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CIHS Newsletter
 
In This Issue
Message from the Dean
Contemporary Concepts in TCM
Intro to Yoga Philosophy
Research Methods in Religious Studies
Sound Meditation
Yoga Workshop
SER Conference
Lunch and Learn
Quick Links
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March/2015


Dear CIHS Community Members,

 

The smell of spring is around the corner in Southern California. CIHS' first quarter of the year ends in the next few weeks, and Spring quarter will start March 30. Please note that registration week for Spring quarter begins March 23 and runs through March 27.

 

Frist, in the previous February newsletter, we accidentally included an outdated article of The North Country Holistic Chamber of Commerce. Our apologies for any confusion. However, the second Wednesday of every month there is a Holistic Chamber meeting here at CIHS which you are welcome to attend as a guest. If you would like more information about the Holistic Chamber, please go to:

http://www.holisticchamberofcommerce.com/ca-san-diego-north-county

 

In CIHS' March newsletter, Dr. Hope Umansky announces our Spring course schedule. This Spring quarter, we are offering a newly created course by Dr. Tim Laporte, Introduction to Yoga Philosophy, and it is open to all programs. (Please see below for his article). If you are interested in CIHS or have questions about any of our courses or programs, please visit our website (www.cihs.edu ) or directly contact Dr. Hope Umansky ([email protected] ) for any assistance.

 

Besides, Dr. Laporte's introduction article to his course in Spring, we also have course announcements from Dr. Mattioda and Dr. Fauver. Dr. Mattioda, who specializes in homeopathy with a degree in pharmacy as well as a Ph.D. from CIHS, is teaching "Contemporary Concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine." Dr. Fauver introduces his class entitled "Research Methods in Religious Studies." Please read their articles if you are interested in those courses.

 

Additionally, Dr. Thomas Brophy expands upon the CIHS' Subtle Energy Research (SER) conference. This is the first CIHS student research conference - SER*Talks CIHS Student Research Symposium, June 20, 2015. We are very excited about this event, and Paul Mills, PhD, and William Tiller, PhD, will be joining us to view you, the students, as well as launch and close the symposium.

 

CIHS' very popular annual yoga workshop, Ajna Chakra Awakening Workshop, is scheduled for April 18 & 19, and the deadline for early registration is this month, March 28. It is on CIHS' campus. If you are interested in joining us and attending the workshop, please register online or feel free to contact me ([email protected]) if you have any questions. Space is limited so please contact us soon. We hope to see you there!

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Hideki

 [email protected]

 

Message from the Dean:

 

Dear CIHS Community,

 

 

Happy Spring! It is that time again. Spring quarter registration is March 23-27. The quarter begins March 30. You can access the Spring quarter course schedule here.  The Spring quarter course registration is here

 

 

Ultimately, it is up to you to ensure you have the courses you need to complete your program (they are all in the catalog). Dr. Baba sends an unofficial transcript with your grades at the end of every quarter and you can compare it against the catalog. These should be kept in a file so you are in apprised of your progress and then can confer with me. The goal is to become an independent scholar, and this is part of that process. However, I am more than happy to review your transcript and help guide you toward course selection that will support your interests and goals. The courses for Spring quarter are the following:


 

Counseling and Communication Skills, Dr. Sharon Mijares, CIHS core course all programs. Online.

Spiritual Coaching, Dr. Tamara Goldsby, requirement or elective *can be taken by IH students instead of Counseling/Communication Skills.

Psychology of Mind/Body and Energy, Dr. Michelle Dexter.

Research Methods for Religious Studies, Dr. Randy Fauver, CRP requirement. Elective other programs. Online.

Human Sexuality II: Advanced Concepts in Healing and Consciousness, Dr. Michelle Dexter.

Study of East/West: Philosophy of Ethics, Dr. Mali Burgess, CRP requirement

Biological Basis of Neuropsychology, Dr. Sam Aganov, *Highly recommended for licensure track. Online.

Contemporary Concepts in Chinese Medicine, Dr. James Mattioda

Introduction to Yoga Philosophy, Dr. Tim Laporte.

Topic of Special Interest: Science of the Cosmos and Philosophy of Reality, Dr. Thomas Brophy

Shamanism and Indigenous Traditions, Dr. Roger Cavnaugh

Ajna Yoga Workshop, Paul Grilley and Mr. Takeshima. *Spiritual Education workshop.

