“In the state that is natural for all of God's
creatures--the state of union--there is no aloneness anymore…. You
will feel a deep purpose in life, your life, all life. You will deeply experience
union with all beings and the importance of their purpose as well as your
own.”
—Pathwork Lecture No. 75, The Great Transition in Human Development
Donovan and Susan Thesenga
Donovan and Susan Thesenga have been leaders in the field of personal and spiritual growth for the past thirty-five years. Susan is the author of The Undefended Self and Donovan is the co-creator (with Eva Pierrakos) of two books: Fear No Evil and Surrender to God Within. (These and other Pathwork books can be purchased on-line through the Sevenoaks Bookstore.) They have been married for 39 years; they are parents and grandparents.
They founded Sevenoaks in 1972 when they were both practicing psychotherapists and students of Zen Buddhism. They led workshops at Sevenoaks incorporating bio-energetics and encounter group approaches to personal growth. Their passion to bring together spirituality and psychology led them to the Pathwork. They trained with Eva and John Pierrakos and gradually converted their private therapy practice (in Virginia and in Washington, D.C.) into a Pathwork practice. A leadership group grew around them, and a growing presence for the Pathwork was established in the mid-Atlantic region.
In 1976, inspired by an intense devotion to spiritual service, Donovan and Susan donated Sevenoaks to the non-profit Pathwork organization. Since then Sevenoaks has continued to be a major Pathwork center, drawing students from around the world. Susan and Donovan have helped thousands of people to find more courage and more joy in their lives. They have assisted people in transforming defenses, healing deep wounds, and learning to relate from their authentic selves.
Over the years Donovan and Susan's books have been translated into many other languages, and have sold especially well in South America. In 1993, they helped create the first Pathwork training programs in Brazil. They, along with other North American Pathwork helpers, were actively engaged in teaching there for many years. As a result, the Pathwork now has many active communities in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.
As of 2006, Susan and Donovan withdrew from active administrative leadership, making space for new leadership to emerge. They still lead occasional workshops at Sevenoaks, but the focus of their teaching has shifted to the more explicitly spiritual level. They are most interested in teaching “awakening,” the radical dropping of identification with personality and body, and opening to the spiritual reality of what we are. This has been described in the Pathwork lectures as “the second and most important phase (of the work, which) consists of learning how to activate the greater consciousness dwelling within every human soul.” (Pathwork lecture #204)
Awakening is a universal and foundational spiritual experience described in the mystical literature of all the great world traditions. In their new teaching, Donovan and Susan are calling on their extensive experience of many different spiritual paths—Buddhism, mystical Christianity, Amazonian shamanism and spiritual healing.