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What’s in the Pot?45th Annual IHLRN Conference

Prague, Czech RepublicSeptember/October 2014

Join us for conference #46!! ! ! October 24 - November 1, 2015Lake Junaluska, NC

This was the first time in 30 years that I missed a conference – and I really missed it! It helped that they seemed to miss me! I intend to be there next year at Lake Junaluska, just outside Asheville, NC for October 24 – November 1. To be in the Great Smokey Mountains at peak autumn leaf season sounds like a dream. All the conference information in now up on our web page IHLRN.org. Please share this with your friends and colleagues and help grow IHLRNThe information is up on our website: www.IHLRN.org Please share this information with your friends and colleagues; word of mouth has proven the best way to grow our IHLRN family!

ihlrn.org

Yes! We were in Prague!

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1970! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (1)1971! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (2)1972! Sarasota, Florida (1)1973! Naples, Florida1974! Venture Inn, Palm Springs, California1975! Maui, Hawaii1976! Ishcia, Italy1977! Coolfont Conference Center, Berkeley Springs, W.VA1978! Aspen, CO1979! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (3)1980! Several Hotels in Menton, France1981! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (4)1982! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (5)1983! Sheraton-Molokai, Molokai, HI1984! Esalen Insitute, Big Sur, CA1985! Hotel Libertas, Sveti Stefan, Yugoslavia1986! Biltmore Hotel & Resort, Palm Springs, CA (1)1987! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (6)1988! Rarotonga, Cook Islands1989! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (7)1990! Ramada Resort Hotel, Palm Springs, CA (2) 1991! Hotel Dom Joao II, Portimao, Portugal (1)1992! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (8)

1993! Longboat Key Hilton, Sarasota, FL (2)1994! Haven-By-the Sea, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada (1)1995! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (9)1996! Hotel Dom Joao II, Portimao, Portugal (2)1997! Haven-By-the-Sea, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada (2)1998! Longboat Key Hilton, Sarasota, FL (3)1999! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (10)2000! Renaissance Antayla Beach resort & Spa, Turkey2001! Radisson Poco Diablo Resort, Sedona, AZ2002! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (11)2003! Bethel Inn & Country Club, Bethel, ME2004! Barcelo Maya Beach Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico2005! The Dana at Mission Bay, San Diego, CA2006! The Crossings, Austin, TX2007! Sueno Azul Resort,, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica2008! Ashland Springs Hotel, Ashland, OR2009! Hacienda Vista Hermosa, Morelos, Mexico (12)2010! Sebasco Harbor Resort, Sebasco, Maine2011! The Grand Hotel, Tours, France2012! The Dana, San Diego, CA2013! Granlibaken, Lake Tahoe, CA2014! Prague, Czech Republic

IHLRN Board Members

Men Curtiss DurandBill RollerRon NelsonBob Whitten !Rich Dunham

Women Brenda ParmeleeLois GoldSandra FoxNada FeketeovaJoanne KennedyLinda LevitonVivian Nelson

EXECUTIVE (Ex Officio)Bob Whitten, ChairLois GoldLinda LevitonRon NelsonM.A. Bjarkman

SCHOLARSHIPJoanne Kennedy, ChairSondra FoxCindy RosnerWalter Zahnd

SITE SELECTIONPeter Venewitz, ChairSondra FoxLois GoldAdele Rugg

IHLRN ARCHIVAL TEAMJohnny Faulkner, ChairMichele BaldwinRichard KennedyBecky SpitzerPeter Vennewitz

MEMBER CONTACT M.A. Bjarkman, Co-ChairRon Nelson, Co-ChairMickey FriedmanLois GelbmanLois GoldDiana HallHarvey LewisVivian NelsonMaria Rosa Reifler

Conference CoordinatorM.A. Bjarkman !

WEB DEVELOPMENTLois Gold, ChairBob McGareyMartha Teeter

Editor of What’s In The Pot?M.A.Bjarkman

Graphic ArtistJanet Bernson

IHLRN Sites over 45 Years!!!

Committees

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IHLRN GETS AROUND!Dear Friends and IHLRNers All,

Yes, IHLRN does get around, and wherever we go we meet new friends and are joined by new members. Never was that more obvious than in Prague last fall. We heard of the amazing achievements and important contributions which five members of the Slovak and Czech Satir Institutes are making in their communities and beyond: Rebeka, Olga, and Hana were presented Outstanding Service Awards. We found that language does not necessarily create barriers but rather provides the enjoyment of finding even more basic ways of sharing and connecting. We were

wondrously reminded that long before any of us learned to use words that we were marvelous communicators. We learned together; we ate together; we laughed together; and we explored together.

