Courses are offered throughout the year mainly in Israel, Spain, and the UK. Courses are also available in the USA and Poland or upon demand, anywhere else around the world. Course dates and specific locations as well as activities of the Freedom Within center are updated every month. Please check our current activities at Freedom Within Center for information about upcoming courses and activities, dates, locations and prices, or contact us.
Shamanism
Beginner Course
SHAMANISM FOR BEGINNERS – foundation course
Shamanism is humanity's oldest spiritual practice and healing tradition. Its roots stretch back to the furthest times in human history. The shaman is considered by many to be the ancient predecessor of the modern doctor and psychotherapist. Although many associate shamanic practice with Native America or other “exotic” cultures, shamanism is, in fact, a worldwide phenomenon. Shamanic practices are known to have existed throughout the globe. We all share a shamanic heritage and as human beings, we all have the ability to work shamanically.
During this course, participants will be introduced to some of the basic principles and techniques of shamanic practice, and in particular to the shamanic journey. We will learn how to shift our state of consciousness and enter the non-ordinary reality of the spirit worlds. It is in that reality that we can learn how to connect with our power, wisdom and creativity, to help ourselves and others. We will share and explore our journeys in the circle and learn how to understand them more fully and integrate them into our lives.
Although basic shamanic healing will be taught, this course is not centered on working with others, but rather aims at our own personal growth. We will have the opportunity to be guided by spirits and learn how to empower ourselves, live our lives more fully and more joyously.
Advanced Courses
SHAMANIC COUNSELING – Foundation Course
Shamanic counseling is a unique method of counseling, whereby the role of the counselor is more that of a mediator than a therapist. The true counselors in shamanic practice are always the spirit teachers. Thus, the skill of the shamanic counselor is in assisting their client to come into direct contact with his or her own spirit teachers and deepen their relationship with them. Another important role of the counselor is to teach the client how to formulate effective journey missions, and come to understand the language of their spirit teachers. Since the leading principle of shamanic counseling is first and foremost self-empowerment, the counselor does not interpret the messages of the spirit teachers for the client, but rather helps them to gain their own understanding of the messages.
On this five-day intensive course, the ethics and basic techniques of shamanic counseling are covered in depth. All participants will have the opportunity to experience being counselors as well as clients. We will learn how to understand the meaning and teachings of our journeys and to connect with the wisdom and power of the messages. On this course we also learn how to create the safe environment necessary for working with the life-changing issues presented by clients. Finally, and most importantly, we will learn how to encourage both our clients and ourselves to introduce the spirits’ messages into our daily lives, or, as the shaman says, “walk the talk”.
The course is both for people who wish to work shamanically with others as well as for people who only wish to deepen their own personal practice of shamanism. Prerequisite for participation in the course is having attended the shamanic course for beginners.
SHAMANIC COUNSELING – Advanced Course
This course is a continuation, a deepening and an expansion of the basic shamanic counseling course. The advanced shamanic counseling course aims at both deepening the “theoretical” understanding of shamanism as a spiritual practice, as well as expanding and developing our skills as effective counselors and journeyers. In this course we will acquire more advanced and creative ways of working with clients, significantly deepen and develop our relationship with our spirit teachers and gain a deeper understanding of the magic of shamanic counseling and the spirit worlds. During the course, participants will also have the opportunity to observe each other while working, thus further enriching their own listening and counseling skills.
The course is not only for people who are working shamanically with others. Although it is centered on shamanic work with clients, it is aimed, first and foremost, at participants’ own personal growth.
This is a five day residential course. Prerequisite to attending the course: having attended the shamanic course for beginners and the basic shamanic counseling course. The number of participants is limited to 12.
SOUL RETRIEVAL: Working With Soul-Loss
In traditional shamanic cultures, most physical and psychological problems are considered to emanate from soul-loss or loss of power. Often people speak of feeling incomplete or alienated from themselves or their environment. Shamans believe that traumatic experiences in our lives may cause us to lose parts of our soul, thus diminishing our power and making us vulnerable. Most shamanic healing practices are focused primarily on the preservation, protection and nurturing of the soul. In a case where a soul part has been lost, the shaman journeys to the spirit world to retrieve the missing part. The soul retrieval helps the person to become more whole, and be able to deal with debilitating situations in his or her life, coming from a more empowered state.
