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| A Quarterly Newsletter from
the Foundation of the Sacred Stream |
ISSUE 12 | SEPTEMBER 2008 |
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| Note from the General Manager |
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 I
am writing this from the Big Island of Hawaii, where the volcano is
actively spewing rock and oozing lava, and our Huna workshops are
coming to a close. It has been a remarkable journey and I am
already looking forward to next year’s trip to Scotland. And while I never enjoy leaving Hawaii, I am ready to get back to one
of our most action-packed fall semesters yet.
Without a doubt, our most exciting event this fall is a fundraiser for
Tibet House featuring a lecture and reception with Robert Thurman on
October 8th. Dr. Thurman is a renowned Buddhist scholar, former
monk, and close friend of the Dalai Lama, and this will be an intimate
gathering of no more than 35 people. His lecture, The Buddhist Cosmos: Death, Life, and History as Evolution,
was designed especially for our event and is a rare opportunity for
those interested in Buddhism specifically, and consciousness in
general. We greatly appreciate Dr. Thurman making it possible to
provide this opportunity to our community. Also this fall, we are
honored to welcome Tulku Lama Lobsang back to San Francisco for the
first time in three years. He will be offering two classes
through the Foundation in November.
As always, September marks the beginning of a new semester that kicks
off with the Introduction to the Shamanic Journey. We will also
be offering Advanced Energy Medicine, Applied Shamanism 1 & 2, and
the Depth Hypnosis Foundation workshop, along with other classes, free
events and teleclasses. Even in the midst of all this teaching,
Isa manages to do some writing. Check out her article featured in
the latest issue of Sacred Hoop Magazine. In this edition of our
newsletter we have articles by Geoff Walker, MA, Loraine Van Tuyl, PhD,
and Tamara Thebert, MA. Beth Osmer is our featured Practitioner
and Isa talks about "mind loops" in the Ask Isa column.
I also want to thank everyone who has contributed to our scholarship
fund and to Team Roma. Your contributions really do make a difference.
Wishing you well,
Laura Chandler, CHT
General Manager
Foundation of the Sacred Stream
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| Bridging the Internal and External World: Depth Hypnosis and Expressive Arts
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By Geoff Walker, MA, CHT
 Expression of the self through art, music, writing,
movement, and drama provides the opportunity to show others what a
person is experiencing inside by creating a tangible representation of
their internal state (i.e. a painting, a sculpture, a poem). By
bringing the inside out, the internal to the external, artistic
expression fosters greater confidence in one’s ability to describe and
explain the hopes, fears, and desires they experience.
Depth Hypnosis works similarly. It makes the underlying systems
that compose the “self” visible, and thereby describable and
malleable. By relaxing the line between consciousness and
unconsciousness, Depth Hypnosis allows people to reveal to themselves
and others what is going on inside them, and how it is manifesting in
their day-to-day lives. Again, this is bringing the internal to
the external, allowing the conscious self to see its deep internal
workings.
Expressive Arts and Depth Hypnosis share not only an ability to bring
the inside out, but are also both very effective for taking the outside
in. What I mean by “taking the outside in” is this: both approaches
allow an individual to get a clearer sense of what is happening in the
world around them and to understand its workings in a more holistic
way, through their internal lenses. They begin to see their
environment as a series of connections instead of reactions.
For instance, some people find that Depth Hypnosis presents new ways of
seeing energetic patterns between people. They have an internal
experience of their part in the external world and begin to see
themselves as a part of the whole. They can begin to see that the
external is a part of them, not apart from them.
Read
On
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| Featured
Practitioner: Beth Osmer
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all have a path in life; a few are more challenging than others. All of
us enter life embodying specific life lessons; some are more painful
than others. With that comes discovering how to recognize your life's
teachings and learn from them. Each person's experience is different.
Everyone has a unique childhood experience with rich opportunities for
growth.
I am a Certified Hypnotherapist and Depth Hypnosis Practitioner. I
graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor's degree in
Child Development and have spent many years as a teacher and childcare
provider. I decided to pursue studying Depth Hypnosis after I felt my
life change for the better as a client. I am now dedicated to helping
other people heal the obstacles that are keeping them from feeling
whole, complete, and joyful.
