Connections Newsletter - Fall 2011 by Sofia University

Connections an ITP community newsletter

Fa l l 2 0 1 1

Sierra Leone Victims of Violence Learn Forgiveness at ITP by Roopam Sidhu

Vibrant. The word pops into my head as she walks into the cool-colored student lounge at ITP: the patterned, near-blinding shade of her orange dress and head scarf contrasts sharply with her clear, unlined skin - not unlike the shade of coffee brewing quietly nearby. There is a presence about her, but Francess Browne’s eyes belie a certain exhaustion. For how long , I don’t know. I tell her this, and she smiles. Browne is one of eight educators and administrators from Sierra Leone chosen for a 10-day research and training project on forgiveness, jointly held on the campuses of ITP and Stanford University in early August 2011. They are survivors of a near decadelong civil war that devoured their land, left over fifty thousand dead and countless others physically and emotionally violated. They are here trying to process damage untouched by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s declaration of blanket amnesty to offenders.

Browne explains how after the war, when the two sides said let’s be at peace with each other again, “It was just because of our faith and religious backgrounds that we said OK. Who are we to say we cannot forgive our friends when God has forgiven us for the mistakes we make?” When we meet, it is Browne and her colleagues’ last session with Dr. Fred Luskin, ITP professor, and creator of the Stanford Forgiveness Project. He also authored the book Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness. “There are some walls inside that you cannot just let go.” Says Browne. “It’s about the self first. There are some issues I have I am letting go right now. I am still hurting myself. We know people who have said, ‘It’s been nine years. It’s all over.’ But illness remains... high blood pressure... of which we do not know the root cause. Maybe it starts with forgiveness.”

A Message from President Neal King

Continued on Page 3

Dear ITP Community, After an inspiring send-off by Elizabeth Lesser for our 2011 graduating class, we have welcomed an exceptional group of new students and launched the 2011-12 academic year. Heading into my seventh month here, I am impressed by the many ways we are changing , growing and learning - individually and as a community. Transformation happens at ITP, and as we know, it often occurs from a period of difficulty or darkness. As Elizabeth Lesser advised our graduates last June, “When the inevitable dark times arrive at your door, use them well for grief and growth”. In this issue of Connections, we explore transformation through loss in the feature story on Fred Luskin’s forgiveness work with victims of violence from Sierra Leone and in the profile on PhD alumnus Guy Albert. Just as the trees lose their leaves this season and become barren in preparation for new life, ITP’s next stage of development awaits us all as a blank slate. As I said in the last issue, “What a rare and wonderful opportunity! One that would not exist without the active support of our generous trustees, alumni, benefactors, and friends.” I thank you all for your continued support and engagement in building ITP’s future and in making transformation happen. Warm regards, Neal King , PhD

Connections

Table of Contents Victims of Violence Learn Forgiveness.......1 Letter from the President...............................1 How to Survive the Holidays........................2 The Promises and Pitfalls of Spirituality.....4 ITP Takes Center Stage at EUROTAS......5 Celebrating Faculty Accomplishments.......6 Thanks to our Generous Donors!................8 Will You Avoid the IRA Tax Trap?.............9

Surviving the Holidays with Family Members By Kate Wolf-Pizor

Most of us look forward to spending the winter holidays with our families, though relatives can sometimes be a challenge. This is particularly true if we hold the notion that everyone else’s family is perfect and only ours is difficult. It helps to realize this is a fantasy and that holidays add stress. It is important to relinquish the hope things will be perfect this year. Striving for perfection can lead to pressure and even depression.

Audited Financial Report ...........................10 Remembering Susan London .....................12 Alumni Are Gathering..................................12 Featured Alumnus, Guy Albert, Ph.D.......13 Want to Connect with Each Other?.........13 Elizabeth Lesser Inspires Class of 2011....14 Alumni Accomplishments...........................15 Upcoming Events..........................................16 Editor Copy Editor Design

Tracy Byars Elaine Schmitz John Axtell

Dear ITP Community: I think of transformation – especially the kind we seek at ITP – as intentional, positive change. That’s what we’re up to these days at ITP. You’ll see it reflected in some of

“It is important to relinquish the hope things will be perfect this year. Striving for perfection can lead to pressure and even depression.”

Every holiday is unique, because our lives and families are at different stages of development. If we kept every tradition we ever had, we could become overwhelmed and exhausted. It may be fun to update and reinvent together. So ask your family members, “What would we like this year?” Food and drink are important parts of celebrating holiday traditions. Typically, people eat and drink too much at this time. Planning meals and cooking together can bring us greater enjoyment in nourishing each other and help us be more mindful of what we consume. Sharing the work also helps us to avoid stress and exhaustion.

Financial issues can accentuate the holiday angst. Consider downsizing the celebration’s expense by suggesting everyone make gifts this year. Or give each other gifts of time, for example, make coupons for offering services like, “I will do your laundry for the month.” Make a date to do something special, such as a hike in the scenic Santa Cruz Mountains. Consider reducing expenses as a challenge and strive to spend under budget rather than overextending. Share this creative approach with your family. If you are financially stressed this year, chances are others are too, and they will understand.

the articles in this issue, and you’ll hear

Parents often put themselves last. If you are a parent, remember to take care of yourself, both for your sake and your family’s. You will be more available to them to make the memories you want. Children learn better by parents’ actions than their words. Be the solution you hope to see in your family this year.

about it from current students and alumni. From the individual to the collective level, transformation happens here at ITP. As always, I hope this newsletter helps keep you connected and up-to-date on the everevolving world of ITP. Please feel free to share your successes with us. Contact me at tbyars@