I wish that everyone could have taken part in the plenary by Steve and Michael on the Satir Mandala or joined in the workshop by Rebeka on “Dog’s Congruence—Satir Methods with Animals.” The evening spent with Josef Holub, Eva’s father, as he told of living under communism and emerging into self-governance and the free market was heart-warming.

From different cultures and different languages we forged community. We all basked in the excellent energy that seemed to grow day after day. It was pointed out on Saturday morning that something was occurring that had never happened before and probably never will again, namely, at no Temperature Reading throughout the week had anyone registered a complaint -- with or without recommendations. Who would have figured!

I know that Prague was all we had hoped it would be. The cultural enticements worried some that these would draw people away from the conference and siphon off energy. Many did take advantage of opera, concert, ballet, theater, not to mention the street performers. However, participation and

energy remained high.

Now we look forward to the Great Smoky Mountains as we gather at the fresh and healthy environs of Lake Junaluska, a beautiful Conference Center, just west of Asheville, built around a large, clear lake. I hope to see you there and receive all of the hugs you can give.

Now, can someone give me one more of those crisp, sugary PRAGUE street pastries?

Bob Whitten, President

A letter from our President, Bob Whitten

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Conference Presentations 2014

MondayCeremony for Outstanding Service Awards

Our conference in Prague was exponentially enriched at our first session on Monday when three Outstanding Service Awards were presented by Virginia Satir Global Network. As Hana Scibranyova, president of the Slovak Satir Institute, described the remarkable contributions of Rebeka Trepacova, Nada Feteketova, and Olga Nemcova each were presented with an award for distinguished service. We all grew increasingly appreciative as we heard of the contributions these women have made to their communities and of the influence which Virginia still makes in their countries and other far-flung areas of the world.

Rebeka was honored as an exceptional therapist and exquisite teacher. She serves as director of a two year training program for people in the helping professions.

Nada was honored as a trainer, supervisor and therapist in the Satir Growth Model. She is a long-term advocate for children and works to save them from abuse. Together with Walter Zahnd, she transcribed and edited his meditations in a book which was released at the World Satir Conference of 2007.

Olga is a renowned therapist who has improved family life in her surrounding community and workplace. Dr.Nemcova provides leadership in the governmental licensing process through the Ministry of Healthcare of the Slovak Republic for Satir Growth Model therapists.

Learning of the accomplishments of these outstanding women assured that this conference would be one of the finest we have conducted. We were thrilled to meet and learn of these giants in ! the world Satir community.Thank You

Nada & Eva for bringing

us to Prague!

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PLENARY

Working with Triads/Forming Triads for the ConferenceBill Roller

B i l l i n t r oduced t he theoretical basis/concept of the triad relationship. The presentation was done both in English and Czech languages. This being the very first of the conference presentations, Bill reviewed the history of the development of the triad concept and Virginia Satir’s contribution to its development. Virginia believe that for a child, the triad bonding with father and mother was essential in the child’s development and could explain much w h e n a c h i l d ’ s development went astray.

Video Presentation of Virginia in RussiaWalter Zahnd

This film from the first visit to Russia by Virginia Satir; edited and includes enhanced audio and video. The film shows how Virginia managed to humanize her message and communicate through a Russian Language interpreter.  Virginia skillfully works with a family in creating a new awareness of each others’ needs and strengths. She introduces to the Russians the dynamics of

treating the family as a unit in therapy. The foundations of this conference are the Virginia Satir family therapy concepts so it is a primer for workshops to follow. Walter Zahnd was present with Virginia on her trip and presentations in the Soviet Union.  

WORKSHOPS

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Nonviolent Communication – a path to becoming congruentLiv Monroe

With stories and examples from the participants Liv shared the basic assumptions of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) which are very similar to the basics of Satir’s teachings:1. We all have basic needs we are trying to meet.2. We look for our similarities in order to connect. One basic human

similarity is that we all have the same needs.3. Rather than determining who is right and who is wrong be,

curious and look for the positive intention under each person’s actions, aka the human motivators or needs. !

4. When Furious, change just one letter and become Curious.5. NVC is a consciousness and not about using a particular process

or specific words, however, Liv suggested a process and use of certain words to practice in order to get to the NVC consciousness.

