Teo Alfero - Castaneda disciple - very active

[Sparks]

I got curious when Teo Alfero was recently mentioned by Sandy S. He has been mentioned once before, by educatedindian.

In the 2022 book "The Wolf Connection, What Wolves Can Teach Us about Being Human" by Teo Alfero - this is how Glenn Schiffman is identified (apparently self identified in an interview) : "Glenn Schiffman, an Iroquois wolf clan elder".

The cult has regrouped and is preparing a new ceremony selling push. Here's bios of the new cult leaders from castaneda.com. Notice how one of them also claims to be a Cherokee healer.
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Cleargreen Directors
Renata and Nyei Murez     
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Facilitators of Tensegrity®
Teo Alfero 

Teo Alfero is an Associate Facilitator of Tensegrity® and the Founder and Director of Wolf Connection Conservancy. Born and raised in Argentina, Teo attended military school and then worked as a mountaineering instructor in the Andes Mountains before moving to Los Angeles in 1999. In the Andes, a friend handed him a book by Carlos Castaneda and a video on Tensegrity....He moved to Los Angeles and began attending Tensegrity practice groups and events regularly. He joined the team of Tensegrity facilitators in 2003 and has also helped to lead joint events given by Cleargreen and Wolf Connection.

....He has been a children's Court Advocate with the CASA program and is a registered foster father, a trainer for the Safe School Ambassadors program, and a certified life coach and mentor for adolescents and young adults. In 2008 he founded Spring of Evolution, Inc., a non-profit initiative, with Wolf Connection's youth education and empowerment program as its centerpiece. [Using cult group practices on kids...]

Home page: https://www.teoalfero.com/

About Teo
I am Teo Alfero
I have pledged my life to the expansion of consciousness through over 20 years of deep study of shamanic practices, teaching groups and individual students.
I serve people from all walks of life from community leaders, spiritual teachers, celebrities and CEOs to inner city youth, formerly incarcerated individuals and veterans through Wolf Connection, the non-profit organization I founded 14 years ago. I am the author of The Wolf Connection, What Wolves Can Teach Us About Being Human.
I work with energy pathways and configurations that are at cosmic and spiritual levels, but have a very practical application in our everyday life. This creates an alignment, a life that is intrinsically bold, and strong and present, intentional and powerful in ways that are hard to conceive.

His book is available here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Teo-Alfero/author/B0CWB5BY7V

About the Author
Teo Alfero is the founder of the Wolf Connection sanctuary and creator of Wolf Therapy®, a singular program that empowers individuals dealing with psychological and emotional pain, addiction, and trauma using the human-wolf bond. Teo is a transformational teacher and shamanic practitioner whose work is strongly influenced by that of Carlos Castaneda. He is a TEDx speaker, one of the 100 Making A Difference, and a member of the Association of Transformational Leaders. He has been featured in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and other major media. Born in Argentina, he now lives with his wife and daughter and the Wolf Connection pack in California. To learn more, visit WolfConnection.org.

The book is also here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Teo-Alfero/129512542

Facebook page (not active since 2020): https://www.facebook.com/teoalferoauthor/

He is also on Instagram, which I cannot access at the moment.

https://wolfconnection.org/ — https://wolfconnection.org/about-us/

The genesis of Wolf Connection started in 2008 with our founder Teo Alfero, a native of Argentina, who had a passion for working with and empowering foster youth. He rescued a young wolfdog Tala, when she was just four weeks old. Soon after, when Teo was looking for a way to take his youth mentoring program to the next level and simultaneously looking for a playmate for Tala, he was introduced to a pack of sixteen wolfdogs, and thus the idea of Wolf Connection was born.

https://www.eomega.org/workshops/teachers/teo-alfero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqXEykGuueo [Teo Alfero - Wolf Connection] (8 minutes)

[Sandy S]

This looks to be a sophisticated operation. Very worth researching.

In corporation documents he is "Pablo (Teo) Alfero".

Note this "Copyright © 2024 Spring of Evolution, Inc – DBA Wolf Connection" at bottom of webpage https://wolfconnection.org/newsletter-signup/

California corporation search here: https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business Search for SPRING OF EVOLUTION, INC. The initial filing document lists his name as above.

He also has TEO ALFERO LLC. He uses "Teo P. Alfero" for that.

Nonprofit info on Spring of Evolution, Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/262162310 Tax-exempt since Sept. 2008.