On this course, the subject of soul loss in relation to our lives is fully explored. We will learn how to work shamanically with soul loss and how to retrieve lost souls in order to assist people who have suffered either emotional or physical traumas. Although significant personal healing may take place during the training, this intensive course is mainly for people who wish to incorporate soul retrieval work into their shamanic practice and work with others.
Prerequisites for attending the course are having attended the shamanic course for beginners. Participants have to be experienced in journeying and to have an established relationship with their spirit teachers.
SHAMANIC HEALING AND THE SPIRITS OF NATURE
The most important role fulfilled by the shaman is that of healing illness and helping others to maintain good health. This is achieved by either the retrieval of lost power or the extraction of harming power intrusions. On her quest for healing, the shaman would at times also call upon the help of the spirits of nature.
The course is centered on the healing arts of the shaman and her intimate relationship with nature – two elements of the shaman's world which are closely intertwined. On this course we will explore the basic worldviews of both shamanic and Western health-care practices regarding illness, health and healing. We will learn to identify and remove the spiritual causes of illness and pain as well as how to communicate with the spirits of nature in search for healing. Participants on the course will also be introduced to different shamanic diagnostic and healing techniques and will learn how to use power objects and power places in their healing work. A substantial part of the course will be spent in nature, and participants will have the opportunity to sit out alone with the spirits for a whole night.
'Shamanic Healing and the Spirit of Nature' is a five day residential course. Prerequisite to attending the course is having attended the shamanic course for beginners. Participants should be able to journey easily and have a good relationship with their spirit helpers.
RELATIONSHIPS AND SHAMANISM
Looking at Relationships Through the Eyes of the Spirits.
Relationship is our life. We are constantly relating to everything and everyone around us. On this advanced workshop, participants will learn the magic of relating, loving and living joyously, by exploring their relationships with themselves and the world around them.
Although intimate relationships are focused on, this workshop will be looking at relationships on every level of our lives (this may be with our parents, friends, children, boss, and most importantly with ourselves). By the help and wisdom of the spirits, participants will have the opportunity to clarify what it is they really want from a relationship, as well as gain deeper knowledge of themselves, their understandings and expectations.
This workshop will take participants on a journey back to where they first learned their messages about relationships and the reasons they create or don’t create them. By journeying to our spirit teachers, we will learn about our limiting belief systems that may prevent us from creating relationships, discover how to enrich our existing relationships and learn how we may be miscommunicating our love and good intentions with others.
This is a three day residential course. Prerequisites for attending the course is having done the shamanic course for beginners.
SHAMANISM AND ART
Many modern-day therapies, such as music, dance or art therapy, have roots in the ancient practice of shamanism. This course brings us into contact with the creative part of us, the poet and the artist within us, helping us to go deeper into ourselves, to heal, understand ourselves and connect with our inner power through our creativity.
On this course we will deepen our practice of shamanism and learn how to introduce it into our daily lives, strengthening our relationship with our spirit helpers and particularly with our own guardian spirit. During the course we will explore in depth the art of working with the rattle for various purposes and create our own rattle, as well as other power objects for shamanic use. Participants will learn how to listen with compassion to themselves and others, in order to discover their own strengths and power sources. On this course we will explore different healing techniques and develop our journeying skills, while setting free the creative artist within us, bringing color and creativity back into our lives. During the course participants will paint, draw, carve and create art inspired by their encounter with their spirit helpers.
This is a five day residential course. Prerequisites for attending the course is having done the shamanic course for beginners. Participants should be able to journey easily and have a good relationship with their spirit helpers. No previous knowledge of art is required. All the materials are provided on the course.
