Kabbalah Essays - Jewish Culture, Sephirot, Kabbalah,

Kabbalah Kabbalah is described as Jewish mysticism dating back to the beginning of time according to holy beliefs. Opposed to traditional Judaism, Kabbalistic beliefs are based on a different interpretation of the book of Genesis. Kabbalistic concepts consist mainly of a Sephirot Tree which organizes the ten basic principals of life and an organized Universe making this branch of Judaism very different than other mainstream religions. Kabbalists have faith that divine status can be reached through means of traditional magick to find the meaning in numbers and letters of the holy scriptures making Kabbalah very unique in it's beliefs. I. Creation A. Taught by God to a group of angels B. Hebrew Sources in Israel C. first centuries B.C.E. II. Scriptures A. Book of Zohar (Book of Splendor) B. Sefer Yezirah C. Genesis, Old Testament III. Beliefs A. World Can be grasped through numbers and letters B. Job to discover hidden meaning in numbers and letters of holy scriptures through traditional magick methods C. Sephirot Tree of Life 1. ten numbers are working principals of life organized and pictured in the S.T.L. 10 - Malkuth Kingdom - Divine (Exile/Physical) 9 - Yesod - Foundation (Union of Male and Female) 8 - Hod - Glory (Dependence/Vulnerability) 7 - Netzach - Firmness (Leadership/Conference) 6 - Tiphareth - Beauty (Balance/Harmony) 5 - Geburah - Strength/Severity (Discipline/Boundaries) 4 - Chesed - Mercy/Love (Compassion/Healing) 3 - Binah - Intelligence/Understanding (Differentiation/Repentance) 2 - Chochmah - Wisdom (Pure Thought/Connectedness) 1 - Kether - Being/Existence (Will/Selflessness) 2. 11th Sephirot - Between Chochmah and Binah - Daath - Knowledge (sex) found in the first chapters of Genesis 3. climb tree by means of magick D. God 1. fills Universe 2. all things, good and evil/immanent and transcendent 3. boundless IV. Rituals/Ceremony A. Coming of Age 1. Bar Mitzvah a. ceremony of admitting a boy (13) to the adult Jewish community 2. Bat Mitzvah a. ceremony of admitting a girl (12 or 13) to the adult Jewish community B. Hanukah 1. eight days 2. signified with the Menorah 3. commemorating the rededication of The Temple in Jerusalem C. Prayer 1. pray in Hebrew 2. Shabbat is celebrated as the day of rest (sundown on Friday night to sun down on Saturday) 3. bow before entering a Jewish worship service Conclusion: Kabbalah is described as Jewish mysticism dating back to the beginning of time according to holy beliefs. Opposed to traditional Judaism, Kabbalistic beliefs are based on a different interpretation of the book of Genesis. Kabbalistic concepts consist mainly of a Sephirot Tree which organizes the ten basic principals of life and an organized Universe making this branch of Judaism very different than other mainstream religions. Kabbalists have faith that divine status can be reached through means of traditional magick to find the meaning in numbers and letters of the holy scriptures making Kabbalah very unique in it's beliefs. KABBALAH Kabbalah is described as Jewish mysticism dating back to the beginning of time according to holy beliefs. Opposed to traditional Judaism, Kabbalistic beliefs are based on a different interpretation of the book of Genesis. Kabbalistic concepts consist mainly of a Sephirot Tree which organizes the ten basic principals of life and an organized Universe making this branch of Judaism very different than other mainstream religions. Kabbalists have faith that divine status can be reached through means of traditional magick to find the meaning in numbers and letters of the holy scriptures making Kabbalah very unique in it's beliefs. Kabbalistic practices are believed to originate straight from God. Kabbalists believe that the secrets of the holy scriptures were taught by God to a group of angels in Heaven. The angels then came down upon earth in human form and taught the religion to the people of Israel. Writing of the Kabbalah dates back to the first reordered centuries of the earth (B.C.E.) known to creationists. The scriptures of Kabbalah include the Book of Zohar or Book of Splendor. The Zohar is a five-volume mystical commentary on the Torah. Torah is the Hebrew word for law or teaching and it more commonly referred to as the Books of Moses, the first five books of the Bible, Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus; Numbers; and Deuteronomy. It is traditionally said to be authored by Rabbi Shim'on bar Yohai, about 2000 years ago. Historically, it was probably put into written form in the fourteenth or fifteenth century by the Spanish rabbi Moses de Leon. Another scripture of Kabbalah is Sefer Yetzirah which means "Book of Formation". Sefer Yetzirah is a brief work on the Creation. It is traditionally ascribed to Abraham,

ADD †Attention Deficit Disorder

