A Glimpse at the Psychology and Spirituality of Personal Transformation

Among other philosophies and spiritual traditions, the Bahá’í teachings also use alchemy as a metaphor for personal transformation. We will take a glance at the Bahá’í teachings’ approach to this, combined with principles from education, mental health, philosophy, and artistry. It will include a look at the nature of and dynamics between body, mind and soul; at the inner battle between our higher and lower natures; at the role of the Divine Spirit and Creative Word in this transformation; at the role of spiritual disciplines in creating a state of inspiration; and at the psychological layers involved in translating inspiration into living. Kambeze Banan Etemad, MD is an educator, author, psychiatrist, and amateur musician – but he is most glad about his now-retired role as a homeschool dad. He recently launched Talisman Development Services, LLC – a training and consulting company that combines principles from multiple fields into a fresh approach towards maximizing human capacity in life and work for individuals, groups and organizations.