InnerEyeMarch 2, 2000
InnerEye
Carrie Davis '98, M.A. Somatics, recently won the annual Somerville Award for the Best Narrative Paper in Somatics at the invitational Somatics Study Group seminar held at CIIS in early February. Among those attending were members of the Somatics Study Group, which includes top innovators in the field of somatics-CIIS faculty Don Hanlon Johnson, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen (Body-Mind Centering), Emilie Conrad (Continuum), F.M. Alexander, Robert Hall, M.D. (The Lomi School), Michael Salveson (The Rolf Institute), and Clifford Smyth (The Feldenkrais Guild). Advisors to the group include Martha Herbert, M.D., a developmental biologist at the Harvard Medical School Morphometric Analysis Laboratory.
Commenting on her paper, Carrie Davis said, "It was a great honor to win the award. I feel blessed to be part of a community of people who are creating a paradigm shift in the way our culture views and embodies healing. My paper was a case presentation of a little girl I worked with at The Therapeutic Nursery School in Oakland, a school for severely emotionally disturbed children. I discussed our journey together through a process I call 'somatic reverie, in which we began to heal the trauma of her earlier bonding process. There is a tremendous need for somatic therapeutic work with young children."
The tension between these opposites creates the energy that sets the world moving. On Valentine's Day we acknowledge those who prompt the birth of Eros in ourselves. Our quest for the Beloved produces the tension that keeps our Universe ever moving.
Carrie is an MFT intern at Blue Oak Therapy Center, where she focuses on somatics and expressive arts. She is also a composer, vocalist, and guitarist in the Bay Area's premiere Pagan Lounge Ensemble, "Rosin Coven."
This article-part of our series introducing the community to members of our board of trustees and standing CIIS committees-welcomes Tamar March, a board member who is also on the academic affairs committee. Tamar has been dean of educational programs at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study since 1996. She has held numerous academic positions and been the recipient of a variety of honors and awards, most recently the establishment of the 'Tamar March Fund for Faculty Development' by the trustees of New England College. She has also served as editor of Perspectives, the Journal of the Association of General and Liberal Studies.
Tamar believes that her work at CIIS and at Radcliffe/Harvard can be mutually complementary. She says, "In the last two years, the academic affairs committee made the enormous achievement of defining and focusing the educational experience at CIIS, in large part through the imagination and cooperation of the faculty." One of her goals is to "find ways to bring national and international attention to our powerfully distinctive faculty, and to offer the Institute's programs to new publics."
Christina Hardy is doing a follow-up study of Stanislav's Grof's LSD research. Christina's empirical study will revisit the original data, and examine whether death-rebirth dynamics represent an interface between the biographical and the transpersonal realms. The resulting database could be used for comparative purposes in future research to show whether or not a historical evolutionary development of human consciousness is evident. Another aspect of Christina's work will be to determine if there are differences between the phenomenology of women's and men's psychedelic experiences. Faculty Rick Tarnas, who is working closely with Christina, says, "Christina's project is one of the most exciting and potentially invaluable studies I have seen in this field during the past thirty years."
David works closely with the director of the Consciousness & Physiology Research Laboratory at CIIS, Psy.D. program director Frank Echenhofer. Frank says, "David's project is exciting because it looks deeply at the profound visions and insights throughout the entire ayahuasca journey, whereas previous studies have been retrospective. David's work is with Westerners who are part of an emergent sacred practice in our own culture." The study will use an urban drug ethnographic model for investigating substances illegal in this country, allowing for an important but sensitive drug research in a way that is safe and ethically sound for both participants and researchers.
For further information about the Kranzke Scholarship, call the Financial Aid Office, 415-575-6122, or e-mail cathym@ciis.edu
Dear Colleagues,
The Institute Loft-intended to provide CIIS with a gracious space for events and me with a home in the neighborhood of the Institute-has been a successful venture both for the school and for me. Laurance Rockefeller, the Institute's long-standing and generous supporter, contributed half the cost of the Institute's Loft, and I mortgaged the balance.
