--- title: Pacifica Graduate Institute's Official Blog | Pacifica Post | Somatic Studies description: Somatic Studies | Pacifica Graduate Institute's Official Blog, The Pacifica Post, is a hub of information & resources while keeping you up-to-date on everything PGI. --- - [Student Services](http://www.pacifica.edu/about-pacifica/pacifica-graduate-institute-student-services) - [Alumni](http://www.pgiaa.org/) - [Faculty](http://www.pacifica.edu/dedicated-faculty) - [My.Pacifica](http://my.pacifica.edu/) - - - - - [mailto:admissions@pacifica.edu](mailto:admissions@pacifica.edu) [![pacifica-logo.png](https://info.pacifica.edu/hs-fs/file-1600351009-png/website-images-only/pacifica-logo.png?width=304&name=pacifica-logo.png "pacifica-logo.png")](http://www.pacifica.edu) [![pacifica-post.png](https://info.pacifica.edu/hs-fs/file-1600351014-png/website-images-only/pacifica-post.png?width=632&name=pacifica-post.png "pacifica-post.png")](http://pacificapost.com) - [About Pacifica](http://www.pacifica.edu/about-pacifica) - [Degree Programs](http://www.pacifica.edu/degree-programs/graduate-degree-programs-in-depth-psychology) - [Admissions Events](https://www.pacifica.edu/admissions/admissions-events/) - [Retreat Events](https://retreat.pacifica.edu/all-programs/) ## [The Psychosomatic Experience of Communism in România: An Interview with Pacifica’s Mădălina Bortes, A Fulbright Semifinalist](https://info.pacifica.edu/psychosomatic-experience-of-communism-in-romania) Posted by [Angela Borda](https://info.pacifica.edu/author/angela-borda) on Apr 29, 2021 11:00:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.pacifica.edu/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(1).png)](https://info.pacifica.edu/psychosomatic-experience-of-communism-in-romania) Mădălina Bortes, M.A. is currently at Pacifica in the Ph.D. in Depth Psychology program with a specialization in Somatic Studies. Her work covers “the psychosomatic experience of communism in România.” She has been nominated as a semi-finalist in the Fulbright program, and I’m delighted to be speaking with her. **Angela:** Thank you for talking with me. How does your personal life story and background intersect with communism in România, and what inspired you to take that as your research topic? **Mădălina:** It is a true pleasure. Thank you for asking me to do this. I was born in Sibiu, România, a very culturally vibrant city in the Transylvania area. It is one of those cobblestone streets, pastel-colored houses, and human-sized windows kind of a city. I was born just after the revolution, so I did not experience life in România during communism, and I did not hear about communism while growing up, there or in the U.S., which is where we moved after I'd finished the second grade. Communism was not an avoided topic, as it can be for some people; it was simply never mentioned. The absence of meaning-making, or the absence of “lustration,” as some post-communist scholars note, fascinated me. Whenever I spoke with anyone who'd experienced life in România during communism, such as my family members and their friends, I was awestruck by the great degree of flippancy they expressed about their lived experience. Everyone mentioned electricity limits, perpetually long lines, canned food for breakfast, and a lifestyle that resembled the days after a particularly severe natural disaster. However, no one seemed very affected by what they'd lived through, for ten, twenty, even thirty years; and more than this, everyone offered the same response to my naive question of how it was that they'd genuinely believed such a lifestyle was normal, was the only way of living. Everyone I'd asked said, "It was all we knew," and this greatly intrigued me. [Read More](https://info.pacifica.edu/psychosomatic-experience-of-communism-in-romania) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.pacifica.edu/psychosomatic-experience-of-communism-in-romania#comments-listing) Posted in: [Connecting Cultures](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/connecting-cultures), [somatic bodywork](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/somatic-bodywork), [depth psychology](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/depth-psychology), [Somatic Studies](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/somatic-studies) ## [Teaching a Gurdjieff Movements intensive in Goa, India](https://info.pacifica.edu/teaching-a-gurdjieff-movements-intensive-in-goa-india) Posted by [Nikole Hollenitsch](https://info.pacifica.edu/author/nikole-hollenitsch) on Feb 9, 2016 10:31:34 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.pacifica.edu/hubfs/Blog_post_images/Rebembrance_Ritutal.jpg)](https://info.pacifica.edu/teaching-a-gurdjieff-movements-intensive-in-goa-india) *A Faculty Spotlight on **[M.A. Counseling Psychology's](http://www.pacifica.edu/degree-programs/ma-counseling-psychology)** Core Faculty Member Avrom Altman* From January 18th through January 25th, Pacifica Professor Avrom Altman taught an eight-day Gurdjieff Movements Intensive in Goa, India. The intensive was attended by 47 participants from 20 countries. The participants were primarily teachers of the Gurdjieff Movements in their respective countries: India, Israel, Japan, South Korea, France, Norway, Germany, Kazakhstan, Sweden, Italy, Taiwan, Iran, China, USA, Mexico, Ireland, Ukraine, UK, Romania, and Russia. [Read More](https://info.pacifica.edu/teaching-a-gurdjieff-movements-intensive-in-goa-india) 5 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.pacifica.edu/teaching-a-gurdjieff-movements-intensive-in-goa-india#comments-listing) Posted in: [Counseling Psychology](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/counseling-psychology), [somatic bodywork](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/somatic-bodywork), [Somatic Studies](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/somatic-studies) ## [Dr. Tina Stromsted, a scholar and practitioner integrating body, mind, & spirit](https://info.pacifica.edu/somaticpsychology/dr.-tina-stromsted) Posted by [Nikole Hollenitsch](https://info.pacifica.edu/author/nikole-hollenitsch) on Nov 18, 2015 2:23:13 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.pacifica.edu/hubfs/Headshots/tina_stromsted.png)](https://info.pacifica.edu/somaticpsychology/dr.-tina-stromsted) *For the November, 2015 Public Program [Coming Home to the Body: The Legacy of Marion Woodman](http://www.pacifica.edu/pp-previous-public-programs-final/item/coming-home-to-the-body), a conference co-sponsored with the Marion Woodman Foundation, Pacifica welcomed a group of scholars and practitioners who honor the connection between the body and psyche. