Wisdom Beyond Steps in Kabbalah and Focusing

Followup Episode with Dana Ganihar and Baruch Brenner. ... Wisdom Beyond Steps. Episode 47 of The Living Process with Greg Madison. Delighted to invite Dana and Baruch back for a followup conversation discussing their rich crossing of the Kabbalistic wisdom tradition with Focusing and Gendlin’s philosophy in A Process Model. There was an alarm near the beginning so we had to pause the recording until it was safe to continue. Together we explore what we might be missing when we only use Focusing for a specific life situation. Dana and Baruch emphasise that Focusing also offers a pathway into something deeper about who we are as human beings, opening into the mystery of what life is. They say ‘You are the carrying forward of life’ and this offers Focusing practice that transcends the interpersonal and psychological sphere. You will hear some divergence in our views, which I hope to be able to explore further! Episode 47 - Kabbalah and Focusing wisdom beyond steps: https://youtu.be/KsYsM8h-cgoThe Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/TLP YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQLDana and Baruch run Shakio Institute. Check out their website for upcoming courses and resources in Hebrew and English: https://shakio.org/en/Dana Ganihar, M.Sc. is a Focusing Coordinator since 2007. Over the last couple decades she has taught Gendlin’s work and initiated cooperative research exploring the impact of Focusing and TAE on diverse fields at various universities.Baruch Brenner is an Israeli theater director, actor, singer, teacher, focusing trainer and an ordained Orthodox Rabbi. He is a leading innovator integrating spiritual practices with experiential work in theater, movement and vocal arts. He facilitates workshops exploring religious and mystical traditions, with an emphasis on Jewish mysticism - Kabbalah and Hasidic philosophy - making them accessible to the general public.

Coming to Where You Are, with Frans Sandbergen on The Living Process, with Greg Madison Episode 46. Frans is a very engaging story-teller, weaving together his own life with discovering Focusing and then working with Gene Gendlin for 12 years. In speaking with Gene and Nada Lou, Frans used a TAE process to describe the reality of the imaginary world of ‘Marfrano’ and how it helps people to discover their deeper direction in life. Frans developed terms like ‘the university that you are’, ‘the theory of coming to where you are (Theory M),  the importance of ‘following the smiling thought’, the difference between ‘the real world and the formal world’, and how to find one’s ‘inner profession’. In developing the ‘art of getting lost’, Frans offers an intriguing example of Focusing as a creative change process. His book, Het Wil, is hopefully arriving in English soon. Using his model, he works with organisational groups and individuals offering listening communities called métier guilds and one-to-one sessions called ‘Cartographic Conversations’. Episode 46 - Coming to Where You Are, with Frans Sandbergen: https://youtu.be/Oz1k4Lkt8-MThe Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/TLP YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQLFrans SandbergenFrans has 30 years’ experience in creating listening guilds in organizations and beyond, thus encouraging hidden talent in each of us to do its wondrous work in a world that urgently needs it. He has practical studies in western and eastern philosophy, Focusing since 1997, and working with Eugene Gendlin 2005-2017. He is the author of ‘IT Wants’, a pledge for unknown talent, Cartographic Conversation, Theory M, the theory of coming to where you are. Frans is a master at creating new worlds which then become an entrance to the vast world of ‘the real’. Smiling thought often serves as a clear direction in these explorations! He is informal co-mayor of a once fictitious city in the south of Europe. His book will soon be available in English - www.hetwil.nl