This season’s holidays are about hope in darkness and renewal in a time of cold and lack. Trust in the renewal of the light is an integral part of many seasonal celebrations. Age-old Wisdom Traditions remind us to expect better conditions and to hold the faith. We can remember this at home, too. The light will return, whether or not the house is spotless or we received the latest toy. Let us celebrate hope together as we celebrate the gift of family.

itp.edu with any corrections, suggestions, or submissions, and please stay connected! Warmly,

Tracy Byars (MATP ‘05)

Tracy Byars

Kate Wolf-Pizor

Norman Rockwell’s classic painting : “Freedom from Want”

Fall 2011

Sierra Leone Victims

Continued from page 1

The project in Sierra Leone started in 2007. Dr. Nancy Peddle, CEO of the nonprofit LemonAid Fund, teamed with Dr. Loren Toussaint and his psycholog y students from Luther College to teach forgiveness skills at a LemonAid funded school in Sierra Leone. After enrolling in an online course taught by Dr. Luskin, the group collaborated and adapted original Forgive for Good materials, including workbooks and children’s supplies, for cultural acceptability in Sierra Leone. Toussaint and his team, armed with Luskin’s nine-step prescription for forgiveness, performed a week-long training with teachers and students. However, the team predicted a stronger effect if they could bring those from Sierra Leone to the U.S. for training instead, much like Luskin had done with civil war survivors in Northern Ireland.

not forcing reconciliation, that’s a different story. But we want our people to be happy on the inside so they don’t get sick.”

Forgiveness is a choice, according to Dr. Fred Luskin. His method for forgiveness includes telling one’s story, understanding what forgiveness is, stress relaxation, adjusting unreasonable expectations, empowerment, and I ask Peddle if the group, if reframing the “grievance the country, still struggles story.” Participants to forgive offenders for differentiate between what happened during “enforceable” and “nonenforceable” rules and engage in meditative the war. She says it’s not practices like breathing and visualization to spot-correct anger about that, at least not and stress. While implementation may need adjusting because of right away. “It’s some of cultural bumps, Dr. Luskin says the method does not change. “I the same stories,” explains teach forgiveness as a secular practice of what are most commonly Peddle. “They have a base of known as spiritual virtues. My method has not changed, nor has horrific things happening to forgiveness. People can use it as needed. We did not have any one them. Their house burned tell their story about what happened. We simply gave education on down; multiple children how to forgive should one choose to do so.” Fred Luskin died; they watched relatives killed. But those are nine-year-old stories. Those are underneath a In his book, Luskin defines forgiveness as “the experience of story of ‘an uncle didn’t give me ten dollars when I needed to buy a peace and understanding that can be felt in the present moment. bag of rice... and I couldn’t get it.’ Those are the stories that build Forgiveness does not change the past, but it changes the present. on the atrocities, and those are some of the most difficult things.” Forgiveness means even though you are wounded, you choose to hurt and suffer less. Forgiveness means you become part of the The result? A community, Browne describes, plagued with high solution.” Continued on Page 7 blood pressure, nervous breakdowns, and heart attacks. “We are

“Forgiveness means even though you are wounded, you choose to hurt and suffer less. Forgiveness means you become part of the solution.”

Dr. Nancy Peddle with the group from Sierra Leone

Connections

Spirituality & Psychology Conference 2012: Spirituality: Promises & Pitfalls

Join keynote speakers

Roger Walsh, Shauna Shapiro, Robert Frager, and Jeanne Achterberg along with a host of luminaries from near and far including Jim Fadiman, Arthur Hastings, Olga Louchakova, and David Lukoff, to examine the nature of spiritual illusion while we seek the wisdom and health benefits available in spirituality. Choose from a variety of workshops and presentations grouped in three tracks: Spirituality: Research & Theory; Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapy; and Spirituality, Psycholog y & Culture. Join “round table” discussions to process what you’ve learned, add socializing and networking , and sprinkle liberally with experiential activities such as drumming , Yoga, chanting , music and meditation at the 2012 Spirituality & Psycholog y Conference: Promises & Pitfalls, February 17-19, 2012 at Menlo College in Atherton.

www.regonline.com/ spiritualitypsycholog y

New MACP Student, Roopam Sidhu, interviews Dr. Robert Frager

Bob Frager on the Promises & Pitfalls of Spirituality By Roopam Sidhu

“The conflict, certainly, is nothing new,” says ITP Founder, Dr. Robert Frager, when asked to comment on the theme of the 2012 ITP/ATP Spirituality & Psycholog y Conference: Promises and Pitfalls. “Human history is defined by it. Spirituality is responsible for the civilizing of humanity over the centuries, and for incredible acts of generosity and compassion. But it is also responsible for wars and prejudice and all sorts of negative things happening around the world.” This is precisely why he insists ITP students, through their inner-work, achieve a level of psychological and spiritual maturity before becoming counselors, therapists, researchers, and educators. “They should do so in full acknowledgement of the work that still needs to be done,” explains Frager. “It’s like climbing a mountain. But with this mountain, you are always climbing , The process of climbing is the end. You bow to those who have been climbing longer and to those who are behind you. You honor everyone in the process. No one is finished.

“It doesn’t matter how terrific your running shoes are or how wonderful your coach is. You have to do your own work.”