ADD – Attention Deficit Disorder Free Online Research Papers When I surveyed the class and asked the question, do you know anyone with a learning disability or not; ten of you said yes, and six said no. What you probably don’t know is that a lot of your friends most likely have a learning disability, you just don’t see it. I’m going to share with the class a true story from my past that I have never shared with anyone. It all started when I was diagnosed in the fifth grade. My teacher asked my mother to come to school because she needed to talk to her about how I was doing in my studies. Her exact words were, â€Å"Mrs. Jersey, I think you should know that your daughter is slow.† But I’m making it a point, to let the class know that I am, by no means, slow. But there was something wrong; my parents just didn’t pick up on it yet. Needless to say that a certain teacher was reprimanded for her actions that day and that I was tested for a learning disability within that same week. SLIDE 4- Congratulations you have attention deficit. Can you imagine being nine years old and being told that you have a disability? I didn’t feel like any of the other kids, not to mention I was failing every subject that was I taking. Until I was put on medication, even though it was a very small dose, it did the trick. Adderall; it changed my life. Within a week of taking my new prescription, my teachers noticed a drastic change in my performance in class. SLIDE 5- But I was dealing with other issues because of this medication, the dark side of it, the possible side effects that I wasn’t told about, until after I had them. The side effects that I experience were horrible, I was losing weight because I lost my appetite, I was constantly having severe migraines, I was always dizzy, and I couldn’t fall asleep if you paid me to. Why put any child through such an ordeal? I could stop taking the meds at anytime if I wanted to, but I didn’t. I finally felt normal for the first time, and I actually started to fit in with the other kids. Those side effects were a small price to pay when you consider what I was gaining in the end. Those were just my side effects, but there are many other ones, and there are a few that can be harmful to your health. ADD medicine can cause severe heart and liver problems; to this day I have to get blood work done each year to make sure that my liver is still in good condition. But no matter th e cost, it’s all worth it. SLIDE 6- There are tons of people out there who don’t agree with medicating a children. In doing extra research for my speech I found many websites who are trying to abolish the use of typical ADD/ ADHD medications. They are suggesting as an alternative, to try herbal medications, and other â€Å"steps† to deal with your child’s disability, that doesn’t involve any medication at all. One website, created an herbal drug called â€Å"mind soothe† that actually contains some drugs such as St. John’s Wart. I found this amusing because there are some drugs that I am forbidden to take, because they will have a bad chemical reaction with my attention deficit medications, and the outcome of that combination can result in life altering illnesses or even death. Want to know what the #1 drug that I am not permitted it take is? St. John’s Wart. But enough about all the medical information about this disability, now I’m going to tell you what life is like in my shoes. Many people don’t believe that ADD is the real deal. Hopefully you will understand what people who have a disability just like mine, go through every day. SLIDE 7- So what is it like to have ADD? Some people say the so-called syndrome doesnt even exist, but believe me, it does. Many metaphors come to mind to describe it. Its like driving in the rain with bad windshield wipers. Everything is blurred and youre speeding along, and its really frustrating not being able to see very well. Or, its like listening to a radio station with a lot of static and you have to strain to hear whats going on. Or, its like trying to build a house of cards in a dust storm. You have to build a something to protect yourself from the wind before you can even start on the cards. In other words its like being super-charged all the time. You get one idea and you have to act on it, and then, out of nowhere, youve got another idea before youve finished up with the first one, and so you go for that one, and pretty soon people are calling you disorganized and impulsive and all sorts of things that miss the point completely. Because you truly are trying really hard. Its just that you have all these invisible things pulling you this way, and it makes it really hard to stay on task. But there is a positive side to all this. Usually the positive doesnt get mentioned when people speak about ADD because people tend to focus on what goes wrong, or at least on what has to be somehow controlled. But often once the ADD has been diagnosed, and the child or the adult, with the help of teachers and parents or doctors and friends have learned how to cope with it, an untapped part of the brain comes into view. Suddenly the radio station is tuned in, the windshield is clear, and the sand storm has died down. And the child or adult, who had been such a problem, such a general pain in the neck to himself and everybody else, that person starts doing things hed never been able to do before. SLIDE 8- In places where most of us are blind, they can, if not see the light, at least feel the light, and they can produce answers apparently out of the dark. It is important for others to be sensitive to this sixth sense many ADD people have, and to encourage it. If the environment insists on rational thinking and good behavior from these people all the time, then they may never develop their creative side that makes them so unique. It can be tiresome to listen to people talk. They can sound so vague or as if they’re rambling on. But if you take them seriously and bear along with them, often you will find they are on the verge of startling conclusions or surprising solutions. Let me leave you by telling you that we need your help and understanding. We may make mess-piles wherever we go, but with your help, those mess-piles can be turned into a world of reason and art. So, if you know someone like me whos acting up occasionally and daydreaming and forgetting this or that and just not getting with the program, consider ADD before he or she starts believing all the bad things people are saying about them. The main point of this speech is that there is a more complex side to ADD than just a list of symptoms. ADD is a way of life, and until recently it has been hidden, even from those who have it. It is a way of living. Before the syndrome is diagnosed that way of living may be filled with pain and misunderstanding. After the diagnosis is made, one often finds new possibilities and the chance for real change. Research Papers on ADD - Attention Deficit DisorderTrailblazing by Eric AndersonStandardized TestingLifes What IfsBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenCapital PunishmentHip-Hop is ArtThe Spring and AutumnThe Hockey Game

