Transpersonal Psychology Blossoms in Brazil
From 4 – 7 September our directors Les Lancaster and Jessica Bockler attended and presented at the ninth International Transpersonal Conference organized by Alubrat (the Portuguese and Brazilian Association for Transpersonal Psychology), in partnership with the ITA (International Transpersonal Association), and many other transpersonal organisations from around the world.
They gathered with 600 other delegates and speakers at the lively outskirts of Salvador, Brazil, to share their work and research and celebrate the “The Flowering of Consciousness.”
Les gave the opening presentation for the 4th Brazilian Research Colloquium in which he explored the variety of epistemological approaches in transpersonal psychology and ways for us to develop as a unified discipline. In his capacity of President of the ITA, Les was also involved in the heartfelt opening ceremony featuring traditional music and blessings from some of Brazil’s leading spiritual and indigenous priests and teachers.
Jessica enjoyed facilitating a workshop on ‘creativity and mindfulness for health’ with 40 enthusiastic delegates who were keen to get up and play! The workshop featured a series of multi-modal exercises, combining spontaneous movement and musical improvisation with expressive writing and mindfulness practice.
The aim of this work is to enhance body awareness, to deepen one’s connection to the world beyond ‘I’ and to nurture the emergence of renewed meaning and purpose. Jessica has co-developed this work with her colleagues in Creative Alternatives, an ‘arts on prescription’ service in the North West of the United Kingdom, catering for adults experiencing stress, depression and anxiety, and offering them holistic treatment options as an alternative to medication.