SHAMANISM, DEATH AND LIFE
Death is one of the few universal experiences of human existence. However, in our society, death has been shunned and separated, both physically and philosophically, from living. We have made death the shadow of life, instead of accepting it as a natural part of it. The encounter with death, however, is an inevitable part of the shaman's healing work as well as her own spiritual path.
On this course we will look at death from a shamanic perspective. We will learn how to live more fully by encountering our own mortality and learning to use death as an advisor rather than treat it as a foe. Our ability to confront and understand death inevitably enriches our shamanic practice as well as all aspects of our lives. On this course, we will explore the realms to which we travel after death. We will also learn how to safely help souls which have not crossed over, and guide them to the Other Side, using traditional shamanic techniques. This course is aimed at people who wish to gain a deeper understanding of death from a shamanic perspective as well as for those who are working shamanically with dying people and their families.
'Death and Life' is a five day residential course. Prerequisite to attending the course: having attended the shamanic course for beginners and at least one of the advanced courses. Participants should also have established a good relationship with their spirit teachers.
Reiki
REIKI - The Usui System of Natural Healing
Reiki is a spiritual practice and an age old healing art. Translated from Japanese, the actual word “Reiki” means “Universal life-force energy”. Mikao Usui, who founded the system in Japan at the end of the nineteenth century, rediscovered a way to connect with this energy and use it to heal ourselves and others. We all have the ability to connect with the energy of Reiki and to use it. It is quick and simple to learn and even easier to use.
Reiki works in a holistic, all encompassing manner. It gently enters deep inside and heals us from the core while opening energetic blockages. Reiki supports the person in day to day living, improves their general health on physical, mental and spiritual levels and serves as a preventative medicine that protects us from illness. Thus, Reiki functions both as a preventative and as a curative medicine.
During the Reiki 1 course, students receive four initiations that connect them to the energy. They learn how to treat themselves and others and get to know the history of Reiki. Immediately following the course, students are able to treat and heal both themselves and others.
People who have learned and practiced Reiki 1 and who wish to deepen their connection with this energy, can continue and learn Reiki 2.
Conscious Breathing
CONSCIOUS BREATHING – Foundation Course
Conscious Breathing is a personal growth process, which uses a breathing technique to expand awareness and clear out physical, emotional and mental blocks or stresses, especially those arising from birth and early childhood. A gentler approach than traditional Rebirthing, this system aims at freeing individuals from their learnt patterns and suppressions, enabling them to empower themselves, integrate their fragmented self and experience self-mastery, joy and self-love.
The course combines breath work together with a variety of therapeutic techniques as well as teachings of the spiritual and philosophical foundations of Conscious Breathing. Although this intensive seven day course can be a profound transformational healing experience on its own, the learning does not stop at the end of the course. Rather, it provides participants with simple and useful tools that will enable them to deal with difficult situations and conflicts in their daily lives.
Included in the course are sessions of breathing, discussions, lectures and practice, guided imagery, art therapy, Jungian and Gestalt based techniques such as mask work, dancing and playing. Through this work participants will also discover their limiting belief systems and learn effective ways of creating positive ones.
The course is for people of all ages and helps to deal with various situations and aspects of our lives, such as stress, anxiety and fear, traumas and post-traumas, depression, low self esteem and difficulties or conflicts in relationships with intimate partners, children, parents, our boss and ourselves.
The effects of the course are immediate and include:
- The ability to relax and let go of stress
- Better health and more energy
- Expanding awareness
- Developing self-realization
- Increasing our intuition and creativity
- Discovering the capacity for inner peace, compassion and happiness
CONSCIOUS BREATHING – Advanced Course
This intensive seven day course continues where the Conscious Breathing course stopped. In addition to deepening the theoretical foundation of Conscious Breathing, this course provides an opportunity for intensive self exploration and deepening of self-knowledge, by further expanding our awareness and connecting with our inner power and wisdom. Special focus is given to the subjects of self-love, sex and sexuality, conscious relationships, anger patterns and inner child work. This course is suitable for both people who wish to go further on their path of personal growth or for those who wish to become practitioners of Conscious Breathing.
