Psychosynthesis at School 1964-1981

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PSYCHOSYNTHESIS AT SCHOOL 1964-1981

TheFirst Experiment

Isabelle C. Küng

WHAT IT TOOKTOPROCEEDFROM AN ORDINARYSCHOOLTO AN EXTRA-ORDINARYSCHOOLWHERETHEART OF LIVING IN HARMONYWITHONESELF IS PART OF THECURRICULUM

SUMMINGUP

DoretteAndréeFaillettaz(previouslyKüngbymarriage),wasthefounderofInstitutBleuLéman,aprivatelyownedinternationalboarding school for girlsand young women 10 to 20 years of age. Shewaseagertoprovidegoodinstructiontoherpupils,whostayedanaverageofoneortwoyearsintheschool,awayfromtheirfamilies.Itwasimportanttoherthatherpupilsbesuccessfulwhensittingfortheexaminations(mainlyCEEB,Cambridge“O”,“A”Levels,“FirstCertificate,andAllianceFrançaise):thisiswhytheyattendedBleu-Léman.Butshethought:“Whatisthepointofbeingbrilliantinacademicstudies,andyetliveamiserablepersonalandinnerlife,tossedlikealeafinthewind?”.Shewasthereforeeagertoprovideherpupilswithmeanstoeducatethemselves - thatis,toawakentheinnerteacher,discovertheirinnerfreedomandlearntouseitwithdiscernment,soas

tobeabletofacethevicissitudesofLifewitha“sportive,joyousandfair-playattitude”.Thisidealmeantthatshehadtoturnherordinaryschoolintoanextra-ordinaryschool…helpingthegiftedtoblossomashumans,butinsuchawayastoavoidthepitfallsofexcellence,nomatterhowdesirableexcellencecertainlymaybeinmattersofself-esteemandmotor-force!

Thisarticleandthesepicturesareabouthowsheachievedherfirstgoalwiththecooperationoflifecircumstances,her family, and Dr.RobertoAssagioli.

However,beforeenteringintotheheartofthissubject,itmustbementionedthatshehadmanyotherprojects.One,whichsheindeed carried outlater, was to createasecond internationalschool, specializingin thearts of managing an upper-classhousehold,includingetiquetteand“savoir-vivre”(goodmanners).ButalthoughIparticipatedinsettingitup,asmymother’semployee,that isnot thesubjectof this article.Let it simplybementioned thatshenamed thissecond-parallel - creation:InstitutVillaPierrefeu(IVP)andthatitwas,andstillis,situatedinGlionaboveMontreux.Itmayberelevanttomention,foritthrowsacomplementarylightonthepresenttopic,thatasregardsIVP,sheconsideredthatexecutingouteraction(likemanagingahousehold)inaharmoniouswaynecessarilyreflectsatleastaslongasitlastsonthepersonalityandcharacterof the onewho masters it. And that’s how it works for thegreatmajority!

Yes,lookingbackIcantodaysaythatthispersonality-centeredapproach,relyingonouteraction,namely:knowinghowtodo,withthehopeofinfluencingtheinnercore(thusbecoming‘that’atleastonthelevelofappearances),doesmakesensetoacertainpoint.Indeed,itmay,whennon-harmfulknowhowisimparted,addvalue,butonthegroundofvolatilepersonalitymatters.InhisbookTheActofWill,wherethepsychologicallawsthatgovernthepsychicmetabolismareexposed,Assagioliaddressedthisissue.Thoughthepersonality-centeredwayofhandlingmattersmayindeedpreparetheground,itcertainlydoesnotreplacethemorespecificapproachconsistinginfocusingonlearningthemeansofinneraction.Here,youunderstandwhoyouarebyexperiencingbeing-nessandbuildyourselfaharmoniouscharactertobeabletoexerciseinacomprehensiveanddispassionatemannertheskillsthatmustbelearnedtoworkinagivenfieldofaction.Thatmightbemanagingyourownlife,oryourrelationstothe“other”(themanifoldouterworldsthatmirrorourvariousinnerworlds),or managing a household or a business.This includestakingmorally appropriate risks.

Introduction:portrait of an Idealist!

