Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom

Empathy Circles with Conversations that Matter: Gaining Clarity and Mutual Understanding
2026-08-16 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-08-23 18:00 - 19:30 (Europe/London) | Online
Empathy Circles with Conversations That Matter
Free online sessions led by FDCW facilitator Janna Weiss and Maria Trottman open to everybody!
A new series of 4 sessions based on the 16 Guidelines resource: Conversations That Matter
Conversations That Matter offers a new way of bringing inspiration for wise and compassionate action based on the 16 Guidelines for Life.
Sessions Schedule:
4 Sundays from August 2 to August 23 – You can join any session!
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET / 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm BST / 10:00 am – 11:30 am PT, please check
your time zone here. here.
The 4 sessions will explore the Wisdom Theme: How We Think
• August 2 Humility
• August 9 Patience
• August 16 Contentment
• August 23 Delight
Please come on time and plan on staying for the full 90 minutes.
Sharing our experiences and practicing together can strengthen clarity, presence, and mutual understanding. Drop-ins welcome!
If you join, please come on time and plan on staying for the full 90 minutes.
Who are these sessions for?
These Online Empathy Circles are for people of all ages, backgrounds and ideas, who are looking for practical tools to create positive transformation in their homes, individual lives, relationships, community, or workplace
How to Join?
No need to register, simply join Zoom here
About the Empathy Circles
The Empathy Circle practice is the most effective gateway practice for learning, practicing and deepening listening and empathy skills, as well as, nurturing an empathic way of being.
The Empathy Circle provides a clearly structured dialogue process that supports respectful dialogue, and equal participation. Participants take turns listening without giving advice, interrupting, or debating, and each speaker feels fully heard and understood.
The practice is practical and applicable to everyday conversations, and when navigating difficult conversations. The Empathy Circle practice not only hones empathy but also fosters a range of valuable skills, such as communication and conflict management skills, making it a powerful tool for personal growth, conflict resolutions and meaningful dialogue.
The Empathy Circle was developed by Edwin Rutsch, founder and director of The Empathy Center, based on the work of psychologist Carl Rogers. The four core values of the Empathy Circle are empathy, mutuality, openness and caring
If you want to know more about the Empathy Circles, please make sure to check Maria and Janna’s presentation on the 2026 Empathy Summit . Posted here on Janna’s YouTube
Watch: How To Take Part in a Basic Empathy Circle ~ 9 minutes
About the facilitators:
Janna is an acupuncturist and herbalist, and teaches mind science in New York City. She holds a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in Biological Sciences—Botany (ethnobotany). Janna is also a human rights activist, for peace, for Tibet, for the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities, and for the real rights of children and families. Janna began studying Tibetan Buddhism in 2005. She is a trained 16 Guidelines Level 1 & 2 and Unlocking Your Potential Facilitator, and an Empathy Circle Facilitator and Trainer.
Maria is an Empathy Circle Facilitator and a student of the 16 Guidelines. She is passionate about Empathy Circles and the way this simple dialogue structure, grounded in active listening, can foster connection, clarity, and mutuality. Maria holds a PhD in Economics and works as a data analyst in the health sector.
Supporting Janna and the Empathy Circles: please, consider supporting Janna so that she can continue to offer these transformative sessions by making a donation scanning the QR code below or by making a donation on the dedicated page https://tinyurl.com/nhcxcrcw

Presencial - Espacio para la Presencia y el Equilibrio
2026-08-20 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-08-27 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-09-03 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-09-10 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-09-17 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-09-24 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-10-01 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-10-08 18:00 - 19:00 (Europe/Madrid) and 3 more dates | Nagarjuna Barcelona, C/Pere IV 201 Bajos, Barcelona, 08018, Spain
Una nueva propuesta secular del centro Nagarjuna Barcelona
En medio del ajetreo diario, una pausa también es una respuesta.
Este es un espacio semanal para hacer una pausa consciente y recuperar la estabilidad.
En cada sesión, practicaremos herramientas sencillas para la atención y la autorregulación con el fin de:

Reducir la inquietud y la tensión acumulada.
Comprender mejor cómo funciona la preocupación.
Estabilizar la mente cuando se acelera. Desarrollar más equilibrio en la vida diaria.
Cultivar una actitud más tranquila y presente.