The Commonwealth of Nations - African History

The Commonwealth of Nations - African History What is the Commonwealth of Nations? The Commonwealth of Nations, or more commonly just the Commonwealth, is an association of sovereign states consisting of the United Kingdom, some of its former colonies, and a few special cases. The Commonwealth nations maintain close economic ties, sporting associations and complementary institutions. When was the Commonwealth of Nations Formed? In the early twentieth century, the government of Britain was taking a hard look at its relationship with the rest of the British Empire, and particularly with those colonies populated by Europeans – the dominions. The dominions had reached a high level of self-government, and the people there were calling for the creation of sovereign states. Even amongst the Crown Colonies, Protectorates, and Mandates, nationalism (and the call for independence) was on the rise. The British Commonwealth of Nations was first noted in the Statute of Westminster on 3 December 1931, which recognized that several of the United Kingdoms self-governing dominions (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) were autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations. What was new under the 1931 Statute of Westminster was that these dominions would now be free to control their own foreign affairs – they were already in control of domestic affairs – and to have their own diplomatic identity. Which African Countries are Members of the Commonwealth of Nations? There are 19 African states who are currently members of the Commonwealth of Nations. See this Chronological List of African Members of the Commonwealth of Nations, or Alphabetical List of African Members of the Commonwealth of Nations for details. Is it Only ex-British Empire Countries in Africa Who Have Joined the Commonwealth of Nations? No, Cameroon (which had only partially been in the British Empire following World War I) and Mozambique joined in 1995. Mozambique was admitted as a special case (ie could not set a precedent) following democratic elections in the country in 1994. All its neighbors were members and it was felt that Mozambiques support against white-minority rule in South Africa and Rhodesia should be compensated. On the 28th November 2009 Rwanda also joined the Commonwealth, continuing the special case conditions under which Mozambique had joined. What Kind of Membership Exists in the Commonwealth of Nations? The majority of African countries who had been part of the British Empire gained independence within the Commonwealth as Commonwealth Realms. As such, Queen Elizabeth II was automatically the head of state, represented within the country by a Governor-General. Most converted to Commonwealth Republics within a couple of years. (Mauritius took the longest to convert – 24 years from 1968 to 1992). Lesotho and Swaziland gained independence as Commonwealth Kingdoms, with their own constitutional monarchy as head of state – Queen Elizabeth II was recognized only as the symbolic head of the Commonwealth. Zambia (1964), Botswana (1966), Seychelles (1976), Zimbabwe (1980), and Namibia (1990) became independent as Commonwealth Republics. Cameroon and Mozambique were already republics when they joined the Commonwealth in 1995. Did African Countries Always Join the Commonwealth of Nations? All those African countries still part of the British Empire when the Statute of Westminster was proclaimed in 1931 joined the Commonwealth except for British Somaliland (which joined with Italian Somaliland five days after gaining independence in 1960 to form Somalia), and Anglo-British Sudan (which became a republic in 1956). Egypt, which had been part of the Empire until 1922, has never shown an interest in becoming a member. Do Countries Maintain Membership of the Commonwealth of Nations? No. In 1961 South Africa left the Commonwealth when it declared itself a republic. South Africa rejoined in 1994. Zimbabwe was suspended on 19 March 2002 and decided to leave the Commonwealth on 8 December 2003. What Does the Commonwealth of Nations do for its Members? The Commonwealth is best known for the Commonwealth games which are held once every four years (two years after Olympic games). The Commonwealth also promotes human rights, expects members to meet a set of fundamental democratic principles (curiously enough spelt out in the Harare Commonwealth declaration of 1991, given Zimbabwes subsequent departure form the association), to provide education opportunities, and maintain trade links. Despite its age, the Commonwealth of Nations has survived without needing a written constitution. It depends upon a series of declarations, made at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings.

