Social anthropologist, consciousness researcher, Professor at Sofia Univ, and curious explorer of culture, science, and the wonder of it all.

Marilyn Schlitz, Ph.D., M.A.

Dr. Schlitz is an acclaimed social scientist, award-winning author, and charismatic public speaker. She has conducted clinical, laboratory and field-based research into consciousness, human transformation, and healing. Her books include Living Deeply: The Art and Science of Transformation in Everyday Life; Consciousness and Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind Body Medicine; and Death Makes Life Possible (and companion film by same title). Having taught at Stanford, Harvard, and Trinity University, she is currently Chair of the doctoral program in Transpersonal Psychology at Sofia University, CEO/President Emeritus and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences. Schlitz has published hundreds of articles in scholarly journals and popular publications, and has lectured extensively in diverse venues, including the United Nations, Smithsonian Institution, Commonwealth Club, and community groups across the world.

Author: Marilyn Schlitz

17 Oct

Posted at 20:10h in Featured, News and Press, Transformation

In previous blogs in this series I began tracing my journey across the world, from one transformative community to another. From the East Coast to Asia, the transformation tour continued when I went to an event at the College of Hakka Studies in Jhongli City. This was sponsored by the Luminary Research Institute, Gaya Foundation, Luminary International Buddhist Society. The topics weaved themes related to Transformation and Embracing Challenges, and my own talk on “Emerging Worldviews,” focused on the process of individual and social transformation. Other fascinating talks included: “Cultivating a Precious Mind: A Case Study of ‘The Elementary School Mind Training Program’” by...

07 Oct

Posted at 06:41h in Death and Afterlife, Death Makes Life Possible, Featured, healthcare, News and Press, Research

The September issue of Spirituality in Clinical Practice published an article I authored titled, "Gaining perspective on death: Training program and language use outcomes assessment." With co-authors, Jonathan Schooler, Alan Pierce, Angela Murphy, and Arnaud Delorme, this paper examined how structured, supportive discourse on death, dying and what may happen after can have positive, therapeutic outcomes, especially in clinical contexts for both patients and caregivers. We used journaling data from a telecourse I taught called, "Death Makes Life Possible: Mapping Worldviews of the Afterlife," to specifically highlight the various ways the course material may have shifted participants' relationship with death, dying, and their own mortality. These...

05 Sep

Posted at 09:00h in Featured, News and Press, Non-Fiction, Transformation

                 Consciousness Transformation in Asia [caption id="attachment_1564" align="alignleft" width="225"] Conference participants Priscilla and Lily Yea with our Buddhist escorts in front of Asia University.[/caption] The call for transformation is echoing throughout Asia. Over the past few years I have visited Hong Kong and China. In June, 2014, this call brought me to Taiwan, where I met with scholars, scientists and spiritual teachers to participate in a series of global exchanges. I began at the International Symposium for Transdisciplinarity at Asia University. The private university in Taichung County was founded early in the 21st century. The focus...

17 Aug

Posted at 11:00h in Death and Afterlife, Featured, News and Press, Non-Fiction

Sukie Miller, Ph.D. was a force of nature. She brought gusto to every moment of every day. Her insights about culture, the after death realms, and depth psychology were spell-binding. Her enthusiasm for life was contagious. Her friendship was deep and true. As she approached the end of her embodiment, she was open to the next adventure  with characteristic panache. After a protracted illness that she would not let defeat her, she died on December 18, 2013. Sukie was a psychotherapist who dedicated her life to understanding human nature in all its complexities. Her seminal book, After Death, Mapping the Journey,...

14 Aug

Posted at 02:27h in Death Makes Life Possible, Featured, News and Press, Transformation

Positive transformation is afoot in the world. From various corners of the earth people are coming together to talk about the powers and potentials within us to affect life-affirming changes in ourselves and the world. This summer I engaged in a worldwide tour. I found myself moved by the remarkable people and the extraordinary work that is underway on every continent. This included the kinds of people and the types of activities that are often not featured in the prime time news. And yet, as I learned time and again, it involves groundbreaking initiatives to improve our collective wellbeing that are...

15 May

Posted at 01:23h in Death and Afterlife, Featured, News and Press, Non-Fiction

For many years I have been studying the nature of worldview transformations. How do we change our minds? What actions do we need to take to make fundamental shifts in how we experience ourselves and the world? How can we shift our view of death in order to live life more fully? Over the past two decades I had the privilege to work with a team of researchers through the Institute of Noetic Sciences to study the nature of individual and social transformation. We published our results in Living Deeply: The Art and Science of Transformation in Everyday Life (Schlitz, Vieten,...