“I don’t think human beings are perfect. If you think you are perfect you are going to rationalize all of your mistakes. So will your followers. I think it is one of the great pitfalls of spirituality, to think one is perfect. A related pitfall is to think your teacher is perfect, so you don’t have to do your own spiritual work. ‘My teacher is so wonderful, my teacher is so good...’ So what? You can have the best coach in the world, but if you don’t run your miles, you are not going to be a good runner. It doesn’t matter how terrific your running shoes are or how wonderful your coach is. You have to do your own work.” Dr. Frager plans to tie this acceptance of imperfection with the acceptance of different spiritual paths in his conference keynote address. “There is only one divine truth. There is only one reality, with a capital R , so we are all worshipping the same Reality. We may use different names for it, but fundamentally, it is the same process and so there really is only one religion. Furthermore, I think every religious tradition is looking at Reality, this huge divine Reality, from a slightly different perspective. It’s not that one is right or wrong ; on the contrary. We actually need every perspective to understand the Truth. So we need to not merely tolerate each other but honor each other’s traditions and learn from each other.”

Fall 2011

ITP Honored at European Transpersonal Conference in Varna, Bulgaria Last September, ITP President Neal King travelled to Varna, Bulgaria on the shores of the Black Sea to address attendees from 25 countries at the 13th annual European Transpersonal Association (EUROTAS) Conference. Mixing lectures with experiential workshops and panel discussions, the conference explored the full spectrum of states of consciousness: altered, discrete, ecstatic, enhanced, modified, holotropic, shamanic, healing , meditative, etc., and focused on the potential of such nonordinary states for healing , changing , improving and transforming ourselves and our communities, our relationships, communications, private and social environment.

“Schools in Italy, Russia, and Estonia are very interested in collaborative relationships with ITP.”

ITP Alumnus and EUROTAS Board member, Steven Schmitz (PhD 2009), along with ITP faculty member David Lukoff and his wife Christel, gave excellent and well-received presentations at the conference. Attendees included EUROTAS veterans of up to four decades as well as college students and spouses/friends of attendees. Neal King reported that, “Schools in Italy, Russia and Estonia are very interested in collaborative relationships with ITP – and a good number of conference attendees are interested in coming to ITP for their next degree.” ITP became an institutional member of EUROTAS at this conference, and at an ITPsponsored dinner for the EUROTAS board, president, Ingo Jahrsetz said in a toast that it was a “great honor” for them to have ITP as a member. “The high level of respect in which the group holds ITP was clear,” reported Neal. “I would not be surprised to see a new population of students and guest faculty from Europe over the next few years.”

Neal King , Steven Schmitz, Pier Luigi Lattuada, and Jure Biechonski at EUROTAS

ITP Builds Bridge to Europe by Offering Scholarships to Eurotas Members The Institute of

Transpersonal Psycholog y (ITP) is pleased to announce a new ITP/EUROTAS scholarship for members of the European Transpersonal Association (EUROTAS), in celebration of the long and historic relationship and affinity of mission and values between the two organizations. The decision to provide scholarships to EUROTAS members grew out of a recent visit by ITP President, Neal King , to the annual EUROTAS Conference, held this year in Bulgaria (see full article this page). Neal remarks, “I would not be surprised to see a new population of students and guest faculty from Europe over the next few years.” The ITP/EUROTAS scholarship is available only to non-residents of the USA, and provides an automatic 25% reduction in tuition. Applicants will need to satisfy all regular ITP admissions policies and procedures, as well as adhere to all ITP academic standards and policies. It will be available for qualified applicants for the life of their degree program as long as they maintain satisfactory academic progress toward an ITP degree.

Connections Board of Trustees Christian von Bogdandy, MEng, MBA (Chair) Barbara Butts Williams, PhD Terrence Connelly, JD Rick Hesel, BA Loïc Jassy, PhD Jeffrey Keimer, MA, CFP (Vice-Chair) Neal King, PhD Yanghen Lama, MA Ben Mancini, PhD (Hon) Maureen O’Hara, PhD Conchita Serri, JD

Core Faculty Rosemarie Anderson, PhD Christine Brooks, PhD Jan Fisher, PhD Robert Frager, PhD Deborah Grenn, PhD Doralee Grindler Katonah, Psy D Glenn Hartelius, PhD Arthur Hastings, PhD Lisa Herman, PhD Susie Herrick, MA Dianne Jenett, PhD Charlotte Lewis, PhD Ling Lam, MA Olga Louchakova, MD, PhD David Lukoff, PhD Fred Luskin, PhD Mark McCaslin, PhD Genie Palmer, PhD Kartik Patel, PhD Ana Perez-Chisti, PhD Ron Pilato, Psy D Henry Poon, PhD Ryan Rominger, PhD Nancy Rowe, PhD Judy Schavrien, PhD Patricia Sohl, MD, MPH Charles Tart, PhD Jenny Wade, PhD Kathleen Wall, PhD Kate Wolf-Pizor, MA, MFT

Associate Core Faculty Susan Esterly, PhD Eric Fitzmedrud, PhD Judy Grahn, PhD Jamal Granick Myrtle Heery, PhD Ann Gila, MA Patrick Marius Koga, MD, MPH John Mabry, PhD Vicki Noble, MA Luisah Teish, PhD

Faculty Accomplishments BOOKS Rosemarie Anderson and William Braud

Transforming Self and Others through Research: Transpersonal Research Methods and Skills for the Human Sciences and Humanities offers transformative approaches to those conducting research across the human sciences and the humanities. Co-author Dr. Rosemarie Anderson explains, “These research approaches can be transformative for researchers, participants, as well as the audience of a project.” In hundreds of empirical studies conducted since the release of their first book, Transpersonal Research Methods for the Social Sciences in 1998, these methods have been tested and integrated with qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research designs. Anderson and Braud invite scholars to bring personal resources and multiple ways of knowing to their scholarship. While emphasizing established research conventions for rigor, Anderson and Braud encourage researchers to plumb the depths of intuition, imagination, play, mindfulness, compassion, creativity, and embodied writing as research skills.

