Cutting the Ties that Bind in Lalita
Experience the liberation of Cutting the Ties that Bind during a unique two-day seminar at the blissful Lalita holistic center in Extremadura, Spain.
Discover how to detach yourself from the overwhelming control and overlay of family, authority figures, culture, and reactions to events that impede you from expressing your true or real Self.
Description
This method was created and developed by Phyllis Krystal (1914 – 2016) and it consists of techniques, symbols and rituals which can impress positive messages on the subconscious mind to offset some of the negative conditioning that may have been received earlier in life. By using this method changes are achieved not just cognitively, but on a much deeper and conscious level. Cutting the Ties that Bind is a means of gaining greater independence and internal security as a whole human being.
The method incorporates an introduction to the Cutting the Ties that Bind symbols that help you detach from the control and overlay of family, authority figures, culture, and reactions to events that impede you from expressing your true or real Self. These controls and overlays are described as invisible chains that bind us and hinder us from being who we really are. We can have binds to people as well as to symbols that represent limiting beliefs or programs.
The Lalita Cutting the Ties that Bind Retreat is facilitated by:Mandy Staffa and Almendra Staffa-Healey.Methodology
The seminar will include both an explanation of the method and practice with the techniques. It will include a combination of storytelling, conversation and experiential learning. When using the method you send yourself messages that reach the subconscious mind to permanently release negative conditioning taken on from anything or anyone earlier in life. For example: childhood programming that no longer serves you, ties to ex-partners, negative emotions that control you, etc. One cannot change oneself unless one changes the unconscious mind. It is a means of gaining greater independence and internal security as a whole human being.
The Cutting the Ties that Bind seminar will be held in English and Spanish. We welcome speakers of other languages knowing that the common language of instruction and conversation will be English and Spanish.
Learning journey
Over the course of the two days you will receive an introduction to and practice with the method. We will introduce you to symbols that you can practice and use everyday to feel more grounded and secure in your decision making processes and interactions, and we will engage in the visualization work of person and symbol cuts. You will be provided with a deck of Phyllis Krystal Method Symbol Cards so as to be able to keep using them after the seminar. If possible, we recommend that you read Cutting the Ties that Bind, Growing Up and Moving On, by Phyllis Krystal prior to the start of the seminar. We also recommend that you bring a notebook or journal in which to take notes.
This program schedule is subject to change depending on the learning characteristics of the group. While we intend to cover what is described below, because the method is based on tuning into our Higher Consciousness (Hi-C) in order to learn what to do, the actual exercises and symbols we cover will be determined by the needs of the people who participate in the seminar:
Sunday August 17th, 2025
16:00 to 18:30 - Arrival and welcome to Lalita
19:00 - Introductions, brief overview of the method and sharing our intentions for participating in the seminar
20:15: Overview meeting about Lalita and logistical information for optimizing your stay
20:30 - Dinner
Monday August 18th, 2025
8:30 - Breakfast
9:30 to 11:00 - Making a connection to our Higher Consciousness (Hi-C) using the Maypole exercise. In-depth explanation of the method. Practice with the guided waking reverie technique to find out what each of us is here to release from which could be from unwanted overlays of limiting beliefs or personal symbols (symbol cut), or from the programmings we took on from people in our lives that no longer serve us (person cut). Practice using the figure 8 exercise.
- Break -
11:30 to 13:00 - an introduction to Cutting the Ties that Bind symbols related to independence, personal safety and protection as well as overcoming fearful situations. Based on guidance from our Hi-C we may learn about and gain practice with any of the following: the figure 8, the cylinder and the beachball for protection, the star or jack symbol for fear, etc.
- Lunch -
15:00 to 16:30 - learning how to use method in pairs: the triangle exercise. Using the Maypole exercise to define our personal symbol cut through drawing or shaping it in clay.
