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Spiritual Self-Psychology of the Prayer of the Heart
Psychosomatic Approach to Awakening.
Sunday August 14th with Rev. Olga Louchakova, M.D., Ph.D.
Olga introduces her workshop in this way:
The workshop introduces theory and clinical strategies of work with people
in spiritual awakening process, based on the research in oral tradition
of the Prayer of the Heart.
This is the spiritual somatic psychology of the self, centered on the knowledge of the subtle centres of the Heart. Meditation on the Self in the heart is central to the mystical traditions of the Christian East, Sufism, Kundalini Yoga and Advaita Vedanta.
Awakening of the Spiritual Heart leads to deeper self-knowledge and personal growth, and promotes dialogue and lasting peace between people of different cultures and religions.
In the West, this spiritual psychology and its unique practices (referred to as The Prayer of the Heart) were transmitted from the Gnostics to Desert Fathers and Byzantine monks, and preserved to this day by Sufis, Indian saints and Russian and Romanian hermits and pilgrims. In the spiritual awakening process associated with the centres of the heart, archetypal level of the psyche becomes available to awareness; psychological shadow gets integrated, positive characterological transformation follows over the course of years. The process resolves into Union, Theosis, i.e. gestalt of non-dual consciousness.
Participants will be taught how to concentrate on the Spiritual Heart, and work with the psychological and emotional issues blocking it. Individualized forms of practice can be discovered by exploring relationships with spiritual archetypes through sacred images and guided visualization. There will also be periods of silent meditation/prayer. Participants will learn to understand their experiences in the light of the developmental stages of the prayer and meditation, which includes vocal prayer, internal-silent prayer and prayer of recollection, illumination, and union.
This workshop has two dimensions, psychological and spiritual. The psychological dimension is associated with the understanding and healing of the pre-personal, personal, archetypal and transpersonal levels of the self. The spiritual dimension is associated with self-knowledge beyond the individuating ego, and entering Union and Oneness. On a bodily level, Prayer of the Heart helps to resolve psychosomatic conflicts and to prevent the cardiovascular diseases. The practice is useful both for psychology and health professionals as well as anyone interested in deepening their self-knowledge and spirituality.
17 West View Road, St. Albans, Herts AL3 5JX Tel: 01727 751420