New Fall 2011 Program

COLLECTIVE WISDOM LEARNING CIRCLES
facilitated by Michael Tacon and Janet Pivnick based on the book THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE WISDOM*


VICTORIA: 5 TUESDAY EVENINGS: 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm October 4, 11, 18, 25 and November 1, 2011
SOOKE: 5 TUESDAY EVENINGS: 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm November 8, 15,22, 29 and December 6, 2011

This is an extraordinary opportunity to be a part of a group of people committed to exploring how, by following a very specific set of agreements and procedures, we can experience the emergence of wisdom amongst us. The group will work with the book THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE WISDOM* which brings together extensive research about enlightened group process as a way of addressing the pressing need for finding better ways for groups of people to work together in the common interest.

PLEASE NOTE: We believe, to get the most out of these sessions, it is best for people to commit to the whole series. The group is limited to 10 participants. Participants are encouraged to get their own copy of the book – however, handouts will be provided.

WHERE: In Victoria at - the upper lounge at the BCGEU Building, 2994, Douglas Street.
In Sooke at - Unit 69 – 5838 Blythwood Road (Lannon Creek Park).

COST: $60 for the 5 sessions (or $15 per evening). Payment by cheque or cash can be made on the first evening of the group. Cheques to be made out to "Centre for Earth and Spirit".

* THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE WISDOM - by Alan Briskin, Sheryl Erickson, John Ott, and Tom Callanan (Berrett Koehler Publishers Inc., San Francisco, CA. 2009).

REGISTRATION is required for this group because of the limited space. Please call Chris Bullock at 250-384-8236 or e-mail earthspiritcentre@gmail.com or chrisbullock@shaw.ca


BIOGRAPHIES:
Michael Tacon is a retired psychotherapist who has been active in offering programs under the auspices of the Well Foundation in Victoria since 1999 and more recently with the Centre for Earth and Spirit. He has worked extensively with a wide variety of groups since the 1960’s.

Michael is excited about exploring the potential for generating collective wisdom as a resource for tackling some of the daunting issues facing our society at this time. For example, he is wondering if a collective wisdom group could act as an advisory resource for the recently formed Sooke Transition Town Society and other similar groups looking to facilitate meaningful change in our communities.

Janet Pivnick has worked and studied in the environmental field for the past 30 years. She has been involved with environmental organizations across Canada and the United States and was the Director of an environmental education consulting company, Earth Wise, in Calgary for 15 years. Janet is particularly interested in supporting people through the process of social change, helping people to connect with their core being - the ecological self, developing models for ecological ways of being within existing systems and exploring the assumptions that underlie worldviews – western and alternative visions.

Janet currently works as a Program Coordinator with the Division of Continuing Studies at the University of Victoria, where she is responsible for environmental and sustainability programs.

Inspired Community Co-operatives

... and THE COMING GLOBAL MELTDOWN

AN EVENING PRESENTATION with Don Brown – May 16th, 2011

Don is an organization consultant who has worked in Canada, the United States, Jamaica and Israel.

The coming economic, environmental and social global meltdown presents a unique, historic opportunity for us to come together in communities and regions to enable our global society to survive and prosper during the turbulent times ahead.

This evening’s presentation will address the global meltdown, its root cause and the challenges and opportunities we have as individuals and collectively through inspired community co-operatives to survive and prosper during this time.

The presentation is part of the Well Foundation’s Resilience series.

WHEN: Monday, May 16th, 2011

TIME: The evening starts at 7-30 p.m. and runs until 9-30 p.m. Suggested donation $10

WHERE: B.C.G.E.U. (John Shields) Building at 2994, Douglas Street in Victoria (next to Speedy Auto up from Finlayson)

COST: Suggested donation of $10

TO REGISTER: Please call 250-384-8236 or e-mail chrisbullock@shaw.ca

Oneness Wednesdays - Final Session This Week

Wednesday, 27th April ...

with Chris Bullock and Michael Tacon featured on the "ONENESS WEDNESDAYS in APRIL" sponsored by the Church of Truth and the Well Foundation.

Final Session - Session 4:
27th April - Resilience: Integration and Moving Forward

What does a resilient way of living look like as we chart a course ahead that includes a healthy mix of inner coherence, relational efficacy and spiritual attunement?

Through some guided meditation and dialogue, we will imagine together what our resilient way forward can look like. In this way, we can identify what we need to do to prepare ourselves for the Great Turning.

---

Bio - Michael Tacon:
Michael is strongly committed to finding ways to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world in a positive and constructive way through his work as the Program Director for the Well Foundation, the Treasurer of the Centre for Earth and Spirit, his role in the Sooke Transition Initiative, and his work as a facilitator with the Pachamama Alliance. He sees the issues of resilience and sustainability as being key factors in the renewal of our civilization.

Bio - Chris Bullock:
Chris is particularly interested in the psychological, emotional and spiritual dimensions of resilience and sustainability, and tries to develop this focus in his work as Secretary-Treasurer of the Well Foundation, coordinator of the Heart and Soul working group in Transition Victoria, student of Non-Violent Communication, and facilitator in the Pachamama Alliance/Awakening the Dreamer program, which he would like to learn to bring to children.

When: Wednesday, 27th April.

Time: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Location: Church of Truth, Community of Conscious Living, 111 Superior Street, Victoria.

Cost: Free or by donation.

More Information: Contact Linda Chan at (250) 380-6383 or go to http://cotvictoria.ca

Related Events

From time to time other organizations put on various events, courses and seminars.

