The School of Spiritual Psychology
Spirit Healing Program
The
School of Spiritual Psychology is a center of learning and research designed to
benefit society as a whole by fostering care for soul and spirit in individual
life in conjunction with the renewal of culture as the meeting point between
the human heart and the world. This enterprise focuses on more than technical
training, intellectual comprehension, or individual inner development of a
private nature. The programs and activities of the School serve the formation
of capacities for consciously experiencing qualities of soul and spirit in
oneself, in the profession and work one practices, in home life, community, and
in the larger world. The School has been in operation since 1992 and serves
people from all walks of life. In 2004, the School moved to a new Center in
Benson, North Carolina, near Raleigh. The School operates a program in Sacred
Service, a program in the Sacred Art of Wisdom, offers a Master of Arts degree
program in Spiritual Psychology, and Caritas – Caring for Our Dead. The School’s website is www.spiritualschool.org The School
also publishes a semi-annual online journal, www.sophiajournal.org
The
concept of a center of learning and research implies that the School of
Spiritual Psychology is a community of learners, that faculty as well as
students, are participants in learning rather than givers and receivers of
information. Insight, newness, discovery and transformation characterize the
action of a center of learning and research. The faculty are more than teachers
who direct the student’s progress in knowledge; they are themselves
lifelong learners and researchers into the realms of soul and spirit with an
intense interest in the practical applications of working in the world with
such an outlook.
The
particular approach to questions of soul and spirit taken by the School of
Spiritual Psychology derives from the depth psychology of C. G. Jung, the
archetypal psychology, and the spiritual science of Rudolf Steiner. However, it
is phenomenological methodology that guides the work of the School. Developing
the capacity to be present to experience and becoming capable of describing not
only experiential states, but also thinking descriptively rather than
theoretically or analytically forms the basis for all the work of the
School.
This
program does not purport to train professional healers. It does widen and
deepen the outlook and capacities of those who are healers and prepares those who
have such abilities and have not utilized them. In addition, the intention of
the program is to foster the development of new capacities of sensing,
perceiving, and knowing the body, to engage in meditative practices that bring
about the ability to be present to the more subtle aspects of embodiment, and
to develop practices of self-healing, and a healing presence to family,
friends, and those in need who ask for help. Each session focuses on three
central aspects of healing --- knowledge, developing meditative capacities, and
practices of healing.
The
healing knowledge that guides this course is founded in the view of the human
body developed by Rudolf Steiner. He developed Anthroposophical Medicine,
giving many training seminars to doctors and nurses. This knowledge is
available and the course develops a view of the physical and subtle bodies of
the human being that is needed in spirit healing. We also develop a clear and
precise sense of spirit and the spirit beings of healing --- what they are, how
to develop connection with such beings. This knowledge base is supplemented in
the course with an understanding of the way that resonance works at the
physical and subtle levels of the body. The healing knowledge also focuses on
the homeopathic tradition, not in its technical details, but through an
understanding of the forces at work. And, the knowledge base of this course
considers the spiritual healing of Hildegard of Bingen as an exemplar of spirit
healing, providing practices that we can readily take up.
The
meditative practices for healing establish the capacity to be in alignment, to
be present in the heart, and through the heart to be present to others, both
those who are present and those at a distance. We learn how to find and enter
into deep silence, the primary requisite to be present to the spirit worlds. We
emphasize practices of developing skills of true imagination needed for
healing, and meditative practices for the concentration of healing forces. We
work with self-healing and with the healing power of prayer. And we develop the
right relation of virtues, laws, and powers that concern the purification of
the soul life necessary to practice healing in a selfless manner.
The
healing practices follow directly from the knowledge base and the meditative
practices. The primary practice concerns learning to be a proper vessel through
which the healing forces can work. Further, it is necessary to be fully in
connection with very specific beings while engaged in healing and to know what
those qualities of spirit activity feel like. The specific practices of being
in connection with the unconditional and universal forces of Love which flow
from the Christ, from Mary, and from specific angels are developed, for it is
these powers of healing that differentiate our approach to spirit healing from
other kinds of healing practices.
