Newsletters
From the January 2009 Newsletter
|
|
|
LETTER
FROM THE PRESIDENT
New
Year Greetings to all of you!
Here
we are in 2009, the year we will be celebrating the 30th birthday of
The Cuyamungue Institute. On July 17, 1979, Felicitas Goodman was
granted non-profit status by the state of New Mexico for her newly
created institute north of Santa Fe. Because the land she had
purchased included come of the old Ku'uymugeh Pueblo (or Cuyamungue, as
the Spanish transcribed the Tewa name), she named it the
Cuyamungue Institute.
To
honor our founder in our 30th anniversary year, we are establishing the
Felicitas D. Goodman Memorial Library. She bequeathed to the
Institute her personal papers and her outstanding collection of books
on indigenous societies and religious anthropology. To raise
funds for this project, and to maintain the Institute, we are asking
for the financial support of all of you who want to honor Felicitas'
life work and those whose lives have been touched and changed by
ecstatic body postures. To contribute send checks to The
Cuyamungue Institute, 20A Feather Catcher Road, Santa Fe, NM 87506.
Also
as part of the celebration, we are having a "birthday party"
also known as an international gathering at the Cuyamungue Institute
from the evening of Thursday June 18 through Sunday June 21. The
activities-including mini-workshops on using ecstatic body postures
combines with group psychodrama, Authentic Movement, music therapy, and
creative art forms-will culminate in a Summer Solstice celebration on
Sunday. The $250 contribution covers meals and three nights
lodging. Once the seventeen sleeping spaces at the Institute are
reserved, accommodations are also available at Buffalo Thunder Resort
at Pojoaque Pueblo. Contact Frances at admin@cuyamungueinstitute.com to make your reservation
with a $50 deposit by check, credit card or PayPal.
You
can also come early for a Masked Trance Dance workshop or spend a few
days in Santa Fe and return the weekend after the celebration for a new
workshop, "Awakening the Ecstatic Experience." There is
more information in this newsletter about all the great workshops we
are offering next spring and summer.
As
this year begins, I am grateful that our nation has a new leader who
offers an agenda of change and hope. While we face difficult
economic times and the birth pangs of a new sustainable culture, I am
reminded that we humans have always been given support and guidance by
the Spirit world. May each of you find your unique capacity in
partnership with the Spirits!
|
|
Ritual
Community with the Postures and the Stars
by
Marianne Carroll
Since forming a posture group a year ago that meets
monthly at the time of the New Moon, I have grown immeasurably with a
new dynamic of ritual community. After achieving practitioner
certification, I was determined to attract to myself a local group here
in a valley of the Ramapo Highlands, just 30 miles outside of New York
City. The spirits of the Lenape tribe who once dwelled here connected
me to a local new age store aptly named Good Vibrations. For the past
year, Good Vibrations hosted and promoted my introductions to the
postures and enabled me to assemble a monthly group before closing its
doors in October and becoming an online resource (www.wehealtogether.com).
At each New Moon, Solstice and Equinox, I study Barbara Hand Clow's
AstroFlash! posting (www.handclow2012.com)
to get a sense of what planetary energies are aligning. A posture that
might provide another clue to the dynamics of the stars always comes
forward and the group is pleasantly surprised by the experience the
spirits activate. Like a monthly series in a good magazine, posturers
can't wait for the next installment from the Alternate Reality.
The group is diverse and is made up of professionals who are healers,
psychics, jewelers, graphic artists, real estate brokers, day traders
and even bus drivers. Some have expressed the feeling that the postures
give them a renewed connection with an inner "muscle" that
has been missing from their lives. The sharing is always lively and awe
inspiring with insights into our lives and journeys to unknown new
possibilities. Graphic artist Mark Gilliland, a member of the group,
often creates a stunning visual from photographs of the posture statues
or drawings superimposed over wisps of imagery from what we have shared
from our journey with the posture.
Our last posture session with Venus of Laussel, the day after
Thanksgiving, was truly special. A woman who is the daughter of a rabbi
brought a ram's horn which she blew as we called in the directions. Our
spines tingled with the harmonies it created in my resonant
octagonally-shaped "kiva" (and sometimes dining room). Our
hand-rolled cardboard bison horn props were activated as well. We all
joined in celebration with the spirits to witness the jubilation of our
mutual gratitude to be here on Mother Earth and in community with the
Alternate Reality.
|
|
Soul
Retrieval using Body Postures
By
Ki Salmen
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 can not 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 first introduce the posture work, and then go in the
soul retrieval work which was developed by Annette Ki Salmen 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.
Workshop
dates: May 21 - 24 2009
We will begin on the evening of May 21 with a joint meal.
Place: Cuyamungue Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Cost:$450 (Food
and lodging inclusive)
Early booking
till March:15 $390..
Workshop leader:
A. Ki Salmen www.dream-visions.de
Registration:
888-428-8878
|
|
Spiritual
Illness
By
Joanne Rossi, MA, LPCC
"We
seek out the /awapa/most of all to cure diseases of the soul, the
really serious diseases that are invisible" Juanita Sanchez, Costs
Rica. This quote is from one of the inhabitants of a remote village in
Costa Rica where villagers seek aid from their medicine people. One of
the most difficult maladies to cure are those that are referred to as
"bad shadows." They are usually a mind-body disorder. Many
years ago, I spent time in this village and was provided with further
knowledge of the customs and traditions of these mountain villages by a
wonderful anthropologist, Paula Palmer.