DoretteAndréeFaillettazwasborninVevey,Switzerland,in1911toajournalistmotherandatelegraphistfather.Shewasthethirdoffivedaughters.Shewenttoschoolthereandwasthereforedirectlyexposedtotheprosandconsoftheeducationalsystemofhertime(Zeitgeist).This,andherpersonaldispositionto“livelifemoreabundantly,”inducedhertorethinkthe“system”again,andagain, andyetagain!

Hermaindreamwastodevoteherlifetobringingtotheawarenessofeducatorsthateducationislife’smeansforrevealingandbringingtoblossomtheLOVEwhichsub-stands - thatisunder-stands (supports) -andin-spires;thusbreathesALLTHAT IS intoexistence.

1.Sheconsideredthatinvestingone’sbestattentionandmeanstothisapproachwasoneofthemostefficientmannersofcreatingtheappropriateconditionstoensuremeaningfulsuccessinLife,andhavetheopportunitytobypassitscontrary.Sheresentedmeaninglesssuccessasbeingthecauseoftheseawfullytime-consumingsmallandbigconflictsthatpolluteeveryday lifeand postponeeveryone’sability to find theirown trueSelf - theBeing they feelthey reallyare - andlive aharmoniouslife worthliving.

2.She found,thehardway,thatinstruction - ratherthanfosteringtheprocess ofblossominglife’sessentialqualitieswhicheveryone,withoutexception,isbornwith - ismoreoften(mis)usedtosuffocateit.Thisrivalry(andconfusion)betweeneducationandinstructioncausedhergreatinnerpain…andprobablyfueledherpassiontoreconcilethem!Sheheldinstruction,aswellaseducation,ingreatesteem,consideringthemtosymbolicallybelikethe twohandsneededto work.

3.Sherealizedthatitisaprerequisitetoacknowledgethequalitiesinherentintheinnermostofaperson’sheart,andthenprovideherwiththeadequatemeansthathelpbringthemtothefore(educere)sothatthesequalitiesmayfindexpressionineverydaylifeevents.Everydaylifeisthefieldparexcellencewheretheinnerqualities(spiritualknowhow!) cantrulyserve in the form of

a.pacifying and dynamic attitudes,

b.harmonious relationsto others(humans andcreation), and

c.theabilitytotransmuteconflictsandtensions knowingly,ratherthaneliminatethemhastily or nastily, oneway or the other.Thisimplies acceptingthattensionsarenecessary,preciselytoexercise this ‘transmutingcompetency’ which isthehallmark ofa conscious human being.

4.Asregardspoint3c,shehadseenthattransmutationofconflicts,evenifittakesmoretimeandattention,isfarmoregratifying,andlasting,thanruthlesselimination(likewarsorothermeanstogetridoflivingforms,obstaclesorproblems).Everyoneknowsthatsuppressiononlyservestobreedthe‘crisis-causingfactor’undergroundandempowerit.Whoneeds,soastoremain“onthemove”andawake,tocreatemoreenemiesandtensionsthanonealreadyhas?Thustheoldelimination-reflexistobereplacedbythereflex-to-transmute(orsublimate).Inthisshewasaforerunner,foronlynowhashumanitybeguntoacknowledgethatthisreorientationof“thedirectionofthevital interest”(replace elimination withtransmutation) is amajor issue for humansurvival.