6. NVC is about being conscious of one’s own needs and courageous enough to live accordingly.Liv’s class was lively with direct practice for all who attended. Just remember: “If it is worth doing it is worth doing poorly.”NVC is not about changing what others do. It is about understanding and growing compassion—about really getting another person. It’s about getting to know and accept oneself. It’s so much easier to try to change the other person.We practiced various ways of listening. When we wear our NVC ears we never hear criticism or blame, only the needs of the other person. We also never blame or criticize ourselves—no easy feat. We practiced transforming blame of self and others into connecting with what is important to the other person and ourselves.

"The Dance With Self-Esteem"Jana Rebeka Trepacova and Valika Hudakova

They invited us to experience something using only ourselves, time and some space. We were asked to express ourselves with dance. Nice, gentle music spread through the room and we should find our own unique way for how we would like to express ourselves through body movement. Next we were asked to look around and connect with somebody we were attracted to and dance together for a while. Then we were asked to try to connect with somebody we were afraid of or were not attracted to (according his/her body movements) and dance together. Then we all danced together, trying to observe our uniquenesses, similarities and differences.... At the end we split into triads and shared our experiences followed by sharing in the whole group.

It was a very pleasant experience. The workshop brought about connections through the body and with the body....it spoke without words, which was a great experience especially for those Slovaks and Czechs who did not speak English and also for those Americans who did not speak Slovak or Czech. 

The Therapist Professional Will - if not now, when?Ann Steiner

The therapist professional will is an ethical requirement of every mental health discipline. By having a professional will, participants protect themselves, their patients, associates and family from the difficulties caused by unexpected illness, absences and death. Creating a team or emergency response team is clinically valuable and meets the ethic requirements when part of a professional will provides appropriate backup for when needed. A portion of the workshop was given with a power point presentation.

We gained increased understanding of the trauma caused by abandonment of a patient when therapist dies.

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Sharing Experiences about VirginiaHarvey Wasserman

I shared experiences of the deep pain and suffering Virginia experienced when her current boyfriend was unfaithful to her at an IHLRN meeting. I also discussed with Virginia her futile desire to save the world herself. This resulted in her having a sleepless night filled with suicidal thoughts. I encouraged her to take more time enjoying herself, and for god’s sake come with me on a wilderness adventure. She always signed up for them and then cancelled to do more workshops. I observed Virginia projecting healing energy from her body when working with patients. Although she had always been open and communicative with me, she refused to reply to my question, why she did not talk about this. I can only speculate that

this was too unconventional for her to publicly share.

PLENARYDysfunctional Bonding in Primary Triads: What is important in Satir Family TherapyHana Scibranyova, and Nadezda Feketeova!We began with the explanation of what a primary triad is and how communication impacts the relationships in family systems. Communication is to relationships as breathing is to life. A primary bonding example is mother/ child. Mother is the source of nourishment, love, trust, respect, stability and safety. The continuity in variability of stimulus, visual, auditive, etc. fills the longing and yearnings of a child including safety, security, love, acknowledgement, acceptance, belonging, freedom, choices, to be meaningful whole, creativity and perspective.

A secondary bonding example is the child/father who claims his child and supports and collaborates with the mother in mothering. He supports his child in separation and creating relationships with the outside

world.

The presenters explained that in therapy you begin by exploring the basic triad’s 1) relationships, 2) stances-when coping with stress 3) process of inclusion and exclusion from triad, 4) bondings. Following the power point presentation the presenters formed triads with the participants and we played various roles in triad to demonstrate dysfunctional bonding.

Conference Presentations: TUESDAY

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Enriching your Relationship with Yourself and OthersGundolf StrehlThis session was based on work of Sharon Loeschen and Margarita Suarez who modified a skill set for therapists into a form that could be used by the general public. Gundolf created a psycho-education program based on the philosophical assumption that people are miracles and worthy of love, have an internal spirit, are capable of change and connect on the basis of their similarities and grow on the basis of their differences. The six core skills are: Making Contact, Validating, Becoming Aware, Opening to Greater Understanding and Acceptance, Making Conscience Choices and Seeking and Giving Support. Gundolf led the group through exercises to experience some of the skills. His unique exercises were energizing and meaningful for the participants. The value of this workshop lay in showing a template to approach teaching the greater population on how to benefit from current knowledge of what is dysfunctional and how it might change. Gundolf provided a fresh and original approach to help the participants look at their approach to relationships in an engaging way.