Legal System Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legal System - Research Paper Example The third provision is the right against self-incrimination, which means that individuals facing trials should not be forced to testify against themselves in the court of law. The fourth provision talked about the issue of due process clause which implies that the government has no right to deprive any individual of the right to life, property or their liberty. The fifth major provision of the 5th Amendment stipulates that the government has no right to take any individual’s private property, except it is needed for a public purpose and even if that happens, the government must pay a fair price for this private property (Scwartz). The provisions of the Sixth Amendment are based on the rights of an individual to a speedy and open trial. People accused of committing a crime should be tried in places where the crime are believed to have taken place. The Sixth Amendment also stipulates that federal and state defendants have the right to have a jury that is not biased in order to decide whether they are guilty or innocent in a criminal offence. Another provision of the Sixth Amendment is that under no circumstance should an accused person be prosecuted if there is no concrete evidence against the person. The government is prohibited from prosecuting accused persons without giving them prior information of the type of charge leveled against them. The Amendment also stipulates that the accused person is entitled to reexamine witnesses that testify against them in the court of law. The accused also have the right to persuade or compel supporting witnesses to give evidences in the court and to have a lawyer that would defend them in the court of law (Scwartz). The Eighth Amendment of the US constitution stipulates that the court should compulsorily free criminal defendants from jail before their trial and this is based on the ability of the defendant to pay their bail, which stands as a guarantee that

Israeli Intelligence Agencies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Israeli Intelligence Agencies - Essay Example There are a number of theories provided regarding Pollard’s decision to betray his country of birth unto the Jewish state; nonetheless, the fact that Pollard betrayed his country of birth to Israel is away from all doubt. His defense was that he never spied so much against the United States; rather, he spied for Israel by sending those documents, which according to him, the US should have eventually shared with Israel. Pollard lacked the authority of making a decision regarding what documents Israel must have; however, based on his position of trust in the US Navy Pollard succeeded in delivering over 1000 classified documents unto Israel whereby his payment was super. Those documents contained the names of over 150 US agents found in the Mideast, converted into agents for Israel. Nevertheless, the most egregious harm brought about by Pollard was stealing classified documents concerning the US Nuclear Deterrent comparative to the USSR and sending them to Israel. Sources in the US State Department reveal that Israel then went ahead to trade those stolen nuclear secrets unto the USSR, in return for enhanced emigration rations from the USSR to Israel. Apart from that, there was other information, which slipped from the US to Israel and eventually to the USSR resulting in the loss of American agents, who were operating within the USSR. This damage done to the United States was enormous; therefore, it was extremely difficult to envisage of a greater harm to national security compare to that caused by the treasonous behavior of Pollard. 2 This is a clear indication that Israel’s spies are far from being harmless. The cost of building and maintaining United States’ nuclear deterrent estimated at five trillion taxpayer dollars in the 50s and 60s, and below $100,000 to be undermined by Pollard. Although Israel waited 13 years to confess that Pollard had been their spy, they eventually granted him Israeli

All Men By Nature Desire Knowledge

All Men By Nature Desire Knowledge All men by nature desire knowledge quoted from Aristotles work Metaphysics. Aristotle raises the idea of humans need for knowledge. Since the dawn of human life, we have been trying to acquire knowledge in all different areas of life , and in order for us to believe that piece of knowledge, we request supporting evidence that is based on various ways of knowing. To what extent we require evidence to support our beliefs varies with different areas of knowledge. Some areas of knowledge require a certain degree of evidence. However, in other areas evidence is not required to support belief; Mathematics, the natural sciences and the human sciences are knowledge fields that require a degree of logical evidence due to their highly logic-based nature. On the other hand, belief in the arts, ethics and religion is not dependent on evidence. Mathematicians search for patterns then formulate conjectures, furthermore through deductive reasoning using the rules of inference and axioms they provide proof to these conjectures. Conjectures that have already been proven are often called theorems. Proof in mathematics is obtained through deductive and inductive reasoning rather than empirical arguments and the proof must demonstrate that the conjecture is true in all cases, without any exceptions. Mathematicians employ deductive logic through combining the axioms, definitions, and earlier theorems in order to provide proof for their conjectures. Considering two even integers A and B. Since they are even, they can be expressed as A = 2x and B = 2y respectively for integers x and y. Thus the sum A + B = 2x + 2y = 2 ( x + y ), from this it is clear that x + y has 2 as a factor consequently x + y are even. As a result, the sum of any two even integers is even. Establishing the truth of this conjecture was done through employing logi c through combining the definition of even integers ( A = 2x ) and the distribution law ( 2x + 2y = 2 ( x + y )). Briefly, in order for a statement to be believed in the area of mathematics it requires a high degree of logical evidence based on deductive and inductive reasoning combined with mathematical axioms, definitions and prior theorems to support mathematicians belief in that statement. Other areas of knowledge such as the natural sciences require a relatively average degree of evidence. The natural sciences branch into three main fields; Biology, chemistry, and physics. These