5.Finally,shehadalsorecognizedthatWILLisnecessarilytheenergyfuelingLOVE,andthatthosewhojustfollowedtheirattractions,mistakingthemforlove,actuallyendedupbeingaddictedtothem,livingintheillusionofnotbeingaddictedtothem.Thepersonality-egoismostresourcefulwhenitcomestojustifyingtheoppositeofwhatisobvioustotheintuitionandtothespiritualEgo…ShenoticedthatthesepeopleferociouslyopposedtheideaofWILLbeingthe(secret)seedofLOVE;theymostablydefendedthethesisthatonly‘spontaneous’feelingscouldbesincere.Therefore,fromtheirpointofview,thepropositionthat“towill-to-loveisthekeytotrueLOVEandessentialfreedom”wasjustamake-believestrategy.However,theydidseeLOVEastheheartoftruth…Shewrestledwiththisformanyyears.Andalthoughthelatterpositiondidmakesensetoher,especiallyinheryoungeryears,LifeslowlybroughthertovaluethebenefitsthatstandbehindWILL-inspired-LOVE.Undoubtedly,thedelusionsand(literally)dis-enchantmentsoneinevitablymeetseachtimeanewlightiscastonarelationshipalsohelpedhershiftheropinion.Onemightmeettheseinapersonalrelation,inthefamily,intheprofessionalsphereorinsocialLife,orjustasregardsmaterialthings.Shegottoappreciate,inmattersofhumanrelations,thewonderfulsenseofliberationlovebringswhenitisnurturedbywill.Thatiswhenitisneitheradulteratedbypossessivenessnorheldaprisonerbyselfishness.Thisis,ultimately,themoresubtleformintowhichhuman,personal andpossessive lovetransmutesitself… inthe courseof Time.

6.Ofcoursemisinterpretationofthispointofview,asregardsthegenuine‘sincerity’ofwill-inspired-love,sometimesledhertomisunderstandothersandbemisunderstood…butherquestwasfundamentallyhonest,andsomehowfearless too,andLife (maybe therefore?)always got herback on track!

It does sofor all ofus. Sometimes indisguise!

The facts – how the ‘transmutation’from ordinary to extra-ordinaryoccurred

Thusby1954 - pleasenotetheyear - Lifecircumstancesfinallymadeithappenthatshe,asadivorcedmotheroftwogirls,a10-year-oldanda12-year-old(me,IsabelleClotildeandmyeldersister,VivianeElisabeth), couldconcretize the dream of her life. That was tohelptheyoungergenerationsofwomen,thefuturemothersofthehumanityinthebecoming, to understand the essence ofeducation, LOVE being itsperfumeandWILL (of course spiritual) constitutingitshiddenroots.

Thatyearshefounded - withnothingtobeginwithexceptprovidentialhelp - a privatelyownedinternationalboardingschool for girls.

Her dream was coming true….

Butsoonshefoundthatinordertoconveyherrealization - or,inordertotransmitherflametoherpupils - wordsandgoodintentions,nomatterhowgood,werecertainlymostuseful,butultimatelyalsowouldleadtodependence….Herpupilslovedherandappreciatedherinspiringguidance,buttheydependedonit.Shewasquiteflattered,butvanitywasnothercupoftea!Sheclearlysawthatthisaffectionatedependencywastheoppositeofthecoreofwhatshewantedtoconveytoherpupils,namelythatLOVEsetsyoufree.…theoppositeofwhatthemajoritywarnsusfrom,yetlongsfor,inmattersofinter-individualrelations!Withdireconsequences,andunendingmisunderstandings.…Howcouldshe,shewasaskingherself, conveythe gloriousideahiddenbehindthe kaleidoscope of illusionsthatkeepsaidmajorityinthrall?

Soshereflectedandsearchedforappropriatetoolsthatwouldaddresstheissuefromanangleasneutral,butalsoasdynamicandpragmatic,aspossible.Theyhadtobepsychologicaltoolsbecausethestudentbodyoftheschoolwerefromavarietyofreligiousbackgrounds,includingagnostics(believerswithoutdenomination)andatheists(believersinno-thing);therefore,noreligioncouldbeevenmentioned - despitethefactthateachapproachtothespiritual,innerlifedoesprovidesometools.Theyhadtobepsychologicaltools,becausegiventhatthecausativefactorofanyouteractionandbehaviorliesinthepsyche,itisontheinner,spiritualsideofourlife,thatthe(existential)issuesneedtobeaddressed - notwith“beliefs”(notevenscientificdogmas!),butsimplythroughrightuseofthementalcompetenciesthathappentobethetoolsforworkingwiththepsyche.ParaphrasingthepreambleoftheconstitutingactofUNESCO,sheknewthatitisthesecompetencies,namelythinking,feeling,intuiting,willing,desiring,imagining,thattailoralltheactionswedo:beitwarorpeace.Sheknewthatthereforeitisbytheunderstandingandtherightuseofthesecompetenciesthatwecanre-createandtransformourpredispositions, our gifts, our potential… and keep in thrall what keeps us in thrall! This knowledge had been stated in themid-40s…anditwasstressedagainintheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights…sowhyhadnomethodappearedsofartoturnthesevitaltheoreticalstatementsoffactsintopracticalmeansoffosteringharmonyamongstpeopleandnations?

