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about

Kent Hoffman received his doctorate in 1975 from the Claremont Graduate School of Theology focusing on the interface between psychological crisis and struggles within personal relationship. After graduation he worked with psychiatric patients in prison, individuals with terminal cancer, survivors of sexual abuse, and the homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. Since I985 he has been in private practice at Marycliff Institute in Spokane. In 1991 he was certified in psychoanalytic psychotherapy through the Masterson Institute in New York City.Kent is an originator of the Circle of Security Project, a research-based intervention for parents and young children now being utilized throughout the world.Kent has been a clinical consultant for attachment-related interventions with the University of Maryland, University of Virginia, Tulane University, and Queensland Institute of Technology. He also teaches psychology at Gonzaga University.Kent travels throughout the globe teaching about the Circle of Security. He also leads seminars concerning attachment and spiritual practice.Kent has been a practitioner of both Christian contemplative prayer and Buddhist mindfulness meditation for the past four decades. He has been a student of Allan Hunter, David Steindl-Rast, Robert Aitken Roshi, and Charlotte Joko Beck.He is married and has a son attending graduate school in Connecticut.
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A regularly updated Thirsthome Blog is now at (please click): http://thirsthome.blogspot.com/

The explanation below will remain for those seeking an understanding of the basic premise of this website.

Procedural memory. These two words are seldom spoken outside the world of developmental psychology. Hopefully this will change.

Procedural memory is the template we form in our earliest months and years of life regarding how the "procedures within relationship" take place. Over time this becomes the lens through which we see our significant relationships for the remainder of our lives.

Psychoanalyst Christopher Bollas calls procedural memory our "unthought known." That is, feelings and perceptions that we "know" but aren't aware of knowing. This specific form of unconscious memory remains "unthought" through our lives because it was learned prior to our use of language.

Take, for example, the following micro-moments experienced as a felt-sense in an infant and young child's life:

• I like it when you smile so comfortably, did you see how I just relaxed more fully in your arms?

• Can you feel my discomfort just now when your voice got too loud?

• Did you hear my whimper as a request for a little more distance?

• When you frown so intensely, I feel uneasy and look away. Can you notice my upset and make sure I know you're still gentle and safe?

• I just got frightened and you did nothing. Are you still here?

• I feel so much better when you notice my sadness and return to make sure I'm O.K.

• Why, when I cry, do you pull back? Am I too much for you?

As a psychotherapist over the past four decades I've come to recognize a direct parallel between our early experiences of belonging (or the lack thereof) and how we later come to understand the nature of ultimate reality. As it turns out, these micro-interactions inform our sense of safety, soothing, and connection as well as our experience of danger, distress, and loneliness. When summarized in an overarching worldview, these conclusions impact our view of the Sacred. The issue before us when considering a spiritual practice always includes the following questions: " How does my 'unthought known' influence my experience of Presence or Absence? In what way does my early experience of 'the other' inform my view of God as tender, available, punitive, intrusive, distant,

indifferent, dangerous, unavailable? How was my view of the Sacred formed before I even had words?" - KTH