No se trata de una terapia y no sustituye ningún tratamiento médico o psicológico.

Detalles prácticos
Las sesiones se ofrecen los jueves de 5.00 pm a 6.00pm, horario CEST
Ofrecimiento voluntario

Lugar
Este espacio esta abierto a tod@s y se ofrece en el centro Nagarjuna Barcelona. Para mas información por favor visita la web del centro.

New Dates!-Empathy Circles with Conversations that Matter: Gaining Clarity and Mutual Understanding
2026-09-13 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-09-20 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-09-27 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-10-04 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-10-11 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-10-18 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-10-25 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-11-08 18:00 - 19:30 (Europe/London) and 1 more date | Online
Empathy Circles with Conversations That Matter
Free online sessions led by FDCW facilitator Janna Weiss and Maria Trottman open to everybody!
A new series of 4 sessions based on the 16 Guidelines resource: Conversations That Matter
Conversations That Matter offers a new way of bringing inspiration for wise and compassionate action based on the 16 Guidelines for Life.
Sessions Schedule:
Sundays from September 2026 to January 2027 – You can join any session!
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET / 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm BST / 10:00 am – 11:30 am PT, please check
your time zone here. here.
The sessions will explore the Wisdom Theme: How We Act, How we Relate to Others and How we find Meaning .
Dates and Themes:
13-Sep-2026 How we Act

20-Sep-2026 Kindness
27-Sep-2026 Honesty
4-Oct-2026 Generosity
11-Oct-2026 Right Speech

18-Oct-2026 How we Relate to others

25-Oct-2026 Respect
1-Nov-2026 no circle
8-Nov-2026 Forgiveness
15-Nov-2026 Gratitude
2-Nov-2026 Loyalty

3-Jan-2027 How we find Meaning

10-Jan-2027 Aspiration
17-Jan-2027 Principles
24-Jan-2027 Service
31-Jan-2027 Courage

Please come on time and plan on staying for the full 90 minutes.
Sharing our experiences and practicing together can strengthen clarity, presence, and mutual understanding. Drop-ins welcome!
If you join, please come on time and plan on staying for the full 90 minutes.
Who are these sessions for?
These Online Empathy Circles are for people of all ages, backgrounds and ideas, who are looking for practical tools to create positive transformation in their homes, individual lives, relationships, community, or workplace
How to Join?
No need to register, simply join Zoom here
About the Empathy Circles
The Empathy Circle practice is the most effective gateway practice for learning, practicing and deepening listening and empathy skills, as well as, nurturing an empathic way of being.
The Empathy Circle provides a clearly structured dialogue process that supports respectful dialogue, and equal participation. Participants take turns listening without giving advice, interrupting, or debating, and each speaker feels fully heard and understood.
The practice is practical and applicable to everyday conversations, and when navigating difficult conversations. The Empathy Circle practice not only hones empathy but also fosters a range of valuable skills, such as communication and conflict management skills, making it a powerful tool for personal growth, conflict resolutions and meaningful dialogue.
The Empathy Circle was developed by Edwin Rutsch, founder and director of The Empathy Center, based on the work of psychologist Carl Rogers. The four core values of the Empathy Circle are empathy, mutuality, openness and caring
If you want to know more about the Empathy Circles, please make sure to check Maria and Janna’s presentation on the 2026 Empathy Summit . Posted here on Janna’s YouTube
Watch: How To Take Part in a Basic Empathy Circle ~ 9 minutes
About the facilitators:
Janna is an acupuncturist and herbalist, and teaches mind science in New York City. She holds a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in Biological Sciences—Botany (ethnobotany). Janna is also a human rights activist, for peace, for Tibet, for the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities, and for the real rights of children and families. Janna began studying Tibetan Buddhism in 2005. She is a trained 16 Guidelines Level 1 & 2 and Unlocking Your Potential Facilitator, and an Empathy Circle Facilitator and Trainer.
Maria is an Empathy Circle Facilitator and a student of the 16 Guidelines. She is passionate about Empathy Circles and the way this simple dialogue structure, grounded in active listening, can foster connection, clarity, and mutuality. Maria holds a PhD in Economics and works as a data analyst in the health sector.
Supporting Janna and the Empathy Circles: please, consider supporting Janna so that she can continue to offer these transformative sessions by making a donation scanning the QR code below or by making a donation on the dedicated page https://tinyurl.com/nhcxcrcw