12 May

Posted at 04:45h in Featured

In honor of Mother's Day and mothers everywhere, below is a historical reflection that speaks to the heritage of this special day. Mother's Day first began after the Civil War, its emergence a protest by women who had lost their sons to the carnage brought by the many years of war. Here is the original Mother's Day Proclamation from 1870: Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, Whether our baptism be that of water or of fears! Say firmly: "We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking...

28 Apr

Posted at 09:00h in Death and Afterlife, Death Makes Life Possible, Featured

It is an exciting time in the journey to bring the Death Makes Life Possible film to a wider audience. Our world tour will begin in May with our world premiere at the Illuminate Film Festival in Sedona, Arizona May 29-June 1! Responses to our initial screenings have been uniformly positive. Viewers are profoundly affected and it has stimulated deep and dynamic conversations. It’s clear this is a film that moves people to speak about their personal stories, explore their own beliefs and those of others, and think in transformative terms about death and dying. Below is a list of private screenings we've done prior...

25 Apr

Posted at 18:14h in Death and Afterlife, Death Makes Life Possible, Featured, healthcare

This blog series is a transcript of a recent interview I did as a speaker for Dr. Karen Wyatt’s End-of-Life University. In our conversation we shared our own personal stories about death, transformation and the end of life. We also talked about our work in this realm, including my backstory on the documentary film Death Makes Life Possible, which will be world premiering at the Illuminate Film Festival in late May and also screened at the Afterlife Conference in early June. The beautiful web site for the movie will be launched very soon as well! Karen Wyatt: Is there anything else, Marilyn, that you would like...

18 Apr

Posted at 18:08h in Death and Afterlife, Death Makes Life Possible, Featured, healthcare

This blog series is a transcript of a recent interview I did as a speaker for Dr. Karen Wyatt’s End-of-Life University. In our conversation we shared our own personal stories about death, transformation and the end of life. We also talked about our work in this realm, including my backstory on the documentary film Death Makes Life Possible, which will be world premiering at the Illuminate Film Festival in late May and also screened at the Afterlife Conference in early June. The beautiful web site for the movie will be launched very soon as well! Karen Wyatt: I definitely feel that the timing is right, and...

11 Apr

Posted at 09:00h in Death and Afterlife, Death Makes Life Possible, Featured, healthcare

This blog series is a transcript of a recent interview I did as a speaker for Dr. Karen Wyatt's End-of-Life University. In our conversation we shared our own personal stories about death, transformation and the end of life. We also talked about our work in this realm, including my backstory on the documentary film Death Makes Life Possible, which will be world premiering at the Illuminate Film Festival in late May and also screened at the Afterlife Conference in early June. The beautiful web site for the movie will be launched very soon as well! Marilyn Schlitz: I’ve been reading Ernest Becker and The Denial of...

04 Apr

Posted at 06:06h in Death and Afterlife, Death Makes Life Possible, Featured, healthcare

This blog series is a transcript of a recent interview I did as a speaker for Dr. Karen Wyatt's End-of-Life University. In our conversation we shared our own personal stories about death, transformation and the end of life. We also talked about our work in this realm, including my backstory on the documentary film Death Makes Life Possible, which will be world premiering at the Illuminate Film Festival in late May and also screened at the Afterlife Conference in early June. The beautiful web site for the movie will be launched very soon as well! Karen Wyatt: One question that I had for you that I...

28 Mar

Posted at 19:24h in Death and Afterlife, Death Makes Life Possible, Featured, healthcare

This blog series is a transcript of a recent interview I did as a speaker for Dr. Karen Wyatt's End-of-Life University. In our conversation we shared our own personal stories about death, transformation and the end of life. We also talked about our work in this realm, including my backstory on the documentary film Death Makes Life Possible, which will be world premiering at the Illuminate Film Festival in late May and also screened at the Afterlife Conference in early June. The beautiful web site for the movie will be launched very soon as well! Karen Wyatt: I wanted to start first...

12 Mar

Posted at 02:54h in Featured, News and Press

The vast majority of mainstream consciousness science is focused on the physical and material nature of the brain. And yet, much more is possible. While considered heretical in many domains of science, frontier scientists are exploring the ways in which data from various studies now suggest that we take a more expansive view of consciousness and the mind. To support this, one can draw on developments in quantum physics that shake the foundations of conventional causality and common sense notions of space and time. While progress in the areas of nonlocal consciousness have been slow and poorly funded, scientists are now...

21 Feb

Posted at 17:37h in Featured, Non-Fiction, Research

  Final Reflections Through my work and my life experiences, I have seen that the transformative process involves a change in self that includes both our inner and our outer realities. It provides links between our direct experiences and our being in the world through action and service. Bridging the Akashic and the rational has allowed me to develop a deeper and richer sense of connection to myself, my family, my community, and my environment. In this process, I have developed an increasing awareness and appreciation for the sacred in every aspect of life. As each of us lives into expanded human capacities,...