Board of Administrators

John Drew                                 President
Bo Wikstrom                              Vice President
Pia Keiding
Evgueney  Faidych
Wilfriend Belschner                    Research Director
Vitor Rodrigues

The European Transpersonal Association

Newsletter Number 12
January 1st 2002

Dear Members and Friends of EUROTAS

Greetings on this first day of the year and best wishes. May it be a good year for your personally and for your important work also. Please copy this newsletter to those in your country who may not receive it.

1.     Eurotas and the Creative Initiative Meeting in Lisbon,  Portugal May 15-19

Please put the dates in your diary again for our annual meeting which will take place in Portugal from Wednesday evening the 15^th May until lunch time on Sunday 19^th May. The Portuguese Transpersonal Association, Alubrat, will be our host and has found an exciting venue. Vitor Rodrigues writes: We have at last found the ideal place near Lisbon and in a very green area.  It is an old seminary run by the church and with all comfort and features for presentations (including a data show!), gardens, 44 double bedrooms and four single rooms. It is very reasonably priced - room and all meals will cost 25-30 Euros a night. There are other reasonable hotels nearby.

In January I will visit Mario and Vitor to discuss the meeting and will write to you all soon after that with final details. There are already a number of themes, which we will cover including, spiritual emergency, spirituality in education and leadership, transpersonal research, and the training of European transpersonal therapists. There will also be opportunities for individual presentations and workshops - more about these shortly. If you have a contribution, which you would like to offer, please send it to me or to one of the Board as soon as you can so that we can begin to develop a really enjoyable and professionally useful programme. 

2.     Third World - Congress for Psychotherapy - Vienna

Hans Peter Weidinger writes:

Dear Eurotas members and friends!

From July 14th to 18th 2002 the third world-congress for psychotherapy will take place in Vienna. Our Association for Transpersonal Psychology and Psychotherapy is responsible for the coordination of the sub-symposium "Transpersonal Psychotherapy". We want to invite everybody to take part in this great event, as speaker or as simple participant. Please visit www.worldpsyche.org for further information.

Here is an excerpt of this website:

Welcome to the 3rd World Congress for Psychotherapy in Vienna!

Once more we are expecting about 4000 participants and many world famous experts from all over the world, like D. Stern, F. B. Simon, R. Bowden, L. Ciompi, M. Elkaïm, M. Erdheim, S. Freud, J. Galtung, J. Grinder, S. Grof, A. Gruen, S. Jensen, St. Mentzos, I. Hand, E. Jaeggi, S. N. Madu, Qian Mingyi, A. Samuels, Y. Sazaki, H. Fernandez-Alvarez, V. Makarov, J. Willi etc.
We will focus on the emotional and technical challenge of the globalisation, and will try to exchange strategies of treatment and training on all five continents. Besides we will offer plenty of relaxation, like a visit of historical Vienna, a “Freud-Cocktail” in the museum, a Summernight’s Ball in the City Hall (offered by the Mayor of Vienna), “Heuriger”, Opera Night, and lots more. The WCP is offering a variety of pre-congress–workshops on the 13th of July 2002 (please ask for details) on various psychotherapy modalities and special topics.

The City of Vienna is offering the International Sigmund Freud Award (value of € 25000) for the second time. For details look at our homepage at www.worldpsyche.org.

A special symposium on 100 years Carl Rogers will take place.

Österr. Arbeitskreis f. Transpersonale Psychologie und Psychotherapie (ÖATP)
c/o Dr. Hans Peter Weidinger
A-3400 Klosterneuburg, Ziegelofengasse 26/9
Tel./Fax: +43 2243 32837
E-Mail: arbeitskreis@transpersonal.at
www.transpersonal.at

3. News from the Netherlands

Rumold Mol writes:

Dear John

I am happy with all your correspondence since our meeting in May.