Cultivating a Compassionate and Meaningful Life: An in-person Universal Education Gathering in Scotland
2026-09-25 16:00 - 2026-09-27 14:30 (Europe/London) | Sir Arthur Grant Outdoor Centre
Cultivating a Compassionate and Meaningful Life
An in-person Universal Education Gathering in Scotland
An Invitation to Pause, Reflect, and Reconnect
Join us for a nourishing Gathering – Retreat in the heart of Aberdeenshire, where we’ll explore the 16 Guidelines for Life as a framework for cultivating compassion, resilience, and meaningful connections.
Set against the backdrop of the Scottish countryside, this gathering offers time to reflect deeply, connect with like-minded people, and bring fresh inspiration into your daily life. Together, we’ll combine gentle practices such as meditation, journaling, mindful movement, and shared reflection to explore how the Guidelines can enrich both inner growth and outer relationships.
What to Expect
Across three days, you’ll be guided through a balanced flow of learning, practice, and connection:
Day 1 – Arriving & Settling
Warm welcome, introductions, and setting intentions
Shared evening meal and meditation to ease into retreat life
Day 2 – Deepening Practice Morning Qi Gong to awaken body and mind
Explorations of key Guidelines such as Humility, Kindness, Patience, Generosity, Honesty, Gratitude, Kindness and Respect
Reflective practices: guided meditations, journaling, and mindful eating
Heartfelt discussions and paired sharing to strengthen community bonds
Day 3 – Integration & Looking Forward
Morning visit to a nearby stone circle for grounding and connection
Closing sessions on integrating the 16 Guidelines into everyday life
Commitments, takeaways, and a celebratory farewell circle
**See detailed agenda below
Venue & Accommodation
Our retreat will take place at the Sir Arthur Grant Residential & Outdoor Activity Centre, a peaceful venue surrounded by nature.
Capacity: Spaces are limited to 38 participants in on-site accommodation.
Nearby options: Additional lodging is available in the Aberdeenshire area for those wishing to stay off-site.
Who Is This Universal Education Gathering For?
This gathering welcomes anyone interested in living with greater compassion, meaning, and awareness, whether you are new to the 16 Guidelines or looking to deepen your practice.
The session structure is carefully designed to foster meaningful reflection, strengthen connections, and inspire actionable outcomes, ensuring a dynamic and engaging experience.
Practical Details
📅 Dates: Friday 25 September – Sunday 27 September 2026
📍 Location: Sir Arthur Grant Centre, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
🍴 Communal meals provided (with mindful eating practice woven into shared dinners)
🧘 Practices include Qi Gong, meditation, journaling, mindful dialogue, and time in nature
Join Us
Come as you are, open to reflect, connect, and grow. Together, we’ll explore timeless wisdom and practical tools to help us live with greater compassion and meaning in our daily lives.
For more information and to to confirm your participation, please send an email to Gillian Cruickshank: gilliancruickshankwellbeing@gmail.com
Please use this Google booking form to reserve your place:
A minimum deposit of £50 is required on registration to reserve your place. The remaining amount is
payable by 25 August 2026.
Detailed Agenda
As the organizers continue to shape this wonderful event, we are happy to share a more detailed agenda of the gathering
Day 1
4:00 – 6:00pm Arrivals, welcome and settling in
6:00 – 7:00pm Session one: introduction to weekend and one another
Activity: Group sharing of initial thoughts, expectations for the weekend and setting intentions
7:00 – 8:00pm Communal Dinner
8:00 – 9:00pm Evening meditation / reflection
9:00pm Journaling / Rest
Day 2
7:30 – 8:30am Movement – Qi Gong
Facilitated by: Lorna Forsyth
8:30 – 9:30am Breakfast
9:30 – 11:30am Session one – Foundations of inner peace – exploring wisdom
Activity:
Dalai Lama’s short video: The Importance of Cultivating Inner Peace
Guided meditation to connect with the concepts of wisdom and one’s place in the world
Explore how Humility and Kindness can develop wisdom
Facilitated by: Bobettes
Gillian Cruickshank, Lorna Forsyth, Cath du Preez and Stefanie Steurer
11:30- 12:00pm Free Time / Snacks / Journaling / Walking
12:00 – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00 – 3:00pm Session Two – Cultivating positive qualities – inner strengths
Session: Explore guidelines like Patience and Generosity, focusing on their role in developing resilience
Activity: Journaling prompts on personal experiences of practicing patience or generosity