Owning your Attention with Prof Larry Berger on The Living Process with Greg Madison, E045. This is a packed episode with Larry Berger talking about ‘Attention’ and then ‘attention activism’ as an attempt for humans to regain some ownership over our attention. Larry talks about his correspondence with Gene, the ‘fracking of attention’ and the political implications of where we place our attention. There are a number of links below for further exploration of these topics. Also check out Larry’s book, The Politics of Attention and the Promise of Mindfulness. “Lawrence Berger calls for the recognition of attention as indispensable for reshaping our traditional views of the body, self, and politics. Rigorous yet accessible, this book offers readers interested in hermeneutics, phenomenology, and political philosophy valuable new insights into the gathering power of attention for individual and community formation.”Episode 45 - Owning Your Attention with Larry Berger: https://youtu.be/yn6qlgwqzCcThe Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/TLP YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQLLawrence Berger is a former professor of business and currently teaches philosophy while writing about his main themes, including, “Being There: Heidegger on Why Our Presence Matters”. This article appeared in the New York Times philosophy blog and was the most shared article on the day of its publication in 2015. In addition to numerous articles on the philosophy of attention, Larry has recently published the book, The Politics of Attention and the Promise of Mindfulness, which gives Gendlin’s A Process Model a central role. Below are links to some of the groups Larry mentioned. https://friendsofattention.orghttps://deeptransformation.network/posts/96050390?utm_source=manualwww.belovedcommunitycircles.orghttps://focusinginternational.org(Community Wellness initiatives)

The Living Process with guest Mia Leijssen and host Greg Madison. In Episode 44, my guest Professor Mia Leijssen talks about the circumstances that led to her new book, Connecting with your Essence. A Path to Awareness and Healing.“At birth you are completely your pure self. The ability you then have to let your essence shine through your outer form gradually becomes overshadowed and buried ... This book encourages you to get back on track with your essence. “Mia talks movingly of the physical pain of illness and how that opened up a profound new awareness of life and its relation to the natural cycles around us. We talk about how helpful it was to find a Focusing partner who shared these physical challenges. She relates human psychological development to the given elements of air, water, fire and earth, and we discuss how this awareness connects us to the mystery of life and human meaning. Episode 44 - Connecting with your Essence with Prof. Mia Leijssen on The Living Process: https://youtu.be/Tcv5Xd_GqiMThe Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: https://www.londonfocusing.comTLP YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQLMia Leijssen, Ph.D. - Professor (Emeritus) Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the University of Leuven, Belgium. Prof. Leijssen is well known in the worlds of Focusing and Client-centred Psychotherapy as well as existential wellbeing, Focusing microprocesses, spirituality, and professional ethics. She is a longtime Focusing Therapist, Teacher, and Coordinator for the International Focusing Institute, and the academic director of the massive Open Online Course: Existential Well-being Counseling: A Person-centered Experiential Approach. www.existentieelwelzijn.behttps://existentialwellbeing.com Publishers link https://www.lannoo.be/nl/connecting-your-essence   (book contents, Introduction and Chapter 1, clickon 'Boek inkijken').Paperback 24,99€ or E-book 13,99€, on Bol.com or Amazon.

Dana Ganihar & Baruch Brenner on The Living Process with Greg Madison. A holy commitment to the unknown. Episode 043Dana and Baruch offer a reflective process to get beyond the paradigm that might still be implicit in our Focusing jargon. Their process guides us into what it actually is to be a human being; living on the edge of ‘co-creation’. Their work crosses the insights and distinctions of A Process Model with the ancient wisdom of Kabbalah. Dana and Baruch are the founders of Shakio Institute, where they explore how Art, Focusing and Prayer can open us to the flow and wisdom of life beyond categories and perceptions. They have been leading TAE workshops and Questions at the Edge in Israel and internationally, with an emphasis on working with artists, researchers and creators from varied backgrounds.Episode 43 - A Holy Commitment to the Unknown with Dana Ganihar & Baruch Brenner on The Living Process. Episode 43: https://youtu.be/EJg98Aw4Lv8The Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/TLP YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQLDana Ganihar, M.Sc. is a Focusing Coordinator since 2007. Over the last couple decades she has taught Gendlin’s work and initiated cooperative research exploring the impact of Focusing and TAE on diverse fields at various universities.Baruch Brenner is an Israeli theater director, actor, singer, teacher, focusing trainer and an ordained Orthodox Rabbi. He is a leading innovator integrating spiritual practices with experiential work in theater, movement and vocal arts. He facilitates workshops exploring religious and mystical traditions, with an emphasis on Jewish mysticism - Kabbalah and Hasidic philosophy - making them accessible to the general public.Their courses and teachings can be found at: https://shakio.org/en/focusing/#focusing, #gendlin, #kabbalah, #thelivingprocess, #wisdomtraditions, #somatic practice,

