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Association for PPerspectiveerspective Humanistic Psychology ahpweb.org World Views & Emotional Climate

HeartprintG Effect and Emotional Climate

Grof and Wilbur’s Synthesis

Remembering Dreams ATP Newsletter Depression and Communication

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AUTOBIOGRAP HY OF ALA N WA TTS

INTE GRAL PSYCHOLOGY

TE LLI N G STORIE S: GERMANS AND JEWS, ISRAE LIS AND PALESTINIANS

DYING AND GRI E V I N G

LEADERSHIP DOJO

NOND U A L WISD OM

SOU L SEARCH

Renewal and growth in a charred plant on Rainbow Farm, after the Witch Fires in San Diego County DECEMBER 2007/JANUARY 2008 ahp PERSPECTIVE 1 ATP NEWSLETTER World Congress on Psychology and Spirituality

orld Congress Hear presentations on Iranian political leaders, yoga teachers, and on Psychology Children’s Conversations With prison reformers, the Congress has and Spirituality God, Siberian and Mexican Sha- become a microcosm brimming with in Delhi, India, manism, Spirituality in the Work- ideas to create world cultures of WJanuary 5-8, cosponsored by the place, Vedic Fire Ritual for World enlightenment whereby everything Association for Transpersonal Psy- Peace, Spirituality in Sexuality and “works” and reaches toward the chology, Infinity Foundation, and Marriage, Holotropic Therapy Re- ideals everyone longs for—loving Shruti Foundation, and inaugurated search, Unknown Tantra Mysteries, relationships, spiritually inspiring by Lama Samdhong Rinpoche, the Spiritual Ecology, and 300 others. events, creatively effective methods Prime Minister of Tibet in exile, This action-oriented, internation- of conflict/problem resolution in a with keynotes by B. K. S. Iyengar al networking event aims to foster just and sustainable world. Young- and S. S. Ravi Shankar, now has global collaborations, demonstra- est attendees range from two years some 400 people from 40 countries tion projects, and co-authorships to fifteen and eldest to ninety-five. on six continents. among its attendees. It is structured Ways to Live the Congress: Find around the universality of the hu- your team of international col- man lifespan itself, from youthful laborators for your world-chang- International Transpersonal enthusiasm through the ages of ing project—be open to a mystical family creation and into the elder experience that will transform your Networking Meeting years and the mystery of death. life—locate universities to create To create similar breadth within a student/faculty exchange pro- At the Congress, there will be representatives our community of participants, gram—make a contact who will from more than 20 of the 27 international scholars in the fields of psychol- translate your book into Japanese or transpersonal associations. An outcome from this ogy, consciousness studies, Indic Polish or Slovenian—find partners meeting is expected to be the creation of a net- traditions, philosophy, medical and to create an international restor- working association to allow the international psychological clinicians, media and ative justice tribunal—find partners associations to share resources and maintain performance artists, and spiritual to create an international emer- contacts and exchanges. Contact Coordinator teachers from diverse traditions are gency trauma therapy team—find David Lukoff at [email protected] invited to present a wide range of producers for a global sacred music topics. More than 400 people are festival—find techies to create new registered to join the creation of virtual communities with you. See www.WorldCongressPS2008. the World Congress from Brazil, NEW: January 3–4, two-day org for information and to register Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Holotropic session with for this historic event and to meet France, Canada, The Netherlands, Ingo Jahrsetz, Hans-Peter Weiding- Dr. R. Ganesh who awakened the Russia, Norway, , er, Anna Mauer, Patrick Baudin, and Universal Mind and its near-infinite Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Romania, Bernadette Blinn. January 5 morn- powers of intelligence and concen- Bulgaria, Iran, Slovenia, Sweden, ing—the powerful preconference tration, far beyond any meditation Scotland, Switzerland, Austria, Yagya Meditation Fire Ritual at master known to the West. He Japan, United Kingdom, Denmark, Surya Farms. There is still time to taught himself 14 languages, wrote Germany, Korea, Malaysia, USA, register. For details, 17 books, mastered modern biol- India, Australia, New Zealand, see www.worldcon- ogy, chemistry, physics, computer New-South-Wales, Israel, Mali, gressps2008.org science, ancient Sanskrit literatures Mozambique, Krygyzstan, South and dramatic arts, and can carry on Africa, Venezuela. STUART SOVATSKY, 100 conversations at the same time With physicians, lawyers, art- Ph.D., Congress Co-convener, www. without losing his place. He shows ists, ecologists, scholars, gurus, WorldCongressPS2008. us that meditation is far more than a journalists, students, therapists, org, http://home.jps. “mind-emptying” practice. engineers, corporate executives, net/~stuartcs?about.html