sciences aim to study the natural rules and laws in which the universe obeys. At first scientists seek patterns in the world around them through empirical observation and then formulate generalizations concerning these observations, and through the use of logic discover the reason of such patterns. Evidence of a correct theory is induced by logical reasoning through the observation of the universe. Considering Newtons discovery of gravity, at first Newton observed an apple falling off an apple tree, and Newton as a scientist already knew that in order for an object to move it requires force in the same direction. Through the use of logic, Newton concluded that there is a force beneath him that pulled the apple in its direction. Briefly, in order for a theory to be believed in the natural scie nces it requires a degree of logical evidence based on observations of nature. The human sciences is an area of knowledge that requires a relatively low degree of evidence to support belief in that area. Human sciences investigate human activities in order to assemble theories predicting human behavior. Proof of such theorems is acquired through the observation of sensory experiences and by means of objective observation of psychological experience. One of the most significant and known theorems in this field of study is Freuds psychoanalytic theory, in which Freud assembled a theory to analyze human behaviors. The general concept of the theory is that unconscious motivations, sex and violence in specific, of human beings influence the development of their personality. Freud supported his theory with evidence he acquired through employing logic in the observation of the humans development process and the humans behavior at each stage of development. The extent of evidence that Freud used to support his theory was relatively low and subjective in comparison with other areas, he supported his work using empirical observation, nevertheless many people today believe in his theory and it is well-known worldwide. Briefly, in order for a theory to be believed in the human sciences a degree of evidence must be present, however, the degree of evidence is small and subjective in relativity to other areas. On the other hand some areas of knowledge require no evidence to support a belief in a knowledgeable statement. To begin with, it must be understood that the arts discipline encompasses literary, visual and performing arts. The definition of a good piece of art is creative and original nevertheless the genuineness of a piece of art lies in the perspective of the viewer. Obtaining a persons belief in genuineness of a piece of art whether visual, literary, or performing is not dependent on providing evidence that the piece is genuine, but lies in the viewers sensory perspective of that piece and his prior background in arts. As a result, this lack of evidence lead people to use each others sensory perspective and experiences as evidence. For example, an amateur artist would take the word of an experienced artist in believing in the originality of a piece of art. Another area of knowledge requiring no evidence to support belief is ethics. Ethics is an area of knowledge that addresses issues concerning concepts of right and wrong, generally concepts of morality. Ethical systems and theories are postulated in order to encourage people to turn their attention from the world around them to themselves, consequently encouraging people to realize their full potential and achieve full self-awareness. Ethical theories do not need evidence to support the peoples belief in their concepts, simply because humans are born in pursuit of knowledge in order to realize their full potential, thus no evidence is needed. Considering Aristotles postulated ethical system self-realizationism in which Aristotle suggests that when a person acts in accordance with his nature and his full potential , that person will be good and content; Aristotle needed no evidence to support his theory due to our continuous pursuit of self-actualization. Briefly, the need for evidence to support others belief in ethical theories is not needed due to our constant search for knowledge which we seek in order to reach our full potential, and achieve the highest state of self-awareness. The final and most significant area in which evidence is not required to support our belief is religion. Religions from Christianity to Hinduism suggest a set of beliefs concerning the purpose of our life in this universe, suggesting the supernatural divine God which represents our creator and the reason behind our existence. The most significant belief that religions set is the belief in the presence of God, the presence of a superior being or soul is impossible to prove thus the creative idea of faith takes control; faith is the idea of believing without the need for evidence. The creation of such an idea is brilliant due to the fact that faith suppresses our need to perceive and scientifically understand the concept of the superior God. It could be argued that religion often opposes itself in some ideas. For example the idea of God is almighty, God can do everything is controversial. This statement implies a generalization that due to its enormous size causes contradiction. This c an be clarified by asking the question Can God create a rock that he himself cannot destroy, if the answer is yes then God is not capable of destroying the rock, consequently not capable of doing everything. On the other hand, if the answer is no then God is unable to create everything. This paradox created, due to the extent of generalization, in that statement shows that no evidence is needed to believe in the idea of God. In the Theaetetus, one of Platos dialogues concerning the nature of knowledge, Plato argues that knowledge always involves belief. After studying the extent of evidence required to support belief in all areas of knowledge, it is clear that belief is present in all areas of knowledge although minimal in scientific areas. An inverse relationship between the need for evidence and the need for belief in an area of knowledge is noticed; as the belief is minimal in areas like math, the evidence required to support it is maximum and vice versa in other areas like religion. As humans, our curious nature demands evidence in order to acquire our belief. To sum up, the extent of evidence required to support a persons beliefs in different areas of knowledge is not only dependent on each area, it is also dependent on the person himself and his/her prior knowledge.