3:00 – 3:30pm Free Time / Snacks / Journaling / Walking
3:30 – 5:30pm Session Three – Cultivating positive qualities – joy and empathy
Session: Empathy circle
Activity: Interactive exercises to cultivate empathy and understanding of others’ perspectives
Facilitated by: Wendy Ridley
5:30- 7:00pm Communal Dinner
Activity: Mindful eating practice during dinner, with participants encouraged to notice sensory details and express gratitude
7:00 – 9:00pm Session 4 – connecting with others
Activity: 16 Guidelines Game in the BBQ Hut
9:00pm Journaling / Rest
Day 3
7:30 – 9:30am Visit local stone circle / Wild swimming in nearby river
9:30 – 10:30am Breakfast
10:30 – 12:30pm Session One – The power of Grief, Grace and Gratitude
Facilitated by: Claudia Massaro – Zuiden
A two-hour experiential workshop:
Grief is something we all experience, yet many of us have never been taught how to meet it with compassion. Whether we are grieving the loss of a loved one, a relationship, our health, a dream, or simply a chapter of our lives, grief invites us to slow down and listen deeply to our hearts.
In this two-hour workshop, Claudia gently explores how grief, grace and gratitude are intimately connected. Rather than trying to “move on” from our grief, we discover how embracing it with kindness can become a doorway to healing, wisdom and a deeper appreciation for life.
Drawing on personal experience, timeless wisdom, reflective practices and insights from her book, Claudia creates a safe and nurturing space where participants are invited to explore:

Understanding grief as a natural expression of love
Finding grace in moments of uncertainty and change
Cultivating gratitude without denying our pain
Practical mindfulness and reflection practices that support healing
Transforming loss into a deeper connection with ourselves and others

Instead of talking about fixing grief, this workshop is about learning how to walk beside it with courage, compassion and an open heart.
Participants will leave with practical tools, renewed hope and a gentle reminder that even in life’s most difficult moments, gratitude can become a quiet light that guides us forward.
12:30 – 1:30pm Lunch
1:30 – 2:30pm Session two – commitments & next steps
Session: Creating personal commitments for continuing to practice the 16 Guidelines beyond the weekend.
Activity: Each participant shares one key takeaway or commitment.
Farewell, reflection & celebration
A closing circle for expressing gratitude and saying goodbye
Closing dedication:
2:30 Departure

Osez le Moment Présent !
2026-10-03 10:00 - 2026-10-04 17:30 (Europe/Paris) | Vajra Yogini, les clauzades, Marzens, tarn, 81500, France
Week-end pour experimenter et parager la méditation de pleine conscience
*Please note, this weekend retreat is offered in French

