Process Work applications and ideas

Some aspects, applications and theories of process work

Process work is an idea, a community and a theory.

The Idea

The above sketch is meant to show some of the many aspects of process work. They are centered around the idea of awareness of change, process and the Tao. In following nature, an individual’s process moves into many realms, including the inner world and aspects of the universe around her. Process workers try to follow their own and the individual’s and group’s process. The Sun and the Moon in the middle of the sketch above are meant to imply the use of various forms of awareness. The sun “of daytime” is focused upon signals and parts, while the moon “of nighttime” focuses upon the larger interconnections between individuals, parts, and worlds.

Community

The process work community is a loosely composed network of individuals and institutions which are formally or informally connected to process work training centers around the world. Some call themselves, process work students, teachers facilitators or simply friends of process work.

Applications of process work

A flower with many petals

Our view on learning is that no one "petal" of the flower can be looked at without remembering the other "petals". Thus, politics for example can not be studied without dreamwork, Comawork can not be understood without family or small group work, extreme states must be studied with politics, worldwork needs dream and body work, physics makes sense only with psychology, and psychology should be studied with cosmology, that is the study of the whole universe etc.

The applications of process work form a kind of "flower", with many petals. The center of the flower is "awareness work", that is noticing what is happening and following it. Applications include body and coma work, extreme state (or psychiatric) work, relationships and small groups, movement and dreamwork with images and mythology. "Worldwork" applications include organizational development, diversity issues, social action, world planning and conflict management. Finally, there are applications to research in politics, integration of the sciences as well as exploration of religious and mystical traditions, theater and performance.

"Far In, Far Out"

We are  enjoying “Far In, Far Out,” a collection of essays by many gifted people about Innerwork, dedicated to JC Audergon. (contact http://www.rspopuk.com/ for more)

Process Oriented Theory And Applications To Relationship Work

Pathology or Path O’ Life: Taoism, Process Work and Disturbing Adolescents By K. Gene Hansen, Ph.D.

We were very interested in read Gene Hansen’s remarkable application of process oriented relationship work, signal theory and edges to working with young people.  His methods and theory integrate recent advances of process work with his own creative style of interacting with, understanding, and assisting adolescents.  He uses relationship work and aspects of group process.  See his paper, by clicking on the following link.

Download paper (45Kb Word file)

A Path Made by Walking: Process Work in Practice

This new book by Julie Diamond and Lee Spark Jones gives a wonderful and  intelligent overview  of process work. Their work reveals clear processwork structures, useful insights and tips for working with people. It is available for purchase at Amazon.com.

Earth Based Psychology

Personal, relationship, and group myths play a central role in our approaches to working with individuals and organizations. Aboriginal traditions everywhere on our earth have always linked such myths to earth-based experiences and “powers” called “Totem Spirits”, or just  “power spots” etc.  As we were pondering the sensitivity and intelligence of Aboriginal peoples in connecting mythic experience to the earth, we came across Susan Newton’s art exhibition, “Sensing the Atmosphere” now of Tokyo.

Download Susan Newton's Bio (45Kb PDF file)

Extreme States

This is the beginning of articles and research under the topic of what we call Extreme States which includes states of consciousness that are very different than the cultural norms of a given area and times. Around the world right now, mental illness and the various psychoses are just some of the many states included under extreme states. For more information on our viewpoints, read the following attached article.

Download Arny's interview on Extreme States (52Kb PDF file)