In Memoriam: Angeles Arrien, 1940 – 2014

Angie’s gone
Or is she?
A mischievous smile
Sparkling eyes
Lighting up dark corners
Lighting up new paths
An inspiration to all
Who knew her
Or thought they did
A mysterious loving imp
Of kindness and generosity
Who perhaps can still be found
Inside our hearts
Smiling

Angeles Arrien, our friend, colleague, and supporter of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies over many years, unexpectedly passed away April 24, 2014, after a period of illness. A cultural anthropologist and pioneer in the field of transpersonal psychology, she was president of the Angeles Arrien Foundation for Cross-Cultural Education and Research. She was a widely known teacher and author, and was beloved by thousands of students.

Angeles ArrienOn a more personal level, Sandra Harner and I were fortunate to know Angie, as we called her, for decades. She was remarkably positive, kind, and possessed of a joyful and playful spirit. When she and I conversed, hardly a minute passed by without us breaking into laughter. Often the laughter revolved about my half-serious attempts to tease out unspoken secrets from her heritage of Basque mysticism. That heritage was very strong for her, and she was quietly and privately active in the life of her people.

At the same time, she was publicly active, indeed famous, for her cross-cultural spiritual teachings and for the enthusiasm she brought to others. That enthusiasm, coupled with gentle, compassionate understanding of the human condition was one of the markers of her life. While her passing is a sad loss, it is also an opportunity to stop, remember, and appreciate her time among us and to feel our gratitude for the gentle gifts of spirit she gave our lives.

–Michael Harner

In Angie’s honor, we have assembled a few selected video clips from a dialogue between Angie and Michael recorded at the FSS Gathering of the Council in January 2008 in Mill Valley, California. This is part of a longer video of dialogue and discussion. (The audio CD version is available at shamanism.org.) View the video.

From Angie’s website: “At Angeles’ wish there will not be a public memorial. Angie herself requested that for those who wished to truly honor her over this next year, that once a month on the anniversary of her passing (the 24th of each month), that individuals would light a candle and say a prayer to honor her memory.” For more about her accomplishments and the lives she touched, visit her website: angelesarrien.com.

–Susan Mokelke

Faculty Member Alicia Luengas Gates to Focus on Latin America and Spain

ANNOUNCING FACULTY MEMBER CHANGES

Alicia Luengas Gates

May 20, 2014

After many years of extensive travel back and forth to South America and Spain to offer FSS workshops, in addition to her Three Year program, Two Week Intensive, and weekend teaching responsibilities in the USA, Alicia Luengas Gates has decided to make some changes for health and personal reasons. For the time being, she will no longer teach FSS programs in the US,* but as director of FSS trainings in Latin America and Spain, she will focus her efforts on continuing to build the FSS presence in the Spanish-speaking countries. She is looking forward to spending longer periods of time working with the FSS faculty in Argentina and Spain and teaching the FSS weekend workshops, Harner Shamanic Counseling, and the Three Year programs to the many students there eager to experience FSS trainings.

* Alicia will complete the current 5th North American Three Year Program she is teaching, as well as some of the weekend workshops she has scheduled in 2014 in the San Diego, California area and a Spanish language Basic workshop sponsored by Tim Flynn south of San Jose, California. Please check the website workshops pages for the latest calendar of workshops.