Bowen Family Systems

Bowen Family System Theory Introduction In doing my studies on family/systemic counselling, I found Bowen’s theory intriguing. In my work and everyday life, I witness triangulation on a daily basis, from my own experience, without the awareness from this module, I was often entwined in triangulation. As a trainee therapist I decided to write my paper on Bowenian Therapy in order to gain a better understanding and develop my awareness. Murray Bowen, M. D. (31 January 1913 – 9 October 1990) was an American psychiatrist and a professor in Psychiatry at the Georgetown University. Bowen was among the pioneers of family therapy and founders of systemic therapy. â€Å"The family systems theory is a theory introduced by Dr. Murray Bowen that suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as a part of their family, as the family is an emotional unit. Families are systems of interconnected and interdependent individuals, none of whom can be understood in isolation from the system† (Genopro. com 18/11/2010) Bowen’s interest in family began as he was practicing as a psychiatrist in the 1940s. He focused on schizophrenic patient’s emotional relationships with their mothers. Others have called it a symbiosis relationship, but for him it was only an exaggerated natural process of emotional relationship. In 1954 he started to hospitalize the entire family of the sick (schizophrenic) person. He found out that the entire family suffered with the sick person emotionally. He also studied the relationship between mother-child symbioses. This involved a certain repetitive pattern, where he observed alternating patterns of closeness and distance. They portrayed sensitive emotional tensions caused by separation anxiety and incorporation anxiety. In 1959 he started working with families with less severe problems. Surprisingly these families displayed the same problems as the disturbed families. He concluded that there is no discontinuity between the normal and disturbed families but vary along a continuum line of emotional fusion to differentiation. Bowen was one of the first to realize that the history of our family creates a template which shapes the values, thoughts, and experiences of each generation, as well as how that generation passes down these things to the next generation. Bowen's theory focuses on the balance of two forces – togetherness and – individuality. Too much togetherness can prevent individuality, or developing one's own sense of self whereas too much individuality results in a distant and estranged family. The theory looks at the family as a system and describes the complex interactions that exist in any one unit. The way members of a family are connected and the way they react to one another makes the functioning of family members interdependent. According to the theory, mental illness happens as a result of emotional fusion. This can happen when there is an increase in the level of emotions and anxiety in the family. Bowen introduced eight interlocking concepts to explain family development and functioning. Below I will provide an overview of each concept. Differentiation of Self The first concept is Differentiation of Self, or the ability to separate feelings and thoughts. Undifferentiated people can not separate feelings and thoughts; They have difficulty thinking logically because when asked to think they are flooded with feelings, so this makes It difficult for them to base their responses on their own logical thinking. They also have difficulty differentiating between their feelings and the feelings of others. They look to their family to define how they think about issues, feel about people, and interpret their experiences. Differentiation is the process of freeing yourself from your family's processes to define yourself so you can have different opinions and values than your family members, but are still capable of staying emotionally connected to them. It means being able to calmly reflect on a conflicted interaction afterward, realising your wn role in it, and then choosing a different response for the future. Triangles Triangles are the basic units of systems. They balance between closeness and distance. The third person or party brings unity and creates continuity in warring situation. The triangle brings stressed person into a manageable level of operation. This involves true listening and gives a true advice for a better solution. In it virtually all relationships are shadowed by third part ies. For example when a couple have an argument, afterwards, one of the partners may call their friend to talk about the fight. The third person helps them reduce their anxiety and take action, or calm their strong emotions and reflect, and make decision. People who are more undifferentiated are likely to triangulate others and be triangulated whereas people who are differentiated cope well with life and relationship stress, and as a result are less likely to triangulate others or be triangulated. The Nuclear Family Emotional Process These are the emotional patterns in a family that continue over generations. This involves a modeling scenario where a family member models and imitates the behaviour and even the language of his or her parents. For example, a parent who teaches his or her children to be happy when things are ok and sad when things are bad shapes the future thinking of those children. Here the parent passes on an emotional view of the world (the emotional process), which is taught throughout generation from parent to a child, in a nuclear family. Reactions to this process can range from open conflict, to physical or emotional problems in one family member, to reactive distancing. This will bring problems with family members like substance abuse, mental illness and irresponsibility. The Multigenerational Transmission Process This process entails the way family emotional processes are transferred and maintained over generations. This captures how the whole family joins in The Family