Dogs’ Congruence: Satir Methods with AnimalsRebeka TrepačováThis workshop comes from Rebeka`s personal experience with working with dogs in therapy. She presented 3 videos which showed us how similar the relationship is between mother and child both in people and in dogs.!

In first video she showed the bonding between mother dog and her puppy. We tried to find similar points in human and animals bonding.

In the second video she showed bonding with her dogs and the family, especially her dog’s sensitivity to human and dogs‘ needs. She told a story about one client who had a phobia of dogs. Her dog was very sensitive about

how close to come to the client. After few hours of therapy client said now dog can come closer and shortly after that the client came to the dog and began to pet the dog. The client was cured of her dog phobia.

In the third video she showed us how a young puppy can know what to do to comfort a dying older dog.

Rebeka encouraged us to think about using animals in our life and work as therapists. We liked this workshop very much. One person said it helped him see how to bond with his son, and another person understood better how his father was able to bond with dogs and not so well with his children. And another noticed that animals can teach humans how to bond with their babies instead of always looking at their electronics.

WORKSHOPS

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How to Achieve a Peaceful, Gentle PassingPeter Vennewitz

Only four countries (Belgium, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Switzerland) and five states (Oregon, Washington, Vermont, Montana, and New Mexico) allow physician assisted hastening of death. All require physician involvement and dealing with bureaucracy. More importantly, many persons do not legally qualify for the service even though they may have a very low quality of life due to chronic disease, pain, a progressive health condition (e.g., ALS), or progressive brain deterioration due to dementia or Alzheimer's disease. The choices for these persons are few if they are to avoid using violent means to

end or avoid needless suffering.

An organization that provides information and support, but not assistance, is the Final Exit Network (FEN). FEN provides its members with information on how to use helium gas to achieve a gentle, peaceful, quick, and certain death. Free of charge FEN provides guides to offer information and emotional support to the person and person's family before, during, and after a final exit. Information about FEN may be found at www.finalexitnetwork.org. The helium method is described in the books:The Final Exit by Derek Humphreys and A Way to Die, Methods for a Self-Chosen and Humane Death by Boudewijn Chabot. These books also provide information on how to hasten death by stopping eating and drinking, and about many drugs which are ineffective at hastening death. Curious IHLRNers may get additional information from Peter by emailing him at riversong41@gmail.com, or by calling or texting 971-409-2331.

How To Be Happy: A Conversation on the Unknown Teachings of Lao TzuRon Nelson

The ego says that the world is vast and that the particles which form it are tiny. When tiny particles join, it says, the vast world appears. When the vast world disperses, it says, tiny particles appear.The ego is entranced by all these names and ideas, but the subtle truth is that world and particle are the same; neither one vast, neither one tiny. Every thing is equal to every other thing. Names and concepts only block our perception of this Great Oneness.Therefore, it is wise to ignore them.Those who live inside their egos are continually bewildered: they struggle frantically to know whether things are large or small, whether or not there is a purpose to joining or dispersing, whether the universe is blind and mechanical or the divine creation of a conscious being.In reality there are no grounds for having beliefs or making comments about such things. Look behind them instead, and you will discern the deep, silent, complete truth of the Tao. Embrace it, and your bewilderment vanishes.While we all agreed that this was interesting and indeed felt right, we also agreed it is not easy to practice. We all do many things we think will make us happy. And some indeed do. Many others do not. Oh, to be able to tell the difference!

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A Human Story on a Historical Background.Joseph Holub

We were treated to a visit by Eva’s father, Josef, who told his life story to the group. He talked about life under communism. Even now he is well informed and interested in the current political happenings. He was 5 years when the communists took their farm and home from them and imprisoned his father (because he refused to give them all of his land and animals). He was without home and father all of his childhood and he became a miner at 14 (the only option he had with his family history). Only after he excelled as a miner was he allowed to study, and he became a lawyer. As a lawyer he became involved in the returns and privatization of the real estate after the revolution and he talked a lot about the changes in the legal system from communism to democracy.