We have sponsored various events at the Loft that have gathered students, faculty, staff, trustees, and friends of CIIS to celebrate, study, work, and plan. We have hosted a TLC student's 'demonstration of competency', a research award event for the Somatics Study Group seminar (see Page 1), a colloquium of student research (see Page 1, Kranzke 'Scholarship'), an orientation for new students, a faculty/staff holiday reception, three strategic planning meetings, a president's council workshop, a dinner for the Integral Health program, and a Circle of Friends Event. At the Friends' event, Judie Brown, chair of the CIIS Board of Trustee's development committee, said "The loft has been well-designed for CIIS receptions."
I am grateful to Donna Blakemore, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, for her help and imagination in creating an inviting space for these gatherings, and helping to select furnishings reflecting Asian and Western traditions. Soon, we will have art from faculty and students.
I look forward to seeing you at the Institute's Loft. Cordially,
by Donna Blakemore, Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Infrastructure: We are preparing a 'package' proposal for presentation to a foundation or individual that will support technology, web projects, and other similar needs.
Financial Aid: Our goal is to increase scholarship support to current students as well as to attract specific groups for recruitment, such as students of color or students with high potential. We plan to endow at least one scholarship by June.
Library: The library has three significant needs (in addition to space): books, journals, and computing and database support. We are identifying foundations and/or corporations who may be appropriate for a major gift for the library.
Faculty and Program Development: The strategic planning process is currently defining priorities for faculty and academic program development, including counseling clinics. We will be working with the academic deans in developing fund raising plans for these projects.
Special Projects: Several projects have been approved for the current fiscal year: Ayahuasca Conference, Women's Spirituality Concert, and Spiritual Emergence Network (SEN). Two donors contributed nearly $40,000 to support ayahuasca conference. SEN has continued to grow; work is underway on a major proposal to endow this program.
Endowment: We have created an unrestricted endowment that would provide additional budgetary support through interest earnings. We will seek planned gifts in order to build this fund.
If anyone you know could be a potential donor to any of these projects, please call the Development Office at 415-575-6113.
By Lionel Chan, Chief Information Officer
This is what my mind saw. The faculty consists of brilliant, energetic, passionate, positive, provocative, respectful iconoclasts who are ready and willing to kindly and gently challenge traditional assumptions and paradigms with alternative ways of knowing. The students are action-oriented women and men who, along with their faculty, are driven to transform not only the world but also the universe. The staff, stretched thin with limited resources, is friendly, caring and committed to the mission and success of the CIIS faculty and students.
When I looked at IST, my technology staff, I saw professionally competent and experienced individuals who are focused on building a technology infrastructure to promote and enhance the unique CIIS educational mission. I found support for this observation in a recent community e-mail by Brendan Collins, a faculty member: "Thanks to the IST staff, we were able, via the World Wide Web, to bring the Mother's Darshan (a very creative, interactive web site from the Cultural Integration Fellowship) live and in color to our class yesterday. The Internet is another underutilized teaching tool for affirming spirituality."
This beginner's mind sees a community and culture where the mind, body and spirit are invited to consider and explore important basic assumptions of existence and living. One strongly senses that CIIS offers precisely what human beings will want, as they think about the direction of their lives in this new millennium.
Performers played to a sold-out audience of over 1200 people in the ceremonial space of the Scottish Rite Temple in Oakland. Mara Keller, WSE program director and co-producer of the event with Jennifer Berezan and faculty Arisika Razak, said "I am profoundly grateful to Jennifer for her vision and genius in creating this joyful presentation of women's sacred arts and spiritual culture."
On the academic front, the Ayahuasca Conference scheduled for March 17-20, has already sold out!
When you're hot, you're hot!!