Prior he ran "School of Applied Consciousness". Also "Satori Botanicals". https://www.linkedin.com/in/teoalfero The Linkedin link for "School of Applied Consciousness" redirects to https://wolfconnection.org/ now.

SPRING OF EVOLUTION INC. got two Paycheck Protection Program loans (pandemic funds, these "loans" are usually forgiven and are not repaid). $84,972 in 2020 and the same amount in 2021. Search here: https://projects.propublica.org/coronavirus/bailouts/

[Sandy S]

Pablo Gaston Alfero , Palmdale, CA

Also Known As: Pablo G Alfero • Pablo G Alfero SR • Pablo Alfero Teo SR • Pablo Alfero Teo • Pablo Alfero

Born 1971. According to this people search https://www.fastbackgroundcheck.com/people/teo-alf this is our guy. The address matches corporation records.

[Sandy S]

An Age Gap Bridged by a Love of Animals — Vows

Renee Dutcher and Teo Alfero, founder of Wolf Connection, exchange vows in front of a tepee on the grounds of the wolf-dog sanctuary

Mr. Alfero, who said he grew up as a spoiled brat in a wealthy Argentine family, had come to Los Angeles in 1999 after developing an interest in shamanism and in the followers of Carlos Castaneda, the late author.

This 2013 NY Times article about the wedding of Renee Dutcher and Teo Alfero is practically an ad for their business https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/fashion/weddings/an-age-gap-bridged-by-a-love-of-animals-vows.html

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2020 NY Times

(Renee Dutcher is 20 years younger than Teo Alfero, they met when she was 17 yrs old and she became a volunteer at his center.)

Lessons on Marriage and Life from the Wolf-Dog

s

They moved in 2016, soon after the birth of their daughter, whom they named Kaila, a name that is a Native American word for daughter of the moon, Mr. Alfero said

Mr. Alfero, who is from a wealthy Argentine-Italian family, came to Los Angeles in 1999 to study at Cleargreen, an organization to promote the spiritual and shamanistic teachings of Carlos Castaneda

.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/fashion/weddings/lessons-on-marriage-and-life-from-the-wolf-dogs.html

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Alfero refers to himself as "former military man" - I'd like to know more about that. https://wolfconnection.org/team/teo-alfero/

In 1999 Teo moved to California and immersed himself in his spiritual and Shamanic studies in the lineage of Carlos Castaneda. He has assisted and led self-discovery and Shamanic, transformational workshops in the Americas, Europe, and Russia since 2003.

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Spring Of Evolution Inc California corporation owns two trademarks on "Wolf Therapy" in class 041 "Educational services, namely, professional coaching of teachers in the field of animal training provided on a real-time basis during classroom instruction". and 044 "Canine-assisted therapy services"

Search trademarks https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/search

[Sandy S]

Info from Santa Barbara News Press 02 Jul 2019, Santa Barbara, California, USA article (I accessed through public library) "Can 'wolf therapy' open people up?"

Private full moon hikes cost $1,000 per ticket, community hikes of 60 plus guests are $65 a ticket. Smaller group hikes through Airbnb are $165 each.

This is just one of many many ways this group pulls in money.

Cate Salansky is director of development at Wolf Connection.

Women workers do meditation rituals before work. According to this article these are called "host council".

[Sandy S]

Wolf/hybird sanctuaries are closely regulated in USA. Alfero's Wolf Connection is graded "A" by inspectors (example here, don't know if link will persist https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BUSINESS-LICENSE-LETTER-GRADES-9-17-24.pdf )

So, that's good. What is not good is that Alfero is recreating a Castaneda destructive group.

eight master students of community leader, spiritual teacher and shamanic practitioner Teo Alfero

author-led experience in Recapitulation

focused, sustained, and disciplined work on the part of Amy Harris, Jen Ziegner, Nicholette Routhier, Lauren Jane Heller, Stefanie Menack, Wendy Cirello, Erin Kinney and Janet Douglas

Transmission: An Anthology on Consciousness, Dreaming and Heart https://www.amazon.com/Transmission-Anthology-Consciousness-Dreaming-Heart-ebook/dp/B0CW1JW3Z9

"Recapitulation" http://web.archive.org/web/20190527002425/http://www.uazone.org/naph/ccarlos/books/cc10/tensegrity62.html

[Sandy S]

I myself am in my late 60s. I have personal experience with various destructive groups. I continue to learn through NAFPS and https://www.culteducation.com/ . I regularly am active here sharing research (past accounts include Epiphany, Piff).

