Workshops

"The Evolving Mediator: The Dance of Duality" at the Third Annual Rocky Mountain Mediator and Spirituality Retreat
February 15-18, 2008
Allenspark, CO
Lili Zohar with Robin Amadei
In this workshop we will explore the role of duality in our awareness and the frontiers of systems thinking as the next stage in our evolution as mediators and as human beings. From the moment we learn to think, we begin the process of delineating reality in terms of subject/object, me and the other, this and not that. This way of conceptualizing reality is necessary to define our world and can be helpful. At the same time, dualistic thinking can create limitations in our self-definition and our range of thought and action.

As mediators, we are challenged to think systemically and holistically. When we are mediating well, we are consciously and intuitively balancing seemingly mutually exclusive variables, such as process vs. substance; directiveness vs. 'letting it flow'; inviting participants to speak about the past vs. staying in the present moment, etc. Indeed, tranformative moments occur in mediation when our participants can see the "and both" rather than the "either or". Often, the foundation for a tranformative shift is laid when the mediator creates the space and energy for such transformation to occur.

In this fun and interactive workshop, we will address the issue of how to develop the ability to think systemically, embracing both ends of a duality spectrum at the same time. We will present models and facilitate exercises which will spur participants to new ways of thinking and being and will enlarge and expand our view.

"The Energy of Conflict" Course Description
What is conflict? As conflict professionals, we deal with it all day, we see it in others, we feel it when a hostile person walks into the room. But where does it reside? Is it : In the body? In the thoughts? In the emotions? In the brain waves, or cell structures? In the air? In the flow or exchange between two people?

In this fun, explorative one-hour session, we will use meditation, breath practices, bio-energetic movement, role plays and partner work to find where conflict resides in each of us. This information will help us deepen our self-awareness and create more choices for ourselves when we are faced with conflict in and around us.

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