Prerequisite to attending this course is having attended the Conscious Breathing foundation course.
CONSCIOUS BREATHING – Working with Shadow Parts
"Shadow parts" or "shadow self" are term borrowed from the psychology of C. G. Jung. The Jungian shadow self is a concept used to describe the accumulation of the rejected fragments of our psyche. Jung claimed that throughout our lives, we lose parts of our own psyche, parts which for one reason or another, we deny or refuse to acknowledge as our own. These parts are repressed and pushed into the depths of our unconscious mind. In order to complete ourselves, a process of reintegration of these lost parts must take place. Jung claimed that the integration of the shadow with the true self, results in psychological wholeness and well being.
Through the breath, we are able to bring our repressed parts back from the depths of our subconscious mind and integrate them into our true self. "Shadow parts" is a series of advanced experiential weekend courses. Each course is a unit on its own and is focused on a different shadow part in an attempt to deepen and expand our awareness and integration of the self.
Currently, three shadow part courses are offered, focusing on the subjects of guilt, fear of death, and anger and aggression. Each subject is covered on a different independent course unit. These courses are suitable for both people who wish to go further on their path of personal growth or for those who wish to become practitioners of Conscious Breathing.
Prerequisite to attending this course is having attended the Conscious Breathing foundation course.
Totem Pole
THE PERSONAL TOTEM POLE
A powerful process which utilizes guided imagery and deep relaxation, the Personal Totem Pole Process is a unique blend of three elements: Carl G. Jung's technique of Active imagination, the eastern practice of understanding the human being as a system of inter-related energies (chakras), and the Native American Practice of speaking to and learning from animals. This process was developed by Dr. E.S. Gallegos, and is aimed at deeply exploring, understanding and healing the different aspects of our inner selves.
Visualization and guided imagery are powerful tools which have been used successfully for centuries in healing and self development. Human beings are imaging creatures. We image actively until we are taught that it is unacceptable. We then gradually learn to trust authorities rather then our own inner voice. The personal Totem Pole process attempts to reinstate the inner voice as a trusted partner in life. It is a powerful, useful and highly adaptable tool which facilitates and enhances self-awareness, self-confidence and creativity in all areas of life.
THE PERSONAL TOTEM POLE - Advanced Course
This advanced weekend course is a deepening of the of the basic Totem Pole workshop. On this course we will be further developing our skills of using the Totem Pole process both as a healing and diagnostic tool with ourselves and others. The work on this course incorporates art, diagnostic and counseling skills in addition to a deep self-exploration and healing.
Therapeutic Games
REVELATIONS – Communicating Effectively with Children
One Day Training for parents, teachers and health care professionals.
Other Workshops
THE SILENCE IS BROKEN - Sexual Abuse, Awareness and Intervention
Although since the seventies a new awareness has emerged regarding child sexual abuse, the subject is still far from being out in the open. There are still many undisclosed cases of sexual abuse, of people who have been caught in the silence, and cannot break free.
This workshop brings out of hiding a subject which is far too painful to leave concealed yet has remained a taboo, even to this day.
Therapists of all fields are continuously coming into contact with survivors of sexual abuse, yet are either blind to the fact, or are unable to cope with it once the person discloses the abuse. The course aims at improving therapists’ effectiveness in communicating with young sexually abused people as well as adult survivors of sexual abuse. Effective communication skills depend on the therapist having an established understanding of the victim’s perspective and being able to facilitate the person in disclosing abuse and working through the therapeutic process. In order to do this the therapist must also develop an understanding of their own feeling, reactions and belief system.
On this course we will explore the reasons that people continue to keep their past experiences of sexual abuse a secret. We will come to identify the short and long term effects of child sexual abuse and the myths that cloud the subject to this day. We will expand our awareness of the phenomena, its causes and effects and learn how to work with survivors of sexual abuse. We will also discuss the different types of disclosure, and learn how to deal with children and adults once they disclose. This course is aimed at people who are working therapeutically with others, regardless of age and regardless of the therapeutic approach used.