James Fadiman

The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys. James Fadiman has researched psychedelics since the 1960s. In this guide he outlines best practices, learned from his more than 40 years of experience, for safe, sacred entheogenic voyages and the immediate and long-term effects of psychedelic use for spiritual (high dose), therapeutic (moderate dose), and problem-solving (low dose) purposes. He describes the benefits of having a sensitive guide during sessions, and how to be one. He emphasizes the importance of the setting and pre-session intention. Fadiman reviews the newest as well as neglected research into the psychotherapeutic value of visionary drug use for increased personal awareness and many serious medical conditions. He includes his recent study of reasons for and results of psychedelic use among hundreds of students and professionals. He reveals new uses for LSD and other psychedelics, such as extremely low doses for improved cognitive functioning and emotional balance. Cautioning that psychedelics are not for everyone, he dispels the myths and misperceptions about psychedelics communicated in textbooks and clinics, as well as on the Internet. Exploring the life-changing experiences of Ram Dass, Timothy Leary, Aldous Huxley, and Huston Smith as well as Francis Crick and Steve Jobs, Fadiman shows how psychedelics, used wisely, can lead not only to healing but also to scientific breakthroughs and spiritual epiphanies.

Global Mentor Barbara Stone

The Open Moment is a novel about Ariel Royalston’s spiritual development and transformation as she lives through a series of “incarnations that enable her to transmute human desire into cosmic unity and love.” Barbara feels this book came through her rather than from her and that the credit for it truly belongs to Spirit.

Fall 2011

Other Notable Accomplishments William Braud

Researching the invisible: Entangled minds, psychiatry, and psycholog y. In Emma Bragdon’s (Ed.), Spiritism and Mental Health: Practices from Spiritist Centers and Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals in Brazil. Practiced in community centers and psychiatric hospitals throughout Brazil, Spiritist therapies are gaining increasing international recognition for their ability to complement conventional medicine. This pioneering text is the first comprehensive account to be published in English of the philosophy, theory, practical applications, and wider relevance of Spiritist therapies.

Rosemarie Anderson recently

signed an agreement with assessment company Mind Garden, Inc. to sell and distribute the Body Insight Scale (BIS), formerly known as the Body Intelligence Scale. In development since 2002, and available in English and Spanish, potential applications of the scale are clinical trial research with combat veterans, trauma and abuse survivors, and weight-management clients. For more information, or to purchase, visit: http://www.mindgarden. com/products/bis.htm.

ARTICLES Olga Louchakova-Schwartz

Vedanta, Sufism and Presocratics in a Phenomenological View from In Logos and Life Series: Analecta Husserliana

Kathleen Wall

co-authored Psycho-spiritual integrative therapy for women with primary breast cancer in Journal of Clinical Psycholog y in Medical Settings

Sierra Leone Victims Continued from Page 3 This group choosing to be part of the solution is from Freetown, the capital and largest city in Sierra Leone. It must be a huge responsibility to promote change to a rural population, one that encompasses sixteen ethnic groups, each with its own dialect and customs. She agrees, but says the solution lies with the children and their natural ability to teach the parents.“ It is easier to teach children how to forgive than adults. Anything we do with kids, catches on like wildfire. It will work if we get the kids.” The partnership with the Lemonaid Fund will allow this group to travel a good distance from the city, to some villages as far as 500 miles away. But Peddle doesn’t see it ending there. “What I hope we do is move this into a nationwide project, taking these trainers, training other people, and moving it out into the whole country. It’s six million people. It wouldn’t take that long to get to the tipping point. Then maybe move to Rwanda. But we would like to see how far we can promote what we are doing here in this country and move it in a wave. Just like the wave of violence; we’re creating a wave a forgiveness.” There is an energ y of hope in this collaboration, a quiet determination. I wonder aloud if Francess Browne now finds a purpose, a redirection, resulting from the devastating losses she experienced in the war. Dr. Fred Luskin calls this finding one’s positive intention, changing the familiar grievance story, and transforming oneself from the victim to the hero. She nods. “Letting it go is very important to your life. When you have peace of mind, when you let the worries, sad events get out of you, you can move forward. When you forgive somebody. . . you forgive yourself.”

Connections

Honor Roll of Donors – July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Each year, ITP receives many generous gifts from alumni, board members, staff, faculty, and friends. We are grateful for your gifts of any size and for your continued support of the institute’s mission to foster the development of individuals, families, organizations, and societies toward their fuller potential for wisdom, health and wholeness. Note to donors: Despite our efforts to avoid errors, occasionally mistakes occur in producing the Honor Roll of Donors. If your name has been omitted or reported incorrectly, please accept our sincere apologies and notify the Office of Gift Planning and Advancement at 650-493-4430 x 267 or development@itp.edu. If you have questions about the Honor Roll of Donors, or you wish to inquire about planned giving , naming opportunities, or ways to support ITP, please contact Tracy Byars, Director of Gift Planning and Advancement at 650-493-4430 x 267 or tbyars@itp.edu.