Guest Astrid Schillings "The Interaction of Practice and Philosophy" on The Living Process with Greg Madison. Episode E042.In this episode, I had a lively conversation with Astrid Schillings, a clinical psychologist and person-centred psychotherapist from Cologne, Germany. Astrid has a rich background in somatic trainings and Buddhist meditation. She’s interested in the overlap of psychology, philosophy, and spirituality, which led her to Focusing in the early 1980s. She developed her own practice, called ‘Focusing from the Whole Body’, which she teaches from her centre in Germany. Astrid also discusses her time with Gene and how their discussions influenced her understanding of the Focusing Process. Episode 42 - The Interaction of Practice and Philosophy with Astrid Schillings: https://youtu.be/P7Kz217rsLsThe Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/TLP YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQLAstrid Schillings: After encountering Focusing in 1981 as a psychology student at Bonn University, Astrid trained with Mary McGuire and Janet Klein in Chicago before meeting with Gendlin, who became a major influence in her Focusing development. Astrid describes Focusing as a philosophical life practice, with psychotherapy as one of many applications. She is trained in psychology, social education, client-centred therapy, somatic experiencing, Feldenkrais and other somatic approaches as well as meditation traditions. As a therapist, she has worked extensively with trauma and works in both English and Deutsch. For more about Astrid’s work and teaching: https://www.focusing-institut.eu/en/focusing-institute/schillings-gb#focusing#Gendlin#thelivingprocess#mediation#somatic experiencing

Episode 41 of The Living Process, with guest Sigríður (Sigga) ÞorgeirsdóttirTHE BODY THINKS FOR ITSELF. In this episode I enjoyed talking with Sigga, who is a professor of philosophy at The University of Iceland and one of the founders of the Embodied Critical Thinking and Freedom to Make Sense projects. In our conversation, Sigga and I touch on what it’s like to teach embodied reflection to philosophy students, the importance of critical thinking, and the prevalence of the inner critic in academia in the form of ‘the imposter syndrome’. We also discuss various aspects of Artificial Intelligence and our experiences of using it, comparing it to human thinking and processing. The Body Thinks for Itself. Episode 41 with Sigridur Thorgeirsdottir (Sigga):  https://youtu.be/DzR3oV-8YTE?si=ung8YLPycoa-NUftThe Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/TLP YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQLSigridur Thorgeirsdottir (Sigga)Sigga studied philosophy in Boston and Berlin and has worked at various universities, specialising in the philosophy of embodiment, feminist, and environmental philosophy. She is one of the founders and the first chair of the United Nations University GEST-Programme at the University of Iceland and was also part of the group that ran the Nordic Gender and Philosophy summer schools. Sigga leads an Erasmus+ training program on methodologies of embodied critical thinking and understanding in cooperation with seven European universities (www.trainingect.com). She has published two books on this topic: Embodied and Elemental Thinking for a New Era (Springer 2024, co-edited with L. Škof and Sashinungla) and Practicing Embodied Thinking in Research and Learning (Routledge 2024, co-edited with D. Schoeller and G. Walkerden). This research has developed into “Freedom to make sense: Embodied, experiential and mindful research“. She emphasises women’s contributions to philosophy and focuses on transforming the field and discipline of philosophy itself in light of feminist/queer knowledge.https://english.hi.is/staff/sigrthor

