of conflicts.»
p.123
perinatal matrices - grof
Bibliography
Grof, S. (1999). La Mente Holotrópica. Los
Niveles de la Consciencia Humana. Kairós:
Barcelona