Editing Atman Foundation (section)

== History ==
Heide Garthe was born in [[Berlin]], Germany in 1941. Following her graduation from high school, she trained as a psychologist, receiving her doctorate at age 26.{{sfn|Schmid|Eggenberger|2003|p=269}} She married Bernd Fittkau, a psychology professor.{{sfn|Schmid|Eggenberger|2003|p=269}} She joined the [[Brahma Kumaris]], a Hindu-based spiritual movement, in 1980, and would later become a high-ranking official of the group in Germany; after which she would divorce Fittkau.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=54}}{{sfn|Schmid|Eggenberger|2003|p=269}} On 15 August 1994, she sold all her assets and moved to the island of [[Tenerife]] in the [[Canary Islands]]. She founded the Atman Foundation ({{Langx|de|Trainingszentrum zur Freisetzung der Atmaenergie}}),{{sfn|Schmid|Eggenberger|2003|pp=269–271}} active mainly on Tenerife and in [[Germany]].{{sfn|Richardson|Introvigne|2004|p=157}} The group was a schism from the Brahma Kumaris.{{sfn|Palmer|2011|p=54}}

According to Angela Gabriela, a former member of the sect, the highlight of the ritual was the ''"''love ring." This practice consisted of huge orgies, even between members of the same family.<ref name="Herrero2009">{{Cite news |last=Herrero |first=A. |date=2009-11-12 |title=Heide Fittkau y el "anillo del amor" |trans-title=Heide Fittkau and the "ring of love" |url=http://www.laopinion.es/afondo/2009/11/12/heide-fittkau-anillo-amor/254082.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613143130/http://www.laopinion.es/afondo/2009/11/12/heide-fittkau-anillo-amor/254082.html |archive-date=2011-06-13 |access-date=2013-10-31 |work=[[La Opinión de Tenerife]] |language=es-IC}}</ref>