MISSION STATEMENT
CUYA – the Cuyamungue Institute – is an independent nonprofit educational organization founded in 1978 by anthropologist Dr. Felicitas D. Goodman. We are dedicated to the exploration, experience, and study of expanded states of consciousness as a natural dimension of human experience and potential.
Through research, education, and direct experience, CUYA preserves and advances the practice of Ritual Body Postures® and related methods that foster profound states of awareness, insight, creativity, healing, and spiritual connection.
Drawing upon anthropology, neuroscience, history, and cross-cultural wisdom traditions, we investigate the role of trance and altered states throughout human history and across cultures. We seek to deepen understanding of the relationship between consciousness, culture, spirituality, and human transformation.
As a global community of practitioners, researchers, teachers, and explorers, CUYA provides educational programs, training, archival preservation, and experiential opportunities that support personal growth, collective learning, and the continuing evolution of human consciousness.
VISION STATEMENT
At the heart of CUYA is a living tradition: wisdom that flows through our bodies, in the breath of our ancestors, in the rhythms of nature, and in the vast web of relationships that connects all life.
We envision a world in which expanded states of consciousness are embraced as a natural and valuable dimension of human experience. Through direct experience of this living wisdom, individuals and communities rediscover their connection to themselves, one another, the Earth, and the greater mystery of existence.
We believe that by honoring both ancient knowledge and contemporary exploration, humanity can cultivate greater presence, compassion, creativity, and collective well-being.
CUYA: THE FOUR PATHWAYS
The name CUYA carries both history and vision. Rooted in our origins as the Cuyamungue Institute, it also serves as an acronym that reflects the Four Pathways at the heart of our work:
C — Consciousness: The exploration of expanded awareness and the field of presence that emerges when we move beyond the isolated self into deeper connection with life, community, and the greater whole.
U — Unity: The recognition that we are inseparable from the rhythms of nature, the living Earth, and the larger cosmos. Unity is the direct experience of belonging within an interconnected web of relationships.
Y — Your Awakening: The personal journey of embodiment, insight, and transformation. Through direct experience, the body becomes a gateway to wisdom, awakening capacities that often lie dormant beneath everyday awareness.
A — Ancestral Wisdom: The enduring knowledge carried through generations. Inspired by the pioneering research of Dr. Felicitas D. Goodman, we honor the wisdom encoded within ancient traditions and ritual practices while bringing their relevance into the present moment.
Together, these Four Pathways form a living framework for exploration and growth. Consciousness, Unity, Your Awakening, and Ancestral Wisdom are not separate destinations but interconnected dimensions of a deeper human experience.
This is the work of CUYA. This is the work of awakening.
The work of CUYA is sustained through community. Whether through financial contributions, volunteer service, research, teaching, or sharing these practices with others, every person has a role to play.
Together, we preserve a living tradition while exploring new frontiers of consciousness, connection, and human potential.
We invite you to join us. More information