The Edge and the Ecstasy of Intimate Relationships with Jocelyn Kennedy
23 – 25 June 2017
NOW FULLY BOOKED
$210 accommodation and food
plus dana/koha for the teacher
About this Workshop
There is a popular myth around intimate relationships that ‘love is enough’ to live happily ever after. However, most people’s track record in ‘love’ proves that this simply isn’t true. So often the high hopes and good will at the start of a relationship deteriorate into mediocrity, power struggles, resentment, jealousy, disappointment, feelings of entrapment and a sense of losing oneself. Whatever happened to wanting the best for each other, joyfully sharing our lives, growing and expanding together?
Many of us, by middle age, have had at least several ‘failed’ relationships, and may be wondering if there is something wrong with us, or if happiness with another human is possible.
The good news is – it’s not your fault!
Even better – you can live happily!
Most of us haven’t been taught that it’s HOW we are thinking about ourselves and others that is causing our unhappiness. We are largely unaware of the conditioned ‘how’ that is running on autopilot inside us. We don’t see how much of our happiness we are putting outside of ourselves.
This course offers an understanding of the troublesome thinking we have been programmed with, and offers practical tools to help transform our perspective into one which will encourage our natural happy state.
What you can expect to gain:
- Deeper connection to your own natural happy, compassionate state
- Restoration of your sense of humour and the ability to take yourself and others a whole lot more lightly!
- The joy of generosity of truly wanting and upholding the best for your lover
- The wonder of seeing yourself and others as the free beings we are, rather than as ‘opportunities’ for (or obstacles to!) each other’s happiness
- True friendship with your lover, and enjoyment of seeing each other happy and flourishing
- Greater confidence in knowing and expressing yourself and what you want
- More joy, trust and harmony in all your relationships
- An allowance of the full range of human emotions
What You Will Learn
Practical, easy-to-learn, immediately usable communication skills, based on NVC – Nonviolent Communication, www.nvc.org.nz, www.cnvc.org
including:
- Expressing yourself clearly and confidently, without blame or judgment
- Resolving conflicts with win-win solutions that value everyone’s needs
- Considering others without being a doormat
- Expressing anger without blame or violence
- Empathising with the feelings underneath the frustration, sarcasm, anger or upset
- Being present to others without taking their words and actions personally
- Listening to others even when they are distressed or angry, or their behaviour doesn’t suit you
- Discerning the difference between events and the meaning you are making of them
- Opening yourself to vulnerability without losing power
- Learning how to say “no” cleanly
- Making clear requests
- Transforming guilt, shame, anger and depression into life-serving feelings
These skills and principles will be relevant to all your relationships, and the practice and examples for this weekend will be based on intimate relationships.
How you will Learn it
This weekend will be experiential, interactive, fun and safe.
You will be free to share as little or as much about yourself as you feel comfortable with.
Lots of practice of tools using real life examples.
Gutsy, honest conversation in whole and small groups on topics including:
- What is love – really?
- What is intimacy?
- What do we use sex for – what meaning do we attach to it?
- Exposing and understanding jealousy, competitiveness, control
- Exploring the push-me/pull-you dance of intimacy and freedom
- Myth-busting some ‘sacred cows’ of relationships
Expose the conditioning we have all been indoctrinated with. Understand how it alienates you from your natural state of compassion and happiness, and affects the way you relate with others.
Learn how to change your perception of yourself and others to enrich all your relationships.
Who is the Workshop Suitable For?
- Anyone courageous enough to take more responsibility for how they are relating to others in intimate and all relationships.
- Anyone in an intimate relationship – heterosexual or same sex (no need for both partners to attend, but it could be fun!)
- Anyone not currently in an intimate relationship
- Anyone who has had a string of ‘failed’ relationships and is perplexed about why
- Anyone considering entering into relationship again and wanting to do it with more awareness this time
What this workshop is not:
- therapy
- counselling
- a men-bashing or women-bashing gripe session
Venue
The venue for the retreat is the beautiful Tushita Ashram Hermitage in Peria Valley, Northland. Set amongst sub-tropical vegetation, the Tushita Ashram provides a unique and safe sanctuary with plenty of space, shared communal areas and also places where you can spend time alone, should you wish.
