Holistic Centers Network

Programming – What is your canvas?

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Our recent webinar focused on programming this month and was hosted by Carol Donahoe, Director of Rhinebeck Programs, Omega Institute, and Leslie Hoffman, Director of Programs & Marketing, New York Open Center.

Peers from Hollyhock, BC, Le Monastere des Augustines, Quebec, Breitenbush Hot Springs, Oregon, Kashi Ashram, Florida, Institute of Noetic Sciences, California and Findhorn Foundation, Scotland joined the conversation. It became clear that the mission of each center informs our programming and we all have a unique niche in the world. Exploring the topics and themes that each organization values and is interested in offering helps create a framework that shapes the direction. [Read more…]

What is relevant programming to be offering?

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Feedback is vital and it’s important that we respond to the data collected. In the center I’m most connected to, the Findhorn Foundation, we have paper feedback forms for participants to complete at the end of their program.

Questions

  1. I’m curious which centers still use paper forms?
  2. If so do you share them with participants at the end of the program and give time for them to complete within the closing circle as we do in the FF?
  3. Or do you leave them on the bed for them to complete in their own time?
  4. If yes to Q3, do you share the forms the night before or earlier?
  5. If you use online forms what is your response rate and how soon after the program ends do you email guests?
  6. How do you respond to feedback – are you a dynamic center responsive to change?

[Read more…]

New Generation Leadership Program

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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…]

Centers Gathering Webinars

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In recent Gatherings we’ve discussed the idea of hosting webinars to go deeper into some of the topics that are so relevant for us as holistic centers and to share our experience, insights and challenges in a supportive and collaborative way.

Traditionally only one or two representatives from the different centers attend each gathering and the webinars are a great opportunity to include our fellow co-workers in the mutual learning and bonding experience.

Following on from the 2016 Gathering hosted by Le Monastere des Augustines in Quebec City, we’re delighted to share details of the webinars scheduled so far.

We agreed that initially participants of the 2016 gathering would be invited to join and each representative would co-ordinate details with their center. Hawaii Island Retreat will be hosting the first webinar as they step into the role of hosting the 2017 Gathering.

Time, further details and a link to join via Zoom video conferencing will be announced for each webinar, with an invitation sent to each Centers’ contact person.

As this pilot series develops, our intention is to then open up the webinars to wider participation, initially to participants of previous gatherings and then potentially beyond.

[Read more…]

SPLASH at Findhorn – A new holistic initiative

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BACKGROUND NOTES TO SPLASH –
SPIRIT LED APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE HOLISM:
A MONTH-LONG HOLISTIC PEER GROUP PROGRAMME

Holistic living involves the whole self and therefore includes the following parts of the person:

Physical

Emotional

Mental

Spiritual and

Relationships between people and groups (Social)

If there is a hierarchy in holistic learning, the process should be led by the higher self or the spiritual self. A helpful analogy is that the whole person can be likened to a carriage and driver pulled by a horse. The owner is inside the carriage, the driver is high at the front with the reins of the horse in his hands. The owner represents the higher self (spirit); the carriage (body); the driver (mind) and the horse (emotions). The direction should be set by the owner, (the spirit) and not by the driver (the mind). Each part then has a clear function in making the carriage move to its destination.

So the idea is to gather a group of people together and do a month-long journey together, making goals and logging results. As individuals this enables us to look at our current ways of living holistically and expand on them or identify areas where we are weaker and need to improve. We can especially look and share at the ways we already let our spiritual or higher self lead out lives. I use meditation as a spiritual practice and can only work as a creative person if I listen to my higher self and wait for ideas to emerge. Creative work is a spiritual practice for me. Other people may use Taize or devotional singing or walks in nature or gardening. There are many, many ways to access the spirit.

[Read more…]

Findhorn, Kitezh and Ecologia Youth Trust

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The Findhorn Foundation, are excited to welcome the founder of Kitezh Children’s Community, Dmitry Morozov and two key members of the Russian foster family community to visit us here in Scotland in May.

There is a strong connection between the Findhorn Community and Kitezh through Ecologia Youth Trust. Liza Hollingshead, founder of Ecologia, which is based in the Findhorn community, shares the story…

[Read more…]

Transforming Lives in Kenya

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A wonderful Kenyan woman, Karambu Ringera, visited the community of the Findhorn Foundation to join The Way of Council workshop last year. We’re delighted to welcome Karambu back to participate in the Holistic Centres Gathering.

Karambu says, “I want to learn as much as I can because I want to create a centre similar to Findhorn in Meru, Kenya. I want to be able to do things that bring peace and wellbeing into people’s lives. I have lots to learn, but my heart resonates with such spaces.”

[Read more…]

Exploring Holistic Education – Supervision

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COMPONENTS OF HOLISTIC LEARNING

By Dave Till and Christine Lines

This is the fourteenth article in our series on Holistic Learning, to read the introduction and view the other components to follow please click here.

14. Supervision

The culture of supervision has grown in the community of the Findhorn Foundation over recent years. Each working team or service department has regular sessions, (approx. every 6 – 8 weeks unless required more frequently), with a trained supervisor from the Spiritual and Personal Development team who will help them with any ‘illusions, confusions and collusions’ that might exist within the group.

Having a supervisor (in a similar way to having supervision when you are training as a therapist), is an important aspect of holistic practice that can prevent facilitators from building their own unseen patterns into holistic learning.

Supervision can be scheduled even when there are no particular issues at hand and is a valuable opportunity for team building. I’ve heard people say, “I never look forward to supervision but then afterwards look back and think actually that was really helpful and I quite enjoyed it.” [Read more…]

Exploring Holistic Education – Mental Learning

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COMPONENTS OF HOLISTIC LEARNING

By Dave Till and Christine Lines

This is the thirteenth article in our series on Holistic Learning, to read the introduction and view the other components to follow please click here.

13. Mental Learning

There have been many breakthroughs in recent years regarding the mental task of learning information. Conventional education is quite focused on mental learning however there are new ways of using the mind to utilise more of its full capacity.

The whole field of study around Accelerated Learning (AL) suggests that we each have a preferred learning style — a way of learning that suits us best. If you know and use the techniques that match your preferred way of learning, you learn more naturally. Because it is more natural for you, it becomes easier. There are a number of AL techniques e.g. teaching someone else what you are learning, practicing the accelerated learning system in short bursts of 30 minutes of study, and taking frequent rests. And there are many more ways of practicing AL. [Read more…]

Self Awareness and Conflict Resolution

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When I attended the 2011 Holistic Centers Gathering on behalf of the Findhorn Foundation, one of the questions people in other communities asked me most often was, “How does Findhorn deal with conflict?”

Life here in a spiritual community, just as anywhere, is full of joys and challenges and it sometimes feels intense, sharing in such closeness with others, especially when conflict arises. As a person whose defense is more likely to withdraw than confront, dealing with conflict is a real growing edge! Living and working closely together in community there are times when I’m faced with the question can I keep my heart open, even in difficult circumstances?

I recognise how sensitive I am when communication is less than clear and harmonious and find such conversations painful. I’ve been exploring the idea lately that perhaps people in community hope to create the family around them that they never had growing up? For me this is deep, authentic communication where feelings match what is being expressed and there is less confusion and anxiety about what’s really going on around and within me… [Read more…]

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

Ralph White

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