Indigenous Therapy with Focusing, with Shirley Turcotte. The Living Process with Greg MadisonEpisode 40 of The Living Process features special guest Shirley Turcotte. Shirley developed and spread a very successful integration of Aboriginal cultural practices and Gendlin's Focusing process. In our conversation we touch upon the importance of a relational view that includes the ongoing support of relatives and ancestors and the significance of nature and the environment. Shirley introduces the depth of experience of Aboriginal trauma and genocide and how to respectfully work with such immense issues in a therapeutic context. At the end of the conversation we discuss how the IFOTs trainings are totally oversubscribed and Shirley is not available for teaching or contacts at present, so if you are interested in this approach please look for IFOT videos on Youtube. Shirley Tucotte episode 40: https://youtu.be/4i1dRkDMPhkThe Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/TLP YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQLShirley Turcotte, a Canadian Métis psychotherapist, is highly respected for her development of Indigenous Focusing-Orientation Therapy and her work with trauma, abuse survivors, and Indigenous genocide. For many decades Shirley has been active in restorative justice programs for her community. She is recently retired and no longer available for teaching or speaking events.#thelivingprocess #focusing #gendlin #indigenous #IFOT #trauma #genocide #justice

Alex LyadovFocusing on Business TherapyEpisode 39 The Living Process with Greg Madison In this episode, our guest is Alexander Lyadov. Originally a chemist, Alex has worked in advertising, private equity, wealth management, and venture capital. We discussed the challenges of the business world and the importance of carefully interpreting Focusing language to avoid alienating business people. Alex also shared how Focusing helps maintain a relaxed attitude without a plan or knowing the session’s direction. He primarily works with company founders and emphasises the importance of a clear vision before further work can begin. Alex incorporates a sensitivity to spirituality, the importance of ritual and myths, into his practice. He lives in Kyiv, Ukraine, so we touched on the global significance of what is happening in his country. Episode 39 with Alexander Lyadov: https://youtu.be/g3JtLZNUp7UThe Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/TLP YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQLBio: Alexander Lyadov is a business therapist who helps founders in transition unlock exponential value. With 30 years of experience in business—most recently as managing partner of a $50 million private equity fund and board member across industries—he now focuses on what truly drives growth: the founder’s inner world. Blending psychology, systems thinking, anthropology, and mythology, he has developed his own method called Business Therapy. Through his daily essays and one-on-one sessions, Alexander explores how inner transformation shapes companies, communities, and the world.⁠https://alyadov.com/about-me-eng⁠

Christiane is a long-standing teacher and therapist in the person-centred world and the international Focusing Community. In this conversation, we explore the early development of Focusing and how she and her colleagues formed a supportive group to learn it based on Gendlin’s early teachings and their own empirical research. Christiane describes how initially Focusing only brought her to a state of ‘nothingness’ until she learned to become interested in this particular state. She also distinguishes between the idea that felt sensing occurs ‘in’ the body and a sense of a whole situation. We also discuss ‘structure-bound’ processes and existential questions that arise at a particular life stage. Episode 38 with Christiane Geiser: https://youtu.be/ImR_433X7ewThe Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/TLP YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQLChristiane Geiser lives and works in Zurich and Solduno/Ticino as a psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice for 40 years. She is the former director of a post- graduate training-institute GFK (person-centered, experiential, body oriented) in Zurich, where she still teaches. She’s also a certifying coordinator of the International Focusing Institute (TIFI).  She writes about learning and teaching person centered/experiential psychotherapy and it’s philosophical background.  Together with Donata Schoeller she has translated Gendlin’s “A Process Model” into German, and they are currently doing the same with Gendlin’s early work “ Experiencing and the Creation of Meaning”. Her new article is coming out soon, When focusing wasn't yet called focusing: An early text by Gene Gendlin on experiential learning published in Person, 2025. You can find her articles on her website: www.christianegeiser.ch#Focusing #GFK #Gendlin #Rogers #person-centred #structurebound #stuck #Somaticwork #Bodytherapy #swissfocusing #processmodel #somaticexperience #thelivingprocess