Accommodation and Meals
On-site accommodation and meals are provided for you. Accommodation is in shared rooms. Some single rooms are available on application, for an extra $20/night. There are modern and clean showers and toilets.
Price
This retreat is $210 plus dana/koha for Jocelyn. The $210 covers all your meals and accommodation. Jocelyn’s fee is not set and consists entirely of your Dana offering. Dana (meaning generosity) invites each person to offer according to their means and what the retreat has been worth to them. Dana payment is given at the end of the retreat. This can be in cash, cheque or by internet banking – an account number will be provided. (Please note: there is no Eftpos at Tushita Ashram)
Workshop Facilitator – Jocelyn Kennedy
Communication Coach. Facilitator. Mediator.
With a background in teaching, Jocelyn has over 25 years’ experience facilitating groups, personal growth workshops and one on one coaching. She discovered Nonviolent Communication (NVC) in 2005, and was so inspired by its transformational potential that she went on to train as a facilitator with Marshall Rosenberg the founder, and many other trainers in the US, Australia and New Zealand.
In 2009 she co-founded NVC Aotearoa (www.nvc.org.nz), a charitable trust established for the support and growth of NVC in Aotearoa NZ, and served as chairperson for 3 years.
She is the director of Communication for Life, (www.communicationforlife.co.nz) and offers communication trainings through general public courses, Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse agencies, Mental Health organizations, NGOs, businesses, schools, pre-schools and with teens. She also offers one-to-one, parenting, couples support and NVC mediation and coaching for families and community groups.
In more recent years, what she is able to offer others has been enriched by the deepening understanding of Life that is growing in her through her study with Wisdom Masters Yanchiji and Arohananda Ma.
“Jocelyn mediated a series of sessions between myself and the father of my first child… She was brilliant at helping us tease out the issues that we were dealing with, and throwing light on them in a way that allowed us to progress much faster than I would’ve expected. While the gentleness that one might first meet in Jocelyn was certainly a part of our sessions, she was also direct and challenging when this was required. In this way, I see Jocelyn as really committed to helping people face the juicy stuff that needs to be addressed for genuine change to take place.”
Meg Stone
“Jocelyn’s authenticity, lightness and humour are so inspiring. Her depth of understanding of NVC is very apparent and her ‘realness’ and regard really shine through.”
Yavanna, Hawkes Bay, NVC course participant
Workshop Details and Bookings
Start Date and Time: Fri 23 June 5.00PM
Finish Date and Time: Sun 25 June 4.00PM
Location: Tushita Ashram
Price: $210 plus koha/dana for Jocelyn
Payment required: Non-refundable deposit($50) at time of booking via internet banking or cheque. Full payment must be made 3 weeks prior to the retreat to ensure your booking is confirmed.
Refunds: 100% Refunds(minus deposit) available up to 2 weeks prior to retreat commencing. 50% refunds available from then.
Accommodation and Meals: All included
How to Book: Complete the Booking Form here.
Questions: Complete the Contact Form here.
Getting There and Transport
The Tushita Ashram is located at Oruru Road, Peria Valley in Northland
By Car
You can reach the Tushita Ashram by car. Off street car-parking is provided.
By Plane
The nearest airport to Tushita Ashram is Kerikeri. Air New Zealand provides regular flights to and from Kerikeri via Auckland. Pick up and drop off can be arranged from Kerikeri airport to Tushita Ashram for $25 per person each way. If people are arriving on flights within approximately two hours of each other, we will co-ordinate one pickup.
Alternatively – if you arrive at Kerikeri airport in the morning – another option is to take the shuttle into Kerkeri($12), and then take the 12.35pm Intercity bus from there to Taipa.
By Bus
Intercity provides transport from most NZ centres to Taipa. Taipa is about 20 minutes drive from Tushita Ashram. Free pick up and drop off can be arranged from Taipa to Tushita Ashram.
Pick up and drop-off
If you require pick up and/or drop off from Taipa or Kerikeri , please contact us at least 1 week before your course or retreat starts so it can be arranged. You can contact us here.