2 ahp PERSPECTIVE DECEMBER 2007/JANUARY 2008 ATP NEWSLETTER ATP and AHP Got Married in San Francisco

n August 16, 2007, the that have inspired and nurtured so Professional ATP-AHP member- day before the start of many in the exploration of and the ship where the benefits of both the APA Meeting, there evolution of Consciousness—the organizations can be obtained for a was a celebration of a Association for Humanistic Psy- considerably reduced rate of $159. Onew era of a reconnected ATP and chology and the Association for AHP held at the Institute .” of Integral Studies. David Lukoff, Eugene Taylor gave a brief Co-president of ATP stated: “I view historical perspective on the this event as critical to put these relationship between humanistic two movements back into alignment and transpersonal psychology to with each other. It will initiate a initiate the evening of sharing of new era of cooperation and col- stories from the past 40 years by laboration.” AHP President Carroy prominent “elders” from ATP and U. “Cuf ” Ferguson stated: “This was AHP, including Maureen O’Hara, an important and significant his- Mike Arons, Eleanor Criswell, toric event…in essence and spirit, a Tom Greening, Harris Friedman. celebration of an enhanced recon- In addition to cosponsoring AHP PRESIDENT CUF FERGUSON AND nection of two sister organizations conferences, there is a new Joint ATP PRESIDENT DAVID LUKOFF

Scholars from Kyrgyzstan Participate in a Transpersonal International Exchange

he Institute of Trans- are reminiscent of personal Psychology the ancient European hosted a colloquium megaliths, and the ritu- on October 23, 2007, als conducted there are KYRGYZSTAN VISITORS AT ITP: JAMAL GRANICK (ITP), DANIELA MAIFEI (ITP), GULNARA AITPAEVA (AIGINE), ELENA MOLCHANOVA (AIGINE), Tentitled Transpersonal Psychol- a synthesis of Islamic REGINA HESS (ITP), OLGA LOUCHAKOVA (ITP), AIDA ALYMBAEVA ogy in Central Asia: Searching and pagan worship. Dr. between Spirituality and Science. Aitpaeva oberved, “A lot of pil- between national cultural heritage, The new International Exchange grims come to the sacred sites to epic poetry, and healing rituals. and Learning Program is designed experience surpassing the borders Dr. Olga Louchakova, the Inter- to increase the exchange of ideas of individual consciousness.” For national Exchange and Learning and diverse perspectives among her book, Mazar Worship in Kyr- Program founder and director, and scholars in Transpersonal Psychol- gyzstan: Rituals and Practitioners in program coordinator Regina Hess, ogy from around the world. Talas, Dr. Aitpaeva collaborated are very excited about this new ini- This inaugural event was led by with local healers, ritual specialists, tiative. Dr. Louchakova says of the Drs. Gulnara Aitpaeva and Elena and clairvoyants to study Kyrgyz new program, “We hope to become Molchanova, both from Kyrgyz- sacred spaces. The researchers worldwide consultants in apply- stan, who discussed their research found transpersonal psychology a ing transpersonal psychology on a on the ancient Kyrgyz tradition paradigm that allows them to study number of different levels. We look of worshipping at sacred sites. their cultural heritage scientifically forward to hosting practitioners Interestingly, the stone structures while still retaining the connections from all over the world.”

DECEMBER 2007/JANUARY 2008 ahp PERSPECTIVE 3 ATP NEWSLETTER

Evening Honoring Robert Frager’s 50 Years in the Martial Arts

obert Frager is a pio- psychology, which may be described Wada and I attended the celebration neering transpersonal aptly by O’Sensei’s statement, together. The following is a quote psychologist who has “You stand on the floating bridge from Sensei Wada’s blog (/jack- served as president of between heaven and earth.” wada.blogspot.com/): RATP, co-founded the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology (which Aikido is a spiritual transformative art. July of 1990 we had a famous guest has been a major force in main- O’Sensei set a standard for each person to instructor at Aikido of San Jose at our old taining the academic rigor of the set their own standard and to ‘behave as if Japantown location. At that time Robert discipline), and has influenced the God was seeing you.’ It is the quality of Frager and I were co-hosting a series of field through his incorporation being with your partner. The quality of Aikido Summer workshops. Earlier in the of principles of Aikido into both interaction, not how it looks. The goal is to year, when it came time to plan for the sum- theoretical and clinical applications. hang in with your partner, neither too easy mer, Frager sensei asked me whom I’d like On November 2, the Institute of nor too hard, the real Aikido. to have as a guest instructor for the Summer Transpersonal Psychology held a Seminar. Almost jokingly, I said ‘Steven celebration of Robert Frager’s 50 Bob asked O’Sensei, “What is the Seagal.’ Seagal had already debuted in the years in the martial arts. This is an right attitude toward your partner film Above the Law. And earlier in the account of that evening by Beth year he had hit number one in the charts Cooper Tabakin, Ph.D., Vice-Presi- for Hard to Kill. It seemed an impossibil- dent of ATP. ity, but Robert Frager peripherally knew a Robert Frager is a special, couple of people connected to him, so began enigmatic, and curious educator, a long period of tracing contacts. martial artist author, and human For a long period nothing seemed to be being. Bob’s interest in the martial happening. We, of course, had made con- arts and Japan began 50 years ago tingency plans in case we couldn’t pull off while studying Judo as a college this coup. Suddenly one night I got a call freshman. Bob read a quote from from Frager sensei. ‘I just talked to Steven O’Sensei that forever changed Seagal, and he confirmed for the Summer his life and those he has touched Seminar!’ So this unlikely idea happened to physically, spiritually, intellectually, have legs of its own after all. and emotionally. “Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, Without Bob Frager, The Insti- nothing can compare to this, this tute of Transpersonal (ITP) would is the ultimate dojo.” He also said not exist. At this event, looking that “The Martial Arts Are Love.” around, my eyes filled with tears of Bob recounted his initial experience in Aikido?” He responded, “That gratitude, delight, and memories. of O’Sensei’s dojo in Japan: “The of a parent to a child, loving and “Your potential is not limited. If more I was around him, the more leading.” He also told Bob that, one sets one’s mind to any goal and extraordinary he appeared.” This “Whenever you teach Aikido, I’ll be one works, you can get there.” We is quite a statement coming from a there.” And so Bob added, “There have an art with such depth that young, smart Harvard-trained psy- was something about him that I fell we can study it for years without chologist. He asked himself, “What in love with.” mastery. The learning is important. in all of my psychology studies I first met Bob in San Jose, Cali- And so, ITP was conceived. Bob helped me understand the human fornia, with Jack Wada and Steven believed that he could start a school being?” He recalled that he thought Seagal at an Aikido Retreat in 1990. and include methods to help under- that only Maslow was asking the It was for me a gift that keeps on stand the human being. right questions. Maslow went on giving in ways that keep reveal- For instance: Look at how you to found the field of transpersonal ing themselves to me. Sensei Jack organize yourself to act. Don’t just

