Campus Groups
Below is the list of active and current CIIS Student Initiated Campus Groups funded by Student Alliance.
American Buddhism
The group is dedicated to promoting the benefits of Zen Buddhism, meditation, yoga, and related Buddhist practices as a pathway to Self-Realization and the harmonious blending of the material and spiritual in contemporary American society. The group encourages the study and practices of these disciplines so that Americans with a Western mindset may come to appreciate these ancient gifts of Eastern thought, and utilize them in a way that is relevant to American cultures and values.Contact: Hui, htai@ciis.edu
Awakening to Whiteness and Racism Everywhere (AWARE)
AWARE (Awakening to Whiteness and Racism Everywhere) provides a space for students, faculty, and staff to examine experiences of white social privilege, to confront histories of silence, shame, and complicity, and to build alliances between white people and people of color at CIIS. All who wish to attend AWARE meetings are welcome, and the focus of the process is on supporting white people in the work of ending racism. A major goal of the group is to promote diversity, inclusion, and social justice in the CIIS community. Contact: Kate,awareciis@gmail.com
Belvaspata Healing Group
The Belvaspata Healing group is an open circle that meets once to twice a month at CIIS to hold a sacred container for deep energetic clearing and healing. Belvaspata means “healing of the heart”, and is a beautiful angelic healing system that uses the tool of sigils (frequency maps) to shift stagnant and distorted emotions to allow for deep clarity, insight, and opening of the heart. Clarity and insight comes as blocks are released from the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional spheres. The work is relaxing, rejuvenating, and opens one up to wondrous miracles. It is with great delight that Noor–as a Belvaspata Grandmaster and Healing Practitioner–offers this gift to the CIIS community-at-large.Contact: Noor, noornajafi101@yahoo.com
Coniunctio
An Astrology Study Group dedicated to the support and growth of an astrological community of learners at CIIS, fostering an approach to the discipline of astrology which is creative, imaginative, and intellectually rigorous. All knowledge and skill levels are welcomed in our topic-based approach, which emphasizes peer learning and mentoring. This will be a great way to connect with students of astrology at CIIS and access resources to further your studies.Contact: Ian Waisler, ianwaisler@gmail.com
Dyad Practice
Dyad Practice is for students having already taken Therapeutic Communications and is structured to allow students to practice and enhance their therapeutic skills, creating a space to play the role of client and/or therapist with other group participants, keeping them from getting rusty in the core aspects of Therapy. Interested persons can expect to meet every Thursday from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Contact: Noor, noornajafi101@yahoo.com
ERIE: Entheogenic Research, Integration, and Education
The Entheogenic Research, Integration, and Education group’s mission is to provide a forum for the furtherance of three areas in the entheogenic dialogue: 1) discussing contemporary research and scholarship involving sacred medicine and proposing new horizons and directions for it; 2) creating and holding a safe space in which to share and integrate transpersonal experiences; and 3) envisioning a new educational paradigm in which the ancient wisdom of plant teachers, long held by indigenous cultures, can be reframed to be relevant within a modern, Western context. Contact: Larry, erievision@gmail.com
Expressive Movement Exploration
Expressive Movement Exploration (EME) is a campus group that explores different styles of expressive dance. Each month, there is a different theme. Through journey-based work, participants get to explore different personal and universal themes, as it relates to dance/embodied work. The intent is to create a sacred safe space for intentional movement exploration, connection with the body, and authentic liberating self-expression. Come join, play, and heal through dance with us! Contact: Noor, noornajafi101@yahoo.com
Hummingbird Ecstatic Dance
First Friday of each month at The Happiness Institute (1720 Market St. San Francisco, CA 94102). Our CIIS DJs: Kyle Milburn, Ruta Segal, George Brais + guests. Spontaneous live performances by Joshua Halpern and Skylar Wilson. The CIIS community is coming to Happiness Institute to boogie and integrate after pondering and imagining incredible things. Great music and beautiful spirits in a cozy and spacious place are waiting. Spread your wings and let free as you get entrained with sound, rhythm, beats and waves. Ecstatic Dance is a freeform conscious dance where movement expands, spirit activates, boundaries melt, boredom ceases, creativity breaks out, hope happens, beauty flows, communities collaborate, ritual is reinvented, harmony resonates, The beat deepens, as a tapestry of rhythms weave us together as individuals within a greater family. Any skill level is welcome as ecstatic dance is a conscious and safe space. Ritual, yoga, live music, improvisational dance lessons, are often part of Hummingbird ecstatic dances. There are opportunities for gaining experience in holding space at ecstatic dance. Contact: Joshua, joshuamorrill@gmail.com
Integral Ecology
Integral Taiji & Qigong
Our Integral Taiji & Qigong classes focus on embodied, spiritual, social, ecological, psychological, and philosophical dimensions of qigong and taiji. We practice standing meditation, walking meditation, Taiji Ruler, the Eight Treasures, taiji dance, push hands, and more. We also practice sections of the Yang style slow form. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of prior experience. Feel free to come as little or as often as you want. This class is free to the CIIS community and is co-sponsored by Student Alliance and The Chaudhuri Center: Contemplative Practice, Interreligious Dialogue, and Social Justice.Contact: Elizabeth, elizabeth_mcanally@yahoo.com
International Students and Friends
International Students & Friends is created for the expressed purpose of providing peer support for the international student community through organizing and hosting cultural and social events as well as of raising awareness on campus about the specific needs of international graduate students.