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in lectures, movement workshops, and connect with like-minded individuals who hold sacred the dynamic interplay between body, soul, and mind. One of the scholars and speakers from the weekend was Dr. Tina Stromsted, who is involved in many organizations working to bring this work out to the wider community. The following is the introduction speech from Dr. Rae Johnson, Chair of Pacifica's [Somatic Studies Specialization](http://www.pacifica.edu/degree-programs/ma-phd-somatic-studies), welcoming Dr. Tina Stromsted to the stage for her plenary session Stars Beneath the Sea: The Gifts of Marion Woodman.* [Read More](https://info.pacifica.edu/somaticpsychology/dr.-tina-stromsted) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.pacifica.edu/somaticpsychology/dr.-tina-stromsted#comments-listing) Posted in: [The Psyche](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/the-psyche), [Pacifica Events](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/pacifica-events), [somatic bodywork](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/somatic-bodywork), [Somatic Studies](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/somatic-studies) ## [Becoming an Embodied Ally](https://info.pacifica.edu/somatic-psychology/becoming-an-embodied-ally) Posted by [Nikole Hollenitsch](https://info.pacifica.edu/author/nikole-hollenitsch) on Feb 9, 2015 8:45:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.pacifica.edu/hs-fs/file-2474824554-png/Blog_post_images/petals.png)](https://info.pacifica.edu/somatic-psychology/becoming-an-embodied-ally) *A guest post by Rae Johnson, Ph.D.* Like many of us over the past several months, I’ve listened, read, and talked a lot about the issues arising from the recent tragic deaths of black men at the hands of police – about systemic racism, institutionalized violence, and intersecting forms of oppression.  Although the words exchanged in these important conversations have been necessary to my developing understanding of the issues, it is the images that have haunted me. I've found myself poring over photographs of hundreds of people lying down in Harvard Square as part of a "die in" mass protest, replaying the surveillance video footage of Tamir Rice’s sister running to his aid, and returning again and again to the photograph of Devonte Hart hugging Portland Oregon police officer Bret Barnum. The potency of these simple bodily gestures strikes a chord inside me that the words alone don't quite reach.  [Read More](https://info.pacifica.edu/somatic-psychology/becoming-an-embodied-ally) 4 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.pacifica.edu/somatic-psychology/becoming-an-embodied-ally#comments-listing) Posted in: [transformative](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/transformative), [Social Justice](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/social-justice), [somatic bodywork](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/somatic-bodywork), [Somatic Studies](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/somatic-studies) [All posts](https://info.pacifica.edu/all) ## Search Search this site on Google Search Google ## Download the Guide Book (pdf) [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/435563/25f2ff69-017a-4558-9718-ca7396630ef1.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/435563/25f2ff69-017a-4558-9718-ca7396630ef1) ![get-social](https://info.pacifica.edu/hs-fs/file-1600350944-png/website-images-only/get-social.png) Receive updates on the latest podcasts, videos, and other newsworthy items pertaining to depth psychology, mythological studies, the humanities, C.G. Jung, and Joseph Campbell. ## Categories ### Posts by Topic - [Pacifica Graduate Institute (84)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/pacifica-graduate-institute) - [depth psychology (78)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/depth-psychology) - [Pacifica Events (56)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/pacifica-events) - [Pacifica News (55)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/pacifica-news) - [C.G. Jung (43)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/cg-jung) - [Mythology (43)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/mythology) - [graduate school (41)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/graduate-school) - [Current Affairs (35)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/current-affairs) - [Psychology (34)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/psychology) - [The Psyche (33)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/the-psyche) - [Pacifica Students (31)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/pacifica-students) - [clinical psychology (30)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/clinical-psychology) - [soul (30)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/soul) - [Trauma (28)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/trauma) - [Education (26)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/education) - [Counseling Psychology (25)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/counseling-psychology) - [archetypes (23)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/archetypes) - [Connecting Cultures (21)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/connecting-cultures) - [transformative (21)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/transformative) - [Alumni (19)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/alumni) - [creativity (18)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/creativity) - [Joseph Campbell (15)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/joseph-campbell) - [Social Justice (15)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/social-justice) - [Spiritual (15)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/spiritual) - [dreams (14)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/dreams) - [Jungian & Archetypal Studies (13)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/jungian-archetypal-studies) - [Santa Barbara (13)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/santa-barbara) - [somatic bodywork (13)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/somatic-bodywork) - [art (12)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/art) - [mythological (12)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/mythological) - [vocation (12)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/vocation) - [Ecopsychology (11)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/ecopsychology) - [Engaged