So Dorette Faillettaz felt it was imperative tofindthose tools that couldpavethe waytothis vision/understanding she had:namely,therelationbetweenEDUCATION,LOVE,andWILL:thecoreofhumandignity!Shewasalsoonthelook-outformethodsthattriggerpsychicorphysicalsideeffects!!!Sheinstinctivelyfeltthat“rightmotiveisoftdeflectedbywrongmethod”(oldoriental wisdom)and reallywished tofind the right method.

Shefoundandtriedafew…andwehelpedintestingoneIremember,a“reflex-conditioningmethod!”.Shegaveitupwhenthestudentthat hadbenefited from thatmethod switched from crying dayandnight tolaughing allthe time!

Wherewasthe method thatwould be both efficientandharmless? If itexisted!

Inthemeantime,sheusedtheonesheknewbest:talkingherpupilsintolovingunderstanding,tolerance,internationalthinking(forsometimeIBLbecameanassociatedschoolofUNESCO),andintokeepingstudyingsoastobesuccessfulintheofficialexaminationstheteamofteacherspreparedthemfor;forafterall,ifthisaimwasachieved,theparentswhoinvested a lot for that,would be satisfied!

After four yearsbuildingthe good reputation of herschool,Lifecircumstancesagainpopped up with a hint!

Ithappenedthatin1960anacquaintanceaskedDoretteFaillettazwhethershecouldhostforaweekaninternationalmeetingofpsychologistsandeducatorsduringtheschoolholidays.Sheimmediatelysensedtheopportunitytodiscovernewavenuestorespondtoherquestandrepliedwithanenthusiastic“yes.”Thensheasked,“Butaretheycompetentandresponsiblepeople?”Sherememberedtheepisodeinducedbythe‘reflex-conditioningmethod’whereastudenthadgonefromunceasingtearstolaughingfits.

AndsoonAugust24,1960,Dr.RobertoAssagioli,hiswifeNella,andhissecretaryIdaPalombiarrivedinSolangevanBerchem’scar,andduringafewdayspeoplelikeDr.JeanGuilhot(founderofthefirstPsychosynthesiscenterinParis),RobertDesoille(directeddaydream),FrançoisdeJessé,PaulDiel(motivationpsychology),Dr.Mastropaolo,Dr.TriantTriantafyllou(MinistryofeducationinAthens),Dr.FrançoisLedoux(MéthodeVittoz),EdouardBerge,andLanfranchijoinedAssagioliandhisvice-presidentGabrielloCirineiforthetalks,whilethepublic,likeMlles.SuzanneNouvion,JacquelinedeChevron-Villette(antroposynthèse),GiulianaContini,PaoloBassano,andothersparticipatedtothemostanimated

debates….

Asfor me, I wasjust allowed to listen;and as I hada brand newLeica, my mother askedmetotake apicture of Assagioli.

DoretteFaillettaz,wasreallyinterestedbythevarietyofthemethodspresentedandtheinclusiveattitudeofAssagioli,especiallyasitwasanattitudeofspiritualinclusiveness,notuniformity.Nodoubthisnon-offensive,efficient,anduser-friendlymethodofself-actualizationandrealizationoftheSelf(asAssagioliwould‘formulateit’intheManualhewouldpublishfiveyearslater),orself-education,waswhatshehadbeenlooking for.