The
program is a two-year course of studies, taught in five-day blocks, three times
a year for two years. The class meets in the fall, winter and spring each of
the two years.
The
first session works with defining
spirit healing, differentiating this form of healing from psychic healing and
other forms of healing such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch and various forms of energy
healing. The Anthroposophical understanding of the body is introduced, focusing
on constitution, the fourfold human being, and the three systems of the body.
Meditative work in this session develops the capacities of imagination needed
for healing work and meditative practices for healing through the heart. We
also learn to enter into the realm of Silence. The practices of this session focus on self-healing.
The
second session develops the
understanding of disease tendencies resulting from an imbalance of the three
systems of the body. We also present the relationship between diseases of
inflammation and those of degeneration.
We focus on the healing power of the liver, of the rhythmic system, and
in particular the healing power of the “I”, of the individual
spirit. The meditative work focuses on developing the capacity to be more
sensitive to our body and to our organs through developing the body senses. We
also work with exercises to strengthen the healing capacity of the
“I”. The practices of this session work with being a healing
presence to others and with developing capacities of imagination needed in
distance healing work.
The
third session works with readings
from the medical writings of Rudolf Steiner; we find their relevance to spirit
healing. We become accustomed to thinking of illness as imbalance rather than
being invaded by a virus or bacteria. We explore various illnesses as described
by Spiritual Science and begin to work toward experiencing the body as systems
of forces, and ultimately, as the ongoing presence of spirit activity. The
meditative work concentrates on further aspects of distance healing and on
further aspects of heart meditation utilized in healing. The practices explore
entering into prayer as a powerful healing modality, and how to be present
within the living action of the words of prayer. We do further work with
Silence.
The
fourth session enters the more
subtle realms of healing currents, describing the nature of these currents and
how the tradition of homeopathic healing exists within the spiritual stream of
a Christian and Rosicrucian alchemy. We learn to enter into the subtle currents
existing within the larger world and begin to experience all things as healers
when such currents can be felt. The meditative practices center on experiencing
such currents within the body and to feel resonance within the body. The
practices consist of making simple homeopathic remedies and developing the
capacities to describe the inner healing experience.
The
fifth session is devoted to
spirit healing as practiced by Hildegard of Bingen, a brilliant spiritual
healer who lived 850 years ago, in the twelfth century, and whose practices are
now becoming available. Her approach to healing, which we will begin to
practice, focuses on the relation of soul forces to healing and the necessity
of exploring the inner world of virtue in relation to each specific illness. We
see how closely her understanding of the human body parallels that of
anthroposophic medicine, and how the latter can be utilized to update the
former. The meditative practices focus on entering the worlds of the virtues
and vices, how to feel and experience these forces without any judgment, but
rather, as with anthroposopical healing, feel the significant relation between
the state of the emotional soul and illness. The practices work with the
healing power of the vibrations of crystals and minerals as described by
Hildegard in relation to specific illnesses. We work with homeopathic
preparations of crystals to illustrate the working of this form of healing
work.
The
sixth session continues the focus
of the spirit healing of Hildegard of Bingen, showing how this is an example of
a the way in which spirit and nature coalesce as a result of the power of the
universal Christ and Mary’s love as it exists in the world. We work
specifically with the art and practice of connecting with specific angels in
doing any healing. And, we consider how other spirits and guides are part of
spirit healing and how to make connection with them. We show that spirit
healing does not require adherence to any institutional religion, but rather a
more full descriptive presence to the world. We return to the healing power of
prayer and reconsider prayer in the light of the previous sessions. We then focus
on practical aspects of healing such as how to introduce healing to those who
adhere strongly to standard medical practice. We also consider the ethics of
healing.
**********
Between
each session, students are required to practice given meditations and to work
with each aspect of healing as it is developed during the course. Written
descriptions of healing work are required. Part of each session is devoted to
developing the ability to describe experience in a careful and disciplined way,
not allowing abstract concepts to take the place of the unfolding of
experience.
Students
are required to do and present the results of:
l. Two instances of self-healing
2.
Two instances of healing at a distance
3.
Two instance of healing with someone
4.
Two instances of healing through prayer
5.
