December 5, 2014

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I still remember the day on which I started posting public blog pieces. Erica Grevemeyer was then the Executive Director of BayNVC, and I am forever indebted to her for nudging me and attending to all the surrounding details. "All" I had to do to make it happen was to take the plunge and start writing. That was in February, 2010.

 

Now, almost five years later, I have over 200 entries posted on my blog, and my third book is scheduled to be published on February 19, 2015. These days, writing is one of the most rewarding and, often, easy parts of my work. It flows out of me, because my writing emerges directly from my experience and my being, without hiding, holding back, or any attempt to project a particular image. All I hope for is that I can find ways of dedicating more and more of my waking hours to writing.

 

My second book, The Little Book of Courageous Living, is very different from all of my other writings. It emerged, spontaneously, in a conversation with Lynda Smith, beloved friend and supporter in all kinds of ways. I no longer even remember what prompted Lynda to conceive of a collection of short quotes from my teaching and writing. The result, some months later, is both esthetically pleasing, thanks to the design and art contributed by Mili Raj, and satisfying in terms of its contents. It was a collaborative project, with many people contributing their favorite quotes of mine, which Lynda categorized and streamlined.

 

We all think this little book makes for a very unique and inspiring holiday gift. I know that many people are looking for low-stress ways of introducing friends and family to the deep gifts that NVC brings to their lives and to the world. This book can do just that, because it's not about how we use language. It's purely about reminding us what we long for and who we could be.

 

This book is mostly based on my teaching, and my teaching is almost entirely based on how I am trying to live, and certainly informs how I live (yes, whenever I have new insights while teaching, I try to apply them immediately to my own life). This often leads me into rich and uncomfortable territory. My latest blog post is an example of what I mean by living courageously, as it chronicles my personal journey, as an immigrant to this country at the age of 27, from complete and total ignorance about privilege to where I am now committed to finding ever new ways for putting my privilege - racial and educational - to use for the purpose of transforming the structures that maintain such privilege in place.

 

Click here if you want to read about what I have been up to since I last sent my newsletter at the end of September.

 

Because not everyone clicks to read the updates, I want to end by saying that this period since Inbal died has been very trying for me. There are many things for which I was partially prepared, and so much for which I wasn't. In a few days I am beginning a mini-sabbatical (Dec 15 - Jan 31) to allow me time to grieve without the distraction of responsibility, decision-making, and the many scheduled commitments I usually have. I am coming back in February to the publication of my next book, Reweaving Our Human Fabric, to the beginning of Leveraging Your Influence 2015 on the West coast, and to whatever things will look like at that time.

 

In sadness, and still in hope and peace,

 

Miki Kashtan

  
Leveraging Your Influence Using NVC - 2015 
West Coast Yearlong Program
 
February 8, March 1, March 28, May 3, May 31, June 27
(The dates for the rest of the year will be set after the program begins)
10am-6pm PST in Oakland, CA

Leveraging Your Influence (LYI) is a mutually supportive learning community, co-created by Miki, the support team, and participants, to integrate the consciousness of NVC more deeply, more spontaneously, and more authentically into our everyday language and lives. 

As the program enters its 4th year, Miki is joined by Aya Caspi and Lynda Smith to create learning opportunities for people new to LYI as well as those returning to continue to be part of this strong and growing community of support on their path. 
LYI Retreats in Germany, Chicago, Japan and upstate NY
Save the dates or watch our calendar for them! Venues TBA.
 
Germany: March 
20-26
Chicago: May 15-21
Japan: summer, TBA
Upstate New York: October 23-29
Each of these lasts six days, with an extra day for facilitator training.
  A Daylong Workshop in January
Cultivating Inner Freedom: Using the Power of Choice to Live with Integrity
Miki Kashtan and Oren J. Sofer 
January 11, 10:00am-5:00 pm PST
Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Marin County, CA

This unique daylong workshop integrates Mindfulness Meditation with the powerful tools and perspectives of Nonviolent Communication. Our day together will include a combination of meditation, movement, guided reflection, discussion, and interactive exercises. With expert guidance and specific practices, participants will learn ways to live in full choice and deeper integrity with values. NOTE: This is the only teaching that Miki is scheduled to do during her sabbatical. Learn more and register here
  A Free Daylong Workshop in February
Art and Craft of Dialogue
February 1, 10:00am-5:00 pm PST
Oakland, CA
It IS possible to dramatically transform the way you communicate. You can learn to move beyond disagreement or dispute... past misunderstanding and confusion... across barriers both visible and invisible in Miki Kashtan's The Art and Craft of Dialogue. In this workshop Miki will focus on practical applications of Nonviolent Communication that demonstrate the power of dialogue to transform human communication.  Learn more and register here
  Telecourses
The Art & Craft of Dialogue, through the NVC Academy