- Break -
17:00 to 18:30 - overview of the cutting ceremony from a personal symbol, connecting to the High-C and guided waking reverie for cutting the ties from the personal symbol you have identified for this inner work.
- Break -
20:30 - Dinner
Tuesday August 19th, 2025
8:30 - Breakfast
9:30 to 11:00 - checking in on the work from the previous day. An introduction to Cutting the Ties that Bind symbols related to decision making, gaining answers and guidance from your Hi-C and breaking limiting beliefs. Based on guidance from our Hi-C we may learn about and gain practice with any of the following: the scales, the crossroads, the hourglass, etc.
- Break -
11:30 to 13:00 - overview of the cutting ceremony from a person, connecting to the High-C and guided waking reverie for cutting the ties that no longer serve you from the person you have identified for this inner work.
- Lunch and Seminar Closure-
15:00 to 16:00 - Departure
* Optional invitation online: Sunday August 24th, 2025
18:00 - 60' Zoom call to check-in and share comments about the effects of doing the cuts and an open Q&A on anything that is coming up.
Dates
Arrival: from 16:00 to 18:30 on Sunday, August 17th.
The seminar will run the full day on the Monday and a half day on the Tuesday.
Departure: 15:00 to 16:00 on Tuesday, August 19th.
Location
Lalita Devi is a holistic center for retreats and personal development. It is located about 300 km from Madrid, in the Sierra de Gata of Extremadura. Surrounded by oak, chestnut and olive trees, natural pools and rivers, it's the perfect location to disconnect from modern living and reconnect with yourself.
It was founded in 1997 with the aim of spreading human values and messages common to all traditions, wisdom and spiritual practices of the world. Its rooms are simple but comfortable and are equipped with central heating, cotton sheets, pillows and duvets or bedspreads depending on the season. It's advisable that you bring appropriate footwear for the countryside, a flashlight, a towel and flip-flops for the showers.
The food provided at Lalita will be lacto-ovo vegetarian, with a wide variety of organic products and dishes, which are prepared every day with fresh, regional and quality products.
Given its long history of offering activities and retreats that promote personal growth, the natural enclave of Lalita Devi is conducive to generating energy and bringing forth transformational learning.
The address is:
Finca el Linar Nº1
Acebo 10857
Cáceres Province
Spain
Price
The 2 day seminar is available to people who live locally and also to those who will be traveling from other places and will need accommodation and meals. For those that live locally and and are curious about the method, we invite you to come to Lalita on Sunday the 17th at 7:00 pm for an information meeting and dinner (price 15€).
Please select the option that best suits you*:
- Full seminar including materials + lunch both days (no accommodation): 95€
- 1-day seminar on Monday including materials + lunch (no accommodation): 55€
- Full seminar including materials, 2 nights accommodation in a shared room (double or triple) on Sunday and Monday nights + all meals: 275€
- Full seminar including materials, 2 nights accommodation in a single room on Friday and Saturday nights + all meals: 300€
* If you find this price produces financial hardship for you, please contact us to find a suitable solution so that you can participate.
PLEASE NOTE: The last day to accept payment is Friday August 8th, 2025.
Facilitators
Mandy Staffa
Mandy has been practicing and delivering Cutting the Ties that Bind trainings to people from diverse nationalities and backgrounds since 1991. She trained with Phyllis Krystal over many years. She has delivered in person trainings in the USA, England, Denmark, Spain and India. Mandy is also an artist, writer and illustrator. She lives in Shepherdstown, West Virginia (USA).
Almendra Staffa-Healey
Almendra has been practicing Cutting the Ties that Bind since 1992 and has been leading groups and individuals in the method since the year 2000. She has delivered in person trainings in Spain and online sessions to people from around the world. She is a firm believer in and advocate for collective wisdom for healing and transformation in community. Almendra is a certified coach that specializes in developmental and transformational coaching. She is also an intercultural competencies facilitator and trainer. She lives in Madrid, Spain.
