Born near the home of
Peter Paul Reubens in Antwerp,
Belgium, Gui Van de Voorde comes from a rich
Renaissance heritage of
conscious cultural rebirth. He studied to understand and master the conceptual tools
needed to discern the patterns of personal and cultural evolvement currently seeking
conscious expression in our society.
Gui was sparked by an initial interest in and
love of Philosophy, seeking to understand conceptually as much of the world as possible.
Building a world view, he resonated most to
Pythagoras,
Plato,
Kant,
Locke, and
Wittgenstein from the West;
and
Lao Tzu,
Buddha and
Idries Shah
from the East. The Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Language, Aesthetics, Ethics, and
Logic were areas of special interest. He was guided by questions from within that laid a
conceptual foundation from which to build a rich intellectual appreciation and framework.
Gui sought to apply the world views learned from
philosophy to behavior and this led to the study of
psychology.
Here he immersed himself in individual development, seeking to understand
consciousness, human
motivation, human emotion, brain physiology, behaviorism, social
interaction, human potential, and individual differences. To balance out the
theoretical emphasis he found he had a natural appreciation and talent for the scientific
method, excelling in quantitative analysis and research methodology. Pragmatic proof and
experience replaced belief and implicit assumption.
Since the meaningfulness of individual behavior
requires context, he completed his training as a social scientist pursuing interests in
sociology and culture via anthropology. Of special interest was the implicit influence
that culture and social expectation have on individual behavior - and that these are
largely undetected by the people affected. Interests in history and political science came
later. Developing an appreciation of paleontology, astrophysics, and physics provided
enough jig-saw pieces to see a larger design.
Grounding human experience in the physical body
motivated him to study self-healing and thus many forms of alternative medicine. He
learned a holistic appreciation of the body, experiencing the profound healing effects
of energy medicine - especially homeopathy and acupuncture. Studying the
world views of the Shaman in different cultures helped integrate how the mind, body,
emotions, and spirit need to function in an integrated manner. From this integration, it
was a simple step to see that Culture and our Social Structure must provide a vital
nurturing environment in order to support happiness, meaning, growth, and peace.
Applying an understanding of individual, social, and
cultural needs and principles to organizational development empowers the individual and
the organization. From here they can envision, strategize, plan, and implement in a manner
that supports true underlying harmony, mutually beneficial growth, and balanced
empowerment. Both the organization and the individual win.
Seeking to be of service to those who
seek to
respond to their inner need for personal transformation, Gui helps Cultural
Transformation happen in both individual and organizational contexts. The proper
blend of education and experience opens new sensibilities that enable expanded empathy and
clarity. "A living commitment to Truth and Reality empower one to be fully present in
the moment. This is life's most precious gift to us - being fully present in the
moment."
Dedicated to both the developmental need of one's
inherent individual nature and to the social need for cooperation and conformity, Gui is
able to address both of these forces with an integrated mutually enhancing methodology
that strengthens both - revealing our optimal relationship with ourselves and the world
around us. His previous organizational endeavor "The Center for Cultural Transformation"
was a resource for conscious development
and integration to meet both individual and organizational needs.
Gui's hobbies include scuba diving,
photography, tennis, camping, birding, rollerblading, travel, movies,
performing arts, writing, and thoroughly enjoying concepts and ideas. He feels
his most important asset is his unrestrained sense
of humor.