At times a presenting spiritual illness cannot be explained within the
frame of a medical or mental health model. Hence, identifying and
treating must come from a spiritual belief, custom or tradition.
Felicitas Goodman, in her work, "Ecstasy, Ritual, and Alternate
Reality," discusses the realms of enhanced states of consciousness
and how they can provide protection, award blessings and good fortune
(p.47).
Possibly
the greatest benefit both the afflicted and the Helper can experience
is the recognition of unbidden aid that can be identified and
experienced by both parties. Perhaps this is felt through thermal
changes within the body, profound imagery, or a sense of the numinous
-- that which can be identified as a personal or collective
spirituality.
And then how does one navigate within this terrain of the spiritual,
the invisible, the presence of grace? One of the most powerful means of
addressing both a spiritual illness, and/or a spiritual healing, is the
validation that it does exist. This may be done through words, ritual,
or at times unspoken knowingness between the parties involved. Healing
is also an art, in the sense that there is certain flow that is not
dictated by rationale, rote techniques, or symbols that do not resonate
with another's beliefs.
When working with a spiritual illness the Helper must be mindful of
their own personal strengths and liabilities. At times, strengths and
liabilities may be operating simultaneously. Examples could include:
psychic insights, archetypal possession, boundary merging. There are
strengths and gifts within these, but, we must be diligent and aware of
their presence, and do they harm or help at this time. Can we modulate
intensity, can we contain and metabolize the intensity? Do we know when
to reach out for additional support?
For those working with a spiritual illness there is support and
knowledge available. There are individuals who have worked with this
within both a grounded and compassionate frame. There is also
literature available explaining the landscapes involved within the
realms of spiritual illnesses and spiritual healings. If one is called
to work with a spiritual illness it is utmost importance to have
accountability for this. If the proper training is not available,
seek out or research until it is presented. Or if we are fortunate,
synchronicity itself will aid in presenting us with the right person,
place or knowledge. It may even be closer than we think. At this time,
discernment itself is one of our greatest allies. The ability to truly
know what will provide solace, comfort, protection...healing.
Years
ago, I had a wonderful teacher , Dick Olney, who would say when working
with individuals "we give thanks for help unknown...and already on
the way." The faith that help would arrive, in what guise we did
not have to know, to believe was Enough.
Joanne is a licensed Jungian-oriented psychotherapist and practitioner
of folk healing. She continues to travel and research throughout the
Americas and the Caribbean. She lives in a beautiful village in the Rio
Grande Valley in central New Mexico.
"Spiritual
Illness: The Role of the Helper and Healing Allies"
This workshop has been created to aid not only health care
providers but all
individuals seeking insight and knowledge regarding the role of mind
body health and
the powerful impact of one's spiritual beliefs in both illness and
health.
12
CEU'S Available for Professionals
June 5 - 7, 2009
-- $275.00 also includes Food and Lodging
|
|
2009
WORKSHOP SEASON
REGISTRATION for
workshops in Santa Fe, NM at The Cuyamungue Institute BEGINS FEBURARY
1, 2009 call 888-428-8878 or email admin@cuyamungueinstitute.com
- March 24-26 "The Ecstatic Experience"
Belinda Gore, Certified Instructor, in Israel
- April 30 - May 10 "German Retreat" -
Contact: Ki Salmen at ki@dream-visions.de
- May 21-24 "Soul Retrieval Using Body
Postures" Ki Salmen
- June 5 -7 "Spiritual Illness: The Role of the
Helper and Healing Allies" Joanne Rossi, MA -
psychotherapist/instructor in folk healing
- June 12-16 MASKED TRANCE DANCE Instructors Jackie
Haworth and Rae Lecompte, certified Instructors, and Stephanie
Stephens.
- June 18 - 21 "International Gathering and 30
Year Anniversary Celebration"
- June 26-28 "Awakening the Ecstatic Experience:
introductory workshop" Belinda Gore, Certified Instructor -
Friday June 26, 5:00, through Sunday June 28, 2:00.
Cost: $275 includes all meals and lodging.
Based on her new book, "The Ecstatic
Experience," this workshop is an introduction to new postures
and a new framework for learning the spiritual practice of
ecstasy. Belinda was a close friend and colleague of the
late Felicitas Goodman. She is the President of The
Cuyamungue Institute and has taught ritual posture workshops in
the United States and around the world.
- July 22 - 25 "Teacher Training Workshop"
in Columbus, Ohio, with Belinda Gore, president of The Cuyamungue
Institute. Wed 9:30 - Sat 4:30 pm. Cost: $450 includes
meals but not lodging.
Workshop contents include:
- History of Felicitas Goodman's discovery of ritual
postures as a global phenomenon.
- Five step method for the practice of Ecstatic
Trance.
- Overview of Ecstatic Trance as a body-based
spiritual practice, including physiological changes that occur
during the trance state.
- Ecstatic trance and consciousness studies.
- Techniques for using rattle and/or drum to guide
trance sessions.
- Methods for deepening personal meaning derived
from trance experiences.
- Ten key factors in organizing Ecstatic Trance
workshops.
- Facilitating group dynamics in workshops.
- Sample outlines for one-and two-day workshops
focusing on Introduction, Healing, and Divination.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Cuyamungue Institute
20-A Feather Catcher Road | Santa Fe, New
Mexico 87506 | 888-428-8875
|
|
|
|
