Post Conference Workshop Descriptions

KABBALAH: LANGUAGE, MOVEMENT AND RITUAL with Les Lancaster and Jessica Bockler

The role of language in sacred practice defines the very heart of kabbalistic mysticism. Kabbalistic teaching invites us to join in the divine work of creation. In this workshop we will delve into the "shamanic" core of the Kabbalah, bringing contemporary transpersonal approaches to the age-old wisdom embodied in letters, words, prayer, and ritual.

Each Hebrew letter constellates a key to the inner paths of creation. We will meditate on the letters’ meaning and bring them to life through spontaneous movement and vocal work, as well as other forms of creative expression. Following the ancient teachings of the Book of Creation, we will enact foundational movement patterns, exploring a kata system inspired by the meaning of the letters. We will further contemplate our personal relationship to the archetypes depicted by the letters, focusing on those that hold particular meaning for our lives.

And we will shape the foundational movement forms into embodied ritual, enacting the universal dynamic of creativity which propels all life in its unfolding and flourishing. In doing so, we invite you to access deeper layers of your inner landscape … and to let your body-mind engage with the sacred ground of being.

The workshop will give us the opportunity to reflect on language and its embodiment as a sacred practice. We will explore contemporary ways to participate in the creative dynamic that the mystics understood to bring about tikkun olam, the perfecting of all worlds. It is here that the unfolding of the divine intelligence meets with our sense of purpose and ongoing individual and collective evolution.

Our experiential approach is grounded in deep knowledge of kabbalistic texts and a psychological understanding of creative practice. This work grows also from our research in transpersonal psychology, consciousness studies and sacred ritual arts.

Les and Jessica are the principal Founding Directors of the Alef Trust, a non-profit global learning provider which offers graduate education programmes in consciousness studies, spirituality and transpersonal psychology, including Master’s and PhD programmes accredited by UK universities.

SHAMANISM AND PSYCHOTHERAPY:

USING SHAMANIC PRACTICES FOR COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY with Pier Luigi Latttuada and Steven Schmitz

Shamans were the first counselors and psychotherapists in their communities. Over the tens of thousands of years that shamanism has been a spiritual practice in cultures around the world, many methodologies were developed for various levels of healing. These methodologies are still relevant and beneficial in our modern world. Carl Jung wrote, "The main interest of my work is not with the treatment of neurosis, but rather with the approach to the numinous... the approach to the numinous is the real therapy, and inasmuch as you attain to the numinous experiences you are released from the curse of pathology. Even the very disease takes on a numinous character." Shamanism is an effective means to approach the numinous. And Transpersonal Psychology connects shamanic wisdom and practice into a broad framework through epistemological maps and models, and new conceived integral methodologies.

This workshop will be facilitated by two transpersonal professionals with decades of blending ancient wisdom and practices of shamanism with modern knowledge of counseling and psychotherapy. In this workshop you will learn how to integrate the use of ancient wisdom, ritual, sacred drumming, shamanic journeying, and sacred movement with modern integral and transpersonal methodologies to facilitate the therapeutic process and to empower your clients. You will learn practices from a shamanic and integral approach that will benefit both your personal and professional lives. You need not be a licensed psychologist to participate.

Pier Luigi Lattuada, Co-Founder/Director of the Integral Transpersonal Institute, Milan, Italy. He has a Ph.D. in Behavioral Studies and a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. He is a practicing Psychotherapist. Pier Luigi is the Founder of Biotransenergetics, a transpersonal psychotherapy that combines Clinical Psychotherapy, Bioenergetics, and Brazilian Shamanism. Pier Luigi is the Director of the Transpersonal Psychotherapy School in Milan, which has been fully recognized by the Ministry of Education University and Research since 2002. He is also director of the Training in Transpersonal Counseling accredited by AssoCounseling. He is Adjunct Faculty at Sofia University, Palo Alto, CA and Chair of the BA degree program of Integral Transpersonal Psychology at Ubiquity University.

Steven Schmitz, has a Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology (from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology), and has a private practice in transpersonal counseling, shamanic counseling, and shamanic healing. Dr. Schmitz is an International teacher, lecturer, and seminar leader on topics of shamanism, healing, and transpersonal psychology. He was initiated into shamanic practice in 1974, leads monthly Shamanic Journey Circles, and offers shamanic ceremonies. He is Co-President of the Association of Transpersonal Psychology (ATP) and a former Board Member of the European Association of Transpersonal Psychology (EUROTAS).