Two instances of healing through working with the virtues
The
course does not intend to produce professional healers. The primary purpose is
to show, through practice and experience, that healing is one of the most basic
of gifts of the spiritual world. We are not typically present to this gift
because we are born into a culture of abstraction, particularly when it comes
to the body and to medicine. When worked with over time, the material and
practices of this course help us to re-enter, now consciously, the gift of the
healing of love, practiced in very particular ways.
The
primary faculty are Robert Sardello, Ph.D. and Cheryl Sanders, Ph.D. Other adjunct
faculty join in particular sessions as needed.
Robert
Sardello, Ph.D. is co-founder of
The School of Spiritual Psychology, which began in 1992. He is author of Facing the World
with Soul, Love and the
Soul (re-issued as Love and
the World), Freeing the
Soul from Fear, and The
Power of Soul: Living the Twelve Virtues. He is also co-founder
and faculty member of The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, author of
over 200 articles in scholarly journals and cultural publications, and was on
the faculty of The Chalice of Repose Project in Missoula, Mt. Having developed spiritual psychology
from over 35 years of research in this discipline, as well as holding positions
in two renown Universities, he is now an independent teacher and scholar teaching
all over the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., as well as in The Czech Republic, the
Philippines and Australia. He is a
consultant to many educational and cultural institutions, as well as
dissertation advisor at Pacifica Graduate Institute, Union Institute, Greenwich
University, and Prescott College.
Cheryl
L. Sanders, Ph.D. is co-founder
of The School of Spiritual Psychology and specializes in the spiritual
psychology of the senses, and is currently completing a book in this area with
an emphasis in healing of the senses.
Her work ranges from the necessity for keeping the senses healthy in
children to the development of the spiritual senses in maturity. She is a former addictions counselor
and has worked extensively with women and children as well as adolescence in
addictions, education and healing.
She teaches with The School all over the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., and
has also taught in Holland, Australia and the Philippines. She has published articles and
introductions on the senses in books, journals and magazines, as well as
monographs of presentations made at the Sophia Conferences given by The School
between 1995 and 2000.
Tuition
for the two years of the program in Spirit Healing is
$4,000.00. An additional $50.00
non-refundable application fee must be sent in with the application. A non-refundable deposit of $500.00 is
due upon acceptance into the program.
The remaining tuition of $3,500.00 is due before the opening of the
first week of the course, or a payment contract can be signed upon approval to
split payment in 2, 4 or 6 segments.
The School of Spiritual Psychology makes a commitment to the people who
enter into the program, part of which involves relying on the tuition for the program
in exchange for the preparation and teaching time of the faculty. If refunds are requested or non-payment
occurs, the entire program is put in jeopardy. If accepted, please consider this a commitment for the
entire two years of your class.
Tuition
does not include room and board fees, which are paid separately and for each
session. Room and board for each
session is $375.00. All rooms are double, in the very comfortable Center For
Spiritual Psychology which is located
on fourteen acres with a pond and a swimming pool.
The
Spirit Healing Program is held at the Spiritual Psychology Center located in
Benson, North Carolina. Benson is an easy forty minute drive from Raleigh where
there is a major international airport. Benson is also located at the
intersection of interstate hi-way 95 and interstate hi-way 40, and thus easy
driving distance from north-soul and east-west.
The
Spirit Healing Program meets on the following dates:
November 3 - 8, 2005
February 23 - 28, 2006
May 25 -
30, 2006
September 14 - 19, 2006
February 22 - 27, 2007
April 5 - 10, 2007
The sessions begin Thursday evening and end Sunday at
noon.
A
formal application is required and must include the following items:
1.
A transcript from
undergraduate and graduate institutions.
(A graduate degree is not required)
2.
A letter of personal
reference, with particular emphasis on applicants abilities for study sent to:
The School of Spiritual Psychology
P.O. Box 7
Benson, North Carolina 27504
3.
A one page personal
biography with an emphasis on the development of
your interests in healing and prior
training and experiences.
4.
A non-refundable $50
application fee. This fee is not part of the tuition.
Send
Application to:
The School of Spiritual Psychology
P.O. Box 7
Benson, North Carolina 27504