An exciting opportunity has come my way. December 5-12, I will be assisting Raphael Cushnir, the creator of the Emotional Connection work, which is a key element of my spiritual coaching practice – at a five-day intensive workshop at Esalen Educational Institute in Big Sur, California.
Big Sur at Esalen
Emotional Connection work is rich – you learn how to engage your body’s sensations during emotional states and arrive at calm presence. The process is simple to learn – though not always easy to practice. For added support, Raphael encourages ongoing connection partnering after the retreat with participants who want to practice together after the return to daily life.
Emotional Connection is highly effective way to build emotional intelligence and more. It gives you the skills you need to stay connected with your body during situations that are challenging or upsetting. You can read a brief article about the basics of emotional connection on my blog here and a structure for applying the work here.
I have studied with Raphael since 2012. In 2013, I did his year-long small group program called P-4. P-4 stands for: presence, purpose, power and passion. This work really moved me forward as a spiritual mentor. The more I learn to be present for myself, the more deeply I can do this for others.
This in-depth immersion in being present is one of the best gifts I have ever given myself. Two years later, I still do daily check-ins with my P-4 partner in the Olympic Peninsula, and participate in bi-monthly calls with the larger group. We are having a reunion retreat in Portland next summer. Even though our daily lives look very different and we come from diverse backgrounds, we have a common grounding in emotional connection. We meet each other with warmth, respect, and skills to hear and support each other – without a good-bad, right-wrong conversation or giving advice. In every call, I feel seen, acknowledged and supported – as well as inspired by my colleagues’ authenticity, vulnerability and growth.
Emotional connection is a way of Being. When you are present to your body’s signals and can be with them – without being run by them or suppressing them – you become more secure in being yourself.
Emotional connection work is a life practice. With practice, your security doesn’t fade away when you get home from the workshop and return to daily life.
When you internalize skills for staying present, you have the basis for igniting your passion. Passion is a key to uncovering your purpose. Learning to own your power strengthens you in situations that involve conflict.
If you choose to join me at Esalen in December, you will come away with skills you can take home with you – because they will be internalized. You won’t regress or return to how things worked when you were more emotionally disconnected from your bodily sensations. I will be here to support you as you build your skills – and Raphael does private sessions by Skype.
Clients have reported breakthroughs with parents, spouses and employers and employees at work. They have left adverse work environments and unfulfilling jobs to find work that nourishes them. They are less easily triggered by provocative conversations – and know what to do when they are triggered – neither suppressing nor acting out their emotions.
When you have the capacity to stay present, you don’t have to withdraw – and you don’t have to lash out. You don’t have to hide and you don’t have to defend yourself. You stand in your power – by staying present and speaking from Presence.
The workshop where I’ll be assisting is called “Total Immersion for Total Transformation.” You can read about the workshop here.