Humanities (11)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/engaged-humanities) - [Therapist (11)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/therapist) - [community psychology (11)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/community-psychology) - [Community, Liberation, Indigenous & Ecopsychology (10)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/community-liberation-indigenous-ecopsychology) - [James Hillman (10)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/james-hillman) - [collective trauma (10)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/collective-trauma) - [images (10)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/images) - [nature (10)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/nature) - [symbol (10)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/symbol) - [Integrative Therapy & Healing Practices (9)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/integrative-therapy-healing-practices) - [pandemic (9)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/pandemic) - [symbolism (9)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/symbolism) - [alchemy (8)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/alchemy) - [humanities (8)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/humanities) - [individuation (8)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/individuation) - [psyche (8)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/psyche) - [somatic (8)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/somatic) - [active imagination (7)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/active-imagination) - [interview (7)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/interview) - [meditation (7)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/meditation) - [relationships (7)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/relationships) - [Message from the President (6)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/message-from-the-president) - [Psychotherapy (6)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/psychotherapy) - [film (6)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/film) - [leadership (6)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/leadership) - [resources (6)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/resources) - [sacred (6)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/sacred) - [storytelling (6)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/storytelling) - [topics (6)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/topics) - [The Retreat at Pacifica (5)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/the-retreat-at-pacifica) - [goddesses (5)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/goddesses) - [history of psychology (5)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/history-of-psychology) - [narrative (5)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/narrative) - [relationship (5)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/relationship) - [Somatic Studies (4)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/somatic-studies) - [alchemist (4)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/alchemist) - [cosmology (4)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/cosmology) - [gender (4)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/gender) - [imaginal (4)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/imaginal) - [literature (4)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/literature) - [the body (4)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/the-body) - [world issues (4)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/world-issues) - [Technology (3)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/technology) - [admissions (3)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/admissions) - [ancient egypt (3)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/ancient-egypt) - [integrative therapy (3)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/integrative-therapy) - [love (3)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/love) - [theatre (3)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/theatre) - [Fulbright (2)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/fulbright) - [Marion Woodman (2)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/marion-woodman) - [Stephen Aizenstat (2)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/stephen-aizenstat) - [astrology (2)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/astrology) - [immigration (2)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/immigration) - [jungian (2)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/jungian) - [military (2)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/military) - [music (2)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/music) - [politics (2)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/politics) - [Divine (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/divine) - [Mental Health (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/mental-health) - [Opus Archives (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/opus-archives) - [animals (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/animals) - [complex (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/complex) - [indigenous psychology (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/indigenous-psychology) - [liberation psychology (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/liberation-psychology) - [money (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/money) - [poetry (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/poetry) - [rite of passage (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/rite-of-passage) - [sandtray (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/sandtray) - [student services (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/student-services) - [thesis day (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/thesis-day) - [unconscious (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/unconscious) - [writing (1)](https://info.pacifica.edu/topic/writing) see all ## Pacifica Tweets [Tweets by @PacificaPost](https://twitter.com/PacificaPost) ## Like Us - [About Pacifica](http://www.pacifica.edu/about-pacifica) - [Degree Programs](http://www.pacifica.edu/degree-programs/graduate-degree-programs-in-depth-psychology) - [Admissions Events](https://www.pacifica.edu/admissions/admissions-events/) - [Retreat Events](https://retreat.pacifica.edu/all-programs/) Copyright: [Pacifica Graduate Institute](http://www.pacifica.edu/). All rights reserved