I have been very involved with the preparation of the ITANT annual conference on "Art as a way to the transpersonal". It was prepared with a group of highly delightful artists. It offered a PANTA - the transpersonal journal - full of articles on art, including one from Ken Wilber. The day began with an introduction, a Sufi dance, story telling, belly dance and a concert besides plenty of workshops in which all arts were represented as tools for the transpersonal. Also an extensive exhibition of artworks which
we may qualify as transpersonal, was installed. The day was highly appreciated by the participants.

Now I will dedicate some more time to EUROTAS and ask you what the strategy of the conference will be.

Ank and I wish all in EUROTAS a very happy Xmas and an ever better 2002 with new opportunities and new ventures. Many greetings to your families.

Rumold


4. From Russia As Always, With Love

Andrei Gostev writes:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all in EUROTAS with best wishes - all following God's will.  I am totally focusing on my double Ph.D. dissertation

We will start tomorrow to think about our contribution to the conference in May.

Much love Andrei

By the way Evgueni wrote too, but there was a virus in his email (many of us have had such problems) and therefore his news will have to wait until the next Newsletter!

5. Centre for Transpersonal Psychology, U.K.

Clair Chappell who has taken over as director writes that 40 out of the 69 Advanced Diploma holders received their Diplomas at the first ever graduation ceremony in July 2001. The study programme goes from strength to strength and in Scotland where Gerald Hart Smith is the Director of Training, the next foundation course begins in March, as well as a new programme of seminars and modules for the continued professional development for all those connected with transpersonal work in Scotland. There is also a new peer group supervision seminar in London, to support work with children and adults. It meets every month and will be run by Barbara Wealthy. 

6. La Pologne inspiree

Tanna Jacubowicz- Mount writes:

Dear Rumold and Friends, thank you for updating me on your loving actions. Your conference sounds like lots of fun. I wish I could
participate. After Sept 11 (I believe I sent you the open letter I wrote), I got more involved in the Peacemaker Community and I'm working on the project of international network of education for peace and reconciliation. I'm calling it "Dance around the Tree of Life"- it means growing our Tree with loving, playful energy. It is to gather life-serving initiation rituals from various cultures and spiritual traditions to introduce them into education and therapy. I believe this is one of ways to heal wounded hearts and homeless souls. When I start with the project I'll ask you for inspiration.

We continue our trainee program with students this year and now they are preparing topics for seminars and workshops and they work under our supervision. I will greet our friends from you and wish you to have wonderful Holidays and a really fruitful New Year.

love Tanna

7. Research News from Germany

Wilfried Belschner the Eurotas Director of Research writes and please pass this on to others or reply yourself:

Research Network

Dear Colleague,

We would like to invite you to support our initiative developing a network for transpersonal research. Our initiative is inaugurated by the European Transpersonal Association (EUROTAS; Prof. Dr. John Drew, President). EUROTAS is a non-profit organisation in which till now 16 European countries meet. Further information you may find under the following address: http://www.eurotas.org

It is one of the goals of EUROTAS to bring together people who are working in the various professional fields and who try to integrate a transpersonal perspective into their professional acting. To support this goal is especially necessary in the field of research. Till now there is little known about a co-ordinated national or international research collaboration. With our initiative we would like to do a first step for the development of an international transpersonal research network. We are convinced that there will be mutual advantages by knowing colleagues and their research projects.

Attached to this letter you will receive a formula to generate a directory on transpersonal research. If you are interested please send it back as soon as possible, but not later than February 15, 2002. After this “opening” the next step will be to organise a conference in 2002 or in 2003 on which we can meet and start a fruitful collaboration. The next EUROTAS annual meeting will be organized May 15 – 19, 2002 in Lisboa, Portugal. Perhaps this date can be already used for the establishment of the Transpersonal Research Network.