4 ahp PERSPECTIVE DECEMBER 2007/JANUARY 2008 ATP NEWSLETTER think about the whole body; think about the whole being, e.g., when Stanislav Grof Receives Prestigious VISION 97 Award educating a person’s knee to move more productively, think about not tanislav Grof, M.D., psy- entific work returns science into only the knee, think about the ankle, chiatrist, author, conscious- the framework of general culture, hip, torso, etc., and think about why ness researcher, and a transcends the dominant concepts that person was in the place where pioneer in Transpersonal of knowledge and being, reveals he was in an accident. Think about SPsychology, was awarded the presti- unknown, surprising, or overlooked the whole being. Bob Frager quoted gious VISION 97 award granted by connections, and touches in a new Moshe Feldenkrais as saying, “Un- the Foundation of Dagmar and Va- way the mysteries of the universe less I can get people to laugh, I clav Havel in on October 5, and of life. It is an Award by which 2007. They noted his contributions we would like to bring to the at- in exploring and mapping the deep tention of the public significant regions of the human psyche as yet spiritual achievements, which do not unrecognized by Western science. meet the criteria of the established The foundation’s philanthropic ways of exploring of reality.” In his mission supports cultural and social acceptance speech, Stan commented: projects and groundbreaking pro- totypes with the potential to bring It seems that we are involved in a dramatic meaningful change into the future. race for time, which has no parallel in hu- Former recipients of the annual man history. What is at stake is nothing less VISION 97 award include: Karl Pri- than the future of humanity and the fate of bram, American neurosurgeon and life on our planet. If we continue using the can’t get the change to work.” It thinker; , former US old strategies that have caused the current is critical that you get people to Secretary of Labor; psychologist global crisis and which are in their conse- lighten and loosen up and change Phillip G. Zimbardo; MIT professor quences destructive and self-destructive, it their self-image. Learning occurs of computer science and pioneer might lead to annihilation of modern civi- through play and a sense of relax- in Artificial Intelligence Joseph lization and possibly even the human species. ation and safety. In that context, Weizenbaum; and semiotician and However, if sufficient number of people you can move into trial and error. writer . Vaclav Havel, undergoes a process of inner psychospiritual Learning is different from perfor- writer, dramatist, and former Presi- transformation and attains a higher level mance. If you think in categories, of awareness, we might in the future you stop thinking. reach a situation when we will deserve Bob sensei’s multimedia presenta- the name, which we have so proudly tion included a live “demonstration” given to our species: homo sapiens. in the ITP dojo and a slide show (Wikipedia: from Latin: “wise man” from his personal collection of the or “knowing man”) last 50 years in the martial arts. Bob commented that he could feel The awarding of this Prize is O’Sensei’s presence in the dojo, and accompanied by other events, during the evening it was obvi- including interviews with ous that we were in a true place of representatives of the media learning. and informal meetings with students and professors. The BETH COOPER TABAKIN, Ph.D., is Award is a diploma and an a psychologist and Reiki Master in private exquisite work of art–a replica practice in Marin, California, and founder STAN GROF (LEFT) of the staff of Saint Adalbert. of Life After Breakfast which incorporates (ATP members can listen to a mind-body-spirit approach to healthy dent of , describes presentations of Stan’s at ATP and weight loss. the significance of this award: “It ITA conferences and see more pho- is given to thinkers, whose sci- tos from this event on atpweb.org).

DECEMBER 2007/JANUARY 2008 ahp PERSPECTIVE 5