For the first time, Continuing Education will be offering exciting summer programs, including five-day intensives that may be taken for course credit. Below is a preview of a few of the presenters and topics:
Complete line up: go to www.ciis.edu
March 21-31, and April 6-16, "Sentient Experientials 2000," an experiential wilderness seminar-journey in the Ecuadorian rainforest
Hosted by the CIIS School of Consciousness & Transformation; proceeds will benefit rainforest conservation and cultural heritage projects of Grupo Osanimi Ecuador. For more information call 510-235-4313; e-mail sentient@experientials.org; or go to www.experientials.org
Wednesday, March 15, 9:30-11:30 AM-Topic: Governance,
Namaste Hall, third floor
Designed in alignment with the seven Institute ideals, Town Hall Meetings are your chance to participate in planning the Institute's future! Topics of past meetings included Diversity, Affirming Spirituality, and an Integral Approach to Learning. Future meeting dates and topics are as follows: March 29-Community; April 12-Multiple Ways of Learning; April 19-Feminism/Sustainability.
Pierce Street student Ellery Smith says the center is providing her with the supportive environment she needs to grow emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. She comments, "My experience here has far surpassed my expectations. The group process has been a key factor in my growth as a person and as a therapist." Beth Block says, "I am continually amazed at the warmth, support and guidance that I am given here. My training is affecting me in a deep and profound way."
Pierce Street has up to 60 client hours per week. Their hours are 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM by appointment. The center is located at 2140 Pierce Street, San Francisco; the phone number is 415-776-3109. Bob O'Brien is the new director, and Susan Weiss serves as manager.
At the Church Street Center, director Lu Grey is celebrating ten years at the center. Lu has an M.A. from the University of Santa Clara and is a licensed MFT. She was a trainer at the Gestalt Institute of San Francisco from 1984 to 1991. Lu enjoys developing teaching experiences for students and trainees.
In addition to the ongoing counseling services Church Street provides, the center now houses the Spiritual Emergence Network (SEN), which has been featured in previous issues of Inner Eye. SEN coordinator Karen Trueheart, who is also a student at the Institute, says, "Having SEN at Church Street provides students with the unique opportunity of staffing the SEN Information and Referral Service, where they can have direct contact with individuals who have issues with spiritual development."
The Church Street Center, which has up to 60 client hours weekly, is located at 1782 Church Street in San Francisco; the phone number is 415-648-2644. To contact SEN, call 415-648-2610; a referral list of psychospiritually-oriented therapists. The center can be reached by the following MUNI bus lines: J Church, 24 Divisadero, and 26 Valencia.
Dr. Wu, who came to the Institute in 1980, has a quick sense of humor: his eyes suddenly twinkle, and he breaks into contagious laughter-a true sign that he has integrated the principle of taking oneself lightly. The comments of one of his students, Sheri Ritchlin, are typical of the high praise one hears when the conversation turns to Yi Wu. She says, "I think everyone who knows Dr. Wu loves and respects him. Not only does he have an astounding knowledge of philosophy, but also he is a man of true wisdom, sincerity, and integrity. Several years ago I heard that he was declared a 'national treasure' as a distinguished scholar of ancient culture and a sage."
For many years, a group that included his students at CIIS met weekly at Dr. Wu's home. They called the gathering "The Mind of Concerned Tea," and they discussed aspects of Chinese thought and culture over traditional meals prepared by Dr. Wu and his wife. Yi Wu has written more than seventeen books (in Chinese and English) and is well known in China for his writings on classical Chinese philosophy. His work includes commentaries on Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, a book on Zen koans, and a new approach to the I Ching as both a philosophy and an oracle.