These individuals and organizations have made gifts to ITP between July 1, 2010 & June 30, 2011:

Sun Circle

Ambassador

Sponsor

($25,000 – 49,999) Richard A. Bogard Mary & Tom Rees

Creator

($10,000 - $24,999) Fred Segal Melissa Smith & Jeff Van Harte

Innovator

($5,000 - $9,999) Joan & Bill Porter Ruth Anne & Jack Woodruff

Guardian

($500 - $999) David Bishop Lou Dunn Diekemper Yolanda Font Robert Frager French & Margo Harris Charlotte Lewis Jill Mellick Michael Ray Paul & Denise Roy Steven & Elaine Schmitz Elizabeth Stein Velcro Mordehai & Hana Wosk

($1,000 - $4,999) Yosi Amram Betsy Gordon Foundation Christian von Bogdandy Tracy Byars Deborah & Osmond Crosby John & Vicky Dodson Pamela & Jerome Henderson Loic Jassy Jeffrey & Marcia Keimer Joyce Kilmartin Neal King Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto

Counselors

($120 - $499) Alzak Amlani Sarah Babin Peter & Miranda Black Jocelyne Coulon Mary Culberson Diane Delmar Barbara N. Dick Jim & Dorothy Fadiman Jan L. Fisher Jan K. Fisher Doralee Grindler Katonah Sharon Hamrick Myrtle Heery

Sponsor, Cont’d

Yangchen Lama Cliff Maas Bing Mak & Henry Poon Ben & Nancy Mancini Marilyn Manning Robert McDonald Merchant Support Network Ursula Moore Maureen O’Hara Donna & Kate Potterfield Charles & Devon Randall Jerre Sears Conchita Serri Dianne & Paul Temple Barbara Butts Williams Kate Wolf-Pizor & Jim Pizor Paula Yue

Peter Hirose Dianne Jenett Dwight & Ruth Judy David Kirkpatrick Stephanie Laitala David & Christel Lukoff Sonja Margulies Douglas Martin Lynn & David Mitchell Barbara Morrill Sherilyn Morrison Larry G. Moyer Lynn Myhal Dorit Netzer Horton Genie Palmer

Ana Perez-Chisti Cheryl Petrarca Ron Pilato Kate Potterfield Janice Russillo Frances Vaughan VMWare Foundation Linda Wayne

Fall 2011 Friend

(Up to $119) Ila Abernathy Richard Adams Kenji Akahoshi Sharon Allen Lauren Artress Jennifer Bendewish Joy and Larry A. Bonham Nelson Bonner Jordan Botjer Carolyn Branson Julie Brody Michael Buchele John & Laraine Caminiti John Campbell William Cardinale Barbara Christina Terrence Connelly Richard & Pamela Davison

Maureen Dawn Lili De Petrillo Edie Dockton Barbara Driscoll Pauline Druffel Louanne Ellison Cole Susan Esterly Christine Evans Leslie Fishelman Jason Fuller Greg Galati Karen & Frank Gallant Atim Eneida George Arthur Giacalone Ann Gila Lynne Goodhart Marion & Bill Gough Elizabeth Granucci Diana Gross Martine Habib

Marisa Hilliard John Hofmann Dana House Mary Jung Kathleen Kaelin Ann Kennedy Langley Bette U. Kiernan Margaret Killeen Nina Kramer Robert Krohn Richard & Margaret Kuhl Rekha Govindan Kurup Helen Lee Erin Lett Brigitte Lindsey Susan London Mary Lunsford Lynne MacNeil Michael Margolis Jeanne Marsh

Joanna Massey Leah Maurer Finbar Maxwell Marie May Dennis Mcbride Barbara McCool Brian McTernan Phillip Moffitt Edward Morgan Emily Nelson Lisa Nolan Carol NoskoQuesada John O’Donoghue Nicholas A. Ottavio Sahibou Oumarou Valerie Parish Kartik Patel Peter and Elaine Pelletier Victor Plucy Kathleen Potterfield Katrina Rahn

Duncan Riach Juanita Rosene Nancy Sallan Cynthia Sauln Judy Schavrien Elizabeth Scholder Carol Schopfer Susan Selkirk Beth & Jim Shibata Sally Singingtree Michael Smith Susan Spinrad Tina Stromsted Colleen Sullivan Daniel Taylor Mary Tesoro Jessica Thibodeau Sara Todd Sandra Turner James Upton Ed Van Deman Marilyn R. Veltrop Miles A. Vich

Joan Vyverberg-Cole Amy Wallace Katherine Warner Starr Weekes Gail Tucker Whipple Frank White Barry Wolfer William York Hagit Zeev Jana Ziman

Will You Avoid the IRA Tax Trap? (The IRS is waiting to take its share…)

Your largest asset may be your retirement plan, whether an IRA, Keogh, 401(k), 403(B), or other account. You’ve invested it for growth and have been cautious about taking withdrawals. With luck, you figure, you and your spouse will not spend the current total in your lifetimes, so there should be a substantial asset to pass on to your heirs. Watch out! The IRS considers the balance left in your retirement account to be untaxed income. They call it “Income in Respect of a Decedent” (IRD), and if you bequeath that balance to your heirs, the IRS will subject it to both income and estate tax. This potential double taxation (not to mention state inheritance taxes and possible Generation-Skipping Tax if the balance goes to grandchildren) can consume as much as 70 percent of the value of your account, leaving less than one-third to your heirs.

What to do? Think charitably, and your heirs can actually come out ahead. Name ITP as the beneficiary of your retirement plan, and then use other assets, not subject to income tax, to make gifts to children, family, and friends. Since ITP is a non-profit organization, it won’t pay income tax on the distribution (nor will the plan balance be included in your taxable estate). In turn, your heirs will receive more of your estate by taking assets not burdened by extra taxes.

