Center for Sacred Studies
“When you start something, finish it.”
Grandmother Rita Pitka Blumenstein, Yup’ik great grandmother, Alaskan Tundra.
The Center for Sacred Studies (CSS) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to sustaining indigenous ways of life through cross-cultural spiritual practices, ministry and education, and a commitment to peace and unity for all peoples.
CSS activities include providing prayer services, ceremonies, and a variety of gatherings for worship, according to various traditions. The purpose of these offerings is to invite individuals, families, and communities to develop devotion, and to strengthen their relationship to the Divine.
CSS programs include:
- The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers
- The Ministry Training Program - a 2-year online program with two tracks, Auditing or Ordination. See www.cssministryofprayer.org
- The Stargate Mystery School - a five-weekend residential program that explores non-ordinary states of consciousness. See the Stargate Information page at www.sacredstudies.org
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Maitri Breathwork Certification Training - a 2-year program (instructional and practicum) in the techniques of Maitri breathwork. See the Maitri Breathwork Information page at www.sacredstudies.org
CSS Leadership Staff
Spiritual Director – Jyoti (Jeneane Prevatt), Ph.D.
Jyoti (Jeneane Prevatt, PhD) is one of the founders of Kayumari, a spiritual healing community, and Spiritual Director of the Center for Sacred Studies, a church dedicated to protecting and sustaining the spiritual practices of first-nation peoples around the world as they join their hearts in a prayer for world peace. From that effort, The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers has evolved. Jyoti is an internationally renowned spiritual adviser and psychological consultant. Her background includes education in cross-cultural spiritual practices, social services program development, training at the Jung Institute in Switzerland, and extensive international travel. She has devoted her life to bringing unity to the planet by facilitating the development of alliances between individuals who are the guardians of indigenous culture and traditional medicine ways. Jyoti is the Traveling Ambassador Charged with the Mission for the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers.
Chief Executive Officer and Dean of Ministerial Training Program – Darlene Hunter
Darlene Hunter, CSS Chief Executive Officer, CSS Minister, Certified Maitri Breathworker Darlene is a founding member of the Center for Sacred Studies and the Ministry Training Program, and has been on the teaching staff of the Stargate Mystery School, an international school on consciousness, for the past 14 years. She is a founding member of Kayumari; a global spiritual village, and travels internationally to support community growth by sharing of resources, knowledge and prayer dedicated to the next 7 generations.
Director, Grandmothers Council Program - Ann Rosencranz, M.A.,
Ordained CSS minister, Ministerial Training Program instructor and mentor, translator, writer and prayer-singer. Ann is one of the conveners of the Grandmothers Council. She holds an M.A. in Philosophy and Religion and has an extensive background in non-profit development, multi-lingual and cross-cultural communication and conflict resolution. Ann oversees the operational and developmental responsibilities of the Grandmothers Council and travels with them nationally and internationally to walk a prayer of peace, cultivating alliances among indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.
CSS Guiding Principles
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Center for Sacred Studies Guiding Principles |
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(Adopted with gratitude from International Funders for Indigenous Peoples and NAP) |
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Reciprocity |
We are committed to the Indigenous culture of reciprocity. We acknowledge and recognize that:
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Respect |
We foster dynamic and inclusive relationships. We base our relationships on the indigenous processes of:
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Responsibility |
We are committed, passionate and courageous champions of Indigenous needs:
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Relationships |
We seek long-term engagement through learning relationships. We seek:
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CSS Board of Directors
Spiritual Advisor – Jyoti (Jeneane Prevatt), Ph.D.
Jyoti is an internationally renowned spiritual advisor with a PhD in Transpersonal Psychology including two-and-a-half years of postgraduate study at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. She is the Spiritual Director of the Center for Sacred Studies (www.sacredstudies.org), and is a participative advisor to the Board of Directors, spiritually guiding the Board's work on its forward-looking direction.
President – Karyn Lawson
Karyn has been part of the Kayumari community since 2003. An entrepreneur by nature, Karyn has her BS in Psychology and has started several successful companies. She owns a vacation rental business in California. She is a Jin Shin Jyitsu practitioner. Karyn, an avid fundraiser for CSS and the Grandmothers Council, is currently enrolled in the CSS Ministry Training Program. A humanitarian, Karyn is committed to CSS, to the Grandmothers Council., to her spiritual path, and to her service to a global consciousness.
