Each year representatives from established centers around the world gather in the spirit of collaboration, and one place has been reserved in the May 2017 Gathering for a new participant to join us. [Read more…]
Insights from Diversity Webinar
Our monthly webinar in March focused on the theme of diversity and participants contributed from The Haven in BC, Canada, Breitenbush Hot Springs in Oregon, Abrevista in Florida, Omega in New York and the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland.
In advance of the call, we were invited to reflect on the following questions and this formed the framework for our discussion.
Frederic Laloux connecting with Centers Gathering
Frederic Laloux, the author of Reinventing Organisations, will be joining us via Skype during the Centers Gathering in May. The session called ‘Vision and Values – Integral Leadership’ will be a talk followed by Q&A. To prepare as a circle in advance, I reached out to Gathering Participants for their reflections on this opportunity, curious as to who else is familiar with, interested in or has experience of his work.
On the flight back from the Gathering in Quebec last year I had the insight that our circle reflects many of the more evolved qualities that Laloux describes in his book and I’m intrigued about how we can explore this more within our respective centers. Co-workers within the Findhorn Foundation, Esalen and Le Monastère des Augustines have all been exploring this approach in the last year and I feel it’s relevant to us both as individuals and as organisations – deepening our understanding of how consciousness evolves.
[Read more…]
What is a Transformational Learning Center?
In the far north of Scotland, next to the tiny fishing village of Findhorn, lies the Findhorn Foundation. A spiritual community, ecovilllage and center of holistic learning established over 50 years ago and known throughout the world simply as ‘Findhorn’.
Numerous books have been written about this pioneering community, including The Findhorn Garden and The Magic of Findhorn, along with the autobiographies of the three founders; Flight into Freedom and Beyond, In Perfect Timing and Memoirs of an Ordinary Mystic.
Co-workers in the Findhorn Foundation speak of ‘the transformational field’ and I wonder what this means to the lay person? [Read more…]
New Generation Leadership Program
A few years ago I was struck by the poise and eloquence of an inspiring woman I met from Meru in Kenya, called Karambu Ringera. She was attending a workshop at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland and later joined the Centers Gathering hosted there in May 2012.
Karambu is the founder of International Peace Initiatives (IPI), a Kenya and U.S. based organization that provides Homes for orphans and vulnerable children, supports African grassroots organizations and community leaders, and provides trainings in peace education and conflict resolution. The IPI tools are education, enterprise and empowerment and we have long shared the vision of a Centers Gathering in Africa one day, bringing together many of the centers and people involved in transformational initiatives there.
[Read more…]
Mutual Learning and Support within the Network
A few months ago I received an email from Cameron Wenaus, co-founder of Retreat Guru, who bring together retreats, teachers and practitioners, as well as develop retreat management software. Cameron attended the 2016 Gathering at Le Monastère des Augustines and there are natural overlaps and interconnections between our networks.
He wrote to make an introduction, saying, “Heather Scott is the Executive Director of Dorje Denma Ling, a retreat center in Nova Scotia connected to the Shambhala Lineage. I have been to DDL many times for retreats; it is a humble and powerful location.
I was talking to Heather about the challenges they are facing recently and she expressed a yearning in networking with other retreat centers during this next phase of growth and change. I thought that the Centers Gathering might be a good resource.” [Read more…]
Exploring a Map of Consciousness
This article continues on from my earlier post Evolving Centers of Consciousness.
Several years ago members of the Findhorn Foundation (FF) became interested in a well-researched model of the growth patterns of human consciousness known as Spiral Dynamics. In the last 12-18 months this has emerged again more strongly in our co-worker body as we move through a lengthy change process within the organisation.
In brief, the pioneering work of Professor Clare Graves from the early 1970’s was developed by his students Don Beck and Christopher Cowen and integrated further by Ken Wilber, showing how psychological models can be used together to provide more accurate focus to human development.
Spiral Dynamics Integral (SDi) offers a neutral exploration and explanation of the states and stages of consciousness. This can be applied to our evolution as individuals in our personal journey of growing up and waking up, and also to our centers as we aim to evolve organisationally in leadership style, inclusivity, dynamism and a more holistic worldview.
Esalen reaching out to the Centers Network
A week ago our dear friend Cheryl Fraenzl, Program Director at Esalen, Big Sur, California shared news and photos via her facebook page.
“Esalen is experiencing an unprecedented situation. We are land locked for an unknown length of time. Routes north, south and over the mountains are all closed and compromised due to the substantial rains and land slides. The bridge north is sliding, which is our only way out in that direction. We are closed for an unknown amount of time. Please keep us in your thoughts. This could be tremendously impactful.”
We have been following the situation ever since and sadly it’s getting worse. Due to continued poor weather and deteriorating road conditions, including structural damage to Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge north of Esalen, Big Sur Highway 1 has been closed indefinitely. [Read more…]
Evolving Centers of Consciousness
Each January the Findhorn Foundation holds an internal conference for co-workers, the one week where we close to participants in programs. A time to come together, vision into the future, engage in group bonding and a deep exploration of who we are as individuals and as a center dedicated to transforming consciousness in everyday life.
During the conference twelve months ago I was fascinated by one co-worker speaking about Spiral Dynamics, a theory I knew only by name not by experience. I’m not even sure if he described it that way but I was intrigued by the way he spoke about ‘the shadow of green’ and the importance of ‘integrating the previous stages of human development’. I was even more intrigued by the way he was shut down by others in the group when he stood up to speak. I wanted to know more and find out what this was all about. After six years as a full time co-worker dedicated to exploring human potential, I intuitively sensed something of interest… [Read more…]
Announcing the 2017 Gathering in Hawaii
We are delighted the next Holistic Centers Gathering will be hosted by Hawaii Island Retreat along Hawaii Island’s North Kohala coast, 7 – 12 May 2017.
Connect with your peers
This is a unique opportunity to connect with your peers from other centers and share wisdom and experience in an open and creative way.
We invite you to join us for this valuable experience of learning and support, the practical exchange of ideas, insights and information, and bonding through shared values and intentions.
Each year the Gathering is hosted by a different centre, in 2016 we enjoyed the UNESCO World Heritage treasure and elegance of Old Québec City. In 2017 we’ll be immersed in the myth and magic of the Hawaiian culture. Step away from the demands of running your holistic centre, enjoy professional learning combined with natural wellbeing, living in harmony and balance with nature.
Hawaii Island Retreat is becoming a leader in sustainable travel and green living. From building construction to garden design, the 50-acre retreat models ways in which we can live both in luxury and in balance with the earth. Experience the range of green living features and trend setting eco spa practices as we sit in a sacred circle and explore what it means to serve the emerging holistic world view.
[Read more…]