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NAT:<\/strong>\u00a0Ron and Mary, can you share about the changes happening at the University of Santa Monica (USM), your vision for USM\u2019s future, and most of all, what on earth is Spiritual Psychology anyway?<\/p>\n R&M:<\/strong> We\u2019d love to, and we\u2019d like to start by acknowledging that for us, it all began in 1978 when we first met John-Roger. At the time, we were both on the faculty of New Mexico State University in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology where we were training professional counselors at the master\u2019s and doctoral levels. Needless to say, that first meeting was a tremendous convergence, and for the next two years, we had a continuing dialogue with J-R about educational philosophy and the importance of practical mastery education. Not surprisingly, we shared a dream of enlivening, relevant, heart-centered education and, based on that common dream, committed to working together to bring forward an educational institution based on these values-centered precepts.<\/p>\n And so, the first programs began in 1980, and for the past 35 years, we\u2019ve been continually developing a very unique form of education\u2014unique in that it\u2019s built not so much upon learning information, which is really \u201clearning about,\u201d but rather on true learning, which is \u201clearning by doing.\u201d In other words, experiential education<\/em> purposefully engages students in learning through direct experience and focused reflection in order to increase awareness, develop skills, clarify values, and develop people’s capacity to make a meaningful contribution to their communities.<\/p>\n When you pair experiential education<\/em> with a Spiritual perspective,<\/em> you have what we refer to as Soul-Centered Education,<\/em> which is both sacred and relevant. It\u2019s education that inspires, heals, and transforms. It\u2019s the education that serves the greater Spiritual Awakening that is taking place on the planet at this time. And best of all, it\u2019s fun! As USM Founder John-Roger put it, it\u2019s truly education the way you always wished it would be. It\u2019s what we\u2019ve been doing and will be continuing to do.<\/p>\n NAT:<\/strong> So what is it that\u2019s changing?<\/p>\n R&M:<\/strong> Only the form. And it\u2019s so interesting that this shift was really instigated by changes at the U.S. Department of Education that had the effect of changing the way credit hours were to be counted in awarding degrees. The new regulations would only count experiential education at half the credit value of didactic, or lecture, hours. And thus, we had to decide to either replace a considerable number of experiential hours with lecture hours or extend each weekend by an additional day.<\/p>\n NAT:<\/strong> Wow\u2014that\u2019s really something. I suspect this distinction is something hardly anyone knows.<\/p>\n R&M:<\/strong> We suspect you\u2019re right.<\/p>\n NAT:<\/strong> So what did you do?<\/p>\n R&M:<\/strong> We prayed a lot! And after many times of placing the decision in the Light, heartfelt prayers for Spirit\u2019s guidance, and conferring with USM\u2019s Board of Trustees and USM\u2019s Chancellor, we decided that it was for the Highest Good to simply let go of degreed programs and move forward converting USM\u2019s offerings into Certificate of Completion Programs. And this is exactly what we\u2019ve done.<\/p>\n In the academic year that completed August 31, USM offered Soul-Centered Living I: A 10-month Certificate of Completion Program (SCL I),<\/em> and the 7-month Soul-Centered Professional Coaching Program.<\/em><\/p>\n In February, we offered the ever-popular Couples Workshop: The Heart and Art of Relationship,<\/em> an event that is open to the public. We also designed and delivered a brand-new offering for USM grads called Advanced Spiritual Psychology: Transcending the Deeper Levels<\/em>\u2014a three-part series. It\u2019s very enlivening for us to offer the deeper levels of this work designed to support participants in Awakening<\/strong><\/em> into the Awareness that they are nothing less than the Presence of Love.<\/p>\n In August, we offered the Loyalty to Your Soul Weekend Workshop,<\/em> based on our book by the same title. This is very popular and an excellent introduction to the Principles and Practices of Spiritual Psychology. It\u2019s also a wonderful refresher for USM students and grads. This year, nine women from Mexico City chose to join us for the weekend. Their enthusiasm for the work was inspiring. Perhaps this will lead to USM events in Mexico City.<\/p>\n This fall, it is our intention to offer:\u00a0This fall, it is our intention to offer:
\nSoul-Centered Living: A 10-Month Certificate Program in Spiritual Psychology<\/em><\/p>\n