2010 WORKSHOP SEASON

February 19 - 20 "Awakening the Ecstatic Experience"
February 19, introductory lecture
February 20, one-day experiential workshop
Place: First Community Church, Columbus, Ohio
To register, contact http://www.jungcentralohio.org/register.html

“AWAKENING THE ECSTATIC EXPERIENCE”
April 17-18
Place: Columbus, Ohio (Spring Hollow Lodge, Westerville, Ohio)
Cost: $250.00 (includes continental breakfast and lunch)
Minimum participants 6 Maximum participants 12

The human need for ecstasy--the ability to be free of the limitations of ordinary consciousness--is as imperative as the need for food. Indigenous cultures and the civilizations of antiquity were aware of this and developed specific rituals to induce and channel trance energies to detoxify and nourish the subtle body in order to experience the ecstatic reality that gives life to matter. The body postures seen in ancient art from Mayan, Egyptian, African, Native American, Sumerian, and other ancient and indigenous traditions are a doorway to inducing this kind of ecstatic trance.

In this workshop, you will learn the simple method for using these sacred postures and experience ecstatic trance using postures from around the world. We will also explore the neurobiology that supports the value of these rituals as contemporary spiritual practice

Certified Instructors Belinda Gore and Stephanie Stephens both serve on the Board of Directors of The Cuyamungue Institute. Belinda is the author of The Ecstatic Experience and Ecstatic Body Postures, and Stephanie is a professional educator.

June 21
"Sky Journeys"
with Dr. John Pilch, professor of Theology at Georgetown University.
Santa Fe, NM, 7:30 - 9:00 pm. Location TBA

June 23
"Sky Journeys" with Dr. John Pilch and
"The Enneagram Roots in Indigenous Culture" with Dr. Belinda Gore.
At the Center for Contemplation in Action, Albuquerque, NM, 7:30 - 9:00 pm.

Introductory to Ecstatic Trance: Learning the Practice of Ecstatic Trance
June 25-27
Place: The Cuyamungue Institute, Santa Fe, NM
Cost: $275 includes all meals and lodging
Minimum participants 5 Maximum participants 10

This workshop is an introduction to the work of Felicitas Goodman and the Cuyamungue Institute and an exploration of the ancient practice of Ecstatic Trance using Sacred Postures. The state known as ecstatic trance is achieved through a relatively simple, safe and teachable method. In this workshop you will learn this method through small group experiences with the instructors.

You will learn:

• The five stages of ecstatic experience
• How our bodies change during ecstatic trance
• The method for using Sacred Postures, including
experiences in healing, divination, shapeshifting and spirit journeys.

Facilitators Jackie Haworth, Rae LeCompte and Stephanie Stephans are Certified Instructors with the Cuyamungue Institute and also serve as members of the Board of Directors. All are professional educators and have a long history with the work of Felicitas Goodman.

“Soul Retrieval using Body Postures”
August 26 (dinner) – August 29
Place: The Cuyamungue Institute, Santa Fe, NM
Cost: $450 includes all meals and lodging;
early booking until 6/15/10: $390
Minimum participants:  5 Maximum participants:  10

This work of retrieving soul parts with Body-Postures is a profound self-healing process.

The exciting news is: you can do all of it yourself!

In the world of shamanism we find the assumption that in situations of shock, great pain, abuse etc. a person’s life can become so unbearable that soul parts become lost. This means they leave the person and go to an unknown place. Afterwards they cannot be reached any longer, they are “lost”. Following such a loss a person can have many different symptoms - for example: tiredness, the feeling not of being in one’s own body any more, lack of concentration. In addition, there may be some physical illness.

In our group we will work with body postures to bring back the lost parts of the soul. This is quite different from other traditions where the shaman is the “expert” and does the journeying for the client; here we become the expert and we ourselves make the shamanic journey for our own problem or symptom. As participants we travel to another reality where we search for our soul parts, bring them back and then get help to integrate these parts back where they belong. Experience shows that in almost every group using this technique people can bring back their lost soul parts themselves – however, it is also possible in some cases to allow someone else to make the journey and bring back parts for a friend.

After the journey is complete we share our experiences in the group. The group leader then works with individuals to help them understand more about the situation where the original soul loss took place.

The group will be introduced to posture work, and then go into the soul retrieval work which was developed by Annette Ki Salmen http://www.dream-visions.de around 2000. Beginners are welcome, as well as those who are familiar with the body postures. Experienced participants will get extra teachings at the level on which they are currently working with the postures.

September 7 - 17
German retreat with Ki Salmen at The Cuyamungue Institute. For information and to register, contact Ki Salmen at info@dream-visions.de

"Masked Trance Dance: Postures from the Goddess Traditions"
  September 23-26
  Place: Merry Nova Studio, Columbus, OH
  Cost: $330
  Minimum participants 6 Maximum participants 10

You are invited to :
• Experience postures from the Goddess cultures to guide making masks     and costumes
• Create a ritual dance from the collective trance experiences of the
  group
• Participate in deepening personal and collective connections with the
  Goddess traditions
• Enact our unique ritual dance in masks and costumes to celebrate
  the Goddess

Facilitators Belinda Gore and Merry Norris serve as members of the Board of Directors of the Cuyamungue Institute. Belinda is a certified Instructor and Merry is an artist and teacher of The Goddess and Angel Workshop. Together they create space for experiences of depth, magic, and fun!

Teacher Training: Required workshop for Instructor Certification
October 4 (arrive between 3-5:30) – October 8 (leave by 2:30),           2010
With Belinda Gore, Ph.D., President, The Cuyamungue Institute
Place: The Cuyamungue Institute, Santa Fe, NM
Cost: $425 includes notebook of teaching materials,meals and accommodations
Workshop limited to 8 participants, so please register early.

Workshop contents include:
  • History of Felicitas Goodman’s research
  • Teaching the five step method for the practice of Ecstatic Trance.
  • Overview of body-based spiritual practice, including neuro-psychology       and physiological changes that occur during the trance state.
  • Techniques for using rattle and/or drum to guide trance sessions.
  • Methods for deepening personal meaning derived from trance
    experiences.
  • How to organize Ecstatic Trance workshops and individual
    consultations.
  • Facilitating group dynamics in workshops.

TO REGISTER FOR THESE WORKSHOPS:
Unless otherwise indicated, send a $50 deposit (if you must cancel the deposit may be applied to another Cuyamungue training program) by check or credit card to:
The Cuyamungue Institute, 20A Feathercatcher Road, Santa Fe, NM 87506
You can also register by PayPal through our web site. Contact Frances Wilson, Director, 888-428-8875, for more information.

Now Available

The Ecstatic Experience
Healing Postures for Spirit Journeys
By Belinda Gore
$20.00
Buy Now