Jewish-German Compassionate Listening

Helen Whitney is a an award-winning documentary filmmaker, widely respected for the integrity of her work over the past 30 years. Her new four-hour PBS series on forgiveness and reconciliation, scheduled for North American broadcast this fall, will cover a wide range of stories, from adultery and personal betrayal, to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and global reconciliation after genocide.

We are honored to report that the film will include excerpts from Embracing Story, a documentary on the Jewish-German Compassionate Listening Project, by Eve Rennebarth and Gabriele Seils.

Embracing Story follows 24 courageous Germans and Jews who came together for ten days of Compassionate Listening and healing at our 2003 program in Germany. The film is available in Video and DVD formats from our store.

We will let you know the broadcast dates for the Forgiveness series as soon as we hear.

The Compassionate Listening Project Presents:

Systemic Family Constellations:
Uncover the Hidden Solution to Life’s Most Difficult Problems
with Dr. Dan Booth Cohen

March 26-28, 2010
Seabeck Retreat Center, Washington

Join Dr. Dan Booth Cohen of Boston, MA, for this weekend immersion into the heart of Family Constellations, a process developed by renowned European therapist Bert Hellinger. Immensely popular in Europe for the past twenty years, the Family Constellation process is rapidly gaining international attention.

In this retreat, individuals may present issues – ranging from illness, depression, financial or relationship issues, or any lifelong negative pattern – to explore within the Constellation framework. The premise is that all human beings have the capacity to understand and respond effectively to problems, and when that doesn’t happen, the force of the larger family system is likely to be overwhelming the individual’s will. Once seen and felt, the system yields to being reshaped. In ninety percent of the cases, participants report that their presenting issue becomes much lighter or is fully resolved.

This experiential workshop promises to change your perception of yourself, your parents, your life, and the world in which we all live. The extended format will allow time for many Constellations. Collectively, we will embark on a deep exploration of commonly shared burdens, such as addiction, the alienation of adoption, the legacy of trauma, loneliness, sibling estrangements, marital collapse, the mother-daughter volcano, the absent or abusive father, at-risk children, etc. All of these circumstances, no matter how deeply embedded or seemingly hopeless, can be transformed for the better in the sacred space of a Constellation. A problem is presented; the heart of darkness is felt and perceived; we reach the place where love abides and the sweetness of life endures. Tears flow, and peace is restored. Dan will also teach the participants about the theory of the process, its roots in Western philosophy and traditional healing practices, and the hidden architecture of love and relationships.

Dr. Dan Booth Cohen is an internationally known expert in the field of violence prevention and conflict resolution. For 30 years, his work has taken him from the epicenters of global conflicts, to institutions of social dysfunction, to intimate spaces of loneliness, heartache, and estrangement. In all of these places – Israel and Palestine, German Holocaust sites, US prisons, and inside the lives of ordinary people with everyday struggles – he helps people find their own way to profound and lasting healing. For the past 10 years, he has devoted his practice to what he calls, “the missing tool,” the Systemic Family Constellation process. Dr. Cohen works with an open heart, a clear intention, and a warm sense of humor. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and book chapters on Constellations. His recent book is I Carry Your Heart in My Heart: Family Constellations in Prison.

Cost:
Tuition for the training is offered on a sliding scale basis of $250 – $350. (Register with your $150 deposit, and pay the remainder of the sliding scale balance at the end of the workshop, according to your ability to pay and your perceived value of the weekend – no questions asked.)

Additional options:
Meal plan for commuters, with two lunches and two dinners: $50, or
Meal plan (six meals) plus two nights lodging at Seabeck: $110

Click here to visit Dan’s website.
To register for this workshop, click here.

Prayer: An Answer to the 21st Century

‘Compassionate Listening as an Instrument of Peace in Transforming Conflict’

This workshop is a part of the Fellowship of Prayer 60th Anniversary Conference.

Facilitator: Amy Rakusin and Phil Fratesi
When: June 24 – 27, 2010
Where: Princeton University Campus, Princeton, NJ
Cost: TBA

To see the full list of speakers and events for this exciting event, see the conference website.

• Open Letter from Leah Green
• Compassionate Listening Footage in New PBS Film on Forgiveness!
• Compassionate Listening Embraces Africa: Global Citizen Journey
• The Transpartisan Alliance: Compassionate Listening Helping to Bridge the Divide
• Compassionate Listening Embraces College Communities
• Seattle Listens Project: Compassionate Listening Embraces the China-Tibet Conflict
• Compassionate Listening Embraces Abuse Victims in the Catholic Church
• Restorative Justice for Healing: Compassionate Listening Embraces the Disenfranchised
• Letter from Jerusalem by Yael Petretti
• Julia’s Story
• Compassionate Listening Embraces Leaders in the Delaware Valley
• Peace It Together, Vancouver, British Columbia
• Student Interfaith Peace Project, Denver, CO
• The Red Dress
• PEACE poem

Join this interactive, rich and fun Couples Workshop designed for those considering a commitment and for those hoping to strengthen one. In this workshop, we will offer Compassionate Listening practices that promote speaking and listening from the heart while attuning to yourself and the other. In a safe and supportive environment of purposeful exploration, you will experience the replenishing of connection, curiosity, and trust. You will learn powerful tools that you use immediately to intensify intimacy and mediate struggles. You will discover ways to nurture the pleasure and joy of being together!

Facilitators: Amy Rakusin and Phil Fratesi
Where: TBD in Baltimore, MD
When: Saturday, March 13, 2010 from 10am – 5pm

Click here to see the flier.

For more information, please call Amy at 410-472-9957.

Compassionate Listening: Healing Our World From the Inside Out
Two-Day Training

Facilitators: Andrea Cohen & Susan Partnow
When: Saturday, September 25, 2010 – Sunday, September 26, 2010
Where: 2100 Building, 2100 24th Ave South, Seattle
Cost: $150-$300 sliding scale, according to need.

Registration: Secure online registration for this training. Scholarships are available for this workshop for those in need. Please contact us directly to inquire.

For more information, contact Andrea or call 206.523.6018.

Compassionate Listening: Healing Our World From the Inside Out
Basic Introduction

Facilitators: Andrea Cohen & Susan Partnow
When: Sunday, June 13, 2010
Where: 2100 Building, 2100 24th Ave South, Seattle
Cost: $75-$175 sliding scale, according to need.

Registration: Secure online registration for this training. Scholarships are available for this workshop for those in need. Please contact us directly to inquire.

For more information, contact Andrea or call 206.523.6018.

For more information, contact Julia by calling 303-949-9275.