How do we talk about Universal Power?
The first distinction that we make here at RUPI is between the emergent experience of Universal Power coming through us and all creation, and the configurative experience of Universal Power, which is felt outside of us, shaping and influencing us within the largest possible context.
This distinction between ‘configurative’ and ‘emergent’ is particularly useful in understanding how Universal Power intersects with systemic power and collective power, role and status power, and, of course, personal power.
Let’s talk about it!
Thea Elijah
Maryam Thea Elijah is a Murabi Ruhi of the Shadhuliyya Sufi order under Sidi Muhammad al-Jamal ar-Rafa’i ash-Shadhuliyya. She grew up in the household of Lex Hixon, a multiply ordained adept in a number of sacred traditions, and so from childhood, she has been immersed in earnest and honest interfaith conversations. She is also a Chinese medicine practitioner of 40 years with a particular delight in ‘interfaith healing’ conversations between medical modalities that are rooted in spirit. Maryam Thea Elijah is currently designing and preparing to teach the Right Use of Power Institute’s “Right Use of Power for Spiritual Leaders” program.
Cedar (she/her) is a consultant and teacher on ethics and ethical issues. She has been designing, developing, and teaching this approach since 1994. Cedar’s background includes 30 years as a psychotherapist and 25 years as a teacher.
She is the author of books and articles on ethics, counseling with elders, women and independence, and psychotherapy and spirituality. Cedar is also a Hakomi Experiential Psychology Trainer and a member of the Naropa University Adjunct Faculty. She maintains a private psychotherapy and ethics consulting practice in Boulder/Denver and teaches both Right Use of Power™ and Hakomi nationally and internationally.
The Right Use of Power™ educational materials and exercises were developed by Cedar over a period of 20 years and dozens of trainings.
These teachings have been influenced by many sources in Cedar’s background. She is particularly grateful for her extensive experiences as an administrator, therapist, and trainer of the the Hakomi Method of Experiential Psychotherapy, chair of both the Hakomi Institute International Ethics Committee (HIEC) and the United States Association of Body Psychotherapy (USABP) Ethics Committee, ethics expert contributor to GoodTherapy.org, consultant to numerous organizations, and ceremonialist with the Earth Song Ceremonial Dance Community.