Featured Presentations Scheduled for Your Enjoyment in the LCS Gardens

In-person attendance is by prior reservation only. CLICK TO RESERVE MONDAY-SATURDAY

Open Circle Ajijic

May 16, 2021
Presentation by Betty Steinhauer: The Nomadic Intern, Creating My Own Adventure
YouTube link: Coming Soon

After being hit by a car not long after retiring, I had an epiphany: I had embarked on my own spiritual journey following my first trip to India in 1990. The years that followed, I traveled to 155 countries, sometimes as a tourist, sometimes on business, sometimes for my charity…meeting remarkable souls who became global friends. And the moment finally came when I decided to sell everything, pack up my life and travel the world - not as a tourist - but as a student of cultures and communities and people, spending large chunks of time in each place I visited. In essence, I became a nomadic intern, learning about humanity.

I documented what I learned from people I interviewed from around the world and from all walks of life. And so was born my new book, In Search of Spiritual Intelligence.

Open Circle Ajijic

May 23, 2020
Presentation by Ed Tasca: Gun Violence
YouTube link: Coming Soon

Ed Tasca, local humor writer, novelist and playwright, will deliver a presentation, both comic and serious, on the complex story of gun violence, focused mainly on U.S. lust for possession of firearms and the psychology of their misuse, beginning with the U.S. Constitution's 2nd Amendment. It includes a discussion of the psychopathology behind hyper-rage and gun violence, regardless of race, nation, religion or culture. And offers a view of the mental health awareness and treatment requirements that can help identify and treat those who act out violently using firearms, from pistols to military-grade weapons. Because of the controversial nature of the subject, Ed asks that you bring questions only, and check all guns at the door.

Open Circle Ajijic

May 30, 2020
Presentation by Luis Pacheco and Steve Balfour: LCS Open Forum
YouTube link: Coming Soon

For this Open Circle presentation we will be doing something a little different. The new Executive Director, Luis Pacheco and President Steve Balfour will share with you all the things going on with the Lake Chapala Society. Phil Rylett will be the moderator and Luis and Steve will answer some of the most common questions about what is going on with LCS and what the future may look like. The pandemic has slowed things down, but there is a lot of work in the background. This is also your opportunity to offer your thoughts on programs and directions for the future.

If You Missed an In-person Presentation, You Can Still Enjoy It On-line.

Open Circle Ajijic

May 9, 2020
Presentation by Kat Miller: Inside Out Aging
YouTube link: Coming Soon

The truth is—if we are fortunate, we will have the opportunity to grow “old,” experiencing along the way inevitable losses and increasing limitations as well as progressive refinement of what is essential. With aging we can see our life as from a great altitude as a sort of landscape with all its diverse parts connected. From here we can harvest wisdom, acknowledge resilience, and discover peace, compassion and gratitude at the heart of our lives. Join Kat for some ageist repudiation and to learn more about how we can cherish the beauty of life, not despite its perishability but precisely because of it.

Kat Miller has an MA in Spiritual Psychology and is a counselor here in Ajijic and abroad. She currently plays with photography and writing as ways to express her perception of today’s topic.

Open Circle Ajijic

May 2, 2021
Presentation by Michael Reason: A Melody for Change
YouTube link: Coming Soon

Throughout history music has often reflected social and political change. However, since the beginning of the 20th Century and the advent of recorded sound music has become a catalyst for change. Pianist and conductor Michael Reason will lead us on a journey to discover how music has become a driving force in shaping the world for the past 100 years.

After leaving music college, Michael worked on numerous theatrical productions as Music Director in England during the 1980s and emigrated to Canada in 1991. Since then he has had a highly successful career as a professional orchestra conductor working with orchestras across Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. In addition, he has held the position of Music Director for the Prince George Symphony, the Niagara Symphony, and the Hamilton Philharmonic in Canada. He now lives in Ajijic where he helped found the Lake Chapala Community Orchestra in 2018 and has assumed the roles of conductor and artistic director. He is also the Music Director for the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Riberas.

Open Circle Ajijic

April 25, 2021
Presentation by Daniel Medeles: Spring Mariachi Music
YouTube link: Coming Soon

Mariachi is both culture and tradition. In this concert, Mariachi Real Axixic will explore the diverse sounds of Mexico in their own unique style. Although they’ve been performing together for only a couple of years, they’ve distinguished themselves from all the others. Under the baton of Daniel Medeles, classically trained member of the renowned musical family by that name, the instrumentalists have extraordinary technique combined with Medeles’s original arrangements. A perennial favorite at Open Circle. Dany is the Music Director behind Musica Para Crecer, the San Juan Children’s Orchestra and Chorus. He dedicates so much of his time to offer safe alternatives in Music to the children of San Juan Cosala. Come and enjoy his Mariachi band that is so well known throughout all of Jalisco and beyond. This is your opportunity to show your support for his year round efforts and contributions to Lakeside.

