December 2014

Letter from the President – December 2014
by Paul Robear

Happy Holidays! On behalf of Cuyamungue Institute’s Board of Directors, we send a big end-of-year thank you for your encouragement, participation, and support in 2014. It was in 1978 that Dr. Felicitas Goodman launched the Cuyamungue Institute and thirty-seven years later, the work continues. Actually we are the latest rung in a long chain extending back to 35,00- year old shamanic traditions. We know this work to be a valuable tool for experiencing direct knowledge, expanding ideas that shape and enliven human consciousness, propel our growth, and spark our creativity.

As the holidays near, you may be thinking about giving to some of your favorite causes. We know there are many worthy non-profit organizations to consider, and we would be delighted if you remember CI in your holiday giving plans.  The Cuyamungue Institute is a registered charity and 501(C)(3) nonprofit, so donations are tax-deductible and we provide tax receipts. And we hope you will also gift yourself with attendance of a CI event! Be sure to let us know and we’ll send you information on our 2015 training classes.

Every dollar goes directly to supporting the mission of the Institute. One aspect of the our mission statement is preserving the land of the Institute as an environmental and spiritual sanctuary.  Recently, we have put a significant effort into the maintaining, upgrading and adding to our facilities here at the Cuyamungue Institute.  These facilities have supported hundreds of workshops and thousands of students over the years and we are committed to protect, maintain, and expand this magical gathering place now and for the future.

Throughout our history we’ve been nurturing this deeper understanding how we achieve a physiologically-induced shift into this expanded awareness. We use a simple earth-honoring ritual, accompanied by holding simple sitting or standing postures as depicted in selected ancient indigenous artworks.  As Dr. Goodman pointed out, this capacity is an inherent gift of our nervous system, one that we share with those distant relatives, who, the world over, were experts in this field. And today we find that you, me, we, all of us ordinary people, can have quite extraordinary visionary experiences too.

And thank you for all you have already done for CI and this ancient and sacred wisdom tradition.

Visit the CI website often. And, please do let me hear from you. Email me with any questions or comments you may have about the Institute or the Cuyamungue Method. We welcome all correspondence. Reach me directly at paulrobear@cuyamungueinstitute.com

Blessings,
Paul Robear
President / Executive Director
Cuyamungue: The Felicitas D. Goodman Institute
Cuyamungueinstitute.com

 

 

I am happy to share the following news and articles.

In this issue:

  • Article: Winter Solstice: The Dongzhi Festival by Pushpitha Wijesinghe
  • Article: Maori People and Their Carvings by Paul Polkinghorne
  • Article: Consciousness and the Eternal Dance of Spirit by Albert Chiwara
  • Ipupiara: Bernardo Peixoto Ph.D in anthropology, advisor to the Smithsonian Museum, Shaman.
  • Workshops and Events: Schedule for 2015
  • How to Submit an Article: You are invited and encouraged to participate!

SCROLL DOWN for Articles and Links

-> WEB VERSION OF NEWSLETTER

Winter Solstice: The Dongzhi Festival by Pushpitha Wijesinghe

The Winter Solstice Festival or the Dongzhi Festival which literally means the ‘extreme of winter’ is a significant event that is celebrated especially by the Chinese and also by East Asians. This festival takes place when the sunlight is very weak and the daylight stays for a very short period during the winter solstice. This generally occurs around the 22nd of December. The birth of this festivity goes back to the yin and yang philosophy known as the ‘balance and harmony in the cosmos’. Miraculously after this celebration the coming days will have much longer daytime and the sun gets stronger, bringing in positive forces.  —–> Complete Article

Maori People and Their Carvings by Paul Polkinghorne

The Maori people are the indigenous people of  New Zealand. The pre-European Maori had no written language so tribal history and the stories of the gods were kept using many forms of fine arts and crafts ranging from basket and cloth weaving to complex bone carvings, pearl shell jewelry and jade jewelry. These artifacts were then handed down through generations of tribal elders and became sacred objects or treasures “Taonga”, telling the history of a tribe and taking on the spirits of past great leaders and warriors who had worn them. —–> Complete Article

 