À propos de l’événement

Ce week-end est basé sur le programme Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC) développé par la Mindfulness Association (Royaume-Uni). Vous découvrirez comment les pratiques de pleine conscience peuvent vous aider à mieux gérer le stress, développer votre résilience face aux défis de la vie et cultiver une attitude de bienveillance envers vous-même et les autres.
Ce stage est avant tout expérientiel. À travers des méditations guidées, des temps de réflexion et des échanges, vous découvrirez une approche laïque de la pleine conscience fondée sur la compassion, ainsi que des outils simples et concrets pour intégrer ces pratiques dans votre quotidien.
Tout ce dont vous avez besoin est un esprit ouvert et de la curiosité. Nous arrivons souvent avec des attentes et des objectifs ; pourtant, la pleine conscience nous invite à accueillir l’expérience telle qu’elle se présente, instant après instant.
Les thèmes sont :

Commencer là où nous sommes
Le corps comme lieu pour rester présent
Introduction au soutien de la pleine conscience
Travailler avec la distraction
Explorer le courant sous-jacent
Attitude de l’observateur
L’acceptation de soi

Heure
Samedi 03 oct. 2026, 10:00 – Dimanche 04 oct. 2026, 17:30
Renseignements par email : 16attitudes@gmail.com
Facilitatrice

Mabel Odessey – Depuis toujours, j’aime transmettre mes connaissances et mes pratiques. Dès les Beaux-Arts, j’ai créé des ateliers ouverts à tous, en lien avec mes expositions. Bouddhiste durant mes études, j’ai découvert l’Éducation Universelle, une inspiration qui m’a conduite à obtenir un Master en « Mindfulness et Compassion » en Écosse, alliant neurosciences, psychologie et pédagogie. Aujourd’hui, je propose avec joie des expériences transformatrices. Américaine de naissance et voyageuse dans l’âme, je vis en France depuis 1992.

16G L1 | Building Inner Strength Retreat organized by Atisha Centre
2026-10-09 18:00 - 2026-10-11 16:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Atisha Centre, 25 Sandhurst Town Road, Myers Flat, Victoria, 3556, Australia
About the Retreat
During this weekend retreat, we will explore embodied mindfulness and universal ethical values as part of the 16 Guidelines for Life Program. The 16G program, developed by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom, provides a simple, robust and flexible framework for reflecting on the ways we think, act, relate to others and find meaning. The program provides mindfulness-based practical tools to bring about positive change.
By noticing our patterns of thinking, speaking and acting through mindfulness and self-enquiry, we can begin to build inner strength which enables us to break through limiting beliefs, transform our relationships, make better decisions, and find more peace of mind.
Drawing on proven techniques from positive psychology, social justice practices, neuroscience and centuries-old Eastern philosophy, this program offers an ethical, holistic approach to self-improvement and cultural change. As well as meditation there will be interactive activities and relaxed discussion.
What you’ll learn:

An ethical framework that inspires more purpose in life and deepens experience in mindfulness as an embodied practice.
Practical tools to build inner strength which will benefit relationships and embrace community
A fresh perspective on daily life, available choices and actions
Enhanced capacity for reflection, resulting in more well-being, emotional resilience and creative action

Bookings
For more information and bookings, please visit Atisha Centre – 16 Guidelines
Facilitator
Venerable Tsultrim (Carla Pearse) has been a student of Buddhism since 1998, and was ordained in 2009. She spent several years in India and Nepal learning from teachers within the various Tibetan Buddhist lineages and doing retreat.
Tsultrim has led retreats and workshops in India, Nepal and Australia on practical mindfulness, what is spiritual care at the end of life, and applying Buddhism in day to day life.
She believes that most of us can find contentment in our lives, through understanding and training our minds. In particular, through the use of mindfulness to reflect on and examine our view of our internal and external worlds and how that affects our ability to find contentment and peace of mind.
Who is this retreat for?
This retreat is for people of all ages and backgrounds who are seeking practical tools to bring about positive change in their life, home, relationships, community or workplace. It will be of particular interest to change-makers, to anyone working in education, health care and the helping professions, to Yoga, embodiment & mindfulness teachers, to coaches and mentors and to those with an interest in corporate and organisational well being.

