I hope you’re finding ways to stay steady and feel a little joy this summer.
I’m writing to let you know that there’s still room in the annual Living Peace Retreat that I co-teach with Dr. Roxy Manning, and I’d love for you join us.
“Living peace” is a bold phrase. What does it mean to practice peace in times like these—when so much appears to be unraveling? What does it look like to hold this intention together, and explore what it means to each of us?
For me, peace begins with the quality of presence we bring to this moment and to the work before us. And it challenges us to keeping finding courage.
Living peace doesn’t mean avoiding conflict or denying the heartbreak of this era. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called this “negative peace.” Real peace, he said, is not the absence of conflict but the presence of justice.
Nonviolent Communication isn’t about being nice. As Kit Miller of the Gandhi Institute once said, “Nonviolent Communication is an awareness discipline masquerading as a communication technique.” It’s a rigorous training that transforms how we relate to ourselves, others, and life. It’s from this shift in consciousness, that we learn new ways to speak honestly, set limits, and work for change with dignity and care.
Over the four days we build a community and practice together. The retreat includes teaching, guided practice, small-group coaching, empathy groups, and ample time to work with what’s alive in your life.
We often have participants from all over the world, and I feel moved every year by what unfolds. What begins as a room full of strangers becomes a community where it’s safe to be honest about how we’re really doing, where we feel stuck, and what we truly long for.
What we hear most from people afterward isn’t just that they improved their communication skills, but that the retreat shifted something fundamental in how they understand themselves and what’s possible in relationship. They feel more confidence, connection, and agency — especially in the moments that matter.
We offer a wide, community-supported sliding scale and scholarships. If you’d like to join us, we don’t want cost to be a barrier.
Warmly,
Oren
Upcoming Programs
Living Peace Retreat (Online)
August 20-23, co-led with Roxy Manning, Ph.D.
9:00-11:30 am & 1:30-4:00 pm PT daily
Open to all; sliding scale tuition and scholarships available
Staying Human in Conflict: Three Practices for Difficult Conversations (Online)
August 28, 10 – 11:15am PT; free event
Replay available to those who register
Steadying the Heart: Hybrid Brahma Vihara Retreat (In-person and Online)
September 8 – 14, Spirit Rock Meditation Center
with Cara Lai, devon hase, Yong Oh & Hakim Tafari (movement)
Clear Dharma Sangha: Learn Insight Meditation (Online)
Wednesdays, 4 – 5:30pm PT (new series begins September 9)
Drop-in or join monthly, community-supported sliding scale
Immersion in Nonviolent Communication (Online)
September 19-20, co-lead with Roxy Manning, Ph.D.
One weekend per month for eight months
Winter Solstice Retreat (In-person and Online)
December 18 – 23, Spirit Rock Meditation Center + Online
with devon hase, Yong Oh, Heather Sundberg (online), Kimi Mojica (movement)