The Benefits:

• You will escape both income and estate taxes • You can continue to take withdrawals from your retirement plan during your lifetime • You can change the beneficiary designation if your circumstances change • You can make a significant gift to ITP that costs you nothing during your lifetime, is revocable, and does not affect your income

Planning Points:

• You can make ITP a partial beneficiary of your plan, and direct the balance to your heirs. At your death, the plan administrator will withdraw ITP’s share, providing an immediate gift to the Institute and leaving the balance to benefit your loved ones. • Use your plan’s beneficiary designation form to direct your gift to ITP. Don’t use your will. If you do, your retirement plan will be included in your probate estate and will be subject to the estate administration process. • Don’t use the balance in your retirement account to satisfy a dollar-amount bequest to ITP that is already in your will. Your estate will be treated as having received taxable income in the amount of the bequest that you paid with the retirement plan assets.

How do I do it?

First, consult with your plan administrator and your advisors. When you’re ready to move forward, simply notify your plan administrator of your wish to change the beneficiary designation. We are ready to assist you through every step of the process. Please contact Tracy Byars at 650-493-4430, extension 267, or via email: tbyars@itp.edu. This publication is intended to provide general gift planning information. Our organization is not qualified to provide specific legal, tax or investment advice, and this publication should not be looked to or relied upon as a source for such advice. Consult with your own legal and financial advisors before making any gift.

Connections

Institute of Transpersonal Psychology Statement of Activities Year Ended June 30, 2011 with Comparative Totals for the Year Ended June 30, 2010

Expenses

Revenue & Support

2011

Unrestricted

Temporarily Restricted

Tuition and Fees

$8,775,421

Private Gifts and Grants

44,527

64,661

Government Grants

125,055

Net Unrealized Gain on Investments Sales and Services

Permanently Restricted

2010 TOTAL

TOTAL

$8,775,421

$8,070,996

111,313

151,578

125,055

121,850

(8,572)

3,302

116,013

141,911

Special Events

9,952

Other Sources

14,764

2,217

16,981

56,855

Interest and Dividends, Net

24,261

999

25,260

9,032

Total Revenue and Support

9,101,421

67,877

2,125

67,877

2,125

Net Assets Released from Restrictions

134,741

(134,741)

Total Revenue, Support and Net Assets released from Restrictions

9,236,162

(66,864)

2,125

9,171,423

8,555,524

Program Services

$8,775,421

$8,070,996

Instruction

3,839,140

3,751,351

Academic Support

1,497,658

1,458,602

Student Services

1,005,415

757,550

Community Services

297,182

320,254

Research

118,509

122,146

Scholarships

55,833

63,917

Total Program Services

6,813,737

6,473,820

Management and General

1,277,815

1,223,553

Fundraising

344,060

353,614

Marketing

377,596

434,279

Total Supporting Services

1,999,471

2,011,446

Total Expenses

8,813,208

8,485,266

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS

422,954

(66,864)

2,125

358,215

70,258

NET ASSETS, Beginning of Year

3,539,449

867,494

28,270

4,435,213

4,364,955

NET ASSETS, End of Year

$3,962,403

$800,630

$30,395

$4,793,428

$4,435,213

Total Expenses

8,813,208

8,485,266

2,125

Supporting Services:

Fall 2011

Audited Financial Report ITP Income by Source for Year Ending 6/30/2011 Private Gifts and Grants, $111,313 (1%) Government Grants, $125,055 (2%) Net Realized Gain or Loss on Investments , $(8,572) (0%) Sales and Services , $116,013 (1%) Special Events, $9,952 (0%) Other Sources, $16,981 (0%) Tuition and Fees , $8,775,421 (96%)

Marketing, $377,596 (19%)

Interest and Dividends, $25,260 (0%)

ITP Support Services Expenses Year Ending 6/30/2011

Management and General, $1,277,815 (64%)

Fundraising, $344,060 (17%)

ITP Program Services Expenses Year Ending 6/30/2011

“If it’s between Uncle Sam and my favorite charity, guess where my IRA will go …” Your retirement plan can be subject to multiple taxes that can reduce by as much as 70% what you plan to leave to your family. Here’s a charitable alternative that benefits both your family and ITP: Make ITP the beneficiary of all or part of your retirement plan, and leave other, less taxburdened assets to your heirs. ITP will receive a gift, and your heirs will receive more from your estate. It’s a good choice to make.

Research, $118,509 (2%) Community Services, $297,182 (4%) Scholarships , $55,833 (1%)

Want to learn more? Contact us at: development@itp.edu

Student Services, $1,005,415 (15%)

Academic Support, $1,497,658 (22%) $1,4

Instruction, $3,839,140, (56%)

Alumni Communit y

Remembering Susan London

ITP Board member Susan London was a devoted mother, grandmother, coach, trainer, consultant, and master community builder. We at ITP, as well as all who met her, were blessed to have been the beneficiaries of her great energ y, expertise, and love. Susan passed

Alumni Are Gathering Building community is what ITP Board member Susan London does. Starting near her home in Santa Cruz last spring , Susan helped a group of ITP alumni come together. Alternating homes or meeting in restaurants, the group has met regularly for several months since then. “It’s not a large group,” says Susan, “and not everyone can always attend, but each time we meet the energ y is high, and people are thrilled to be connecting with each other. It’s terrific to hear about what they are up to in the world. What a body of knowledge this group represents!” Another group, spearheaded by Alameda alumni Bill Kueppers, PhD (2004) and Patricia Burke, PhD (1983), met for the first time October 22, at the San Francisco home of alumna Pegg y Adeboi, MATP (2001). Bill reports, “17 area alumni Santa Cruz Alumni gathering April 2007, L-R: Lisa expressed interest in an ITP J Arthur, Kate Kaufman, Louanne Ellison-Cole Alumni gathering. Of the 17, (hostess), Carmen Redmond and Robert Camillo. Patricia and I were happy eight attended the first event. Although this initial gathering was very exploratory, all seemed interested in more gatherings on a monthly basis. There was a general interest in an ITP alumni support community in the San Francisco area. It was a great beginning. We’ll see what happens from here!” If you would like help in launching an ITP alumni gathering/support group in your area, please email alumni@itp.edu. ITP staff can help you with alumni lists, an optional format for the gathering , and ways to connect and organize the group online.

