Sabine Lichtenfels

Theologian, Author, Researcher, Peace Activist and one core figure of the GRACE Movement

Sabine Lichtenfels, born in 1954, studied Theology at Bielefeld and Tubingen, in Germany. On completion of her studies she assumed a number of posts as teacher of Religious Studies. She also held the post of curate in Tubingen, but resigned on learning that it was forbidden for a curate to live in a shared house. As a curate Ms. Lichtenfels found it increasingly difficult to oversee marriage ceremonies in church, in particular to hear young couples give the marriage oath. As a young divorcee herself, she had already begun to question the marriage ceremony as a form of expressing a loving commitment.

In 1981 Ms. Lichtenfels abandoned her career within the church and began a step towards the innovative research for which she is known today.

Her main research questions at that time were: How do communities, that are defined as human communities, become established? What are the foundations of life and living that enable love and fidelity to be lived? Why have the principles of humanity and loving thy neighbour, as spoken by Jesus, not been realised yet? Why does an overwhelming power still lie with those who prepare war and oppression? What are the necessary principles for the effective development of a peaceful culture?

These questions led her to an ever more committed involvement in a ‘social experiment’ called the project ‘Bauhutte’ founded by Dieter Duhm. As a research project based in the Black Forest (Germany) it comprised of around 40 people from diverse areas of knowledge. The aim was to research, through concrete self experience, the basic conditions for peaceful co-habitation.

During this research experience Ms. Lichtenfels’ focus became specialised towards the relation between the genders. If peaceful models of social living were to be developed then it was and is this area that must find solutions. Her steps towards melding the issues of love and sexuality into a spiritual and political framework received much controversy, however she did not allow herself to be drawn from her path.

In the following years, the active re-discovery of a spiritual life practice led Ms.Lichtenfels to found and guide ‘Desert Camps’, a spiritual school beyond dogma and creed. It was here that her focus became the development of her medium skills and the systematic investigation of dream, trance and prayer power.

In 1991 a life threatening experience led her to write the book ‘The Hunger behind the Silence – Approach to spiritual and sexual realities’. In this book she described the idea for a research project that would explore questions relating to survival. Her plan was to find a suitable location for this project within 3 years.

Remarkable circumstances led to the realisation of this wish. In 1995, together with Dieter Duhm, she founded ‘Tamera’ in Portugal. As a research and teaching centre Tamera would focus on the issues relating to the effective development of non violent models of living, between human beings, the environment and animals. The strategies designed by Sabine Lichtenfels and Dieter Duhm are increasingly being seen for their ability in creating truth and trust within living structures. Today Tamera is a thriving research centre for the principals of community living and spiritual practice with approx. 100 members.

The relationship between spirituality and the political became increasingly profound in Ms. Lichtenfels work and thought and led to two strong directions finding an important synthesis.

The first was the founding of the Institute for Global Peacework, an international network of committed and active peace workers, in 2000. Israel and Palestine is one of the focal points of the Institutes work. Sabine Lichtenfels is guided by the thought that in this conflict area, the birth place of three world religions, more than the destiny of two peoples is decided. It is about finding solutions for a conflict of humanity. After leading a number of peace camps for Israelis, Palestinians and Internationals, she now acts as consultant for the Israel Palestine Peace Village Project, based in Tamera.

The second is Ms. Lichtenfels work and study on geo-puncture together with Marko Pogacnik. Under the working title ‘ Icons of the Future’, she is attempting support the opening of the processes of life on all levels and rediscover our archetypal powers of nature. If successful, a more profound process of healing for the Earth is possible in the form of giving space for all the elements of life to grow and flourish.

Sabine Lichtenfels, through her innovative ideas, beliefs and courage to act, has received both controversy and high acclaim throughout her life. A guiding motivation for her has been to profoundly recognise and make reality the one enlivened source, beyond all philosophies, points of view of the world and ideologies. She has written a number of books that document the joy of discovery, the pioneering thoughts and the truthful experiences of the great challenge in supporting a global culture of peace.

More Information: the-grace-foundation.org