Guest lecturers
These guest lecturers teach in various seminars as part of the ARVEN seminar program:
Declan Kennedy
Declan Kennedy, born in Dublin in 1934, a former professor of urban planning at the Technical University of Berlin, is one of the great pioneers of the global ecological movement: founder of the Permaculture Institute for Europe, GEN (Global Ecovillage Network), Gaia University, coordinator of GAP (Global Action Plan), and many other projects.
"My vision is for people to treat themselves, others, and nature with more love—to understand how to consistently practice love in everyday life and receive it in return.
Through my work, I want to help us rediscover nature as our model and consider it before we act. And I want to awaken and strengthen this vision in others.
I want to inspire and be a role model to develop a new awareness, gain a new perspective, and embark on a new path. The great transformation that we and Gaia so urgently need is possible because we can all do something about it every day."
I want to help people develop a new awareness, gain a new perspective, and embark on a new path. Declan has danced all his life and accompanies the Gaiamantie course: "Understanding the language of the earth - Dancing with life"
Silvano Rizzi
Silvano is a passionate permaculturist. Raised in the Allgäu region of Germany, he has lived in the Tamera peace community in Portugal since 2014. He studied NGO and holistic management and worked in development aid. His search for effective, regenerative solutions in this field led him to permaculture and his current area of focus. Since then, he has dedicated himself to developing regenerative models that enable people in communities to live peacefully, self-sufficiently in terms of water, energy, and food. One of his key areas of focus is the water cycle, water retention, and water supply in times of climate change.
www.tamera.org
Martina Keller
Born in 1964, I live in the Black Forest. Since 1995, I have worked as a naturopathic practitioner in my own practice, specializing in classical homeopathy and herbal medicine. In addition to my practice, I lead lectures, seminars, and herb walks throughout the year.
Martina Keller teaches homeopathy as part of the medicinal plant cycle. Drawing on her extensive experience and with great empathy, she conveys the principles and mechanisms of homeopathy in a clear and engaging way.
Outdoor plant studies and the processing of fresh plants into homeopathic remedies complement the course.
Sabine Lichtenfels
Sabine Lichtenfels is a peace researcher and co-founder of the Tamera Healing Biotope.
Her main research area is the development of decentralized, self-sufficient models of peace. How do we overcome internal and external enemy images and leave behind the conditioning that contributes to the global structure of war?
Since 1978, she has been working with Dr. Dieter Duhm on the Healing Biotope Plan.
In 1995, she co-founded the peace research center "Healing Biotope 1 Tamera" in Portugal with him and other like-minded individuals. For decades, she has been a source of knowledge and an internationally recognized voice for women's peace wisdom, which she shares at conferences and seminars, in books and lectures, and during international aid and peace projects.
M. Kalani Souza
He is a gifted storyteller, singer, songwriter, musician, performer, poet, philosopher, priest, comedian, and peacemaker. He puts Hawaiian values into practice, mediates between cultures, and has extensive experience in advancing social justice through conflict resolution. His classes and lectures are equally inspiring, challenging, and entertaining for his audience, encouraging them to truly live their greater selves. His authentic Hawaiian roots allow him a unique perspective.
www.mkalani.com
Julie Kai Stowell
Julie Kai has worked in healing professions since 1986. Her worldwide travels, wilderness training, and familiarity with people from various indigenous cultures and their ways of life have shaped her unique perspective and approach. Julie Kai utilizes various healing methods, including Quantum Energetics and Lomilomi. She received her training in this massage technique from Kumu Aunty Margaret Machado of Napoopoo in Hawaii.
Gabriela Lagrange
Gabriela is a passionate photographer, inspired by nature. She is also an enthusiastic permaculture practitioner and, together with Matias Gonzales Ivanov, founded the NGO "LA'PAI Permacultura, Naturopatía & Alimentación" in Chapadmalal, Argentina. She organizes seminars, workshops, meetings, and training courses on integrative medicine, naturopathy, fermentation, permaculture, and all topics that strengthen the bond between nature and humanity. The beautiful photographs in my book "Trees of Hope," published in 2022, are hers. She lives in a permaculture community in southern Spain.
https://gabslagrange.weebly.com/
Starhawk
Starhawk combines political activism with earth-based spirituality. She sees her work with permaculture as a natural consequence of her commitment to healing the Earth. Together with Penny Livingston-Stark, she founded the Earth Activist Training program in 2000.
Starhawk is the author of 13 books and became known to a wider readership through her books on goddesses and feminine power, as well as through her film "Permaculture: The Growing Edge." She lives in California, where she runs a permaculture ranch. Her lived experience of earth-based spirituality and political engagement forms the foundation of her work. Another focus of her work is the constructive healing of communities in times of climate change.
www.starhawk.org
Daniel Giamario
Daniel studied philosophy and religious studies. In 1960, he became a student of the renowned astrologer Dane Rudhyar. Today, Daniel is one of the most well-known astrologers, possessing extensive knowledge and a wealth of practical experience. His astrology combines psychological, mythological, spiritual, and shamanic elements, following the alchemical principle: "As above, so below." He teaches and guides people worldwide. A focus of his work is the practice of the "Sacred Marriage," a psychological-astrological mystery work that unites feminine and masculine elements and synchronizes the human path of development with the movement of the stars.