away in her sleep on Tuesday, November 29. Upon joining ITP’s Board of Trustees in early 2010, Susan immersed herself in strengthening our alumni community. Her first initiative was the novel concept of the Alumni Shared Wisdom Unconference, held October 1, 2010, to “…share wisdom, stay connected to the transpersonal perspective so important to

12 each of us, and to build Continued on Page 14

L-R: Kate Kaufman (MACP 2006), Diane Schwedner (PhD 2003), Lisa J Arthur (MACP 2007), Eric Towle (PhD 2010), and Board member Susan London gather at the home of alumna Diane Schwedner in Santa Cruz.

Fall 2011

Alumni Spotlight: Guy Albert, PhD (2005) Almost 15 years after stepping through the doors of ITP, Dr. Guy Albert marvels at his third year of candidacy at the Jung Institute in San Francisco and does not hesitate to use familiar terms to describe his journey to ITP: “It was a mid-life crisis: that’s a Jungian term. I decided I wanted to dive into this work not only on a personal but on a professional level as well.” Before 1996, Albert reveals he was in a long-term relationship and working as an office manager in a small town in Washington State. “Life was pretty normal,” he says,” but I kept seeking more out of my life. I was in a low grade depression, and I felt the need to change and grow, to look inside at what was working and what wasn’t.” Albert had experiences in meditation, yoga, shamanic practices, vision quest, and other types of transformational work but craved a more solid education as well as guidance. “I was looking at schools and transpersonal psycholog y jumped out at me. This was the way I wanted to work on myself.” Guy Albert Fittingly enough, that work didn’t follow a linear path. Albert enrolled in ITP’s online global masters program. He enjoyed it so much that nine months later he applied for the residential masters program. A month after arriving on the Palo Alto campus, he transferred to the PhD program. “I wanted more,” he explains. From start to finish, Albert gave more than eight years of his focus to ITP and holds thousands of memories close to his heart: Aikido, journaling class, his leadership in the diversity committee, and those first, life-altering courses in Jungian psycholog y. “The Jungian seed had been planted in me a long time ago when I read Memories, Dreams, Reflections. I started to record my own dreams in my 20’s. But I had this notion that Jungian psycholog y would be a step back in time, and transpersonal psycholog y was more at the forefront of the movement. Now I know there are a lot of similarities.” In the lengthy process to become a certified Jungian analyst, Albert divides his time between his private practice in Oakland and Berkeley, conducting seminars, and assisting other analysts on their cases. His journey at the Jung Institute could last 10 to 12 years, but like his path at ITP, Albert is fulfilled. “I don’t see myself as not learning , ever. The process at the Jung Institute is not a goal, not something to finish. It’s a process, something I enjoy. It’s more than a journey. It’s diving in and having it change me.” Albert chooses not to muse over what could have happened if he had not emerged from his mid-life crisis whole. He credits his success, perhaps all success, to a heightened awareness when one needs it most. “Sometimes those little voices inside are so subtle, saying that you could use something to wake up. Follow the thread. It’s tiny, but don’t let go. Don’t be distracted by the big stuff. Find that filament. Let yourself go with it, and you are on your way.”

“ITP had the program I wanted. It really fulfilled my needs. I felt at home in that school and in that program... It just felt right.”

To connect with each other, connect with ITP ! Do you want to connect with your cohort or other ITP alumni? We can help with that: Just email alumni@itp.edu, and we will get in touch with them for you. To get and give advice and support, join the new ITP Alumni Mentorship Group on LinkedIn - a unique group of like-minded ITP alumni who help each other bring their transpersonal education and experience to the world.

For more information on Dr. Guy Albert: www.guyalbert.com

Alumni Communit y

Susan London

Continued from page 12

our alumni community.” Full of excitement and ideas, Susan had great plans for building an alumni community for mutual support and empowerment. She succeeded in establishing regular alumni gatherings in her hometown of Santa Cruz, while encouraging alumni in other areas to do the same. As founder and principle of her consulting company, The Collaborative Advantage, Susan worked with many well known corporations and was among the first to bring the idea of leaders as coaches to organizations. Her work was essentially transpersonal in nature, focused on expanding each person’s perspective on what is possible in their own performance and on harnessing the tremendous power of creative collaboration. Over the years Susan demonstrated she was a lifelong learner who honed her skills as a consultant, trainer, executive coach, and authentic human being. ITP was blessed with her many gifts for too short a time.