Thursday-Thursday, March 16-23
Friday-Monday, March 17-20
Monday, March 27, 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Tuesday, March 28, 6:15 - 9:15 pm
DATE CHANGE
Saturday, April 1
Friday, April 28, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Friday-Sunday, May 12-14
June 4-11
August 26-27
Monday, October 23
Office Hours
President Joseph L. Subbiondo's 'walk-in' hours:
SCAT Dean Janis Phelps 'walk-in' hours:
PSY Dean Leland van den Daele Thursdays, 1:30 - 2:30 pm, and Friday, 3:00-4:00 PM,
*For further details on these PCC forums,/b> go to http://pcc.ciis.edu,
By David Weinstein
On the heels of a very successful student organized Institute-wide party last semester, Student Alliance has allocated 40% ($4,000) of its current budget towards small, more regular student events. We are urging students to present proposals for funding of student events. The next meeting is on Monday, March 13, 6:30 pm in Room 433. Projects need only meet the criteria of building community and spirit, having the potential of bringing students from the school's diverse programs into closer contact, and demonstrating the leadership needed to bring the project to fruition. While projects can simply be fun and engaging, a rule of thumb for 'spirit' is those projects which reflect one or more of the Institute's seven ideals-practice an integral approach to learning and research; affirm spirituality; commit to cultural diversity; foster multiple ways of learning and teaching; advocate feminism and sustainability; support community; and strive for integral and innovative governance. Each proposal should be accompanied by an estimated budget.
Examples of possible events now being developed that can be repeated on a periodic basis, are entertaining, and would build community, are: a student talent night, an annual Institute-wide party provisionally titled "The Big Bang," interdepartmental mixers, graduation rituals, workshops, a possible Integral Consulting Center, and an international student potluck night.
To present a proposal, please contact SA coordinator Marty Cooper at martycooper@yahoo.com, or drop him a note in the SA box near the third floor Cafe. If you wish to simply help with any of the events already in progress, come to a meeting and enjoy free drinks and pizza at the same time!
Students may leave a message for the Alliance at 415-575-6290, e-mail ciisstudentalliance@yahoo.com, or drop a written note in the Alliance mailbox under the bulletin board.
Tax Notes for Financial Aid Students
Financial Aid Notes
Scholarships for Continuing Students
Tax Time!
Financial Aid students should have received the 1098T Form in the mail; this form allows you to file for the tuition tax credit on your 1999 Federal tax return. Keep the 1098T in your tax records, and send in the 8863 schedule with your taxes. The 8863 (and all other tax forms) are available at the IRS office in the Federal Building at 450 Golden Gate, or you can get them from the IRS Website at www.irs.ustreas.gov. To receive the credit, you must file a 1040 or a 1040A tax return, not a 1040EZ. Brochures about this tax credit are available in the Financial Aid Office, Room 402.
International Student Party!
Welcome our new international students this semester from Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, India, Spain, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom-party with students from around the world! The International Multicultural Potluck & Party will be held Friday, March 3, at 7:00 pm at the home of Dexter Young, 380 Bartlett Street, San Francisco. Bring a dish from your country, and join in the celebration of diversity at CIIS! RSVP: Dexter Young at 415-575-6153.
By Victoria Ritchie, Store Manager
The InnerLight Bookstore will also offer in-store 15- or 30-minute astrological and tarot consultations with experienced professionals on Fridays. (Pre-arranged readings can also be done by phone.) Our tarot readers are trained by CIIS sages, Angeles Arrien and Vicki Noble. Our astrologers are consulting practitioners who are graduates of CIIS psychology programs.
Finally, we will be offering an Astrological Chart Service, providing natal and transit charts with aspects. Avail yourself of these services, or consider them as special gifts for friends and family. A detailed list of services and prices will appear in future announcements.
Farewell:
Welcome:
Emanuel Joseph-Schilz, born February 16, to Gabriele Schilz (SCAT staff) who is on maternity leave.
Kevin Romero, recently born to Miguel Romero (Facilities staff).
Bob O'Brien, as director of the Integral Counseling Center at Pierce Street. Bob is a graduate of the Institute.
Mercury will be in retrograde until March 14, so it's time to rewrite, rework, review. Mechanical things may tend to break down more easily-extra attention and patience may be needed. The New Moon in Pisces on March 5 brings energy for reconciliation, healing, and spiritual generosity.