ShewrotetoAssagiolitoaskhimwhetherhewouldgivetalkstotheFédérationSuissedesEcolesPrivées(FSEP)andconferencestoherpupilstoo.OnJan28,1961,Assagiolideclinedinthefollowingmanner,worthquotingforitshowstotheextent(andnotwithoutatouchofhumor)hewouldmakethedifference,intheminutestdetails,betweenhimselfand his personality (body and emotional/mental equipment):

“AstoyourinvitationtogivetalkstotheFederationofDirectorsofPrivateInstitutesandtoyourpupils,itisveryattractive,butImustremindmyselfthatmybodyis73yearsoldandImustspareitasmuchaspossible!Icannotimposeonitadditionalactivitiesandtravels,ontopofthosethatIhavetheobligationtoinflictonittothelimitsofitsstrengthduetonumerouscommitmentswhichIhavealreadytakenforthenextmonths(articlestovariousmagazines,revisionofotherwritings,aseriesofconferencesinFlorence,etc.).Ithereforebegyoutoforgiveme,orrather,toexcuseit!”[Translatedbytheauthorfrom French, a languageAssagioli spoke fluently]

In1961mymother,DoretteAndréeFaillettaz,hostedanotherInternationalWeekofPsychosynthesis,thisonefromSept. 1to7,atInstitutBleu-LémaninVilleneuve(Switzerland).Assagioliandhisteamarrived directly fromVienna,wherehehadgiven akeyaddressattheCongressofPsychotherapy:“PsychosynthesisandExistentialPsychotherapy”.Thereinheemphasizessomeofthemostimportantprinciples of his method, namely

“1.Toproceedfromwithin,thatisfromtheselfofthepatient;2.Totaketheprocessofindividualdevelopmentandgrowthintodueconsideration;3.TosearchforthemeaningofLife;4.Recognitionof the highervalues, and 5. Emphasis upon the future.”

Duringthe1961WeekatBleuLéman,manyofthesameattendants

asin1960werejoinedbyothers,likeFlorenceGarrigue,TillaGrenier,LudovicaHainisch-Marchet,andHubertCuypers,Dr.RobertGérard,IgnaceLepp,DaneRudhyar,andDr.PaulTournier.FrancescaPianiBoeschwroteanoteworthysummaryof thisweek.

AsI recall,the mainsubject of discussionswasaimedat understandingthat the spiritual Self or Realityis an experience(itescapes“limitedandlimitative”definitions).Toooftensearchers,earnestsearchers,interpretspiritualrealitiesintermsof personality matters…

Allowmeaprecision:tousepersonality-terminologytodescribespiritual,thatis,invisible,realitieslikethoughtswasacceptableinAncientGreece.Thenthisapproachaimedatbringingthespiritualrealities,thatistheenergiesatworkintheuniverse,wasbroughtdowntoearth,thuswithinthereachofunderstandingofthehumanityofthatEpoch.Presentingthesemore subtle,intenseandinnerenergiesashavinga somewhat humanform“out there”(e.g.,Athena,Goddessofculture intimesofpeace)enabledthepopulationtoidentifytothese‘invisibleenergies,’andinducedthemtopersonifythem,feelandincarnatetheircharacteristicsandactthemout:itwasameanstohelpthepeopledevelopadistinctpersonality.Atthattime,thisapproachwasappropriate,becausetheemphasiswas - andneededtobe - personality-centered.Today(21stcentury)theemphasishasbeenonaltruismandawarenessoftheGroupandvariousgroups…arealizationthatisonlypossibleifandwhenthepersonality-centeredstagehasbeendulyassimilated,whichimpliesthatthe‘invisible’energieshavebeenqualified andare acted out withoutharming.

Inanycase,itwasnoteasyduringthedebatestomakeitunderstandablethatthepersonalselfisbutthereflectionofthetranspersonalSelf,andthereforehasnorealityofitsown(asdepictedbyR.A.’s“egg”diagram),savethatofservingastrainingtoolandatthesametime groundforthementalunitto‘gain’thespiritualcompetenciesneededtotailor,wave-inandmanageits‘relativeunrealities,’soastotestifyorratherreflecttheinnerRealityoutwardly,andalsoworkoutthevaster‘vision’thisRealityconveys.Bigdiscussions!Nourishedfurtherbythe“cosmicvisionofPèreP.TeilharddeChardin”, presentedbyHubertCuypers!Heemphasizedtheneedforablossomingofthepsychic(spiritual)energies,thusconvergingperfectlywithAssagioli’spointofviewthatconsidersPsychosynthesisasthe“Scienceofpsychic(spiritual)energies”.Butwordsareonlytheambassadorsofthementaldimensionwheretimeisnot,thereforetheyfly…andwhatmatters,oncethewordshaveplayedtheirinspiringrole,istraining:Yes,trainingisthatwhichaccomplishes!Andthis - bothwordsandtools - was whatthe directorandfounder of InstitutBleu-Léman waslooking for, for herpupils.