With collegial regards,

Prof. Dr. Wilfried Belschner - Eurotas Research Director -		Prof. Dr. Dr. Klaus Engel

Wilfried Belschner, Professor, PhD, Head of the Dpmt of Health and Clinical Psychology, University Oldenburg, Germany. Chairman of the German Collegium of Transpersonal Psychology and Psychotherapy. Research interests: spirituality and health, spiritual crisis. Address: Prof. Dr. Wilfried Belschner, University Oldenburg, Health & Clinical Psychology, D-26111 Oldenburg, Germany. fax: +49-(0) 441-798-5138, email: wilfried.belschner@uni-oldenburg.de, http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/transpersonal , http://www.dktp.org

Klaus Engel, Professor, MD, pH, Head of the Research Group Psychosomatics, University Bochum, Germany. Chairman of the Society for Meditation and Meditation Research. Research interests: Stages and side effects of different ways of meditation. Address: Prof. Dr. Dr. Klaus Engel, P.O.Box 410345, D-44273 Dortmund, fax: +49-(0)231-4503680, email: klausengel@yahoo.de, http://buerger.metropolis.de/smmr

You will find the application form a full note of this correspondence on the  EUROTAS website www Eurotas.org

8. Conference news from Germany

The following comes from Joachim Galuska who hosted our memorable meeting two years ago in Bad Kissingen

Fachklinik Heiligenfeld in cooperation with "Deutsches Kollegium for Transpersonal Psychology and Psychotherapy e.V."

"Spiritual and transpersonal dimensions of psychotherapy"

 30^th May until 2^nd June 2002

Venue: Regentenbau and  Fachklinik Heiligenfeld

Spiritual and transpersonal dimensions of psychotherapy

Convention:

• regarding the current state of research, therapeutic practice and future prospects
• for scientist, therapists, practitioners of all disciplines and interested laymen
• with lectures, symposia and trainings, meditations and culture
• for discussion, presentation, experience, inspiration and meetings

Topics

• transpersonal dimensions regarding psychotherapeutic acting: diagnostic, therapeutic relation, individual therapy and group therapy, supervision, organizing development, therapeutic background
• which methods and media of transpersonal work have been successful?
• transpersonal concepts of different symptom-complexes
• current state and prospects regarding companion during spiritual crisis
• current developments in combination with psychotherapy, meditation and spiritual paths

Prospects:

How can transpersonal psychology and psychotherapy have an effect in social events in order to sensitize general consciousness? For the detailed programme of this very interesting conference, please click here Or contact: fax number 00 49 97 35/3 67)

9 Surprise emails from Gloria and Beth EUROTAS!

Dear John

My sister found your web site and forwarded it to me - we are so curious about your organization and most particularly, how you decided on the name EUROTAS. Beth Eurotas, my sister, may have already been in contact with you. We believe we are the only Eurotas family in the United States. Our name came from the Eurotas River in Sparta, Greece, where our father's
family is from. We would love to hear back from you.

Thank you!

Gloria M. Eurotas

Hello,

I was researching my heritage on the web yesterday and found your web site and felt compelled to send you a quick message. When you see my name you can understand why I was compelled. I am of Greek heritage and while I haven't been there yet, there is a Eurotas river near Athens. I have read through your web site and found it very interesting.

Best Regards,

Beth Eurotas

You will remember that Monique Tiberghien actually found the EUROTAS River and we have a photograph of it which many of you have - I will put it on the website! I have written explaining EUROTAS to the sisters - perhaps they will come to one of our meetings one day.

10 The Simultaneous Policy - An insiders guide to saving humanity and the planet

This book by John Bunzl might seem to be primarily about economics, but in fact, much more about the way the global economic competition we call "globalisation" has become destructive at all levels - from the international to the personal - and how it is preventing ethical and spiritual values from coming to the fore.

John Bunzl has recently written an articles which appeared recently in AMED's "Organisations and People" entitled "Competition - Is it All it's Cracked Up to Be?" It explores the issue of competition; its two sides (constructive and destructive), and shows how destructive competition is preventing today's managers from realising their inner aspirations of more ethical and socially healthy business behaviour. He is a businessman himself by the way. The Simultaneous Policy is not just a book, but also a fast growing campaign across the world and has received good reviews. More details from info@simpol.org or www.simpol.org

Published by New European Publications Ltd. 14-16 Carroun Rd  London SW8 1JT  £14.95

11 News from the Integra Centre in Colorado and Germany

Leland Johnson  writes:

The new news here at Integra Center for the Integral Vision is that the Spiral Dynamic Integral Series of Three Seminars I;II;III will be held at the Integra (very soon) beginning Nov. 23rd.-25th and continuing 25th - 27th of January and into the whole year of 2002. Ken Wilber hosted a reception up on the Mountain for the 40 persons who were participants in this First Seminar.


