Alumni Profiles

Ryan N. Harrison,
MA Transpersonal Psychology, '03

Already holding a BA in music, Ryan returned to school "itching to explore psychology from a spiritual perspective," which led him straight to the Transpersonal Psychology Program.

"Honestly, I had no concept of what I was getting myself into," he says. "I approached Naropa expecting the typical student-university relationship: my “tabula rasa” self was ready for an infusion of success-granting knowledge. What I discovered was that Naropa’s definition of 'greatness' was different than how I had come to understand it. For example, Naropa didn’t want me to regurgitate. It didn’t require – nor even desire – that I become like everyone else. Naropa’s intention was that I fearlessly and compassionately explore and discover myself, whatever the result. Indeed, it settled for nothing less. Any attempt at scholastic parroting was met with gentle-but-persuasive urging: “That’s good Ryan, but what does it mean to you? What might it mean to others?

"The unexpected (but entirely prized) result was a truer version of myself. After two years of reading, writing, thinking, feeling, meditating, serving, and endless online discussion posting, I had morphed. Less in need of a quick answer and an easy-to-hold, accessible “truth,” I was far more comfortable living with mystery. I felt as though I was not just human, but a human being. A human becoming. And that changed everything."

Ryan took a part-time job as a secretary at a local progressive church where connections were made that allowed him to lead a meditation group and offer his talents to a wider community. After graduation, he pursued and gained certification as a Holistic Health Practitioner (HHP). That certification led him to two vocational roles. "I have a small private practice as an HHP, serving others in what I like to call the business of transformation,'" he says, "And I teach several courses for the local university.
 
"Naropa teaches its students how to change the inner landscape, and in that way to affect the outer. Two years after Naropa, I’m still changing, but that’s the beauty of it. As I evolve, so does the world. Nothing stays the same, and I don’t require it to. It feels like real freedom."