My practice is open to anyone who is struggling on any level, but my
specialty is in helping those that have survived traumatic or abusive
childhoods. Many of us come from households that were dysfunctional;
therefore we spend our adulthoods undoing what was done in childhood.
The abusive past can manifest in many ways as we age, for instance; in
addiction, unhealthy habits, depression, abusive relationships and so
on. I help people find the root cause of their self-destructive
behavior through the various healing modalities of Depth Hypnosis. By
using regression therapy, energy medicine, the Shamanic journey,
hypnosis, or a combination of these, healing can begin to happen on a
soul level.
One of my aspirations as a practitioner is to help people gain valuable
spiritual growth through their past and current pains. I work to guide
them into understanding their life lessons through self-exploration and
accessing their own inner spirit. I want to foster their empowerment
through connection with the self, finding love for the self, and
letting go of past pain. I believe that empowering people and teaching
them ways in which they can explore and heal themselves will only lead
them towards joyful living.
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| Visiting Teachers: Robert Thurman and Tulku Lama Lobsang
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 Two
exceptional teachers will be visiting the Foundation of the Sacred
Stream this fall, Robert Thurman and the Venerable Tulku Lama Lobsang.
Robert Thurman is Professor of Indo-Tibetan
Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University,
President of Tibet House US, a non-profit organization dedicated to the
preservation and promotion of Tibetan civilization, and President of
the American Institute of Buddhist Studies.
A personal friend of the Dalai Lama for over 40
years, Professor Thurman is a passionate advocate and spokesperson for
the truth regarding the current Tibet-China situation and the human
rights violations suffered by the Tibetan people under Chinese rule.
His commitment to finding a peaceful, win-win solution for Tibet and
China inspired him to write his latest book, Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet and the World, published in June of 2008.
Professor Thurman's scholarly and popular writings focus on the "inner
revolution" that individuals and societies successfully negotiate when
they achieve enlightenment. He defines this inner revolution as
accurate insight into the true nature of reality and determined
compassion for the suffering beings. He also works toward what he terms
a "Second Renaissance," which he sees currently taking place as Western
culture goes beyond the 14th century European discovery of the natural
sciences of the ancient Greeks that catalyzed the "first renaissance"
to discover and apply in practice the advanced "inner science" of
ancient Indian culture.
Dr. Thurman is a riveting speaker and an author of many books on Tibet,
Buddhism, art, politics and culture. Thurman's work and insights are
grounded in more than 35 years of serious academic scholarship. The
first American to have been ordained a Tibetan Buddhist monk, Professor
Thurman, who later switched from monk to ordained lay Buddhist, earned
B.A., A.M. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard and has studied in Tibetan
Buddhist monasteries in India and the United States.
Dr. Thurman's lecture on Wednesday, October 8th, The Buddhist Cosmos: Death, Life, and History as Evolution, is a special benefit for Tibet House. For more information about Dr. Thurman, please visit www.dalailamamatters.com and www.bobthurman.com.
The venerable Tulku Lama Lobsang is the 8th
incarnation of the Nyentse Lama, a precious Buddhist Master, doctor and
astrologer. Having trained rigorously in Buddhist philosophy, medicine,
astrology and many popular healing techniques, Tulku Lama Lobsang now
teaches internationally, integrating various disciplines in one, as
they originally were. Tulku Lama Lobsang will be offering two
evening lectures this November: Understanding Energy in Tibetan Medicine (Nov. 5) and Lu Jong: Mountain Body Movement (Nov. 6).
 Tulku
Lama Lobsang will also be available by appointment on November 5 and 6
for private consultations, in his capacity as a doctor of Tibetan
Medicine, healer and spiritual advisor. Health consultations
consist of a pulse diagnosis whereby the state of the organs is
assessed as well as the balance of the wind, bile and phlegm in the
body. The presence or early manifestation of disease can be sensed, and
diet, exercise, breath or meditation techniques can be offered to
counter the particular imbalance. Healing sessions are also available.