Projection Process, for example, by reinforcing the beliefs of the family. As the family continues this pattern over generations, they also refer back to previous generations (â€Å"He's just like his Uncle – he was always irresponsible too† or â€Å"She's just like your cousin Mary – she was divorced four times. â€Å"). Sibling Position Bowen believed In sibling order and that each child had a place in the family hierarchy. He believed that the oldest sibling was more likely to be seen as overly responsible and mature whilst the youngest as overly irresponsible and immature. Emotional Cut-off Emotional cut-off refers to the techniques people use to reduce anxiety from their unresolved emotional issues with parents, siblings, and other members from the family of origin. Some people seek distance either by moving away physically or emotionally using silence, diversion or avoidance of difficult and hurtful topics. To avoid sensitive issues, they may move away from their families and refuse to go home regularly. This strategy may work in the short term to reduce immediate anxiety but over time, the deeper, unresolved problems are toxic towards other relationships. An open relationship is the opposite of emotional cut-off. It is the best way to reduce a family's over-all anxiety. Continued low anxiety permits family members who would like to, to begin the slow steps to better differentiation. Bowen wrote, â€Å"It might be difficult for a family with severe cut-offs to begin more emotional contact with the extended family, but any effort toward reducing the cut-off with the extended family will soften the intensity of the family problem, reduce the symptoms, and make any kind of therapy far more productive. Societal Emotional Processes The concept of societal emotional process describes how the emotional system governs behaviour on a societal level, promoting both progressive and regressive periods in a society. Cultural forces are important in how a society functions but are insufficient for explaining the rise and fall in how well societies adapt to the challenges that face them. The society’s attitudes towards for example different r aces, classes, genders and sexual orientation, have definite effects on the family. In many ways, this is like the Family Projection Process scaled up to the level of a society as a whole. The way a family deals with prejudice, discrimination and persecution is instinctively passed on to their children so that they can survive in their unique environment. The coping practices of the parents and extended family may lead to more or less adaptive emotional health for the family and its members. Normal Family Development According to Bowen, all families lie along a continuum. Bowen believed that all families lie on a spectrum or continuum and that it is difficult to try to classify families into types. If circumstances change, one type of family could change and become another type of family. For this reason, Bowen is credited with being one of the first culturally sensitive family therapists. A normal, adjusted family will have tensions and anxieties but will be balanced in terms of their togetherness and differentiation. A normal family will have good emotional balance and recognise that some problems are external and others come from the individual. There are connections between the different generations in the family and also to the extended family. The transitions for example from adolescence to adulthood are smooth and supported by the wider family. Past pains and joys are shared. Bowen says no matter how we transform and forget the past, these memories of our relationship, still stay alive in us. The danger is the way our former family attachment will shape our new family. At various times difficulties in different relationships, sometimes called dyads, are resolved without drawing in others into their difficulties. The ability to tolerate and support family members with different views supports differentiation and is a sign of a healthy family. Awareness of external societal influences as well as the unique family influences helps a family to become well adjusted. During times of grief and loneliness for example, family members give space and allow the person opportunity to grow. A positive emotional atmosphere with a belief in the virtues of family builds normal family development. Finally, when family members depend on each ther for feedback and support rather than in co-dependent ways, the family develops healthily. Family Disorders Bowen believed that family problems result from emotional fusion, or from an increase in the level of anxiety in the family. He believed that the member with â€Å"the symptom† is the least differentiated member of the family, and is the one who has the least ability to resist the pull to become fused with another member. This person absorbs the anxiety an d worries of the whole family and has the least ability to separate their own thoughts and feelings from those of their family. Families face two kinds of problems. Vertical problems are â€Å"passed down† from one generation to the next. Thus, adults who had cold and distant relationships with their parents do not know how to have warm and close relationships with their children, and so pass down their own problems to their children. Horizontal problems are caused by environmental stressors or transition points in the family development. This may result from traumas such as a chronic illness, the loss of the family home, or the death of a family member. However, horizontal stress may also result from Social Emotional Processes, such as when a minority family moves from a like-minority neighbourhood to a very different neighbourhood, or when a family with traditional gender roles immigrates to a culture with very different views, and must raise their children there. The worst case for the family is when vertical and horizontal problems happen at once. Goals of Therapy Bowen’s therapy was not aimed at changing people