All CIIS students, alumni, faculty and staff and encouraged to join. If you are an international student or a new immigrant, attracted to cross-cultural experiences, a language learner, or have lived overseas and want to connect then this community group is for you. Contact: Jody, joconnor@ciis.edu
People of Color Group (POC)
The People of Color group is open to faculty, staff and students of color. The group meets every two weeks to discuss issues of diversity at the Institute and to provide ongoing support to the community of color at CIIS. A major goal of the group is to promote cultural diversity and awareness in the CIIS community.Contact: Truc, stuck2rice@gmail.com. NEEDS NEW COORDINATOR, email studentalliance@ciis.edu if you are interested.
Pranahuti Aided Meditation (PAM)
Pranahuti Aided Meditation (also known as the Natural Path) teaches a unique meditation system based on Pranahuti or Yogic Transmission of pure Consciousness by a capable person to a spiritual seeker for the individual’s spiritual uplift and self-transformation. Happiness, balanced living, and universal harmony through spiritual cooperation are some of the main aims and gains of this path. PAM Student Group’s Mission is to facilitate and promote the education, research, support in practice and events collaborations with external non-profit education institutes in the area. Contact: Wendy, wendy.zeng@gmail.com
Queer@CIIS
Queer@CIIS is a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and intersex members of the CIIS community and their allies. Our primary mission is to provide a safe and enthusiastic environment for all students, faculty, and staff that supports, affirms, encourages, and empowers us in sharing our lives and goals more fully and openly in the community, thereby enhancing the richness and relevance of the CIIS educational experience. Our group provides exciting educational and social events to support, promote, and edify all students as well as those in the community. We believe that inclusivity is a primary ingredient for discourse, and camaraderie. Your ideals, ideas, stories, and support are most welcome and encouraged. Contact: Emmi, emmicb@gmail.com
Student Alliance
Student Alliance is a student-run organization that facilitates communication, sponsors events, and allocates funding to help students and student groups actualize the seven institute ideals. Listening to student voices, we build alliances, cultivate student leadership, and advocate for social change and transformation of existing power structures. $25 from your registration fee funds us, so if you are an active student, you are automatically a member and may participate in all Student Alliance sponsored activities. Contact: Tia, studentalliance@ciis.edu
Theatre For Change
We are committed to using theatrical performance to give voice and representation to people of color; to open dialogue within the community on issues of race, racism, and equality; and to encourage our audience to fight inequality on a personal, institutional, and societal level.Contact: The Drama Therapy Department
Turquoise is an a cappella group composed of women and gendervariant members of the CIIS community. We offer music in service of helping others to feel, to heal, and to awaken to the presence beauty. The songs in our repertoire tell stories from many cultures, and we strive to hold these narratives with responsibility, respect and care.
Contact: Keniece Ford, kweensings@yahoo.com
Yoga
Yoga classes are offered throughout the semester free of charge to students. Check out MYCIIS, under the Student Life tab for schedule for more information.Contact: Hui, htai@ciis.edu