Vice President/Treasurer – Hokhmah Joyallen
Hokhmah Joyallen, a part of our community since 1994, is currently working with the CSS Ministry Training Program as both a Minister and a mentor. Hokhmah, a Certified Nurse Midwife and Nurse Practitioner, is also a practitioner of Jin Shin Jyitsu, Buddhist Meditation and Qi Gong-Tai Qi. She is the co-creator of “Birthing Intuition" a Holistic Childbirth Preparation Program.” Throughout her career, Hokhmah has served clients from many cultures and, like CSS, she affirms the principle of "Interdependency" that guides the indigenous way of life. Hokhmah's great joy is nurturing her family and witnessing them flourish; her work with CSS is her walking prayer for the next seven generations.
Secretary – Mary McCulloch
Mary is devoted to a life of service as a Minister of Prayer and earned an M.A. in Transpersonal Counseling and Psychology. She made a leap from the corporate world of the entertainment industry after realizing she had a strong desire to involve herself in work that was meaningful and transformational. Mary has been a member of the Kayumari community since 2004 and holds two seats as Registrar, for the CSS Ministry Training Program and for Stargate Mystery School. Her work with CSS allows her to feel aligned with the mission to protect indigenous and earth-based ways of prayer.
Board Member – Trish Noble
Trish Noble is the bookkeeper and administrative core staff at the CSS Sonora office. Active with the community for 5 years, Trish is a Stargate graduate and is currently completing the Maitri Breathwork certification program. She is a firewalker and brings that same focus and intensity to her support for CSS and the Grandmothers Council, for global peace and the interconnectedness of all beings. A mosaic and ceramic artist, Trish lives in Sonora with her husband and two children.
General Counsel -- Mark Levitan
Mark is an attorney with over 14 years of experience representing American Indian tribes across the United States. Mark drafted all of the documentation for the original formation of the Center for Sacred Studies, and has assisted in the development of various other non-profit entities. Mark served as a member of the Board of Directors of CSS for three years, including two years as its President. He continues to provide pro bono legal representation to CSS on all matters. Mark has also provided pro bono legal services to the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers since their first gathering. Mark is a member of the pro bono advocacy network of the Women’s Earth Alliance, and also provides pro bono legal services to various worthy causes.
Advisor – Sandy Emerson, M.Sc.
Sandy has been involved with the Center for Sacred Studies and with the Kayumari community since 2004. Sandy had a 20-year career in technical communications, culminating in the position of Vice President of Multimedia Information Systems for Sybase, Inc., a database company. For the past ten years Sandy has performed free-lance and volunteer work for a variety of non-profit organizations, focusing on the environment, land use, community-building, and spiritual growth. Sandy serves as the Websites and Communications Manager for the Center for Sacred Studies.
Advisor – Ryan Brandenburg
Ryan has been practicing Zen meditation since 1968. He is an ordained Soto Zen Buddhist priest in the lineage of Kobun Chino-Roshi and was the director of Chino-Roshi’s temple, Jikoji, for twelve years. He trained with Zen shiatsu master Ryuho Yamada-Roshi in the seventies and again in the nineties, and currently is on the teaching staff of the Institute for Conscious Bodywork. He is active in Native American Ceremonial ways and has been integrating earth-based forms of worship and prayer with Zen meditation since 1970.
Advisor - Teri Ellen Westra, Ph.D.
Teri has devoted the last 30 years to the study and research of treatment approaches focused upon integrating complementary and indigenous healing approaches with allopathic medicine. Dr. Westra is a member of the board of directors for a local group home agency. Ordained as a Minister of Walking Prayer through the CSS Ministry Training Program, Dr. Westra officiates at weddings, funerals, and other life transitions. Dr. Westra maintains a private clinical practice in Boulder Creek and Scotts Valley, CA.
Advisor – Lawrence Robert Boyll, M.A.
Bob was born into a family of Methodist Protestant ministers. He has been led by dreams–starting at age seven–through many life stages: university in the United States and Japan; professions as teacher, opera singer, builder-carpenter, these dreams led to relations among native elders and prophets, their families and ways of prayer. Living near the Kayumari Mountain with his wife, Ann Rosencranz and son Riley, Bob is a ranch hand, farmer and ritualist of the Native American Church. Bob’s life wisdom and vision guides the Board of the Center for Sacred Studies.