I bring all this to evaluating Pablo Gustav Alfero/ Teo Alfero. I'm skimming through his recent book "Transmission: An Anthology on Consciousness, Dreaming and Heart".

In my estimation Alfero is running a Castaneda cult. Same loaded languge, same practices, same focus on manipulating an inner circle of women.

Alfero says he learned from Carol Tiggs.

Carol Tiggs' names here:

Muni Alexander, aka Carol Tiggs, aka Carol Aranha, aka Elizabeth Austin (Kathleen Pohlman)

http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=1712.30

Alfero's inner circle according to this book:

Amy Harris
Jen Ziegner
Nicholette Routhier
Lauren Jane Heller
Stefanie Menack
Wendy Cirello
Erin Kinney
Janet Douglas

Alfero profoundly manipulates and messes with people. These women believe they are learning how to be "multidimensional Witch" Sorceress in an Alfero Coven. All the Castaneda group structure is repeated by Alfero.

People with mental/physical health challenges, even any human having human lives - can be basically driven nuts by Alfero. He teaches people to be spaced out, confused, exhausted, and utterly devoted to him.

Even though there is talk of "witch" and "coven" this group has nothing to do with modern pagan groups that are earth centered and ideally not appropriative.

Alfero manipulates his "Sisterhood" group members into being self-absorbed and crazy. He profoundly psychologically messes with them. This is a dangerous, unsafe cult.

And just like Castaneda, there is talk about jumping off a cliff.

[Sandy S]

If you remember there is the Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers which Teo Alfero of Cleargreen and his (again so-called) Wolf Connection raised  $26,329 in pledges with a Kickstarter campaign to take a few wolf dogs to Montana to "be with" the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers.

It looks like Teo Alfero only learned of Carlos around the time he was dying, and didn't come to LA until after the old man was dead. So he's a veritable babe in the woods who never met Carlos and must rely entirely on what he read and what he's been told.

Makes me wonder what Teo Alfero  another Tensegrity facilitator is doing.

Teo spent 3 years under the mentorship of Master Coach and author Larry Pinci. Larry Princi was the author of "Sell The Feeling".   I would think one would want to sell the product... but Sell The Feeling claims to "show readers how to evoke the essential feelings that motivate people to do business.". OK. So after three years studying this stuff what feelings is Teo selling? 

He is into donations.....  Wolfdogs ....  and kids.

Other "Tensegrity facilitators that have bios .. like Teo Alfero and Guilhem Morera are steeped in new age money making endeavors.

From various posts on https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/sustainedreaction/

13 grandmothers info here on NAFPS includes http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=1216.105 http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=1216.0

[Sandy S]

"He grew up in Argentina after his Italian parents immigrated there."

Dog News The Digest of American Dogs Volume 29, Issue 27 July 5, 2013

https://issuu.com/dognews/docs/070513

[Sandy S]

Sign in to view photos of Teo Alfero here and in prior post.

One of Alfero's coaches in grifting is Rich Litvin https://richlitvin.com/awwoooooooo/

Rich Litvin sells things such as:

Go beyond The Prosperous Coach Approach and have clients knocking on your door… Full Price: $10K. Early Bird: $5K

.

Alfero says he comes from a wealthy family. He likely has lost a lot of money to coaching schemes and is now intent on profit.

[Sandy S]

CONTRACT BETWEEN
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
AND
SPRING EVOLUTION INC., DBA WOLF CONNECTION FOR
WOLF THERAPY – POWER OF THE PACK PROGRAM SERVICES
This Contract (“Contract”) made and entered into on 1st day of July, 2024 by and between the
County of Los Angeles, hereinafter referred to as “County” and Spring Evolution Inc., DBA Wolf
Connection, hereinafter referred to as “Contractor”. Spring Evolution Inc., DBA Wolf Connection
is located at 29063 Aliso Canyon Rd., Palmdale, CA 93550

The total funding for the full term of this contract; two fiscal years, is TWO MILLION
FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,400,000)

The Contract will be effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, with the option of two annual extensions through June 30, 2028. The Total Contract Amount (TCA) is $2,400,000, $1,200,000 for each Fiscal Year (FY), fully funded by Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) – Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) revenue.

https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/191308.pdf
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From a Yelp review:

Just a fair warning: It is really a new agey type of retreat and wasn't particularly comfortable for me because I really just wanted to meet the wolves 

https://www.yelp.com/biz/wolf-connection-palmdale-3?osq=wolf+connection#reviews

[Sandy S]

"shamanic lineage traced back to ancient Mexico"

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5L8qDCrzTCjTLSHetsIzl5

In this podcast Teo Alfero states that he started Wolf Connection as a stealth way to bring his shamanic Carlos Castaneda work to the people. He says for the first 15 years or so he mostly kept the shamanic claims on the down low, all while maintaining an inner circle.