No biographical information available.

Open Circle Ajijic

April 18, 2021
Presentation by Tran Dang: Leave No One Behind
YouTube link: Coming Soon

Tran and César will join us April 18 for a discussion of ongoing U.S. immigration reform efforts with a focus on the right to return and its relevance for Jalisciense families. Mexico has always been the country most impacted by deportation and is now home to more deported spouses, parents, and children of U.S. citizens; deported veterans; and exiled Americans than any other country in the world. In light of the millions who could benefit from the right to return, The Rhizome Center for Migrants is now leading a binational effort to reunite deported loved ones with their families. Join Tran and César to learn more about these efforts and what you can do individually to support The Rhizome Center for Migrants' #right2return campaign.

No biographical information available.

Open Circle Ajijic

April 11, 2021
Presentation by Phil Rylett: Don’t Learn Spanish! (Do this instead).
YouTube link: [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDOnaMUU9YE" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]


Do you want to learn Spanish? Or do you want to speak and understand it? We have been told that the path to speak and understand a second language is by learning it. But what if this is not the case? Have we been taken on the wrong path? What can we learn from the latest studies that will help you communicate in Spanish? Phil will relate the latest studies that shed doubt on learning Spanish and, in its place, the alternative of acquiring Spanish.

Phil Rylett spent years studying Spanish before coming to Mexico. Classes, books, courses, schools, etc. He was extremely disappointed when arriving in Ajijic to find out he could understand very little. Some of his Mexican friends, however, spoke reasonable English, without much formal instruction. This led him to investigate alternate paths to speaking and understanding Spanish.

Open Circle Ajijic

April 4, 2021
Presentation by David Ellison: It is only by leaving your home that you find it.
YouTube link: Coming Soon

> In his next Open Circle presentation, retired history teacher and raconteur Dave Ellison will continue to share what he’s been discovering while researching his upcoming book: Niños Héroes: The Fascinating Stories Behind Mexican Street Names. This time, Dave will focus on the convoluted story of the Mexican War for Independence and its tortuous aftermath, comparing it to the United States’ Revolution: “By studying Mexico’s history,” Dave explains, “I’ve finally begun to understand and appreciate my own.” Want to learn the stories behind so many Ajijic streets such as Castellanos, Guadalupe Victoria, Insurgentes, Matamoros, Galeana, Hidalgo, Morelos, and Guerrero? Come listen to Dave’s engaging walk through Mexico’s history...and come home again to yours.

David Ellison recently retired after 36 years in education. He was a teacher (History his favorite subject), mentor teacher, school administrator, education columnist and community activist. He was honored as the New Haven Unified and the American Council of School Administrators Region VI Teacher of the Year in 1996.

Open Circle Ajijic

March 28, 2021
Presentation by Michael Warren: Shakespeare & Fermat: Two Fascinating Enigmas to Ponder
YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/PfY6g26J7ao" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]

Michael Warren will intrigue us with two enigmas from the 17th century. First he will discuss the dedication of Shakespeare's Sonnets, published in 1609: "To the only begetter of these ensuing sonnets Mr. W.H. all happiness and that eternity promised by our ever-living poet wisheth the well-wishing adventurer in setting forth T.T." All sorts of theories have been advanced as to the meaning of this dedication and the identity of Mr.W.H. Michael will proffer his own interpretation.

Second, he will discuss Fermat's Last Theorem, a mathematical puzzle of historical importance first set out by Pierre Fermat in 1637. For 350 years it has defied solution and prompted extraordinary advances in mathematics.

Michael Warren is a poet, actor, and mathematician. For the last several years he has been writing the theatre reviews for the Ojo del Lago.

Open Circle Ajijic

March 21, 2021
Presentation by Dr. Todd Stong: Update of Conditions of Lake Chapala & Area Villages Infrastructure
YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/mVBzZOhAvmo" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]


Todd will present on: (1) the initial year’s update of Covid-19 comparison of Mexico to the USA/CAN and Europe as requested last March,
(2) the state of the nation's largest lake and various projects in the villages about the lake plus a focus on the 3 key water project actions needed in our region, and
(3) an update on childhood kidney disease in the villages from Chapala eastward to the end of the lake that may be impacting the lives of about 30,000 children.

Dr. Todd Stong's 27 years in humanitarian service have focused on water-related projects in rural Africa, Asia, and Latin America. As a West Point graduate, Colonel Stong served as a construction engineer for 15 years in Korea, Vietnam, and Germany, followed by 15 years directing research in federal laboratories. He has six engineer sons.