December 5 and 19, 12:00-1:30 PST 
A fifth and final course was added by popular request, and you can still sign up for the remaining two sessions above, and get the recordings of the previous two, at: Dialogue With Anyone About Anything

Leadership as a Way of Life, through the NVC Academy
 

The Leadership as a Way of Life series is divided into four stand-alone courses during 2015 that focus on some key aspects of leadership in different areas in your life. These are:

  • Embracing Leadership within Yourself
     
    February 13 - March 6, 2015 (4 sessions), Fridays, 12-2 Pacific Time

  • Taking 100% Responsibility for Every Relationship

  • Leadership within Your Workplace

  • Becoming a Change Agent Everywhere You Go

This series gives you the opportunity to approach your life in the driver seat... connected with others... able to ask for what you need... and with heart-felt care for all of us - and for life itself.


To be posted soon on NVCA.
Cultivating Inner Freedom Part II - European Teleclass 

February 12, March 5, April 16, May 7.
Each cycle of teleclasses consists of four monthly meetings on Thursdays 19:00-21:00 Europe time (18:00 - 20:00 in the UK; check the web for time zones if you live outside Europe).

This teleclass series introduces practices that can support you in any one of the following areas and others: 

  • Making choices based on what's important and meaningful to you despite fear of consequences
  • Transcending habits that no longer serve you
  • Having the freedom to ask for what you want and offer what you have
  • Embracing your full authenticity and combining it with full car
  • Saying "yes" or "no" in full choice even in the face of inner or outer pressure

 Learn more and register here

Mentoring and Collaboration Coaching Calls with Miki 
February 2, 9, 16, 23;  March 2, 9, 16, 23
Mondays 12pm - 1:30pm PST

The goal of this series is to support organizational leaders who are pioneers in and committed to creating systems and practices that align with the new orientation of collaborative and decisive leadership, stewardship of resources, and responsiveness to stakeholders. In short: leaders who are eager to be part of the solution to the fundamental organizational challenges of our times.

 

Imagine being part of a small group of committed, influential individuals who are also deeply passionate about this vision and aiming to make it part of their daily living in their organizational roles. Learn more here

The Fearless Heart 

This popular series of discussions based on Miki's blog will return in February. Watch for an announcement in January.
 Support the Reach of Miki's Books
Spinning Threads of Radical Aliveness 
Brainstorm local events!

 

Miki's first book, Spinning Threads of Radical Aliveness: Transcending the Legacy of Separation in our Individual Lives, has been incredibly well-received by people all over the world. We'd love to have opportunities to read in local bookstores and at local events. If you live in the Bay Area or if Miki is coming to your hometown for a workshop, let us know if you have contacts or ideas for local events.  

 

And please continue spreading the word if you know anyone else that may benefit from this extraordinary work. 

The Little Book of Courageous Living
Buy for a friend!

 

In May, Miki published her second book, and this one one is much simpler, but with the same depth and richness that Miki always delivers. With grace, acuity, and humor, she has shared with thousands of people on five continents how to live, in every moment, from love, courage, and truth - the three hallmarks of nonviolence. This little book contains 200 concise, evocative distillations of her wisdom, illustrated with powerful and original images. It is an invitation to you to bring more courage to your life. 

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Request for support
IT person for PC laptop support
Miki writes: I am in need of technical support on a small, ongoing basis. It would need to be someone who is very knowledgeable about PC laptops, truly knows the ins and outs of the system and how to configure it and troubleshoot odd phenomena. That person may also be asked to do various other techy things in support of other functions within BayNVC. If you have such skills and are open to offering them at a reduced rate, please contact [email protected].
The Circle of Support is Growing!
Consider Joining Miki's Circle of Support
Miki's Circle of Support now has 31 members with a total monthly donation of $615. At the same time, 226 people have signed up for her first fully gifted offering -- The Fearless Heart teleseminars -- while another 90 attended her free Cultivating Inner Freedom workshop in Oakland, with only 13 people overlapping the lists of givers and receivers. The uncoupling of giving from receiving is happening, and this is wonderful news!  Read more about Miki's vision and consider joining here.