IBÚ-ILÉ · Transpersonal Breathwork is a technique of self-exploration and consciousness expansion, inspired by Holotropic Breathwork developed by Stanislav Grof, and grounded in the core principles of transpersonal psychology.

It is practiced through intense and continuous breathing, accompanied by a carefully curated combination of evocative music and live music. These elements facilitate access to deep layers of consciousness and inner processes that may support emotional release, reduction of anxiety, and spiritual experiences. The session concludes with art therapy, supporting the solid integration of the experience.

During the session, a series of transient and reversible physiological responses occur in the body. The increase in breathing rate enhances oxygen (O₂) intake and reduces carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the blood, leading to a temporary rise in blood pH, a phenomenon known as respiratory alkalosis, which is responsible for many of the physical, emotional, and perceptual sensations that may emerge during the experience.

This technique is not, nor does it intend to replace, Holotropic Breathwork. Upon completion of the official Grof Legacy Training, we will also offer certified Holotropic Breathwork sessions.

Is a holistic approach to psychological support aimed at exploring inner wisdom and all dimensions of human experience through talk therapy, meditation and body-centered practices.

The cartography of the psyche developed by Stanislav Grof, which encompasses postnatal biography, perinatal matrices, the transpersonal dimension and COEX systems, as well as the archetypes and collective unconscious described by Carl Jung, along with spirituality and the exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness, constitutes an essential pillar of this approach, helping to transcend the ego, access deep levels of the psyche and foster self-awareness and personal growth.

It is a constructivist approach that primarily combines the transpersonal perspective with methods from traditional psychotherapy. Its purpose is to support the preparation, experience and especially the post-session stage of non-ordinary states of consciousness. This process helps to understand and transform the psycho-spiritual material revealed, turning it into clarity and personal growth, while facilitating the application of insights from the psychonautic journey into everyday life.

Non-ordinary states of consciousness can be profoundly transformative but they also involve challenges, such as spiritual bypass or the emergence of difficult content. At the Ibú-ilé Center, we offer therapeutic and emotional support to those who wish or need to integrate any form of psychonautic experience

It is often mistakenly believed that coaching is a mentorship where the coach teaches how to live "correctly." In reality, it is more like a transformative journey with a trusted navigator: you steer your own course while the coach offers perspective, points out opportunities and helps you stay focused. Both move forward together, as partners, towards your goals.

Coaching looks to the future: it helps you find solutions, clarify your direction and discover how to move forward. It does not offer ready-made advice; through powerful questions, the coach helps you access the answers that already reside within you.

Coaching can support almost any need: integrating self-exploration or transpersonal experiences, fostering personal growth, advancing your career, improving relationships or finding your life’s purpose. This approach is valuable in all areas of life, helping to transform awareness into action and growth.

True change requires time, discipline, and constant action. Having a coach certified by the ICF ensures a professional and ethical approach, a safe space for exploration and qualified support in the search for answers that lead to meaningful transformations. Coaching does not work with addictions or issues that require the intervention of a psychotherapist.

Since ancient times, creativity has been a means of self-discovery, healing and integration. In art therapy, the act of creating promotes neuroplasticity, reduces anxiety and stress, and strengthens emotional balance and resilience through the simple yet profound act of creating.

It also helps integrate deep internal experiences, including non-ordinary states of consciousness. Figures like Carl Jung and Stan Grof highlighted its power to process experiences that transcend the ordinary mind. In trauma work, it offers a safe space to transform pain into meaning and facilitate healing.

Art therapy not only serves a therapeutic role but also fosters self-awareness and emotional insight by engaging with images, symbols, and creative expression. This process taps into the unconscious and deep-seated emotions.

Over time, it helps reduce anxiety and depression and enhances both emotional awareness and personal growth. It is a safe and accessible practice for all ages, which we offer at the Ibu-Ilé Center independently or as part of retreats and integration sessions.

Amazonian music has become, for many people, a path of self-exploration. Its spiritual and therapeutic potential has inspired a growing interest in these traditions and in journeys to various regions of the Amazon in search of the ancestral knowledge of its Indigenous peoples.

This expanding interest in the West creates, especially for Western facilitators, the need to adopt an approach that supports the creation of appropriate spaces for the transmission and diffusion of these ancestral songs.

While the most genuine way to access these traditions remains to go directly to the source, with indigenous masters or in recognized centers such as Takiwasi, we understand that not everyone is able or is prepared to travel to the Amazon. For this reason, at the Ibú-Ilé Center we seek a harmonious balance, integrating the wisdom transmitted by indigenous teachers using our therapeutic training.

Our sessions take place within the traditional Amazonian ritualized framework, using music, songs, prayers and techniques from Indo-Amazonian and Yoruba shamanism, complimented by a solid therapeutic foundation and continuous updates through research and scientific evidence.

Another of our missions is to promote the ethical diffusion of these traditions. Their use must always be accompanied by respect and care for the Amazon, its indigenous peoples, and their ancestral wisdom, who represent an invaluable gift of nature and deserve our deepest gratitude, honor and protection for the legacy they have shared with humanity.

In the transpersonal approach, non-ordinary states of consciousness foster self-knowledge and spiritual development but they can also generate intense experiences and psycho-emotional or psychosomatic alterations, that from a traditional perspective, are often mistaken for psychotic episodes and quickly diagnosed without considering their spiritual dimension. Among psychonauts and people undergoing spiritual awakening, this pathologization is common.

Stanislav Grof demonstrated that, with respectful accompaniment, these crises can be transformative. In works like The Stormy Search for the Self and Spiritual Emergency, he offers maps and tools to distinguish them from a psychotic crisis and provide appropriate support. Here is a quote from his book "The Stormy Search for the Self":

«Psychiatry found biological explanations for certain mental disorders in the form of infections, tumors, chemical imbalances, and other afflictions of the brain or body. It also discovered powerful ways of controlling symptoms of various conditions for which the causes remained unknown, including the manifestations of spiritual crises. As a result of these successes, psychiatry became firmly established as a medical discipline, and the term mental disease was extended to include many states that, strictly speaking, were natural conditions that could not be linked to biological causes. The process of spiritual emergence in general, along with its more dramatic manifestations, came to be viewed as an illness, and those who demonstrated signs of what had been previously thought of as inner transformation and growth were in most cases now considered to be sick».

We are aware of the suffering experienced by some psychonauts due to spiritual emergencies, energetic infestations, or overwhelming experiences. Having gone through many of these intense yet transformative processes ourselves, we were driven to study and deeply understand these realities from both spiritual and psychological perspectives. Through transpersonal psychology, indigenous and Yoruba shamanic techniques, as well as the teachings of Stan Grof, we aim to offer respectful, serious and compassionate support to those who find themselves in such states.

If you or someone close is going through a psycho-spiritual emergency or having difficulty integrating a challenging experience, contact us: anything affecting your well-being deserves support, and timely guidance can be key to healing and transformation.