BynowDoretteFaillettazdefinitelywantedtoknowmore.Shetraveled,withme,downtoCapolonatovisittheAssagioli-Ciapettis.WestayedatLaNussa,visitedthehillandgroundswherelaterVillaIlariowouldbe built.WealsovisitedLa VernaMonasterywhereSaintFrancishadresided.Thisgivesmetheopportunitytoquotethepassageworthponderingupon,aboutAssagioli,writteninthe30s,byFrankVanderlipinhis book What Next inEurope (pp. 152-153):

“Imetin Florenceaman who leftmethinking ofhim,aftera fewdaysofacquaintance,assomethingofamodernSaintFrancis.HehasnoneoftheaccoutrementofthatSaintlyMonk,butIbelievethathehasagooddealofthespiritthatmadeSaintFrancislive.Thereseemedtometoburninthismanthepureflameofaloveofjusticeand

humanity.RobertoAssagioliishisname.AtalkwithhimonamoonlightbalconyoverlookingtheArnowasoneoftheincidentsIshallbestrememberinthiswholeEuropeantrip.ItwasindeepcontrastwiththebittercommentonconditionsandLifeIheardfromsomanypeopleinothercountries.Heseemedtohaveacalmandsereneunderstandingofthecausesofthetroublesoftheworldandasensibleapprehensionofwherematerialismisleadingtheworld.Heexpressedsuchacheerfulhopefulnessthatabetterroadisathandiftheworldwillbuttakeit.IfIamnotmistakenthismanhasthesortofhumangoodnessthathascharacterizedothermenwhohaveinitiatedgreatmoralmovementswhichhadsmallbeginnings.IfIwereaskedtoindicatepreciselywhathehasaccomplishedorisproposingtoaccomplish,anystatementthatIcouldmakewould notbe expressive:nevertheless, I wasimpressed”.(Emphasesadded.)

Wealso wereimpressed byour stay atLaNussa.And aftersometime, mymother andAssagioli madeadecision basedonseveralconsiderations.He couldnot comeinpersontoteachthepupilsof InstitutBleuLémanthismethodwhichshe nowconsideredasworthincludingintothecurriculum.Also,shehadtostaytheretomanagetheschool.BynowItoowasinterestedandrecognizedthatIcertainlyneededtotakethattrainingformyselftobeginwith.SincemysisterwasanhonorstudentatUCLA,well…“if”possible,IwouldbesenttoFlorencetolearnthemethod.Aftersixmonth’sweeklysessionsandattendingAssagioli’sweeklycoursestotheyoung,andconferences,Iwouldbeginpracticingafewexerciseswiththepupils of the school(tostart)….

Fromthenon(anduntil1974),everyyearIspentamonthinFlorence,residingasaguestatViaSanDomenico14(nowheadquartersoftheSocietàItalianadiPsicosintesiTerapeuticaorSIPT),learningwhatIcouldandreportingaboutmyexperiences of teaching the method.

In1965DoretteFaillettazhostedyetanotherInternationalPsychosynthesismeeting.Itwastheseventh(accordingtothechronology of the Istituto,before Ida rearrangedit).

Therewere more attendees - clearlythenext conferences wouldhaveto beheldatalargerplace.Neverthelesstheatmospherewasasusualmostfriendly,andthetalksmostinteresting,withspeakersfromNorthandSouthAmerica,England,France,Germany,India,andItaly.Participantswerenumerous.Assagioligavethreeaddresses:1.oncooperation(1965beingthe“yearofcooperation”),2.variouswaysof educating the particularly gifted, and 3. Freud, Jung andPsychosynthesis.TheFrenchpsychiatrist,Dr.HenriBaruk,spokeabout“LaChitamnie”,meaning,ifmymemoryiscorrect:establishingmorehumanerelationswithpatientsin psychiatricasylumsbyawakeningtheirsense of trustand of “justness” (TZEDEKinHebrew).