Emerging from the original work of Dr. Clare W. Graves bio-psycho-social perspective, SPRIALDYNAMIC is a way to think about complex processes within individuals corporations, team organization and ethnic political conflicts. The framework offers a fresh, powerful and holistic approach to problem solving, change and transformations.

KEN WILBER SPEAKS OF DON BECK
"Spiral Dynamics is one of the first integral psychologies now available and, as presented by Don Beck, I give it my highest recommendation. It has profound implications for business, politics, education and medicine, and it will give you the tools to begin applying these revolutionary ideas in your own field immediately. Don`t miss it!"

Don Beck speaks of his new concepts of Large Scale Systems which require Large Scale Thinking, with Large Scale Systems, Strategies and Tactics.SD explores the core intelligences and deep values that flow beneath what we believe and do. The result is a dynamic model of emergent thinking systems- how values arise and spread, why people make decisions in different ways, and
what to do with those differences to create positive energy.


DON BECK SPEAKS OUT

1. " A number of forces are now converging to put even a greater emphasis on finding new and fresh ways to deal with problems and challenges of a large scale. These macro groupings range from whole communities to emerging city-states to multi-layered cultures to far-reaching corporate entities and, of course. To the global meshwork itself."

2. "In short, the complexity levels and global demands within our 21st Century problems and conditions of human existence have out-stripped our collective capacities to deal with them".

3. "We continue to be plagued by racial and ethnic divides at a time when many think we should have outgrown these artificial and demeaning stereotypes based on skin pigmentation and places of origin. Racial cards continue to exist in political decks and are played for self-serving and divisive reasons".

Call me personally 0049 8292 951 800 if you have any questions or special requests.

Leland Johnson

INTEGRA Zentrum für die Integrale Vision, Maienbergstr.12,86424 Dinkelscherben
Tel.: + 49(0)8292-2618 Fax: + 49(0)8292-3210, e-mail:LivingNetz@aol.com ,
www.living-gestalt.com

12. The Journal of Spirituality, Leadership and Management

Kerry Cochran is the editor of this Internet based e-journal initiative. It will be based at www.slam.net.au  It is an Australian venture. Kerry writes:

Themes.
The overall guideline will be the author's alignment between spirituality, leadership and management. Within this broad spectrum lie contextual sub-themes. These include the human-to-human element in organizations and communities, and the human to natural environment interface. These equally broad divisions lend themselves to further themes, however the editor/associated editors, depending on the papers submitted, will determine this. The journal will comprise three sections. Refereed Papers, the Forum, and the Book Review. More details to follow.

Kerry Cochrane
Editor

Kerry Cochrane
Faculty, Rural Management
University of Sydney
Ph:0263605579
Fax:0263605590
e-mail:kcochran@orange.usyd.edu.au

13 News from Sweden - Bo Wikstrom our Vice President

Dear John,

I wish you and all in EUROTAS a Happy New Year 2002. The good work in EUROTAS is great!

Some words for the newsletter: Year 2001 has been a rich year regarding the transpersonal in Sweden. Three areas in particular have been prominent. Our SEN group has been meeting for 7 times. The work has been to gather people, topics and focus of what needs to be done. This first years of work has been rewarding and fun. It's great to meet others that we have heard of but not met until now. Interesting new relationships and also feelings of soul in a group setting.

Another challenging endeavour has been our basic psychotherapy training. When you are working with education one inevitable ingredient is group transference. Being the head-teacher I certainly got most of the negativity. But by the end of the year it all was gone. Everyone thought they had a great year, learned a lot and was content. My counter-transference was relief and joy, of course, we made it!

