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The Centers’ Gathering began very informally in the mid 80’s with a weekend get together of some of America’s major centers at the Tarrytown Conference Center an hour north of New York City. Participants included program and executive directors from the New York Open Center, Esalen Institute and Omega Institute. A clear sense quickly emerged that there was genuine value in the Centers meeting in a relaxed and friendly spirit of collaboration.

Participants came together to exchange insights, information, best practices and, equally importantly, a feeling of mutual support and friendship as Centers emerged increasingly as focal points for the new holistic, spiritual and ecological worldview. In the late 80’s the Gathering took place once or twice a year on both East and West Coasts with each Center taking turns to act as host. A lot of learning took place simply by seeing how each Center functioned in its own unique manner.

A Global Phenoneom

Each Gathering found its own unique balance of sharing information and experience on the one hand and forging friendship and spiritual connection on the other. There was a sense that each Center was part of an emerging ecology of consciousness, a piece of a greater picture in which impulses of renewal and transformation were entering both individual lives and the society and culture at large.

It was also clear that this holistic impulse was certainly not confined to North America and was, in fact, a universal phenomenon. In recognition of this fact, the Gathering was held in Europe for the first time in May 1990 at the Association Les Courmettes in the hills of Provence above Nice, France. It returned to Europe in May 2012 as part of the Findhorn Foundation’s 50th birthday celebrations in Scotland. With representatives from five continents – Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and Australia – it was the most global Gathering so far.

A Peek behind the Scenes

The movement reached a pivotal point in April 2013 when Esalen Institute, which also began in 1962, hosted the Gathering for the first time. The five day event was followed by a weekend workshop ‘A peek behind the scenes – discussions on starting, running and growing a retreat center’. Six people (from Esalen, New York Open Center, Findhorn Foundation, Breitenbush Hot Springs and The Haven) co-facilitated the workshop for twelve participants and it was an inspiring exchange of experience and ideas.

In 2014 The Haven on Gabriola Island, BC, Canada hosted the Gathering, followed by the Peek behind the scenes workshop. Unbeknown to us at the time, this gathering would open the gateway to Asia. It is our vision that the Gathering will return to Europe more often, that regional Gatherings will develop around the world, and more workshops and events will evolve to support emerging centers. In 2016 we introduced the monthly webinars to create more engagement and connection in between the annual gatherings. These are building in participation and we’re now developing online courses.

Our first Gathering in Asia

2015 was a unique year with two Gatherings held, one in Europe once again and one in Asia for the first time. In May participants gathered on the Mount Pelion Peninsula in Greece, hosted by a partnership of Kalikalos, the Pelion Network, and Alchemy Associates. In October the Beijing Gathering was followed by a three day conference for the general public and travel and tourism industry to attend. The events in China were hosted by the Haiwen Community, the sister center of the previous year’s host – The Haven in Canada – in collaboration with the House of I.

In the following years the Gathering has returned to Canada and the US. In October 2018 HCN co-hosted the first International Holistic Wellness Forum in Beijing with Bene Wellness with over 700 participants from around China. As interest grows, we’re planning more regional gatherings and events around the world.

To view the timeline of the Gathering please click here

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The 2020 Gathering…

The international Centers Gathering will be hosted by Esalen, the birthplace of the human potential movement, 3 - 8 May 2020.

Since 1962 Esalen has proven the possibilities of reconciling mind and body; science and mysticism; East and West; meditation and action; youthful idealism and time-tested wisdom.

Perched on 27 acres of Big Sur coastline where the mountains meet the sea, enjoy the magical beauty, discover new reserves of courage, new tools for growth, and a new sense of adventure.

Network of Light Meditation

Our global meditation to strengthen the network is every Thursday 2pm GMT.

We invite you to join Insight Timer and actively contribute to more stillness in the world.

When you join Insight Timer you become part of a world-wide community of more than 950,000 meditators in 130 countries.

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In the Spirit of Collaboration

Enjoy this rare opportunity as a director, manager or co-worker of a Holistic Center to connect with your peers from around the world.

Each one of us brings our Centers’ experiences, perspectives and challenges, understanding that we all have something to share and learn from each other.

We tend to have fun and leave more inspired, aware and energized about how we can successfully achieve our missions!

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I feel so touched by the personal connections and conversations, of people wanting to know more. The power of this group is emanating out. What an influence we can have on our global society. Here at the Gathering we are a microcosm of our home centers.

Jim Curley
Greenshire Arts Consortium

There is a planetary transformation of consciousness and these centers give people hope.

Ralph White

Centers Gathering

Join the International Gathering in May and enjoy this unique opportunity to connect with your peers involved in other centers worldwide. Share your experience, enjoy reciprocal learning, have fun and return more inspired about how to successfully achieve your mission!

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