Consciousness and the Eternal Dance of Spirit: by Allbert Chiwara

When we look around at the world, we see a vast array of seemingly different religions and spiritual traditions. The ego in mankind impels him to seek to negate the worldviews of others and to hold his outlook alone as correct. Of course, even a casual look should lead one to doubt the validity of such an egocentric worldview. The truth of the matter is that the knowledge of ultimate reality is contained in the various traditions. Due to differences in culture, tradition, language, the ultimate truth is reflected in different ways in different regions. However, it is the same truth that is contained in the various traditions.  ——> Complete Article

Ipupiara: Bernardo Peixoto Ph.D
By Paul Robear

As I was recently reflecting on some of the key relationships in my life,  I discovered that an important mentor in my life, Ipupiara, (Bernardo Peixoto) had passed away.

Bernardo Peixoto was a Ph.D in anthropology and worked as an advisor to the Smithsonian Museum and the National Zoo. Born into his mother’s tribe, the Uru-e-wau-wau numbered 2,400. Today only about 40 members are left. Tribal Elders gave him the Shamanic name “Ipupiara” (‘Ipu’, as he was affectionately called) and a long apprenticeship as shaman and healer. They then encouraged Ipu to learn the ways of the developed world. ——> Complete Article

Workshops and Events: Schedule for 2015

Here is the preview of workshops and events in planned for 2015 at the Cuyamungue Institute, so you can get the jump-start on making your plans to join us next season. There may be adjustments to dates, times and details, and additional events and workshops will be added. More detail to follow in the near future. ——> More Information

Our Sacred Land. The New Mexico influence had a strong impact on Felicitas herself as she went deeper into the research of ritual postures. The land is the “laboratory,” the setting for safe exploration into the Alternate Reality. These 280 acres of the Cuyamungue Institute have its own power and history separate from the practice of ritual postures, but they blend in such a perfect way. It is a magical place, a place that offers inspiration. It inspired the ancestral Puebloan people who lived here for thousands of years, and it inspired and helped guide Dr. Goodman throughout her tenure on the land. The land of Cuyamungue is still recognized as a important and sacred ancestral site by the Puebloan people of today. We are indeed fortunate to be the custodians tasked with conserving and protecting this sacred land.

International Instructors Conference 2016

Renewing and growing our international connections was the common theme throughout the recent Centennial Conference. When Hermine Brzobohaty suggested we meet again at CI in two years, this was met with much enthusiasm and support. So we are already planning CI’s International Instructors Conference for the summer of 2016! We hope to see you at the next International Instructor Conference; two years is the blink of the eye!

If you are not yet an Instructor, talk to me about our recently updated Instructor Training Program.

How to Submit an Article: As part of expanding our Cuyamungue Institute community, you are invited and encouraged to participate. Share how you use the Cuyamungue Method in your chosen field. We are also open to other topics, with the emphasis on the posture work, and research and or experience. More information

We need your support! The Cuyamungue Institute is an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Like most non-profit organizations, CI has limited resources. Each one of us can make a difference in our own way; some have the resources to provide financial support, while others have talents which they can share as a committed volunteers. We must always ask the question, “How can I make a difference?” Once we know that answer, we need to act. We are proud of the scope of work we have already accomplished, but this is just the beginning, and there is much more to do! Here’s how you can participate:

  • Be a Volunteer. Ask about existing, on-going projects you can help with. Or suggest projects that you can work on, fund, or both!
  • Attend workshops at the Institute. Bless yourself and CI. Workshop fees directly support maintenance of the land and buildings.
  • Personal Donations. 100% of your donations and gifts go directly to the Institute, and are tax deductible.
  • Corporate Donations. Your company can have a tremendous impact. Ask us how we can bring our work to your visionaries and leaders!

Also consider making a donation by clicking here. Ongoing research and new applications of this work is only possible with donations made by people like you. Laura Lee, our Director of Outreach and Development, is available to answer your questions. Contact her at lauralee@cuyamungueinstitute.com Thanks for reading! Please forward this to your friends and acquaintances who will enjoy learning more about us, and please let me hear from you! I am most happy answer any and all questions about the Institute or the Cuyamungue Method. We welcome all correspondence.

Email me directly at paulrobear@cuyamungueinstitute.com .

Blessings,

Paul Robear

President / Executive Director

Cuyamungue – The Felicitas D. Goodman Institute

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