Alfero sales patter includes claims that he he teaches the higher level goodies.

He is new age verbose and exhausting to listen to. Lots of references to Castaneda terms such as "assemblage".
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"Medicine wheels" are created on his retreat land.

One of the most striking spaces (and in many ways, metaphors) at the sanctuary that exemplifies this is the Medicine Wheel

Participants stand in and alongside the wheel's directions, reflecting on past difficulties to move towards a stronger future. The Medicine Wheel itself is drawn from Native American culture and its presence at the sanctuary is an enacting of the protection of cultural heritage, particularly of the five tribes living in the region prior to European occupation, namely Tongva, Tataviam, Chumash, Kitanemuk and Serrano.

https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/978-1-80455-836-220231005/full/html

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One of his many catch phrases is "expand your energetic capacity"

Our NAFPS thread here is an important resource. Teo Alfero is running a sophisticated operation that is expanding, not waning. He maintains an inner circle, hopefully some of those people can eventually break away and go public. And any agency thinking of giving him grant money can now know there is reason to think again.

I would not recommend this for youth or anyone. Alfero himself says all his work is a stealthy way to teach cultic Castaneda.

[Sandy S]

According to Teo Alfero's recent book Transmission, this is his inner circle:

Amy Harris
Jen Ziegner
Nicholette Routhier
Lauren Jane Heller
Stefanie Menack
Wendy Cirello
Erin Kinney
Janet Douglas

I did a second skim through the book. All these women have their own new age businesses also.

Some commonalities include belief that Teo Alfero is a shape shifter. That he knows what each person's "trick" is which apparently is what they do wrong. This can include him claiming that someone always plays martyr or that another purposefully lives in confusion. He told one woman that she does the "morbid bonding that happens through drama".

Alfero does the common cultic technique breaking down of person in order to manipulate.

The women believe they are not actually from earth. They develop delusions: one is a "modern day Kukulkan priestess", another is a "Medicine Woman" blessing corn fields.

Alfero micro manages how the woman talk. He told one woman that she used the word "just" too often and that her power was diminished each time.

He has the women divulge lots of personal information.

The women believe they "energetically signed up to have Teo as my teacher". He breaks them down, has them do practices that space them out such as fast alone in a "dark retreat" for several days. They then are trauma bonded to him further.

"luminous egg"
"shifting my assemblage point"
"show them your transmission"
"safety is an illusion, Sovereignity is the antidote"
"energetic jump"

....... all of this is Castaneda cult speak that Teo Alfero now uses and expands on.

[Sandy S]

Some reviews of Teo Alfero's book The Wolf Connection:

I too am a Carlos Castaneda devotee so I love your take on wolves.

This was an impulse buy. I thought it was a science book, but it's more scientology. There is some science in it, usually from outside sources (actual experts). The author expends a lot of text on out-of-body experiences and praying to trees.

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His "wolves" are actually wolf-dogs and he usually does not make that clear.

Teo Alfero is a manipulative salesman. He's taken two common activities: animal rescue, also canine therapy for humans, and packages them with Castaneda cultic practices and claims of miracles.

He's charms government agencies and scores big contracts.

The ongoing "studies" including A Rich Exploration of the Experiences at Wolf Connection. Claremont Graduate University, 2018, Piper T. Grandjean Targos (I've not found a url for this) read like puff pieces, ads for Teo Alfero's operation.

Animal assisted therapy can be easily found without cultic Castaneda content. Life skills, journaling, time out in nature can be found without cultic Castaneda content.

Youth, incarcerated people, those with PTSD etc. absolutely do not need Castaneda.

If I could speak directly to a funding agency, to researchers doing ongoing supposed studies, I'd tell them that they are charmed by a conman. No matter how much money/time they've spent, they need to cut their losses and walk away.

[fairbanks]

Youth, incarcerated people, those with PTSD etc. absolutely do not need Castaneda.

Considering that Miguel Rivera was/is? on the board of Teo Alfero's group, I'm wondering if there is cross over work with the troubled teens that come through Rivera's Roots and Wings Foundation.