seminars

THIRST ATTACHMENT, PROCEDURAL MEMORY, & SACRED PRACTICEFebruary 3-5, 2012Brisbane, AustraliaFebruary 24-26, 2012Adelaide, Australia"“. . . still crazy after all these years.”" – Paul SimonTruth be told, many of us remain noticeably insecure even after years of trying to have this not be so. Emotional struggles that repeat themselves (“same struggle, different day”) tend to define us in ways that either baffle us, depress us, or trigger an unending hope that “the answer is just around the corner.”What if we discovered that the solution to our persistent struggles was giving up the search for solutions? How might it be to recognize that what we lack isn’'t “"more"” but rather a simple experience of "“enough"?” What if this experience of “"enough"” turned out to have been here, present and available, all along?And, how would it be if we began to see that we unconsciously block this simple experience of “"enough,"” because we learned to believe it wasn’'t available?Current developmental research is providing new clues to how we function within our shared human struggles. This research has been able to systematically identify key patterns of insecurity that are formed in the first years of life. These early patterns establish a sense of "certainty" about “how life works,” becoming the lens through which we see ourselves, others, and events for the remainder of our lives.Unfortunately, this neurobiologically established blueprint often limits our capacity to risk having confidence: in ourselves, others, and the nature of the universe. Instead, we tend to carry core beliefs hidden from conscious awareness, buried convictions that block access to simple trust and genuine intimacy. This seminar is designed to offer an understanding of our common struggles with trust and intimacy from the perspective of current affective neuroscience, attachment research and sacred traditions. Participants will be asked to explore their early patterning and its multiple implications for both psychological and spiritual life. Central themes of this seminar will include:• Understanding our everyday insecurity • Recognizing common patterns of defense that block access to deeper trust, security and closeness• Opening into trust through traditional and contemporary “technologies of the sacred” designed to increase confidence in the underlying nature of the universe (including breathing practice, mantra practice, and sacred poetry)• “Breathing moments” (momentary practice) in any given day where we can access hidden longing and hidden wholeness• Meditation and contemplative prayer approaches available for use in a regular daily practice of 10-15 minutes or more.This 15-hour seminar has been designed from a research-based, psychological perspective and a multi-faith point of view. Participants will be encouraged to experience their own history in a new light and the sacred within a context that is often non-dualistic, always deeply personal, and continually trusting in Deep Mystery. Core tenants of Christianity, Buddhism, and Sufism will be explored as direct experience rather than belief.[It may be obvious, but if you feel fundamentally secure and at ease in your life, this seminar is probably not for you.)Friday evening - Nov. 4, 2011 7:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday - Nov. 5, 2011 9:00-12:00 1:30-5:00(Lunch on your own)Sunday - Nov. 6, 2011 9:00-12:00 1:30-5:00 (Lunch on your own)PreparationParticipants are encouraged (but not required) to prepare for the seminar in the following ways:1. Purchasing and beginning to use a Stress Eraser – The SE is a hand held biofeedback tool that provides "in the moment" feeback about how our breathing synchronizes with our heart rhythm. The SE helps callibrate an optimal breathing pattern. While it costs $119, it is a very useful teaching tool for those seeking a way of integrating a restful body and mind. Restful breathing is at the foundation of both the momentary and daily practice being suggested in this seminar. (http://stresseraser.com)2. Reading “"Into the Silent Land"” by Martin Laird, O.S.A. – "This book on contemplative prayer by a renowned teacher and retreat master offers an accessible introduction to the human search for transcendence. “Sharp, deep, with no clichés, no psychobabble, and no short cuts. Its honesty is bracing, its vision is utterly clear, it is a rare treasure.”" – Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury 3. Reading "Everyday Zen" by Charlotte Joko Beck. "Deals with the most important spiritual practice of all - how we can live awakened in our daily life."- Jack Kornfield, founder, Insight Meditation SocietyNone of these suggestions is required prior to attending the seminar. At the same time, each offers important preparation.Thank you.

Enough.

These few words are enough.

If not these words, this breath.

If not this breath, this sitting here.

This opening to the life

we have refused

again and again

until now.

Until now.

David Whyte

Where Many Rivers Meet

Photo: Gretchen Minx

contact

Thirst Seminar 807 W. Seventh Ave. Spokane, WA 99204 509-455-7654, ext. 54 or email kenthoffman1422_comcast.net

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registration

Registration for the 2012 Thirst Seminar in Brisbane, AU Go to:

http://www.qut.edu.au/study/short-courses-and-professional-development/short-courses/thirst-attachment- procedural-memory-and-sacred-practice-in-everyday-life-seminar

To register and pay on line for the Spokane Seminar, click icon to the right. (There will be a surcharge by Brown Paper Tickets.)

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/179024

To register and pay by mail for the Spokane Seminar, please click the "W" icon to the right to download registation and order form.

Thirstsemnov11.doc

Tuition is refundable, minus a $50 cancellation fee up to 14 days before the seminar. Tuition is non-refundable starting 14 days before the seminar, but it may be transferred to another person.

Spokane Seminar is now closed.

The focus of this seminar will be personal reflection based upon seminar content. There will be no planned small group sharing of personal issues. There will be time set aside for journaling and silent meditation. There will also be time available throughout the weekend for questions and comments from the full group concerning course content.

Registration for the 2012 Thirst Seminar in Adelaide, AU Go to:

http://www.dramatix.com.au

For those living in Spokane and wanting to purchase "Into the Silent Land" and "Everyday Zen" copies will be available at Auntie's Bookstore.

resources

DailyPractice 3

Daily Practice 1

JUST BREATHE

For resting individuals, pulses of heat light up the primary somatosensory cortex, a region of the brain that maps pain in particular regions of the body. When the subjects focused on their breathing using meditation the brain region stayed quiet even during pain.

Credit: Robert Coghill

Daily Practice 4

Daily Practice 2

Nothing Special 2.doc

Web-1.doc

Daily Practice Download

At Home in Our Original Nature

4-17 mind-1.doc

resources

Mindfulness Studies

Music:Pat Matheny - One Quiet Night

Background music can be turned off in lower left corner of Home page.

Daily Practice DownloadDaily Practice Download THE SEMINAR IS NOW CLOSED. To be placed on the waiting list please go to the contact page. WELCOME TO THIRST, A WEBSITE DESIGNED TO EXPLORE OUR SHARED HUMAN EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF SACRED MYSTERY & SPIRITUAL PRACTICE."Thirst is proof of water."Sufi Wisdom Saying"The first step in spiritual practice is to know ourselves as lovable and allow ourselves to be loved."John Main, O.S.B."Thirst is proof of water."Sufi Wisdom Saying Thirst Seminar - 11-11.doc

Thirst Seminar - 11-11-2.doc thirst

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