PLENARYNew Approaches to Gain Health:Harvey WassermanHarvey taught “Unswitching”, a technique to heal distortion in our nervous system, including communication between the two hemispheres of the brain that results in fatigue and symptoms s i m i l a r t o d e p r e s s i o n . “Switching” is caused by deep and chronic pain and despair. It can be reversed by stimulating the appropriate acupuncture points and moving arms and legs on opposite sides of the body al ternately ( “cross-crawling”). Then he demonstrated that feeling the major emotions sequentially in the mind and body, and discharging them through sound, can have profound healing effects. This experience was reinforced by the music track called “Green is Here” from the CD “Sky of Mind” by Ray Lynch.Harvey also demonstrated that two people correctly stimulating the third eye can produce a beautiful state called communion. Communion is a state of feeling in contact with and safety with another human, without a single word needing to be said.

EVENING

Conference Presentations: WEDNESDAY

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Identity Coaching Eva Wieprecht

Eva has created a format for identity coaching from three models she has studied: Generative Trance, developed by Stephen Gilligan; Hypno-systemic therapy by Gunther Schmidt; and the Satir Model. She operates with the assumption that reality gets constructed through our filter such as family and cultural values, our ego states get activated when moving toward a goal: we have the resources we need: all manifestations of our life energy (physical beings) are connected to the Universal energy, we have the possibility of transformation.Eva demonstrated a format for identity coaching, how to do “Competency Showering” and how to integrate ego states or multiple personalities. This is very useful for anyone interested in developing a different approach to managing or treating clients struggling for an identity.

A Transformational Grounding ExerciseHarvey Wasserman

Transformational grounding is a profoundly effective technique in relieving and healing anxiety in any form. It consists of massaging an acupressure point just medial to the base of the big toe bone, then very slowly rotating one joint at a time, the ankle, the knee the hip on one leg, then repeating on the other leg. Completing the exercise with a flat rotation of the pelvis on the base of the spine, very slowly, or by rocking the pelvis gently and very slowly at the base of the spine.People who are in touch with their bodies, at each

stage feel a remarkable state of peace and calm in their minds, and sometimes a sense of wellbeing in the body, and/or tingling in the body. Even people who don’t feel cerebral effects during the exercises have to admit they feel remarkably relaxed at the end. People feel incredibly grounded through their feet. Positive posture and an increased feeling of lightness is often also experienced. When practiced regularly twice a day, people have noticed great improvement in anxiety, but also in other characterological traits such as self-esteem. On some occasions, somatic illnesses have improved, occasionally with dramatic results.Occasionally, deeply buried traumatic experiences will surface. Some of these are mild to moderate and are immediately available to psychotherapy. Others may be on rare occasions so intense that they require serious psychotherapeutic attention.

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PLENARY Universals of Satir Mandala Steve Buckbee and Michael Dupont

S t e v e a n d M i c h a e l c r e a t e d a presentation that had the energy and humor of a professional comic act, but they used the Virginia Satir change process as the glue that binds the d iss imi lar par ts in to in tegrated meaningful message. To an observer, the program was smart, fast paced, laced with humor about their size (larger than life) and engaging. We quickly come to adore these men and likewise their message.

Conference Presentations: FRIDAY

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This is a program that has been in the making for several years and is e v i d e n t b y h o w s m o o t h l y i t f l o w s between the two men. Originally designed for subs tance abuse rs , they are now taking it to a larger audience. They quote Satir “Once human being has arrived on the earth, communication is the largest single factor determining what kinds of relationships he or she makes with others and what happens to him in the world about him.

While Steve and Michael’s act is unique to them, the program shows that being original with how you present your therapy message can be both fun and effective if you match the message to the audience.

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Dance Journey to Self: a Satir model exploration in and through movementEva WieprechtThis was a guided 60 minute session (accompanied with music) to create an open space for movement, exploration, healing and integration. Participants danced to selected music dance in free form. First with GROUNDING, move through STATUS QUO, a NEW ELEMENT presents itself, let go of the old and move through CHAOS. This is done as a centered, grounded and fun experience. In the phase of NEW PRACTICES, the participants are open to movement and at least three new movements with others. The final step leads to a NEW STATUS QUO where we experience a dance of integration, new commitment and sense of a positive future. Final movement is into a CIRCLE to realize with appreciation that we have taken this journey with a community in contact with others.We learned the basic structure of the Satir Change process through movement, how to safely and successfully move through change in Dance and Create Positive Body Memory Related to Change, to reframe Chaos to a pleasurable experience, and to safely connect with self and others through body movement

Iceberg to Human KaleidoscopeWalter ZahndThis workshop presented the evolution of Virginia Satir’s thinking about an individual’s intra-psychic process for what was once called the Human Iceberg to the Human Kaleidoscope. The workshop traced the development of the Iceberg metaphor that was presented in 1983 to her view of a person as she wrote about it in the “New Peoplemaking” published in 1988. She wrote when she saw an individual it was like she was looking into a tunnel and she could see the light even if they could not. She went on to describe how she nurtured this light within the person. The workshops after her death then focused on the Presentation of the Human Kaleidoscope developed when the Human Kaleidoscope was used in practice, including validating the individuals positive intention and connecting with the sacredness of the individual. Discussion included the implications for effective therapy and anchoring change.