Pranic Healing, Dr. Mary Clark, fulfills spiritual education requirement

Dissertation sequence, Thomas Brophy, Hope Umansky and Tim Laporte

 

Please remember that the due date for the SER*Talks is quickly approaching. Proposals for both oral and poster board presentations are due in the specific format below no later than April 15, 2015. A link to the RFP guidelines can be found here.  

 

If you have questions about how you can become involved in CIHS' active learning community, please do not hesitate to call or email me ([email protected] ). I am more than happy to set aside time on the phone, through email, or in person to answer any questions you may have about our unique graduate programs.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Hope Umansky

[email protected] 

 

 

 

 

Contemporary Concepts
in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Spring Quarter 2015
By Dr. James Mattioda

Hello CIHS Community,

 

It is good to be back teaching at CIHS! I have already met some of the students through events and a guest lectures. I am excited from these meetings, the new acumen and lively dialogues I have had are a large part of my motivation to become active again at the Institute.  I am looking forward to introducing ideas and information about this ancient system of medicine and its modern contemporary influences. When we look at any historical medical or healing system the true value to student always lies in understanding the theory and philosophy from its foundation to its modern context. Culture and civilizations are always evolving, to think that a system of medicine and philosophy such as TCM has survived the test of time is more than reason to investigate it. And to think that it is now a common source of medicine in the western world and the focus of large amounts of scientific research, makes it all the more important to view from many aspects. In the course we will take a look at how the system began from cultural perspective but also make the connections to modern views and scientific evaluations of its use and rationale from a subtle energy perspective. In the course I will cover basic theory of Ki energy from the standpoint of human physiology, the importance of balance as a universal law of nature and the influences the five elements and aesthetic forces have on natural phenomenon. New to the course this year is food energetics in healing philosophy and the TCM understanding of space and environmental flow of Ki energy for wellbeing and prosperity. I hope you will join me.

 

If you have questions about how this course may fit in your program, either Integral Health (LP) or Comparative Religion or Philosophy, please speak to Dr. Hope Umansky at [email protected]  

 

If you are an Integral Psychology student and are interested in taking this class, please speak with Dr. Umansky and she will review if it is compatible with your program and fulfilling your requirements.

 

Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dr. James Mattioda


Introduction to Yoga Philosophy 
Spring Quarter 2015 
By Dr. Timothy Laporte

Greetings CIHS Students!

 

In the Yogashikha Upanishad, it is written that,  "Verily, there is no merit higher than Yoga, no good higher than Yoga, no subtlety higher than Yoga; there is nothing that is higher than Yoga. (I.67)" If we limit our understanding of "Yoga" to the contemporary exercise-based practices that go by the name, this statement might strike us as superlative. Of course, if we expand our understanding of "Yoga" to include the full historical and philosophical underpinnings of the practice as it developed over the course of centuries in India, the view from the Upanishads makes more sense. Indeed, Yoga was traditionally understood as the method par excellence for transforming the spirit and realizing our true nature as pure consciousness.

 

In Introduction to Yoga Philosophy, we will delve into this rich philosophical tradition by exploring foundational texts such the Upanishads, the Samkhya Karika, the Yoga-Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita. In so doing, we will have an opportunity to read and deeply consider the accumulated wisdom from some of ancient India's most revered sages and practitioners of meditation. This will help to shed light on the contemporary practice of Yoga and will provide ample fodder for deepening your own spiritual journey.

 

In the Fall Quarter, I had the great fortune to deepen my experience, exploration, and study of the transformational discipline that is Yoga by taking pilgrimage to special locations in Japan and India. Although it was a great trip, I am always excited to return to teaching and to partake in the academic, spiritual, and personal exploration that occurs inside the classroom at CIHS. It is a privilege to teach such bright and motivated students, and I look forward to sharing some of the fruits of my study with you in a lively and engaging format. See you in the classroom!

 

[email protected]  

 

 

Research Methods for Religious Studies  
Spring Quarter 2015 
By Dr. Randy Fauver


We are excited to announce Dr. Randy Fauver's revised course offering Research Methods for Religious Studies. Dr. Fauver is passionate about helping CIHS students learn how to research and articulate what sometimes is challenging to document and conceptualize academically. Although this is a required course for CRP students, it is open to all CIHS students who may want to learn how to better research and write about spiritual matters in graduate school. Please see his description below. If you have any questions, you may email Dr. Fauver at  [email protected] 

 

 

 

Many of the spiritual growth and healing processes we learn about here at CIHS do not lend themselves easily to traditional research methodologies. It can be difficult to document the inner experiences of change and transformation that often accompany profound healing in a way that's acceptable to mainstream journals. A new course offered in the Spring Quarter will give you the opportunity to explore several types of research methods capable of providing scientifically rigorous results when addressing nontraditional research topics.  