While the Well Foundation is not necessarily directly connected with these organizations, we share some of their intentions and activities and we include some more information on our "Related Events" page.

Photos from the Sooke Symposium

“Awakening the Dreamer/Changing the Dream"
“The Pachamama vision is that North America and the West generally need to awake from a false dream based on growth, individuality and endless consumption, and instead help create a world that has environmental sustainability, social justice, and spiritual fulfillment as key values.”

Here are a few photographs taken at the "Awakening The Dreamer / Changing The Dream" symposium in Sooke in February.

Please join us at our NEXT SYMPOSIUM on Salt Spring Island in April 2011.

Aspects of Resilience - Session 1

Wednesday, 6th April ...

with Chris Bullock and Michael Tacon featured on the "ONENESS WEDNESDAYS in APRIL" sponsored by the Church of Truth and the Well Foundation.

Each session will involve dyads and group sharing, meditation and other exercises in a circle format. It will be in an atmosphere of mutually supportive exploration.

Session 1:
6th April - Personal (Psychological) Resilience: An Exploration: What is it and what creates it?

Resilience is our ability to recover from setbacks, both major and minor, to embrace change and to soften, rather than fight. This first week, we will explore how resilience plays out in our lives, especially in these times of profound change.

Through writing exercises and group sharing, we will identify our own style and level of personal resilience, and examine the childhood experiences and personal and cultural stories that have both inhibited and aided our personal resilience.

Finally, we will explore together possibilities of transforming ourselves to meet the challenges of the future.

Session 2:
13th April - Relational Resilience: From Conflict to Connection

How we relate with ourselves, with each other, and with the world at large — greatly influences our ability to handle major difficulties in a resilient way.

In Session 2 we will identify obstacles to collaborative relationship and communication styles which do not serve our deepest relational needs.

We will then look at how different communication models (such as non-violent communication) can dramatically improve our relationships and end this session by looking at how all the areas of relational resilience come together as a powerful antidote to the negative effects of profound societal change.

Session 3:
20th April - Spiritual Resilience: Living "Inter-Being"

Our belief systems and our relationship with the Sacred have a strong connection with our ability to cope with dramatic events that profoundly change our lives. How we make sense of what happens to us directly affects our ability to respond effectively.

If we over-identify with our individuality — our separateness – we cut off any possibility of adequate connection to the whole, the bigger picture, and the sense of significance and meaning that can flow from that perspective.

How do we overcome the illusion of separateness?

We will use some periods of meditation and shared reflections to explore this question and for each of us to discern what works best for us as ways of anchoring us to the realm of the Sacred, in whatever way we understand that term.

Session 4:
27th April - Resilience: Integration and Moving Forward

What does a resilient way of living look like as we chart a course ahead that includes a healthy mix of inner coherence, relational efficacy and spiritual attunement?

Through some guided meditation and dialogue, we will imagine together what our resilient way forward can look like. In this way, we can identify what we need to do to prepare ourselves for the Great Turning.

---

Bio - Michael Tacon:
Michael is strongly committed to finding ways to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world in a positive and constructive way through his work as the Program Director for the Well Foundation, the Treasurer of the Centre for Earth and Spirit, his role in the Sooke Transition Initiative, and his work as a facilitator with the Pachamama Alliance. He sees the issues of resilience and sustainability as being key factors in the renewal of our civilization.

Bio - Chris Bullock:
Chris is particularly interested in the psychological, emotional and spiritual dimensions of resilience and sustainability, and tries to develop this focus in his work as Secretary-Treasurer of the Well Foundation, coordinator of the Heart and Soul working group in Transition Victoria, student of Non-Violent Communication, and facilitator in the Pachamama Alliance/Awakening the Dreamer program, which he would like to learn to bring to children.

Everyone is Welcome!
Drop in to "Oneness Wednesdays" (Attend one or more sessions)

Future Sessions: Wednesdays, 20th and 27th April.

Time: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Location: Church of Truth, Community of Conscious Living, 111 Superior Street, Victoria.

Cost: Free or by donation.

More Information: Contact Linda Chan at (250) 380-6383 or go to http://cotvictoria.ca

Inspired Community Co-operatives

... And The Coming Global Meltdown
Coming Soon ... on 16th May

The coming economic, environmental and social global meltdown presents a unique, historic opportunity for us to come together in communities and regions to enable our global society to survive and prosper during the turbulent times ahead.

This evening's presentation will address the global meltdown, its root cause and the challenges and opportunities we have as individuals and collectively through inspired community co-operatives to survive and prosper during this time.

The presenter, Don Brown, is an Organization Consultant who is currently focusing on sustainable community-based co-operative development. This presentation is the result of a recent research fellowship at the University of Victoria and Don?s experience working locally and internationally.

Through his unique, principle-centered, holistic approach, Don assists organizations develop meaningful strategies, values, structures, business plans, and work processes that foster shared commitment to the betterment of the world through providing worthwhile products and services in a co-operative, unifying work environment.

Don has over 25 years experience in organization systems and has worked in Canada, the US, Jamaica and Israel. He has a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and an MBA.

WHEN: Monday, 16th May 7:00pm - 9:00pm.

WHERE: BCGEU Building, 2994 Douglas Street next to Speedy Auto just south of Findlayson. (Parking is available in the open parking lot near Lifestyles Market.)

All are welcome. Donations accepted at the door.