June 3rd-5th, 2016
Historic Mabel Dodge Luhan House in Taos, NM
A Workshop with Glenn Aparicio Parry, PhD
assisted by Solange Leboucher, Polarity Therapist
The Mabel Dodge Luhan House
The major problems in the world are the result of the difference between how nature works and the way people think. — Gregory Bateson
This 3-day workshop begins with the blessing of breaking bread together at the historic Mabel Dodge Luhan House (known for their gourmet meals); and then proceeds outdoors under the full canopy of New Mexico stars for prayer, ceremony, and storytelling.
We begin with prayer because the origin of thinking is thanking. We consider what it could mean if we were to think from a place of deep gratitude. Would all our thoughts then be prayers? Can we relearn how to think—not from fear or lack—but from blessing and wholeness? Can we learn to think not only with our head, but also our heart? If so, we will remember what we once knew—how to be a human in connection with the whole of life.
The purpose of our time together is to remember the true source of our consciousness: Nature—and to learn to align your thoughts with her. On the second day, Glenn will begin with elucidating the discrepancy between how humans think, and by contrast, how Nature works; as well as the attendant destructive consequences to our civilization unless there is a reconciliation of the two realities. Glenn will then facilitate a Dialogue Circle to address fundamental issues regarding this “disconnect” between humans and Nature. The insights that inevitably emerge from this circle will be used to create new understandings about how to bridge this gap of consciousness and return us to a state of harmony and wholeness, as well as to help participants to recognize our kinship with all of Mother Nature’s creations.
At various points throughout the weekend, we will break from dialogue and reconvene outdoors, where Solange Leboucher will lead you through exercises designed to restore the natural connection to your body and the body of the earth. This will serve to ground and awaken your senses, thereby increasing your awareness of the aliveness that is in everything. The intent is to revitalize and hone your mental compass to the place of original thinking where you can “hear” and align with the original instructions from Mother Nature without the distractions and distortions of man-made input we are typically bombarded with in modern, industrialized society.
On Sunday, we will conclude our dialogue, sharing insights from the weekend, including a possible inclusion of dreams or visions that may have arisen. We will then conduct our closing ceremony outside.
Glenn Aparicio Parry, PhD, also given the name Kizhe Naabe (Ojibwe for “Kind-Hearted Man),” is the author of Original Thinking: A Radical ReVisioning of Time, Humanity, and Nature (North Atlantic Books, 2015). Parry is an educator, international speaker, eco-preneur, and visionary whose life-long passion is to reform thinking, education, and society into coherent, cohesive wholes in keeping with Nature. The founder and past president of the SEED Institute, Parry is currently the president of the think tank: Circle for Original Thinking. Parry organized and participated in the groundbreaking Language of Spirit Conferences from 1999 – 2011 that brought together Native and Western scientists in dialogue, moderated by Leroy Little Bear. He is a member of the Institute of Noetic Sciences and the Theosophical Society as part of a life-long interest in bridging the arts and sciences. He lives in Albuquerque, NM but comes to Taos often to write, as he finds the mesas, gorges, and mountains of this land very nourishing to his soul. He is currently in Taos working on a new book called Original Thinking on Politics.
Solange LeBoucher, originally from southern France, has been a dedicated practitioner of Polarity Therapy since 1980. Polarity therapy is the art and science of balancing the energy in the body. Solange’s passion for the work has enabled her to rediscover the innate wholeness that is her (and everyone’s) birthright, and her path has led her to guide and assist many others on their healing journeys, including many people with physical, mental, and emotional injuries. She has taught the basic principles of Polarity Balancing around the county and in France, and has recently included plant medicine as an additional component of the healing. On a regular basis, she offers her services within various workshops in creativity, the arts, and self-care at Mabel Dodge Luhan House in Taos.
The Setting for the Workshop
Taos, NM is an historic, quaint village nestled in a stunning landscape of mountains, gorges, and vast valleys, blessed by abundant sun and starlight, many wild rivers, and the pristine Blue Lake of Taos pueblo. The original peoples of Taos, known as the Red Willow people, or more commonly as Taos Pueblo Indians, have inhabited the valley for over a thousand years. Their pueblo, both an UNESCO World Heritage site and a National Landmark, is located one-mile north of the center of town (Taos plaza) and open to visitors year-round with the exception of certain days reserved for sacred dances and ceremonies.
Our workshop is held in the historic Mabel Dodge Luhan House within walking distance of Taos Plaza. Luhan was a grande dame of Taos, a writer and noted patron of the arts who came to Taos in 1919 and lured many artists to follow, including D.H. Lawrence, Georgia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams, Willa Cather, Frank Waters, and others. She did much to popularize Taos as an arts colony in the early 20th century.
At the time Luhan arrived, Taos was a remote mountain outpost, reachable only by stagecoach or primitive auto in an all day drive over dirt roads and hazardous switchbacks that criss-crossed the awe-inspiring Rio Grande gorge that dives 250 meters into the earth. But, nowadays, Taos is easily accessible, approximately 2 1/2 hours from Albuquerque airport and just over an hour from Santa Fe.
People flock all-year round to Taos for the galleries, museums, fine dining, shopping, and. outdoor sports of all kinds, including skiing in the renowned Taos Ski Valley, hiking, horseback riding, fly fishing, and mountain climbing. Taos remains a vibrant arts community; renowned artists from all over the world have come to call Taos their home. You, too, can call it home for the weekend of the workshop, or stay a little longer and enjoy all that Taos has to offer.
Registration Details
Tuition: $245 includes Friday night Dinner and Saturday Lunch
To register: call 505-480-8000 or click the button below to pay for your registration online.
Lodging Details
A limited number of rooms are available at Mabel Dodge Luhan House.
Call to reserve at 505-480-8000.