He is the founder of the Shamanic Mystery School and has written two seminal books on shamanic astrology.
Daniel lives with his wife, Lynne, in South Asia.
www.turningoftheages.com
Paul Raphael
Paul Raphael comes from the "Raven Clan," the Odawa tribe of Anishinabek. With ancient wisdom passed down from his elders, his humor, songs, and his love for humanity, he touches us deeply on many levels.
He has worked as a peacemaker for various tribal courts and established a program that helps young people with alcohol and drug problems strengthen their connection to nature.
He supports people in rediscovering their ancient roots and the traditional knowledge of the "Sacred Fire."
Matias Gonzales Iwanov
Matias is a practicing physician, experienced permaculturist, and professional chef. Through his engagement with systems thinking, systems biology, and permaculture, he holistically combines his medical knowledge of health with alchemy, naturopathy, and functional medicine to create his own unique path. He is the founder of the NGO LA'PAI Permacultura, Naturopatia e Alimentación in Argentina.
His passion and love for Gaia have inspired many people to reconnect with their own health and take responsibility for their own journey. His teaching style imparts the ability to gain a profound understanding of the otherwise hidden interconnectedness of the cycles of biological life on our planet.
www.lapai.org
Penny Livingston
Penny is an internationally recognized permaculture teacher. She has been teaching and working professionally in this field for 25 years. Her focus is on land management, regenerative design, and permaculture development. She possesses extensive knowledge of sustainable building.
She was a student of Bill Mollison and David Holmgreen, the founders of permaculture. Penny has appeared in several films, including "Symphony of the Soil," "A Time for Change," and "Permaculture: The Growing Edge."
www.pennylivingston.com
Rosemarie Kirschmann
Psychotherapist (ECP) and trainer for the GwG (Society for Scientific Client-Centered Psychotherapy)
In various roles, I walk the enriching and fulfilling, life-giving path of wise women.
Ruth Hecker
Born in 1958, she has been intensively involved with prehistory and early history for more than 20 years (studying at the University of Cologne from 1997 to 1999). Her work focuses particularly on the concrete experience and practical application of archaeological findings. As an archaeotechnician, she studies Stone Age techniques such as fire-making, tool production, and hunting methods. Her main focus is the reconstruction of Stone Age art, specifically cave paintings and figurative artworks. In her exhibition "Ancient Mothers of the Stone Age – Images of Female Creativity," she presents replicas of famous Paleolithic and Neolithic female figurines from her collection.
By visiting and studying painted caves in France, Spain, and Russia, she seeks to understand the worldview and visual language of hunter-gatherer cultures within the context of their Ice Age living conditions.
© Photo by Ascot Elite Film
Wulf Hein (left) with Werner Herzog (right) during filming of the movie: "The Cave of Forgotten Dreams".
Wulf Hein
Wulf Hein, born in 1959, gained experience restoring historic buildings and sailing ships in his native Schleswig-Holstein after graduating from high school and completing an apprenticeship as a carpenter. Following a move to southern Germany, he specialized in the replication and reconstruction of (pre)historic objects and expanded his knowledge and skills in the field of "prehistoric technology." His primary interest lies in working with stone, wood, and antler, but the production of clothing and musical instruments, model making, exhibition design, and graphic illustration are also part of his repertoire. Collaborations with more than 200 museums and scientific institutions both in Germany and abroad, as well as many years of experience in experimental archaeology and hands-on educational methods, enable him to produce high-quality, authentic work based on the latest research. In addition to numerous publications on archaeological topics, Hein collaborates on film and television projects and has played a key role in the development of several open-air archaeological sites. His replicas and reconstructions of prehistoric and ancient finds and discoveries are presented in numerous international exhibitions.
www.arc-tech.de
Chantal Jègues Wolkiewiez
She is dedicated to the study of ethnoastronomy. She holds a doctorate in anthropology and focuses her studies specifically on astropaleontology. Using caves in France and other locations around the world, she studies the astronomy of our prehistoric ancestors.
She has demonstrated that cave carvings, rock markings, and paintings from prehistoric times are often linked to the movements of celestial bodies.
Her research reveals that our ancestors synchronized their lives with the cosmos and perceived themselves as part of it.
The film about her work:
„Lasceaux Ciel Des Premiers Hommes“ (Deutsche Version: „Die Astronomen von Lasceaux“)
Sarah-Céline Lindenthaler
Nature and Wilderness Trainer
Ongoing professional development with Ron and Geli Bachmann, Lynx Vilden, Jon Young, Tom Brown Jr., Ralph Müller, and others
Master of Arts in Education from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Herbalist - basic training with Sepp Ott, Wolf-Dieter Storl, Eva Aschenbrenner, and others.
Three-year medicinal plant training with Susanne Fischer-Rizzi.
Trainer of multipliers, including for the Bavarian Society for the Protection of Birds (LBV)
Intercultural Trainer
Children's group leader for the LBV Nature Children's Group and the Forest Rangers
Enthusiastic craftswoman
Basket weaver (three-year training at the Wilderness Center, Tyrol)
Christian `Crii´ Lindenthaler
Nature and Wilderness Awareness Trainer
Primitive Technologist
Living Skills Nature Craftsperson
Scout in Training
Children's Group Leader
Educational Supervisor
Ongoing professional development in the areas of nature connection, living with the land, and nature spirituality