Pluto turns retrograde on March 14; this period lasts until August. This cosmic energy stirs the depths of our psyches, bringing us closer to our dark depths and obsessions. Also around this time is the energy of a Jupiter/Neptune square. Expansion and exploration of spiritual ideals and other realities are heightened. On March 19, at the very end of Virgo/Pisces, the Moon is full and at the equinox when the Sun crosses into Aries. Themes of war and peace,
Each issue of the Inner Eye features a photograph of staff or faculty from another time in their lives.
(Please submit photos to Candice Chase in Communications.)
Editor: Candice Chase
The Inner Eye is published every 3 weeks by the Communications & Marketing Department.
Articles may be submitted to candicec@ciis.edu via email or disks may be put in the Inner Eye mailbox. Articles are subject to editing for clarity, length, and appropriateness.
"I feel blessed to be part of a community of people who are creating a paradigm shift
in the way our culture views and embodies healing."
-Carrie Davis
Welcome to Board Member Dean, Tamar March
Kranzke Scholarships Awarded
Two PCC doctoral students, Christina Hardy and David Stuckey, have been awarded the Robert Joseph and Wilhelmina Ann Kranzke Scholarship for Psychedelic/Enthoeogenic Research for the 1999-2000 academic year to study states of non-ordinary consciousness. The term "entheogens," coined from the Greek roots signifying "to realize the divine within," is used to describe certain substances when used for spiritual purposes. Each student will receive a $5,000 award, accompanied by $1,000 grant for fieldwork.
"Christina's project is one of the most exciting and potentially invaluable
studies I have seen in this field during the past thirty years."
-Rick Tarnas
David Stuckey will conduct an ethnographic, quantitative study of the ayahuasca journeys of two experienced shamans. David says, "By mapping the connections between physiology and experiential descriptions, I hope that biofeedback techniques can then be used to provide guidance to reenter these profound states." He added, "I'm thankful that CIIS and our sponsors haven't forgotten the value of these investigations."
ADVANCING THE INSTITUTE
Message from President Subbiondo
Joseph L. Subbiondo
Fund Raising Goals for the Year
Unrestricted Gifts: To date, we have raised nearly half the year's goal of $150,000 in unrestricted gifts which augment the Institute's general operating budget. The Development Committee is working on a year-end campaign to raise the remainder of the goal.
Eye on Technology
A Beginner's Mind Looks at CIIS
During my first month at CIIS, I have tried to observe this community with the beginner's mind described by Richard Baker in his introduction to Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki. "The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt, and open to all the possibilities. It is the kind of mind which can see things as they are, which step by step and in a flash can realize the original nature of everything." (pp. 13-14).
WSE Concert & Ayahuasca Conference-SOLD OUT!
The inspired and inspiring ritual February 6 concert celebration-"ReTurning to the Mother of Us All"-with Jennifer Berezan and one hundred musicians, dancers, ritualists, and visual artists, was a tremendous success. As an added bonus, the concert raised money for the Women's Spirituality Program and its special projects, a film about Marija Gimbutas and an authorized biography. Bina Chaudhuri, co-founder of the Institute, said, "The whole evening was exceptional, inspiring and memorable. We were all impressed with the superb performances, careful choreography, music, and ritual pieces, and the uplifting singing and drumming."
Continuing Education
Summer Public Programs!
NOTABLE DATES
School of Consciousness Goes to EcuadorTown Hall Meeting
Counseling Centers Offer Psychospiritual
Orientation For Clients And Interns
The Pierce Street and Church Street Counseling Centers are professional training/supervision facilities for students in the Integral Counseling Program at CIIS. Training that integrates contemporary psychodynamic, humanistic, and transpersonal psychology is complemented by a strong emphasis on student/staff personal and spiritual development. Students participate in weekly process groups designed to increase interpersonal sensitivity and non-defensiveness. Staff at both centers is sensitive to issues of diversity, gender, and sexual orientation/identity. Fees are on a sliding scale basis.