Transformation Visualization and Pass-Through TherapyHarvey Wasserman“Pass-Through Therapy” requires each participant to imagine some positive personality trait that they would like to develop. Then they are to find some person who fully embodies this trait. Then, with their eyes closed, they picture this person one step in front of them. They step forward into that same spot with their own bodies. They allow the positivity they long for to completely surround them and completely penetrate every tissue, cell, space and organ in their bodies. They stand there, hands hanging at their sides, breathing deeply, knees slightly bent, until they have accepted all the nourishment they can absorb. Then they step backwards, taking as much positivity with them as they can.!The “Transformational Visualization” starts with a series of visualizations of each of the body’s chakras in their respective identity and color: Base chakra in red, spelling SURVIVE; Second chakra, the word POWER in orange; Third chakra, the word GOOD, as in a good human being, in a sunny yellow; fourth chakra LOVE in green; Fifth, throat chakra, AWARE, in blue; Sixth chakra COMMAND (of your life) in indigo; Seventh chakra in violet, COSMOS; eighth, 6 inches above the top center of your head, FAITH, in a lovely white light. Observe any changes in your state of consciousness or if a new inner awareness has surfaced.

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PLENARYParts PartyLinda Leviton!Linda used the following steps to model a parts party. 1) Linda facilitated Star in identifying 6 to 8 guests, half for positive traits, half for their negative ones (they may use famous names). 2) Star makes list, describes with at least one adjective to show how he/she feels about them and the meaning they hold. 3) Star asks each guests to role-play parts. 4) Guests enter party and interact according to their roles, adjectives and “scripts” 5) Linda observes, stops action or comments from the sidelines when something significant happens. Linda supports Star and directs guests on what to do. 6) Guide asks parts “guests” to form circle around star and make eye contact - Star tells each part past meaning and new role they can play and/or parts tell Star. Star is asked to “own” part and says “I accept” 7) Feedback from Star, parts and participants. Parts names were Tinker Bell, Dancer’s Mind, Horse, Self Saboteur, Critical Nun, Scared Bunny and Universal Lover. Parts Party creates a format for a high energy, fast, friendly, revealing of the Star’s personality.

Spontaneous Trance States in PsychotherapyHarvey WassermanPatients in psychotherapy often go into spontaneous trances. Patients are only marginally aware of their trance and try to end it by shaking their heads and blinking their eyes. Most therapists simply ignore this phenomenon. Working with and deepening the trances can deepen the therapeutic experience. The trance is caused by pre-conscious areas of the mind attempting to bring healing awarenesses into the patient’s consciousness. Therapist asks patients to become aware and to surrender to the trance. They usually are feeling quite relaxed at this point. Then instruct them to do as little consciously as possible, but to become aware of anything that emerges spontaneously: “Pay attention to your thoughts. Do they fade away partially, or totally? This is Silent Mind, a deep form of relaxation and healing. Do emotions come up? Do body sensations come up? Use the back of your eyelids as if they are screens, trying to project from your brain shapes, colors, images, memories, stories. Tell anything that comes into your consciousness. Don’t do anything with this emerging consciousness unless it is suggested you do so. Therapist may notice something emerging just out of your awareness and will share that with you.”

Conference Presentations: SATURDAY

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Partner’s Relationship – Using Metaphors Anka RybarrikvaAnka led us through an exercise of using metaphors to look deeply into our intimate relationships. After a brief introduction we moved directly into the exercise, following precise instructions without knowing what we were going to be doing with the information.Anka had the great idea of breaking us into groups by language (we were divided 50:50) to discuss each of our situations and what the metaphors told us. When we came back together as the whole group and shared it was obvious that regardless of the items chosen for the metaphor there was something to be learned from each one. This exercise was an amazing tool for delving more deeply into the meanings we make of our intimate relationships—or it could have been used for any relationship. For me, Liv Monroe, personally, it reawakened my awareness of our enormous inter-connectedness and the beauty and joy of supporting each other, being crystal clear with each other, and showing off the beauty in each other.