Open Circle Ajijic

March 14, 2021
Presentation by Daniel Acuff: Your Life Is a Battlefield. Your Weapons: Power, Control, and Domination
YouTube link: [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bpe_oBrWtc" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]


Dr. Acuff will explore how you and the important others in your life use power, control, and domination to win, get ahead, and avoid losing in the game of life. He will analyze each of the weapons that you and others utilize in this battle, and will show how you also apply your physical body along with intellectual, emotional, social, and ethical powers to gain control. You'll be surprised to discover how these forces play out consciously and subconsciously in your everyday life.

Dr. Acuff's Ph.D. is in philosophy, sociology and education. He has been a seminar leader, radio talk show host and marketing consultant for more than 40 major corporations. He is author of fifteen books including three philosophical/spiritual works of fiction: God Lied - What's Really Going on Here, The Mysteries of Quan, and Golf and the Zen Master.

Open Circle Ajijic

March 7, 2021
Presentation by Dr. Enrique Lopez: How to Maintain Brain Wellness
YouTube link: [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STBZxgB3AXA" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]
[a href="../documents/PresentationMaterials_2021_03_07.pdf" target="_self"]** CLICK HERE FOR PRESENTATION MATERIALS **[/a]

Dr. Lopez will provide practical tools and lifestyle tips for keeping the brain healthy and vital. Additionally, he will describe how the professional diagnoses and assesses cognitive disorders and differentiates between normal aging and a cognitive disorder such as dementia.

Dr. Lopez is a psychologist/neuropsychologist and has been an allied health professional at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences since 2004. He completed a post-doctorate fellowship in neuropsychology at UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital in 2000. Dr. Lopez attended Occidental College in Los Angeles from 1985 to 1989 with a major in psychology and minor in Spanish literature.

Open Circle Ajijic

February 28, 2021
Presentation by David Bryen: Inside Wood
YouTube link: [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex1ZVnfwu4s&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]

What is it that shines through wood and smites the heart? Wood’s exquisite patterns, fragrances, textures, and musical tones are locked inside until human activity releases them. Not unlike human life, a wound is often required to reveal the character and splendor of wood. A craftsman hears the sawn tree as it sounds its invitation: “Stay awhile… you too have come into the world to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine” (Mary Oliver). To open wood is to discover the Beauty that feeds the soul and summons us back to the home inside ourselves.

This presentation reflects David Bryen’s fall into wonder with wood’s beauty. A retired psychotherapist, writer, craftsman, builder, and long-term collector and admirer of exotic hardwoods, he will explore the hidden marvels in wood and compare their extraction to the unfolding drama of the human soul.

Open Circle Ajijic

February 21, 2021
Presentation by Loretta Downs: When Vulnerability Become Strength: From Care Giver to Receiver
YouTube link: [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP3zKOBb50Q&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]

How do we adjust when health challenges upend our independence? Whether parent, child, spouse, partner, friend or neighbor, we face vulnerabilities while adapting to role reversals from care givers to care receiver. Being vulnerable is never welcome yet receiving care provides opportunities for developing compassion, expressing love, achieving personal growth, and finding grace. Learn ways to welcome your vulnerability and surrender to 'what is'.

Loretta Downs, MA, CSA, has been companioning people at the end of their lives for nearly 40 years—listening, serving, and observing the many ways we die. She sees natural death as a sacred passage deserving of recognition and fervent support. Loretta founded Chrysalis End-of-Life Inspirations, is a member of a hospital ethics committee, an Advance Care Planning Facilitator, and a Certified Senior Advisor. She has a masters degree in gerontology with a major in thanatology. In summer she raises Monarch butterflies in Chicago; in winter she hibernates in Ajijic.

Open Circle Ajijic

January 10, 2020
Presentation by Sandy Britton: Why Do We Do That?
YouTube link: [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmPo31lUes4&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]

We humans have a lot of strange behaviors—some that we share with other animals, some we don’t; some that science can explain, some that it can’t; some that are voluntary, some involuntary. For instance, why do we laugh? Gossip? Talk to ourselves? Why does every human culture have some form of music? Join Sandy at Open Circle to explore the quirkier side of human behavior.

Sandy Britton is from northern California where she raised a family with husband Phil and had a career in Information Technology. She enjoys exploring aspects of what makes us human, and sharing the more interesting discoveries with Open Circle audiences.

Open Circle Ajijic

December 20, 2020
Presentation by Noris Binet: Where Did We Come From? Where Are We Going?
YouTube link: [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z83jlikEusY&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]

For all living things, physical identity is the result of countless generations of evolution and DNA encoding. Each of us carries an extraordinary legacy. When we become fully aware of the genetic pool of our ancestry, we realize we are part of a colorful tapestry. Wherever we go we bring with us who we are. That place is transformed by what we bring and in turn we are transformed by the place. Ms Binet will explore how this transformational exchange takes place, a process enabling us to realize our one-ness and to love life as it is—always new, flowing, unpredictable, and mysterious.