 

The course will begin with an introduction to principles of information literacy, including how to access and effectively use a range of free online research databases. Each student will choose a topic to focus on  within the fields of religion, spirituality, or transformative process, then will explore multiple facets of that topic through a series of methodological lenses, gaining an understanding of the types of questions each kind of research is best suited to answer. The course will include both quantitative and qualitative research methods, and culminate in a brief yet detailed research proposal. The principles learned in this course will directly translate into increased understanding of research articles and increased skills in doing research in both religion and integrative medicine.    

 

 

Sound Meditation at CIHS - 2015

by Tamara Goldsby, Ph.D.

 

 

CIHS is pleased to invite you to experience wonderful sound healing meditations. Relax in the soothing sounds and vibrations produced by Tibetan singing bowls, crystal bowls, gongs, and bells. Please visit http://deepsoundmeditation.org/  for more information about sound meditations.   

 

 

 

- Sound meditations are every Wednesday from 6:30pm - 8pm at CIHS through the first Wednesday in June. A $10 donation is requested.

 

- While these gatherings are called sound meditations, the beneficial energy is created by the attendees, as well as the sound healers. We call these attendees the Bishwa Seva Community. This community is a gathering of regular meditators, yoga practitioners, experienced healers, artists, musicians, international travelers, community volunteers, conscious self-healers, and old souls.  We welcome the CIHS community at these powerful sound healing events.

 

Proceeds of the meditation events go to the Bishwa Seva Foundation (founded by master sound healer Deep Deoja) which supports a school and orphanage in Nepal:  http://bishwaseva.org/ 

 

Namaste.


 

 

 

 

 

Ajna Chakra Awakening Workshop
April 18 & 19, 2015

With Takshima, Paul & Suzee Grilley

Yoga Workshop 2012-b  

 
The primary meaning of ajna is "to know" or "knowledge," and other meanings are "command" and "obey." In the physical body, ajna chakra corresponds to the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, which controls the whole body. When this chakra is awakened, people are able to be awakened to Karana consciousness. Without awakening of this chakra, it is said that human beings cannot transcend the karmic world. Gautama Buddha awakened and realized into the purusha dimension, where he transcended the karmic world, through attaining superconsciousness, selflessness, and the true nature (self), as a result of awakening of the ajna chakra.

 

Chakras operate in two directions to karma, like two sides of the same thing; one is to function as a gate to the world in which karma is transcended, but can also be the gates through which we fall back into karma. In order to awaken ajna chakra, we must be able to separate ourselves from our emotion and imagination, and to observe things objectively. When we have awakened our ajna chakra, we will be able to control our emotions and imagination.

 

Ajna chakra functions intimately with svadhisthana chakra in the lower abdomen, and it is important to create a balance of Ki energy in upper body (ajna) and lower body (svadhisthana). When ajna is active in Ki dimension, the practitioner feels a tingling sensation between the eyebrows. The practitioner is able to see different colors in different dimensions depending upon which dimension in which the ajna chakra is active or awakened. A very deep black color may be seen when this activation takes place at the lower astral dimension, or a pale violet color if activation is occurring at the upper astral dimension, or an extremely clear shining light in the Karana dimension. When ajna chakra awakens, the practitioner is able to free their minds, be enriched in wisdom and love, and live freely to influence others altruistically.  

 

The workshop cost is the following:

$225 Early Registration by 3/28

$250 after 3/29

$180 Student Discount

$150 Individual Session with Takeshima

$30 Meditation Session on April 20 & 21

 

 Please see the workshop schedule from our website or by clicking here.

Call for Papers or Posters, CIHS' Subtle Energy Research (SER) Conference
Saturday, June 20, 2015 from 9 am -6 pm

 

 

Call for Papers or Posters, CIHS' Subtle Energy Research (SER) Conference: Saturday, June 20, 2015 from 9 am -6 pm (6 pm-730 pm social hour).

Announcing the first CIHS Student Research Conference

-SER*Talks CIHS Student Research Symposium

 

Saturday, June 20, 2015, CIHS will host the first summer student research conference, "SER-Talks," subtle energies research conference. This year, CIHS is hosting a student research conference instead of the regular subtle energy science conference. CIHS' regular subtle energy research conference will resume in 2016.