Faculty Profile: Dr. Yi Wu
Dr. Yi Wu, distinguished adjunct faculty in ACS, practices what he preaches, or rather, teaches. His approach to his teaching, and his life, is very much in alignment with the principles of the Chinese philosophies he teaches. As head of the philosophy department at Taiwan University, Yi Wu had the opportunity to continue teaching there, and likely become well-known in a country where scholars are accorded a high status. Instead, he decided to venture into an unknown country and language. He likes the fact that students here ask questions that require him to look more deeply at teachings he has studied and practiced for decades.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sunday, March 12, 4:00 pm
"Perfecting the Moment:
A Cross-Disciplinary Look at Improvisation"
with musician/ISD student Lewis and other artists,
Marin Headlands Center for the Arts; 415-331-2787
Swimming with Dolphins & Whales in Kona
Co-sponsored with SEED
www.seedopenu.org
SOLD OUT!! Ayahuasca Conference SF
kgower@tmn.com
"Life After Death and the Power of the Spirit to Heal,"
Joel Rothschild,
Co-sponsored with Learning Annex, www.learningannex.com
"Marketing Your Career Using the Internet,"
Namaste Hall,
www.newmeme
FREE for CIIS students, $250 others
FROM Fri., Mar. 3 TO FRI, Mar. 31,
3:00 - 6:00 pm
"How Can We Open the Heart of the World?"
Joanna Macy, Namaste Hall*
10:00 am -2:00 pm
Open House
Namaste Hall
"The Embryo is the Universe Writing Itself on its Own Body"
Richard Grossinger, Co-sponsored by PCC,
SOM & ACS Programs*
Planetwork: Ecology & Technology Conference
Presidio, SF, 415-436-0123; www.planetworkers.org
3rd Annual Congress of Natural/Alternative
Medicine and Bioenergetics
Holguin, Cuba;
call 510-649-1936 or e-mail susankench@earthlink.net.
All-Class Alumni Reunion
Stuart Sovatsky, 510-336-0107,
e-mail stuartcs@jps.net
CIIS Gala
Asian Art Museum, SF,
SAVE THE DATE
Tuesdays through March 28, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Mondays, 3:00-4:00 pm (Room 412);
to schedule an appointment at another time, call Michael Aho, 415-575-6257.
office hours by appointment (Room 408), call Michael Korson, 415-575-6210.
or call Christina Hardy at 415-575-6270.
KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH THE STUDENT ALLIANCE
Call for Student Event Proposals
ON CAMPUS
CIIS has several scholarships available for
continuing students-pick up your application now for the academic year 2000-2001 in the Admissions Office or Financial Aid Office, or download it from www.ciis.edu. The application deadline is April 15, 2000. Contact Henry Villareal in the Admissions Office for additional information.
Astrology Services Available at InnerLight Bookstore
As we enter a new astrological cycle at the Spring Equinox, the InnerLight Bookstore unveils the 'InnerLight on Astrology'. The store is proud to announce a new addition to our products and services. We will soon (exact date TBA) be providing the community with an array of distinctive astrological and tarot services, including the award-winning astrological software program, Solar Fire, which will be sold along with the ACS Atlas.
Secrets of the Stacks
By Olive James, Library Director
COMINGS & GOINGS
Bill Bailey, IST technical support manager, who is leaving to become community coordinator at www.gay.com. He will be taking care of a of a network of 250 volunteers who serve two million members worldwide, of whom about 10,000 are online at a given time.
IT'S IN THE STARS
by Cathy Coleman
the personal and partnership, and equality and injustice will be in sharper focus.
WHO IS IT?
HINT: Here she is in Italy before she began taking photos at CIIS events.
INNER EYE
Editorial Board: Donna Blakemore, Pamela Chaloult, Cathy Coleman, Anne Teich, Phaedra Valencia
Deadline for next issue: Thursday, 3/9
Next issue: Thursday, March 23