16A Adolescents - Voyage Vers Soi, Voyage Vers Les Autres
2026-10-17 10:00 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris) | Institut Vajra Yogini, 3400 Route de Bertre Château d’en Clauzade, Marzene, Select a State or Province:, 81500, France
Ouvrir son cœur, mieux comprendre ses émotions
et trouver sa place dans le monde
À propos de l’événement:
Voyageurs concernés : Adolescents de 11 à 15 ans (collégiens)
Une journée pour aider votre ado à mieux se comprendre
Nos enfants apprennent beaucoup de choses à l’école — mais rarement comment accueillir ce qu’ils ressentent. Savoir traverser une émotion difficile sans la fuir ni la craindre, c’est pourtant l’un des plus beaux outils qu’on puisse leur transmettre.
En partenariat avec l’Institut Vajra Yogini, l’Éducation Universelle propose aux 11-15 ans une journée d’ateliers pour souffler, se découvrir et trouver leur place — loin des écrans et de la pression du quotidien.
Les étapes du chemin: Un parcours pensé pour grandir en confiance

Se poser et être présent à soi — apprendre à ralentir et à s’écouter
S’ouvrir au monde avec curiosité — regarder ce qui nous entoure autrement
Aller vers l’autre — créer du lien, avec bienveillance et sans jugement
Renforcer sa confiance en soi — à son rythme, sans pression
Trouver un bonheur qui dure — au-delà des satisfactions immédiates
Cultiver la patience — avec soi-même comme avec les autres
Apprivoiser son stress et ses émotions — des outils concrets pour mieux les vivre
Prendre du recul sur les réseaux sociaux — comprendre leur impact sur soi

La valise du voyageur: Des outils concrets à remplir tout au long du parcours
Chaque participant repart avec une vraie boîte à outils pour la vie, construite à travers :

La méditation, pour apprendre à se poser
Des temps d’échange autour des thématiques du jour
Des jeux coopératifs, pour vivre ensemble autrement
Le théâtre et les jeux de rôles, pour explorer différentes facettes de soi
Les arts plastiques, pour s’exprimer sans mots
Des partages et présentations entre participants
Un carnet de bord, comme trace du chemin parcouru
Les cartes des 16 Attitudes, à découvrir ou à créer

« Et si nous nous retrouvions pour partager en live, et non en réseau ? »
Pourquoi c’est important
À l’adolescence, ces espaces de parole et d’introspection sont précieux : ils aident à construire une relation plus sereine à soi-même et aux autres, et donnent des repères qui servent bien au-delà de cette journée.
Infos pratiques
Pour les 11-15 ans (collégiens)
Un samedi par trimestre : 17 octobre 2026, 19 décembre 2026, 6 février 2027, 3 avril 2027 (dates de mai/juin 2027 à venir)
10h-13h / 14h-17h (avril-octobre) ou 10h-12h15 / 13h15-17h (novembre-mars)
Un parent doit rester présent sur le site durant la journée
Participation libre, don suggéré : 20€/jour
Inscription auprès de l’Institut via ce lien https://www.institutvajrayogini.fr