A third happening on the national level was the university course in transpersonal psychology (6 points) in Karlstad University, the first university in Sweden to give such a course. This course was given twice this year because of the huge interest. 635 applicants, 30 could attend. I was one of the teachers and my topics is Spiritual Emergency and spiritual growth with much weight on theory and exercises woven together as a fabric of integrated knowledge. I got great feedback from the groups afterwards.

In spite of all the terror and fear that the world had to confront during the fall this year there has been an undercurrent of courage and hope in people I have met, clients and others. It's like this is the worst that can happen and all we can do is show our everyday heroism, love anyway and don't be judgmental but celebrate inclusiveness. In times of darkness the stars is easier to see, as it were.

Love, light & intelligence to All

Bo (Sweden)

14. News from EUROTAS members

Sue Michaelson, our EUROTAS perpetual traveler writes:

The last three months have been very upsetting haven't they. I seem to have been glued to the news on TV, but now feel too exhausted to watch it at all. Lets hope that it really will prove to be a breakdown to breakthrough.

My own good news in all this is that I did my 3 workshops in Ireland for Sacha, and we really have been bridge-making between North and South, and Protestants and Catholics. We are hoping to bring Evgueni over in the Spring to do some work on changing the energy!

The Irish work was followed by a workshop at Central St Martins College in London. This was quite extraordinary..... It included 5 art students and 15 very sophisticated French and Italian businessmen and women from LVMH. The men all looked like Yves ST Laurent, wore plastic aprons over their suits, and created complete and utter chaos. They used every piece of paper, pen, pencil, pastel ,paint, and ended up working to music on the floor. I have no idea what they thought about it all. It certainly confused me!

Now I have the family coming for Christmas - Tahiti, now 2, and the twin, nearly 2, et al......so I've had to go out and buy travel cots and  high chairs etc, and the house looks like a creche. I'm looking forward to them all being here though.

After all that, I will try to think about Eurotas again. It really has been quite impossible until now. I have written to Fausto and await his reply. In the meantime, I hope you are well and send you lots of love and good wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
A Transpersonal hug to you all from Sue.

suemichelson@earthmagic.fsnet.co.uk

Pia Keiding writes from Belgium

Dear John,

Thank you for your lovely greeting.

I wrote this poem for Christmas and the New Year inspired by an old painting, The Holy Family, school of Gerard David, 15th century, Erasmus House the Old Beguinage), Brussels-Anderlecht.

I would like to take up your invitation and give it as a greeting of my heart to all friends of Eurotas - cherishing our Good Earth and let her fill us with her glow of simplicity and wholeness, bringing together the many pieces to one Peace, as Tanna says. And let music of life sing in our hearts.

behold and lo
newborn light
golden glow
to our faces
from below

bliss of night
music of light
music of life

blessed be
ever anew

blessed be

love from Pia,
Brussels

Tanna Jacubowicz-Mount writes from Poland

Dear Friends, hope you had a Hanukkah Holidays full of Light, the Light which cannot be extinguished. We are many pieces all over the world, but let love, the best glue of all make us one peaceful whole.

love,

Tanna

Ages Furedi writes from Hungary

Dear John,

I have not been participating closely in the work of our association recently, but I have been following main events and happenings. We might face some changes end of November at our general assembly including election of new officials. I hope to have time to meet with Beata.

I would love to go to Portugal and will try to arrange my life to that direction, but it depends on many things.

I changed my job in July, I am a civil servant now at the Communication Authority, Hungary. I am head of department for international cooperation, and I am trying to realize "transpersonal management" in my small business environment. I have some achievements, but it is a very delicate task especially in our present economic, political and international situation.

If you could suggest any book or other information on this issue I would be very grateful.

I will let you know on developments.

Love to you all,

Ágnes

Best wishes to readers and please keep sending you professional and personal notes for your next newsletter. Also please send material for the EUROTAS website and update your associations and add your articles!

As ever,

Love

John