 

This is a formal call for presentations (20 minute talks) and poster presentations (less formal, usually single or bi-fold posters).

 

This is an exciting opportunity for the students, alumni, and community. SER*Talks will be a one-day dynamic event. The day will focus on CIHS students presenting their research projects or topics of interest. Both current and graduated CIHS students are encouraged to present and participate. All current CIHS students are strongly recommended to submit and present/participate. The day will be launched by Paul J. Mills, PhD, Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine and of Psychiatry at UC San Diego, Director of the newly established UC San Diego Center of Excellence for Research and Training in Integrative Health and CIHS affiliate, and a wrap-up by Thomas Brophy, PhD, CIHS' Integral Sciences Consultant. Hope Umansky, PhD, CIHS Dean of Academic Affairs will be facilitating the event.

 

The focus is on creating a space of dialogue and inquiry around all aspects of subtle energies research and related studies, with a view toward creating the global reach for these studies that we envision as a primary community of scholar-practitioners. It is our aim to foster meaningful exchange within our community in order to better understand the ways we use subtle energies studies to catalyze effective change. For this purpose subtle energies research is broadly defined to include laboratory research and/or theoretical studies related to the mind-body problem, Integral/integrative studies, consciousness studies, energy or clinical psychology, health and essentially all the conventional and trans-conventional topics covered in CIHS programs. The conference format will be primarily a series of 20-minute talks. Please strive for concise, tightly phrased fast-paced talks. (Hence, our title "SER*Talks" alludes to the format of the well-known "TED-talks".) Those who prefer not to give an oral presentation but want to display substantive work they are doing/have done may submit for a poster presentation, and a section of time at the conference will be dedicated to poster presentations. The poster presentations will be displayed throughout the day in the conference hall and the back classrooms.

 

At this time, we will begin accepting presentation proposals. The submission deadline for proposals is April 15, 2015. Proposals should be in a single document that is single spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font and include:

  • A note whether you are proposing an oral or poster presentation.
  • A 200-250 word abstract of your proposed presentation along with a title, your contact information and any institutional affiliation (if additional to CIHS).
  • A one-page outline which details the organization of your presentation. Include the specific topics and subtopics you plan to cover as well as any experiential exercises and multimedia elements you plan to include.
  • Please include a 100 word or less biography of yourself.
  • Please save the document as "yourlastname.firstname.SERproposal.doc"

 

The conference will be free to all students, presenters, and CIHS faculty, and open to the public for a small admission fee. Accepted presenters/participants, who are current students, will also have the option to register for the event as a 2-unit academic course. To complete it as a 2-unit course, in addition to successfully presenting and attending all presentations, a formal double-spaced scholarly article shall be produced based on the work (min 2,500 words to a 10,000 word max, depending on program degree level). This article will be based on your presentation and the context of the conference and will be due June 30, 2015. Conference abstracts, bios, and completed for-credit papers will be published on a CIHS web-based research forum as well.

 

We are excited to see the work that you are doing. Many of you already have an established presence of influence and are conducting meaningful work toward interpersonal, spiritual, community, and global change. As you know, we are an inclusive and diverse community, and we are open to seeing your work. If you feel your work is "not big enough" for a talk, then please submit for a poster presentation that can be one board or bi-fold (or however you choose to fill a poster-sized presentation space). This is an exciting opportunity to participate in the academic process of submitting and attending a conference. You can also then put this experience on your CV. For those students or community members who simply want to attend as a participant, this will be a casual day of relevant dynamic research, an "in-view" of CIHS' student work, and camaraderie/networking. There will be food trucks coming for lunch and dinner (including vegetarian/gluten free options). We know our community!

 

Please kindly direct any questions to  [email protected] 

 

Please email your proposal to Hope Umansky at  [email protected] and Thomas Brophy at the above address.

 

Subject line: SER Talk Proposal 2015

 

The deadline for all submissions is April 15, 2015.

 

We are excited about this opportunity for the community.

 

Happy Proposing!

 

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Brophy and Dr. Umansky


Announcing New Speaker Events
Lunch and Learn

Mission Statement:

To educate, integrate and expand our scope of knowledge in a group setting

 

Call to Action: Bring your friends, colleagues and patients

 

 

 

April 22nd = Michelle Dexter - Title to be announced by Michelle

 

July 22nd = Christine Peterson Microbiome for the practitioner and the Lay-Person - Answering what you need to know

 

Oct. 21st = History & Research - Debunking the myth of Medical Thermal Imaging