During this time, Tulku Lama Lobsang will generate his healing energy
and, using the technique of Tsa-Lung, pass this energy along so it can
be absorbed by the patient’s body, where it can work its benevolent
effect such as opening body channels, restoring balance to the humors
and helping with the regeneration of damaged tissue. One may also seek
consultation with Tulku Lama Lobsang for specific questions of a
psychological or spiritual nature.
For more information about Tulku Lama Lobsang, please visit www.tulkulamalobsang.org.
For more information about Robert Thurman's and
Tulku Lama Lobsang's lectures at Foundation of the Sacred Stream,
please visit our calendar. To register for a lecture or to make an appointment for individual consultation with Tulku Lama Lobsang, contact us at info@sacredstream.org or 415-333-1434.
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Cultivating a Deeper Relationship to Healing: A Report from the Space Clearing Society of the Foundation of the Sacred Stream
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By Tamara Thebert, MA,
CHT, and Loraine Van Tuyl, PhD, CHT
The Foundation of the
Sacred Stream’s Applied Shamanism Training Program has produced a
dedicated group of practitioners who are interested in using their skills
to assist others. They are trained in shamanic methods of healing which
include processes of clearing space and addressing anomalies that
people experience in their homes or place of work. The graduates of the
program decided to form the Space Clearing Society to provide practical
assistance to impractical situations. As one member of the Space
Clearing Society has said, “ It is so rewarding to be able to apply
everything I have learned to real-life situations and with real-life
benefits.”
As the familiar sound of the drumbeat
and smell of sage signaled the call to circle, approximately twenty
shamanic practitioners gathered to set intentions with the management
and owner of a local healing space. After a brief discussion about the
process, each of us spoke of our intention to be of service, some
adding specific ways (s)he would embody this service.
The shamanic practitioners consisted of people from every walk of life
– teachers, social workers, psychotherapists, computer programmers,
acupuncturists, engineers, to name a few, all coming together for the
shared cause of seeking to be of service in a way that has nearly been
lost to contemporary society. The practitioners were informed of
the many anomalies (lights flickering, products mysteriously being
turned around, visions, shadows, whistling, electronics malfunctioning)
observed and experienced by management, healing arts practitioners, and
clients alike. The owner had clearly put a lot of energy into the
business, and felt like he was swimming upstream. He shared that he had
gotten sick more often than usual over the past months and was asking
for help with the energies that were impacting his intention to offer
healing.
The vibrant space had undergone an extreme makeover, transformed by
stunning modern décor. However, similar to many places in the
Bay Area, the land had a history of conquest, exploitation, and
displacement of the indigenous Ohlone communities who had resided there
for thousands of years prior to the colonist’s arrival. The area had
also served as a military post. Whether this was cognitively and/or
energetically known, it informed our experience as we assessed what was
needed to clear the space.
Read
On
| | | ASK ISA: This Month’s Q & A Addresses
“Resolving Mind Loops” |
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I find myself in mental confusion a lot. Do you have any suggestions for alleviating mental confusion?
 There
are many different manifestations that are termed “mental confusion.” I
think you may be referring to the type of mental confusion that is
characterized by “mind loops.” Mind loops are characterized by “Catch
22” logic sequences, labyrinthine reasoning that contains dead ends,
and knots of thoughts which fold back on themselves without producing
the hoped for clarity.
This type of mental confusion is usually found in people who are viewed
as having a high level of intellectual intelligence. In fact, I have
found that people who have this type of issue work with their minds for
a profession. They can generate logic sequences that make them valuable
contributors at work – but that same capacity will often send them into
mental traps when they try to apply such logic sequences to experience
that is not Cartesian or linear in nature.
Many people who have a highly developed intellectual capacity have
developed mental processes at the expense of developing other types of
knowing. Often, they have taken refuge in their mind capacity because
the world beyond linear or Cartesian explication is too confusing or
scary. The worlds of emotion, intention, and motivation cannot
generally be grasped when only intellectual intelligence is applied to
them. Unfortunately, people with strong intellectual capacity can make
things like emotions more confusing for themselves by trying to apply
their usual logic sequences to the emotion in an effort to understand
it.