or solving problems, it was basically geared towards: †¢ Helping families to inquire and explore their own roles in family problems Making them assume responsibility for their own problems†¢ People learning more about themselves and their relationships †¢ Decreasing emotional reactivity†¢ Improving self-focus †¢ Modifying dysfunctional patterns †¢ Evaluating progress of the family in terms of how they function now, as well as how adaptive they can be to future changes In general, the t herapist accomplishes this by giving less attention to specific problem they present with, and more attention to family patterns of emotions and relationships, as well as family structures of dyads and triangles. Techniques that are most prominent in the practice of Bowenian family systems therapy. Genogram: Bowen used what he termed a â€Å"family diagram† to collect and organise important data concerning the multigenerational family systems. In 1972 Guerin renamed the family diagram the â€Å"genogram. † The main function of the genogram is to organise data during the evaluation phase and to track relationship processes and key triangles over the course of therapy. In the process of assessment, the following are noted: the history of the presenting problems, exact dates are noted, history of the nuclear family, when the parents met, their courtship, their marriage, child rearing, where the family lived especially in relation to the location of the extended family, history of both spouses birth, sibling positions, facts about childhood, past and current functioning with parents The Therapy Triangle: This technique is based on the theoretical assumption that conflictual relationship processes within the family have activated key-symptom-related triangles in an attempt to re-establish stability; and the family will automatically attempt to include the therapist in the triangling process. If they succeed, therapy will be stalemated. On the other hand, if the therapist can remain free of reactive emotional entanglements, in other words, stay detriangled ,the family system and its members will calm down to the point where they can begin to work out s olutions to their dilemmas. Relationship Experiments: Relationship experiments are carried out around structural altercations in key triangles. The goal is to help the family members become aware of systems processes and learn to recognise their role in them. Thomas F. Fogarty developed experiments for use with emotional pursuers and distancers (lartin-drake. com 28/12/2010). Pursuers are encouraged to restrain their pursuit, stop making demands, and decrease pressure for emotional connection and see what happens in themselves and in the relationship. The exercise isn’t designed to be a magic cure, as some people have hoped, but to help clarify the emotional processes involved. Distancers are encouraged to move toward the other person and communicate personal thoughts and feelings, in other words, to find an alternative to either avoiding or capitulating to the others’ demands. Coaching: Coaching is the Bowenian alternative to the more emotionally involved role common to most other forms of therapy. By acting as a coach, the Bowenian therapist hopes to avoid taking over for patients or becoming embroiled in family triangles. The goal is increased understanding, increased self-focus, and more functional attachment to key family members. The I-Position: Taking a personal stand, saying what you feel, instead of what others are â€Å"doing†, is one of the most direct ways to break cycles of emotional reactivity. Bowenian therapists not only encourage clients to take I-Position, they also do so themselves. Another assumption in Bowenian therapy is that confrontation increases anxiety and decreases the ability to think clearly and see options. Therefore, displacing the focus, making it less personal and less threatening, is an excellent way to increase objectivity. This forms the basis for two related techniques, multiple family therapy and displacement stories. Conclusion In conclusion I believe that Bowen developed a comprehensive theory of family therapy which inspired generations. His theory describes how the family shapes the interplay of individuality and togetherness using six interlocking concepts which are: differentiation of self, triangles, nuclear family emotional process, family projection process, multigenerational transmission process and sibling position. In 1970 Bowen added two additional concepts: emotional cut-off and societal emotional process. Bowenian therapy is a process of active inquiry in which the therapist helps family members get past blaming and fault finding in order to face their own roles in family problems. The goals of Bowenian therapy are not to change people or to solve their problems. Instead they see therapy as an opportunity for people to learn more about themselves and their relationships so that they can assume responsibility for their own problems. Contents Introduction Differentiation of Self The Nuclear Family Emotional Process Triangles The Multigenerational Transmission Process Sibling Position Emotional Cut-off Societal Emotional Processes Normal Family Development Family Disorders Goals of Therapy Conclusion Bibliography Bibliography http://www. abacon. com/famtherapy/bowen. html (14/12/2010) http://www. anzjft. om/pages/articles/78. pdf (14/12/2010) http://www. bukisa. com/articles/293438_what-is-the-concept-of-bowen-family-therapyixzz14iOkMQpM (16/12/2010) http://www. genopro. com/genogram/fam ily-systems-theory/ (22/10/2010) http://www. houd. info/bowenTheory. pdf (22/10/2010) http://www. lartin-drake. com/distancer. pdf (22/10/2010) Bibliography http://www. abacon. com/famtherapy/bowen. html http://www. psychpage. com/learning/library/counseling/bowen. html http://www. bukisa. com/articles/293438_what-is-the-concept-of-bowen-family-therapy http://www. thebowencenter. org/ http://homepages. wmich. edu/~macdonal/SW 6680. 05/Friedman. Bow†¦ Contents Introduction