Facilitator Skills Training Module 2: Practicing - Putting Skills into Practice
2026-10-19 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-10-20 08:00 - 10:00 (Europe/London) | Online
Overview of the Facilitation Skills Training Pathway
This training programme is designed to strengthen your skills and impact as a group facilitator.
Whether you’re just beginning to lead sessions or exploring how to enhance your practice, it will support you in building the confidence and capability to guide meaningful, inclusive, and safe group experiences.
The online training is delivered in three modules that build on one another, while each module can also stand alone as a complete and self-contained learning experience.
Facilitator Skills Training Module 2: Practicing – Putting Skills into Practice
This two-hour online practice lab deepens the eight core facilitation skills through application. The focus is on the shift from knowing what to do, to knowing how to be as a facilitator if situations become complex, emotional, or unpredictable.
While Module 1 focused on awareness, ethics, core tools and recognizing what good facilitation looks like, Module 2 is about practicing those skills in challenging scenarios. We explore making sound judgment calls, working with presence and intuition and adapting skillfully when things are uncertain or under pressure
Through reflection, demonstration, and peer learning, you will:
• Strengthen your ability to facilitate from embodiment, not just technique
• Build adaptive facilitation skills to respond wisely to unpredictability, emotion, group dynamics, and conflict
• Practice ethical decision-making in complex situations, where there is no perfect response
• Develop confidence in their authentic facilitation style during challenging moments
• Be able to recognise and facilitate progress, and to nurture momentum- for a group and for themselves
Schedule
The training will be offered on 2 different time zones to accommodate all those who are interested:

PM session: 19 October 2026 at 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm BST, check your time here
AM session: 20 October 2026 at 8:00 am to 10.00 am BST, check your time zone here

Who is this training for:
This training is for Facilitators, educators, meditation leaders and anyone leading group discussions or activities.
Registration:
To register, please fill in this form
Once you register you will receive the Zoom link and all the information you will need in order attend.
If you have any questions, please contact info@compassionandwisdom.org
What Happens after the training?
Participants are invited to attend Module 3 of the Facilitation Skills Training where you will explore embodied facilitation, intentional facilitation moves and working with complexity. Dates TBC
Generosity
In a spirit of generosity this training is offered on a donate what you can basis, with a suggested donation of £25. To make a donation of any amount, please visit our support page.
**As always all of our trainings and courses are offered free to ordained sangha, this one included.
Who are the trainers?
Wendy Ridley- Wendy is a Senior Faculty member teaching all levels of 16 Guidelines, 16G for children and teens, Unlocking Your Potential and Building Balanced Empathy and training our next generation of facilitators. She is an Education Consultant and is on the FDCW board.
Wendy has over 30 years experience working in education – as a teacher, university lecturer, local education authority adviser and consultant specialising in religious education and diversity issues. This provided her with skills and passion to develop, deliver and oversee training programmes so she thrives on the sharing involved in facilitating 16G workshops and developing UE materials.
Lizzy Lewis- Lizzy is a 16 Guidelines Level 1 facilitator based in West Sussex (UK.). She has worked in education for the past 27 years as a teacher, teacher educator, senior charity manager, consultant and writer.
She specializes in Philosophy for Children (P4C), Mindfulness, Oracy, Global Education and Values-based Education.
You can watch Lizzy leading a short meditation on ‘Enhancing Friend Connections‘, Lizzy shared this meditation during the Growing Compassionate Hearts Conference. It invites us to reflect on our friends ‘What is it that makes a good friend?’ and ‘How can we be one?’

Retiro de Yoga con las 16 Actitudes
2026-10-30 12:00 - 2026-11-02 17:00 (Europe/Madrid) | Suryavana centro de retiros, Autovía Valencia-Teruel, salida 42, 1º rotonda, 1º salida, Jérica, Castellon, 12450, Spain
*This retreat is offered in Spanish.
Retiro Yoga 16A
Cuatro días para parar de verdad, respirar y volver a lo esencial, en un grupo pequeño y cercano.
Del viernes 30 de octubre al lunes 2 de noviembre de nos reunimos en el Centro de Retiros Suryavana, un templo budista rodeado de naturaleza entre Valencia y Teruel, para compartir una experiencia de práctica, descanso y conexión.
Sobre este Retiro
Este retIro propone un ritmo sencillo: empezamos con Yoga para parar y seguimos con el Yoga de las 16 Actitudes. Esta edición trabajaremos dos que se acompañan bien en estas fechas: el perdón —soltar lo que pesa— y la alegría —volver a celebrar lo que hay.