Read
On
Do you have a question
you'd like to ASK ISA?
Email info@sacredstream.org
with ASK ISA in the subject line and we will select one question each
month to include in this column.
Isa
Gucciardi, Ph.D., is the Founding Director of the
Foundation of the Sacred Stream and the primary teacher for the
Foundation's training programs in Depth Hypnosis, Applied Shamanism,
Huna, Buddhist Psychology and Integrated Energy Medicine.
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| Fall Calendar & Community News
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 San Francisco Free Events:
Autumn Equinox Drumming Circle (San
Francisco)
September 14 (Sun); 6pm
Free
For directions, please RSVP to info@sacredstream.org
Winter Solstice Drumming Circle (San
Francisco)
December 14 (Sun); 6pm
Free
For directions, please RSVP to info@sacredstream.org
San Francisco Training
Programs, Workshops, and Events: Buddhist Psychology Studies, Level 3
September 13 & 14 (Sat & Sun); 10am - 4pm
$295
Mothering
September 15, September 22, September 29, & October 6 (Mon); 7:30pm - 10pm
$295
Introduction to the Shamanic
Journey
September 20 & 21 (Sat & Sun)
10am – 4pm
$240
This course is a prerequisite to most of our
training programs!
Group Journey Workshop
September 24, October 1, October 15 (Wed) 7:30pm – 9:30pm
$75
Applied Shamanism, Level 1 & 2 Intensive
October 3 - 5 (Fri, Sat, & Sun)
$590; Early Registration: $550 by September 13
The Buddhist Cosmos: Death, Life, and History as Evolution
Robert Thurman
October 8 (Weds); 6:30pm Reception and Book Signing; 7:30 - 9:30pm Lecture
$150 minumum donation (Benefit event for Tibet House)
Seating is limited
Depth Hypnosis Foundation Course
Part I: October 10 - 12 (Fri, Sat, & Sun)
Part II: November 7 - 9 (Fri, Sat, & Sun)
Part III: December 5 - 7 (Fri, Sat, & Sun)
$1495; Early Registration Discount: $1450 by September 19
Autumn Meditation
October 19 (Sun); 9am - 12pm
$20
Understanding Energy In Tibetan Medicine
Tulku Lama Lobsang
November 5 (Wed); 6pm - 10pm
$105
Lu Jong: Mountain Body Movement
Tulku Lama Lobsang
November 6 (Thurs); 6pm - 10pm
$105
 Free Teleclasses:
Teleclasses are interactive distance learning courses similar to a
conference call, and taught by Isa Gucciardi, PhD. Each participant can
just listen and absorb, or engage in the discussion. You do not need a
computer to participate in a teleclass. All you need is a telephone and
you can call from anywhere!
Ask Isa, Q & A: Learning to Mother from Gaia
September 8 (Mon); 6:00pm PST, 9:00pm EST
Ask Isa, Q & A: The
Shamanic Journey
September 10 (Wed); 6:00pm PST, 9:00pm EST
Ask Isa, Q & A: What is Applied Shamanism?
September 22 (Mon); 6:00pm PST, 9:00pm EST
To register, contact info@sacredstream.org
or
415-333-1434.
For more information on upcoming classes, please
visit our calendar page.
Please visit our websites for more information:
www.sacredstream.org
www.depthhypnosis.com
www.hunaspirit.com
Community News
Article on Curses in Sacred Hoop Magazine
An article by Isa Gucciardi, "Curses and their Removal" is published in the current issue of Sacred Hoop magazine. For more information about Sacred Hoop, please visit their website. For a reprint of the article please read on.
On-Going Practice Group
in Rhode Island
The
next meeting of the Rhode Island practice group will be on Wednesday,
October 8 from 6:30-8:30 PM in East Greenwich. For details about this
meeting or to find out about future meetings, contact
Katharine Rossi at redmoonelf@hotmail.com.
Sacred Stream is now on Facebook
Sacred Stream students have created a page on Facebook which all are welcome to join! Follow this link to find us there.
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