Elizabeth Lesser’s Advice to ITP Grads: “Polish your Authenticity”

Last June 18, at Spangenberg Theater in Palo Alto, ITP received the honor of having Elizabeth Lesser speak at Commencement. Lesser is the New York Times bestselling author of The Seeker’s Guide and Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow. A regular speaker and host for Oprah Radio on Sirius XM, she recently helped Oprah Winfrey produce a 10-week “webinar” for Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth. Lesser spoke to the graduating class of 2011 about the importance of moving forward with confidence and making a difference in what she called the “hurting world.” She was Elizabeth Lesser emphatic when she asked the new ITP alumni, “You sure you want to go through with this? Have you considered something more rational? Like computer science or the culinary arts? Something where you start at point A, follow the directions, and arrive at point B - with something tangible like new software or a cheese soufflé? Are you sure you want to be a guide through life’s mysteries, a mender of souls, a translator of the ineffable? Anyone want to turn in your hat and gown? No? Good.” Lesser also referred to the world’s need today for people who choose psycholog y and the helping professions. She added, “You are not alone in your choice—women and men in other cultures, throughout the ages, have also answered the call to be a healing bridge for others: a bridge between darkness and light, despair and meaning , alienation and connection.” She announced that through their degrees from the Institute of Transpersonal Psycholog y, the graduates will join an “…ancient guild of practitioners and investigators of the worlds within and the worlds beyond. You are upholding the tradition, and also evolving it to fit our times. I commend you for the study you have done here, and I commend this school—this unique, visionary, and bold institution of higher learning.” Lesser concluded by entreating the graduates to recognize the value of being authentic, to leave their own footprints and share their talents. “If you want to help others recover their Self, then always be in the process of polishing your own authenticity. Do your shadow work over and over. Try to walk your talk, especially when the walking gets tough: when you make mistakes, when you disappoint yourself and others, when the inevitable dark times arrive at your door. Use them well for grief and growth, and use the bright times of success for generosity and gratitude and rejoicing. Practice being the peaceful power and the wise humility you want to see in the world. Be exactly who you really are - your soul-self, your whole self - and witness the miracle that happens when you offer that self to others.” Elizabeth Lesser’s understanding of the dedication and commitment by the graduates and their future contributions became a consecration to the proceedings. Her words provided both guidance and encouragement to the more than 100 graduates, their friends and families, who heard her speak. 2011 ITP Graduates

Fall 2011

Alumni Accomplishments BOOKS Rebecca Sacerdoti, PhD

Valentine McKay-Riddell, PhD

Ingrid Mathieu, PhD

Emma Bragdon, PhD

Toni Gilbert, MA

Emma Bragdon, PhD

Unveiling Weddings is a mix of narrative stories and solid psychotherapy tools that creates a fun-loving read and brings peace of mind for brides-to-be. ITP Alumna, Rebecca Sacerdoti, is one of the two seasoned psychotherapist authors understand that a wedding is a rare opportunity to get the most out of your life and your engagement. Whether it is staying connected to your fiancé, negotiating dessert choices with your mom, or pulling off the wedding day of your dreams, Unveiling Weddings will guide you through it. http://www. unveiling weddings.com/

In Recovering Spirituality: Achieving Emotional Sobriety in Your Spiritual Practice, Ingrid Mathieu uses personal stories and practical advice to teach us how to grow up emotionally and take responsibility for ourselves. Without turning away from the true benefits of an active spiritual program, she shows us how to work through life’s challenges and periods of pain while evolving and maintaining an authentic relationship with our Higher Power. http://www. psycholog ytoday.com/blog/emotional-sobriety

Gaining Archetypal Vision – A Guidebook for Using Archetypes in Personal Growth & Healing introduces you to the philosophy of archetypal psycholog y, therapeutic tools that use major archetypes, as well as the author’s experience. A nurse, transpersonal counselor, and alternative care professional, Toni Gilbert details her remarkable journey with life stories and explains how we can “grow ourselves up.”

The River Goddess & Other Stories is a gift to young women and girls everywhere. The first book of The Alyssa Chronicles trilog y, it is the story of how a young girl comes into her power through the aid of a mysterious River Goddess, a number of helpful animal, plant, and insect guides, and a very old friend. The book includes the author’s light-hearted illustrations and a glossary of common words and expressions for the reader unfamiliar with Northern New Mexico Spanish.

Resources for Extraordinary Healing : Schizophrenia, Bipolar and Other Serious Mental Illnesses by Emma Bragdon offers a groundbreaking , paradigm that illuminates the practical application of spirituality to mental health care. Her book spells out the need for a cautious approach to psychiatric medication, reveals the model of integrative care used in Brazil, and offers a comprehensive list of resources for those not living in Brazil who want similar integrative care.

Editor of Spiritism and Mental Health, in which appears a chapter by ITP Professor Emeritus, William Braud, PhD: Leading practitioners and researchers in the field describe the history, principles, and diagnostic processes of the Spiritist approach to mental health for healthcare providers, students of health professions, and sophisticated readers. They provide an extensive summary of the methodologies used, including spiritual mediumship, energ y work, prayer, homeopathy, past life regression, and the integration of spirituality into counseling and psychotherapy.

Fall 2011

Institute of Transpersonal Psychology 1069 E. Meadow Circle Palo Alto, CA 94303

Upcoming Events

For event details, visit www.itp.edu/calendar.php

Vagina Monologues February 18, 2012, at 8:00 PM Finn Center, Mountain View, CA Register at www.itp.edu/bursar

Creative Expression Sunday Series January 15, February 12, and March 4, 2012 from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm ITP Campus

Artist in Residence Reception Jill Mellick April 29, 2012 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm ITP Campus, Atrium & Exhibit Halls

Spirituality & Psychology Conference:Spirituality: Promises and Pitfalls February 17, 18, & 19, 2012 Menlo College, Atherton, CA Register at http://tinyurl.com/S-PConference

Aging and Long-term Care: Continuing Ed. Workshop May 5, 2012 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm ITP Campus, Samadhi

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