Sunday, November 15th with David Raithby & Jennifer Hilton

Even before COVID-19, people talked about anxiety as a growing challenge for themselves and others in their life. With COVID-19, almost everybody has experienced some level of isolation, uncertainty, overwhelm, and what might be called helplessness, all of which are the hallmarks of anxiety.  

This 5-hour event, ‘Anxiety and Beyond’, hosted by The Haven addresses the current high level of individual and societal anxiety and, more importantly, explores how we can go beyond  anxiety into transformative and life-affirming understandings and actions. 

Explore a truly unique and fulfilling perspective on anxiety, while offering valuable information, vital connection with others, practical and usable “take-home” tools, and a mix of creative, embodied and experiential learning opportunities. 

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Published by kind permission from the Retreat Center Collaboration (RCC).

In a recent RCC Community Call with Jenyng Wu, we explored the work of retreat centers through the lens of JEDI — Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Let’s take a closer look at the collaborative design process and our collective takeaways coming out of the call. If you weren’t able to join us, we invite you to explore the JEDI Wheel and take note of elements you might apply at your retreat center or allied organization. Check it out!

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What is Art of Dying?

The Art of Dying Institute, an initiative of The Open Center, is dedicated to fostering an engaged community of practitioners; researchers & scholars; educators; front-line innovators; partners; and investors to address the need for a cultural awakening around the theme of death and our mortality, how we die and the consequences for how we live. Join the 25th Anniversary Event Oct 31 and Nov 1st 2020.

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Celebrating 25 Years of Exploring the Western Mystery Tradition: October 23-27

For the first time in its 25-year history, The Esoteric Quest — one of the leading global conferences on Western Esotericism — will be held as a digital summit. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the anniversary conference will take place online for The Open Center’s first-ever Virtual Esoteric Quest and you’re welcome to immerse yourself in the journey.

This five-day event will bring together the world’s foremost experts, writers, artists and scholars for an interactive online experience exploring the lost or half-forgotten spiritual history of the West through lectures, musical performances from Iceland to Occitania, breakout sessions and much more. Join us for an immersive, virtual journey through history and across the world, as we go deeply into the wisdom traditions of the West, including: [Read more…]

By Peter Wrinch.

It was August 15th. That was the day that the full reality of the pandemic hit me full force. It was then that I realized that we are in this for the long game – virtual connections, physical distancing, limits to gathering, frequent hand washing, and masks. It seems obvious now with a number of provinces actively talking about being in the second wave, but at the time it was a revelation for me.

If we are in it for the long game, the question becomes: How do we maintain resilience? [Read more…]

During this unprecedented time, there is a critical need for wellbeing support for changemakers who are dealing with the major challenges and pressures of social change work. In response to that need, our friends at The Wellbeing Project have created a space to connect changemakers with wellbeing practitioners: Wellbeing Connect.
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The Agni Yoga International Community celebrates 100 Years of Agni Yoga and looks to the next 100 Years. All those interested in Agni Yoga are Welcome in the event that begins today.

Join nearly 20 international speakers, three fascinating workshops, panel discussions and group sharing all designed to deepen our exploration of our relationship between Humanity and the Cosmos and consider the role and responsibility of humanity as we awaken to our interconnectedness with all Life. The Conference will also provide the opportunity for the international Agni Yoga community to contribute to the larger process of research going on around the world toward the new era and the next 100 years of Agni Yoga. It offers a chance for members of different groups all around the world to interact on the future of Agni Yoga. You can see more details of the 4-day Programme here. [Read more…]

By Jenyng Wu

Dear Friends,

I want to share something with you that I truly believe. The calamities of today hold the roadmap to the possibilities of tomorrow for holistic retreat centers.

This letter to you has been long in coming. Since Transitions – Part I was shared, Breitenbush was engulfed in flames. Yet, by the grace of Gaia and commitment of its community members, Breitenbush did not completely smoulder to ash. It will be rebuilt. The outpouring of support both energetic and economic has been heartwarming and healing for those who called Breitenbush home (both residents and guests). In the calamity of the loss, the roadmap emerging is one of community, rebirth and hope.

Last week’s community call was a welcome homecoming for me as it has been a while since ‘Meeting the Moment’, our virtual gathering in May. It feels like an eternity since we all pivoted from preparing to travel and gather at Esalen to connecting online as the world went into lockdown. And since then, our centers have been in a tailspin of truly meeting every moment. [Read more…]

Our friends at Damanhur joined several of the HCN webinars in the Spring and wrote to say, “The sessions have been very helpful for us as we, like so many, have been asked to adjust our daily activities and offerings entirely.”

Damanhur is a Federation of Spiritual Communities, with its own Constitution, culture, art, music, currency, schools, and uses of science of technology. Nestled in the alpine foothills in the north of Italy, it was founded in 1975 to create a fertile reality based on solidarity, sharing, love and respect for the environment. The people involved are open to expressing and exchanging their knowledge by way of life, events and trainings. They are delighted to extend an invitation to a special event that has been planned over the last few months.

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