Durante el retiro combinaremos:

Yoga y pranayama diarios
Meditación y Yoga Nidra
Paseos y tiempo en la naturaleza
Trabajo práctico con las 16 Actitudes: perdón y alegría
La ceremonia del café de la tarde
Baños de sonido
Convivencia en un grupo reducido

Detalles Prácticos:
Este retiro se ofrece en persona en el centro de retiros Suryavana del viernes 30 de octubre al lunes 2 de noviembre (4 días · 3 noches).

Suryavana es un centro de retiros y templo budista en plena naturaleza, a poco más de una hora de Valencia por la autovía de Teruel. Un entorno recogido, tranquilo y pensado justo para lo que buscamos: parar.

Sala de yoga y meditación amplia y luminosa
Patios y espacios al aire libre delante de la casa
Pensión completa vegetariana / vegana (adaptable a intolerancias y sin gluten)
Entorno natural para pasear y descansar

Opciones de alojamiento

Habitación compartida (4 camas): 350 €
Habitación doble: 365 €
Habitación individual: 375 €

Todas las opciones incluyen:

3 noches de alojamiento
Pensión completa vegetariana (desde la cena del primer día hasta la comida del último)
Todas las actividades y sesiones del retiro

*Puedes obtener más informacion y reservar tu plaza AQUI. Las plazas son limitadas a un máximo de 14 participantes
Sobre el Instructor: Alejandro Sherab

Enseño yoga y meditación desde una práctica sencilla, sostenible y profundamente integrada en la vida cotidiana. Mi enfoque une movimiento, respiración y contemplación para ayudar a las personas a encontrar más presencia, claridad y equilibrio en medio de la vida real. A través de Sherab Yoga acompaño espacios de práctica honestos, accesibles y humanos, inspirados en la tradición de Krishnamacharya y la práctica contemplativa budista.
For inspiring guided meditations with Alejandro and much more, please check Alejandro’s You Tube channel

Rencontre Retraite: Transformer les problèmes avec compassion | en français
2026-11-14 10:00 - 2026-11-16 17:30 (Europe/Paris) | Vajra Yogini, les clauzades, Marzens, tarn, 81500, France
Rencontre Retraite : Transformer les problèmes avec compassion, une retraite pour femmes
Aperçu de l’atelier :
Entre créativité, nature et explorations intérieures, ces trois jours de retraite offrent un espace pour se rencontrer soi-même avec bienveillance.
Les difficultés qui jalonnent notre chemin peuvent être rencontrées, traversées et transformées. Avec douceur, nous serons invités à porter un regard autre sur nos conditionnements, nos peurs et nos attentes afin de révéler ce qui demeure au-delà de ces voiles : notre nature profonde.
Mandalas floraux éphémères, méditations créatives et temps de silence rythmeront cette retraite, offrant autant de chemins pour s’inspirer et se reconnecter à l’essentiel.
Plus d’infos:

Mixité choisie : Stage réservé aux femmes.
Horaires : samedi 14 Nov. – 10:00 lundi 16 Nov. 2026 – 17:30
Tarif: 120€ et TR sur demande.
Renseignements par email: hilary.educationuniverselle@gmail.com

Facilitatrice-
Hilary Mc Michael-Anglaise d’origine et méditerranéenne de cœur, je suis engagée dans l’Éducation Universelle depuis 2009. Formatrice MBSR certifiée, j’intègre la pleine conscience à ma vie et à mes accompagnements. J’anime également des ateliers de mandalas végétaux inspirés des « Morning Altars ». Jardinière et artiste, je transmets ces pratiques en séances individuelles ou collectives, dans une démarche de simplicité et de sobriété heureuse.