Group Dynamics and Violent Courageous ActionBill Roller

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The Roller Coaster of Chronic Pain: How to add joy to the rideAnn Steiner

Ann sensitized us to the concepts of fullness of living and freedom from the perspective of an individual who lives with chronic illness or chronic pain. We were introduced to the stages of getting an accurate diagnosis, accepting the diagnosis and learning to live with these challenges . We also discussed a variety of helpful and non-helpful approaches to offering comfort, support and assistance. Ann provided us with a toolbox of understandings, attitudes and practical approaches that help someone with chronic pain maximize fullness of life within the

limitations and possibilities of pain or illness.

Visit to Terezin Chris FordAt IHLRN, Thursday is our free day.  Most people chose to explore Prague, but we had had plenty of opportunity (but never enough!), as we had arrived 3 days early.  Bruce (Dodd) & I & 4 others chose to make the trip to this Nazi camp, about 1 hr. out of town.  Needless to say, it was an overwhelming experience.  Someone asked me if I didn’t cry a lot.  My reply was that when you are confronted with this much horror, you are in a state beyond tears, a stunned numbness.   There were words that came into my mind that I don’t know whether they were my words, or whether I had read them someplace:  “There are times when there is a tear in the universe, through which you see pure evil.”   This was one of those times.  (Anyone know who might have said it?)

This is the entrance, much cleaned up from the original ugly, foreboding entrance, with barbed wire strung all around overhead, & a cruelly ironic slogan printed over the gate that said something like, “Work hard for a good life.”  Terezin wasn’t an extermination camp, but rather a holding pen for people before they were sent to the death camps.  200,000 people passed through its gates, including 15,000 children, of which 132 survived.  As it “served" Prague & the surrounding area, there were many artists & musicians who were sent there.  There were 55,000 Jews packed in at one time, & there were enough musicians to form 2 full symphony orchestras & many chamber groups.Yesterday, on NPR, I heard a segment of All Things Considered related to Terezin.  The children’s opera, Brundibar, was being performed by a Chicago opera company.  Brundibar was composed by a Czech composer at Terezin.  It was part of a very professional (& successful) propaganda effort by the Nazis to impress the International Red Cross with the fine conditions under which the Jews at Terezin lived.  We were shown footage of the soccer games that were arranged, & all the counters of food that were available, & artists at work drawing (many of whom were sent to a death camp immediately after this event).  And then the performance of this children’s opera, whose librettist did a very clever job of disguising an underlying message that the Nazis were too dumb to understand.  But its message was clear to the prisoners.  So the whole thing was a set up, & the Red Cross went for it.  Having carefully prepared for, & orchestrated, this event, life went back to “normal” afterwards.

There were 2 large cemeteries at the camp, one Jewish & one Christian.  The people who were buried there (& there were thousands) died of starvation & disease.  I presume the Christian cemetery was for the political dissidents, the Gypsies & homosexuals, & other life forms deemed unfit to live in the glorious new world that Hitler was creating.  

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A TASTE OF CZECH Bob Witten

On Sunday before 8:00 AM, thirteen intrepid IHLRNers departed Prague in our comfortable van for a trek through the history, villages, and castles of the Czech people. It was a wondrous eight days. On our way to Ceske Budejovic we viewed Konopiste Castle and the famous red castle, Cervena Lhota, Yes it is really red and sits out in a lake. Then came Hluboka Chateau, a stunning castle and popular site. The next day we arrived in the world heritage town of Ceske Krumlov. This medieval town bustles with life and is a prime destination in Czech Republic. The Rosa Pension was our stopover and like every place we stayed was clean, comfortable, convenient, cheap and served a wonderful breakfast. We loved the diversity of our stopovers which

ranged from an old synagogue in Trebic to a grand estate house at Brno. Wally Zahnd chose well as he guided us through the highlights of his ancestral land. His large circle of friends continually enriched our experience by connecting us with the locals.