Mytrainingwenton,GabrielloCirineispentasummerwithustotalktoourteachersoneducationandtotranslate,withme,fromtheItaliantotheFrenchafewselectedlessonsofAssagioli.Yearin,yearout,Iworkedmostofthetimeattheschool.Ialsotaughtetiquetteandflowerarrangements.ButmostlyItaughtPsychosynthesis - nowmorespecifically,andtoallthepupils.Butrememberthatwewereinthe60s,inEurope,inprettyconservativeSwitzerland,andIwasonlyayoungadult.Therewasanadvantagespeakingthesamelanguageasthepupils,butitmeantalsothatIcouldnottaketheiracceptanceforgranted.Ithereforedecidedtodesignatetheimpartedsubject-matterbytheterms:

A.the‘anatomyandphysiology’ of the healthypsyche,and

B.thetechniquesandadequateexercisestoharmonizethepersonality’spotential.

Withthiswording,thepupilsinstantlyunderstoodthat“Psychosynthesisclasses”withMadameIsabellereferredtofamiliarconcepts:“I,meandmyself -be happy!”.

Andin1966Igotmarried.In1970weboughtBleu-Léman,whereIwentonteachingAssagioli’smethodsevenhoursperweektoclassesofsixpupilseach,administertheschool,andalsobecamemotheroftwo: Claude-Emanuel H. andSara-Gabrielle I.

Conclusion

DoretteFaillettaz’squesthadbeencompleted.Fromdreamitbecameareality.Ameansofgivingtothepupilsanon-offensivepsychological

tooltoeducatetheircharacterwasintegratedintothecurriculumoftheschool,transmutingitfroman“ordinary”toan“extra-ordinary”school,onemightsay!Shewantedit,Assagiolirespondedwiththeappropriatemeans,andIwasfortunateenoughto be helpedto“dothe job”….Thuslearn!

WeowemuchgratitudetoDoretteFaillettazforheropenmindandcouragetoinnovateinawisemanner,inlinewithhermotto “Confiance – Ethique – Réalisation”: Trust – Ethics – Accomplishment

Sheknewthemotor-valueofwords,apointAssagiolidescribesinhisarticleof(1967/8):TheTechniqueofEvocativeWords(available on line atAAP).

Asyousee,itisactuallyeasytoturnanordinaryschoolintoan extra-ordinaryschool,simplyby includingwithinthenormalprogramofinstruction,freeofcharge(aswasthecaseinourschoolintheschoolyear),themeanstoeducateoneselftoliveinharmonywithoneself,andby reflex-action,withothers.

Dr.Assagiolitoofollowedandsupportedthisexperimentwithattention:itwasthefirsttimethathismethodofself-actualizationandrealizationoftheSelfwasputtothetest(for17years),andbecamepartofthecurriculumofaprivatelyownedinternationalschool:InstitutBleu-Léman in Villeneuve,Switzerland.

Iammostindebtedtohimforhavingmadethispossiblebyhisgeneroussharingofhiscompetenciesandhistrustinmeand all ofus involvedin the experiment, especiallyGabrielloCirinei, Ida Palombi and lovelyNellawho motheredme.

Additionalinformation

Inaparalleldevelopment,mysisterViviane,whocamebackfromtheUSandalsogotmarried,boughtVillaPierrefeuinGlion( herdreams. It isstilloperatingand Viviane gave it awiderdimension!

AndInstitutBleu-Léman?Well,whenthebuildingwassoldin1981byitsowners(weonlyownedtheschool)Iturnedtheschoolitselfintoa“bureauattheserviceofeducation”.AndforawhiletheSwissRedCrossrentedtheplacetotestanidealformulatohouserefugees,asylumseekers….Thenthebuildingwastransformedbyitsnewowners(aninsurancecompany)into apartments for sale… with a beautifulviewover Lake Lémanandthe Castleof Chillon.

And Inow livein Geneva,busy withcultural matters and writing.

Source: AAP Psychosynthesis Quarterly – December 2016