A visual artist, poet, author, spiritual teacher and sociologist, Ms Binet lived in Ajijic from 1982-89. A native of the Dominican Republic, she studied with several indigenous communities, including the Huichols for whom Lake Chapala is sacred. She has worked over decades with diverse communities around the world to build bridges by reclaiming a sense of the sacred. Ms Noris has a BA in Sociology from the Univ. of Guadalajara and received an honorary PhD from the International Institute of Human Sciences in Canada. She returned to Ajijic three years ago.

Open Circle Ajijic

December 13, 2020
Presentation by San Juan Children's Orchestra and Chorus: Música de Mis Amores
YouTube link: [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEK6-nPNu38&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]

Música Para Crecer, under the direction of Maestro Dani Medeles, is blessed and honored to celebrate another holiday season with Open Circle. This year they will present a program of Mexico's all-time favorite songs, those the great music pedagogues Dr. Suzuki and Carl Orff call "the soul of the people," songs acquired through the mother's milk. The students have heard these songs all their lives and they are in their blood. The program was carefully arranged to challenge the students musically and technically without departing from their musical roots.

Like many nonprofits at this time, Música Para Crecer is facing existential challenges, not only financially but also with regard to school enrollment and concerts. With the help of friends, parents, and supporters, the program continues to pay salaries and maintenance, but the pandemic has reduced student attendance from 70 to around 40. Those who've stuck with it demonstrate their devotion to music, and the school is there to support them in their dreams. Studying and playing music with other students gives them a sense of community and a feeling they are not alone. Music provides them the strength they need right now and for the future as well. Let's do whatever we can to keep this program alive.

Open Circle Ajijic

December 6, 2020
Presentation by David Ellison: Fascinating Stories Behind Mexican Street Names
YouTube link: [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Gp0zi2czLM&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]

David Ellison has long had a debt to pay to Los Niños Heroes, the martyred young cadets who defended Chapultepec Castle in 1847 during the US invasion. A gifted raconteur, Ellison will explain his debt and how he will pay it with his forthcoming book that introduces expats to Mexican History. He will regale the audience with captivating stories from that book-in-progress about some of Mexico's inspiring heroes and colorful scoundrels, including the "rest of the story" that never makes the textbooks. This is history and herstory like you've never heard it before.

David Ellison recently retired after 36 years in education. He was a teacher (History his favorite subject), mentor teacher, school administrator, education columnist and community activist. He was honored as the New Haven Unified and the American Council of School Administrators Region VI Teacher of the Year in 1996.

Open Circle Ajijic

November 29, 2020
Presentation by Richard Clarke: Change Your Mind to Change Your Brain
YouTube link: [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-_Cl_qKk20&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]

Brain research shows you can grow and change your brain, using its natural plasticity to improve your life. You can slow down aging, rejuvenate your immune system, and be happier, more energetic and fulfilled. Richard will discuss recent research findings, including how areas of the brain grow and change with meditation, including improving the immune system and slowing the aging of the brain, body, and skin. He will also recommend simple ways to start today to slow the effects of aging.

Richard Clarke was a Silicon Valley guy who worked for IBM, National Semiconductor, and Teledyne Semiconductor, and founded Western Switching Power and Silicon Valley CRM. A long-time meditator, he holds meditation training courses and Ramana Maharshi Satsangs. He co-leads the LCUUF course From Age-ing to Sage-ing and presented weekly "HOT Science" at LCS. He has published about 20 books and pamphlets, available on his free book download site richard@infinitepie.net

Open Circle Ajijic

November 22, 2020
Presentation by Peter Steven Malakoff: Ayurveda and Aging
YouTube link: [a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMAQkuGuk1o&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"]** CLICK HERE **[/a]

Ayurveda is the oldest medical science in the world, at the root of Tibetan, Chinese, Persian, and western Medicine. According to Ayurveda, 'Old age is a disease born of Time.' Our lives reside in the body of Time and our body, like everything that grows, eventually decays and dies. Buddha said: "Suffering is inevitable," and he also said "All suffering is not necessary." In this way, the disease of Aging is inevitable, but it may be manifested in a timely or untimely, comfortable or uncomfortable, disease-free or disease-filled manner. Herein lies the Ayurvedic approach to aging . . . it does not prevent death but prolongs life and health, offering understanding and practical wisdom on how to live our elder years in the best possible way.

Peter Malakoff is a Religious Studies scholar who lived in India for nearly ten years. In 2004 he received his Ayurvedic Sadhana Padavika Diploma from Kalidas Sanskrit University in Nagpur, India.