We enjoyed the beauty of mountains and forests, the fruitfulness of the land, and the dignity of beautiful churches and elaborate palaces all of which bespeaks of a deep respect for their history as did the preservation of great houses dating from the 13th century. We would find it impossible to name the most interesting village and are glad that no choice is n e c e s s a r y a s w e c a n appreciate each for its own character. None of us could forget Ceske Krumlov, or Brno, or Olomouc, or Kutna Hora (where we went underground on a long tour through

an old silver mine). On the way to our final destination in Kutna Hora we stopped by an open-air museum where a diversity of buildings from across Czech Republic had been gathered to depict how the average person lived. It was a nice balance to the splendor of the elaborate castles and palaces and churches we had enjoyed. We celebrated on our last night with a veritable feast at our hotel’s open-air terrace which overlooked the lights of the mountainous city and majesty of the spectacular Cathedral of St. Barbara.Wow! What a trip and what wonderful images remain in our memories!

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Music in Prague and Smaller Towns of Czech Republic Peter Vennewitz! ! For those who love opera, ballet, and other forms of classical music, ! Prague ! was a feast. During our week there at least 24 venues offered

musical concerts, including the National Theatre, Prague State Opera, The Estates Theatre, Municipal House ( Smetana and Sladkovsky Halls), Spanish Synagogue, and numerous churches and palaces. On Tuesday nineteen of the twenty four venues offered a musical concert of some sort. Most days it

was possible to see two performances if one was willing to skip dinner at the hotel. Almost every day there were concerts offered at 5:00 pm, 5:30 pm, 6:00

! ! ! pm, 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, and 8:00 pm. The typical price for a 60-70 minute concert i n a church or palace was $25-$30. Prices for an opera or ballet at the National Theatre or Prague State Opera ranged from about $14.50 to $65. $14.50 is what eight IHLRNers paid for seats in the second balcony of the Prague State Opera to see a world class performance of Swan Lake. These were the only seats available. Sitting in the second balcony we were still closer than you could get for an expensive ticket in the typical U.S. opera house. For less than $25, fourteen of us sat in the first eight rows of the orchestra for a performance of Romeo and Juliet Ballet, also in the Prague State Opera. The biggest turnout of IHLRN participants was for an organ, trumpet, and tenor concert at St. Francis Church next to the Charles Bridge. According to the records of this article writer, at least 39 IHLRNers took advantage of this feast by attending at least one musical event. After the conference Wally Zahnd guided a group of thirteen on a tour involving at least a one night stay in five towns and the city of Brno. All of the towns had at least one musical event the week we were traveling, although we usually were there a day late or a day early. An exception was Brno. Wally arranged the tour so that we were in Brno for a concert in a church that featured two mechanical organs and four young women playing recorders. As weird as it may sound, the concert was among the highlights of the tour.

Saturday Night!

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Esther Thomforde de Gally, known to most anyone as just Esther Gally passed away on December 11, 2014. She was 91 years old. She died peacefully in her home in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Her ashes have been deposited in an iron vessel from the mines of Real del Monte in Pachuca, México, with good soil and a blooming plant on top. Therefore she will remain in Cuernavaca where she lived for the past 23 years. For those who did not know her, she was a member of IHLRN for many years. She attended the yearly meeting for a long time. She was the editor of all of Virginia Satir books in Spanish and a great promoter of them. She was a writer as well as a therapist as a student of Ilana Rubenfeld. Many of the older members will remember her wearing her Mexican embroidered blouses and her bright smile. Love, Nuri Gally

Pam Chambers Many of you may remember Pam Chambers, who has attended several IHLRN conferences and has been my sweetheart for the past 24 years. On Wednesday night, February 11th, she died because she had been prescribed an incorrect dosage of thyroid medication and we didn't catch it in time.

Cantankerous and grumpy, open-hearted and generous, she had a wickedly funny sense of humor. You could say she was a female Lewis Black or Yosemite Sam. There was a crusty exterior and when you got inside there was a devoted heart of gold that would do anything for you. When I told M.A. that Pam had died, she told me "Pam was unique among the human beings I have met." I will miss her. Bob McGarey

JULIE ANDREWSTo commemorate her birthday, actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP. One of the musical numbers she performed was 'My Favorite Things' from the legendary movie 'Sound Of Music'. Here are the lyrics she used...Sing it for full enjoyment

(Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores. 

Botox and nose drops and needles for knitting,Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,Bundles of magazines tied up in string,These are a few of my favorite things.Cadillacs and cataracts, hearing aids and glasses,Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,These are a few of my favorite things. When the pipes leak, when the bones creak,When the knees go bad,I simply remember my favorite things,And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,These are a few of my favorite things.Back pain, confused brains and no need for sinnin',Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,When we remember our favorite things.When the joints ache, when the hips break,When the eyes grow dim,Then I remember the great life I've had,

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