Speak Truth; Speak Care: A 5 week class
in Mancos, Colorado; in person; April 2nd - May 7th 2024
It has been said that Nonviolent Communication is a spiritual practice masquerading as a communication technique. The communication technique offers us tools to share what’s true for us without blame, judgments or demands, while hearing what is precious to others, even when what is communicated is wrapped in a shroud of resentment. The spiritual practice invites us into taking responsibility for what feelings and needs move within us, to see the clear and relatable human longings within others, and to use all of this information to change our lives from the inside out.
Most of us weren’t given the skills to navigate conflict in a way that maintains everyone’s dignity while striving for solutions that work for all. We often reach for blame, shame, appeasement, and power-over to “win" conflicts when tools of listening, perspective-taking, dialoguing, and collaboration can wrap relationships in connection and trust like a security blanket. In these challenging times, building resilient relationships is some of the truest security I know.
In this 5 week workshop participants will learn to:
* connect with yourself to discover what matters to you, absent of “shoulds,” societal conditioning, and social pressure
* express yourself honestly without alienating others
* connect with and learn to take the perspective of folks across political and ideological divides
* hear what’s important to others even if their message carries blame and judgment
* find mutually satisfying solutions that take everyone’s needs into account
* ask for what you want with clarity and openness
Time and Place:
5pm - 7pm, 5 Tuesdays: April 2, 9, 16, 30, and May 7 (no class April 23)
Where: Mancos Public Library, except 4/9 at Mancos Grange
Cost: Sliding scale $150 - $250, scholarships available
Carpools from Durango available
To Register:
Venmo @Rachel-Turiel or Paypal: rachelbturiel@gmail.com
Please reach out with any questions: rachelbturiel@gmail.com
Know Yourself, Speak Your Truth, Change the World
A Five-Week Class on Mindful Communication with Kate Siber and Rachel Turiel
IN PERSON ONLY
Wednesday Evenings, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
January 24 and 31 & February 7, 21 and 28, 2024
What we say matters. When our words are truthful and kind, they can be a powerful force for good—for ourselves, for others and for the world. Mindful speech is an essential part of spiritual and psychological growth, and listening deeply is a way to attune to others, to acknowledge what is true for them, and to widen our perspectives to include more of humanity.
Have you wondered how to say what’s true for you in a way people can truly receive and understand? Or how to hear what matters to someone behind a rant, complaint or grievance? If so, this class is for you.
Join Kate Siber and Rachel Turiel in this five-week class that will weave timeless Buddhist teachings on wise speech with the powerful relational practices and principles of Nonviolent Communication.
In the spirit of openness, curiosity and humor, this course will include guided meditations, short dharma talks and teachings, experiential practices in small groups, discussion, and optional readings. Our intention is to support you in deepening your mindfulness practice and your connection to yourself, and to offer practical communication skills that you can take into your life and the world, leading to more effectiveness in your work and more understanding and connection in your relationships.
All are welcome and you don’t need meditation experience to participate.
COST: Sliding scale of $66, $98, $138, or $174. Two options for scholarships are available, including either half-fee at $33, or no-fee at $0.00. We invite you to consider paying at the highest level you can to make it possible for others to join on scholarship. Thank you for your generosity.
Registration fees go directly to the Durango Dharma Center. Rachel and Kate will be supported solely by the donations of participants through the ancient practice of dana, or mutual generosity, which has been alive since the time of the Buddha. Those offering the teachings rely upon your teacher support, and there will be the opportunity to offer donations to Rachel and Kate.
DATE: Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. MT, January 24 and 31 & February 7, 21 and 28
LOCATION: Durango Dharma Center, 1800 East 3rd Ave, Ste 109, Durango, CO 81301
QUESTIONS: If you have questions, please reach out to Kurt at registrar@durangodharma.org or at 970-426-8983.
ABOUT RACHEL TURIEL: Rachel Turiel’s mission is to inspire and support both personal and community growth by offering tools of communication and group collaboration. She has facilitated trainings and mediations at many schools, organizations and businesses locally and nationally. In 2019 she won the Durango Women’s Resource Center Extraordinary Woman Award: Champion of Peace and Nonviolence. Nonviolent Communication, for her, is both practical and spiritual, containing seeds to change ourselves and the world. She has been published in The New York Times, is raising two teenagers, one dog, four chickens, and runs on coffee, reads novels as a survival strategy, and does it all with a flip phone. More on her website.
ABOUT KATE SIBER: Kate Siber serves as a dharma leader for the Durango Dharma Center. She has been practicing meditation since 2013, when she first attended Next Gen, a group for people in their 20s and 30s, and a beginning meditation class at the center. She participated in the sixth iteration of Spirit Rock’s Community Dharma Leader Program and completed her training with an 11-month Dharma Mentoring Program with Erin Treat and Pamela Weiss. Spending time in wild nature has been a dharma gateway for Kate and she enjoys sitting long retreats of a month or more. Kate is a freelance writer, a correspondent for Outside magazine and a bestselling children's book author. You can learn more about her writing work and sign up for her newsletter on her website
ABOUT:
Join Ashley Carruth (founder/director of SOLES) and Rachel Turiel for a leadership development and peer support group for high school girls*. Increase your skills of self-awareness, effective communication, showing up for others with compassion, and taking empowered action towards living with more integrity and authenticity. We believe that students will be able to transfer skills learned within C3 to the broader Durango community.
We'll embark from Durango High School for a walk to a nearby community space where we’ll then circle up to discuss weekly topics, practice communication skills, and empower each other towards living more courageously, rising above the drama and strategizing towards bringing more leadership skills to our lives.
*Girls refers to gender expansive youth (cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, gender queer youth and any girl-identified youth.)
WHY 3C:
Adolescent girls are experiencing increasing rates of anxiety and depression. Ashley and Rachel see the brilliance and competence that is so often overshadowed by self doubt, unattainable societal expectations and unexpressed emotion. We want to support high school youth in building confidence through sharing their authentic selves with each other, learning and practicing effective and empowering communication skills, and test-driving leadership skills in their lives each week.
TESTIMONIALS FROM RACHEL AND ASHLEY’S PILOT PROGRAM @ ANIMAS HIGH SCHOOL:
I feel like the class on self-compassion helped me understand how harmful the words I tell myself can be. After this class I was able to step away from my reflection (in the mirror) and spend my time doing something I enjoy.
-Ava
A new outlook I have might be my outlook on humanity because we learned how to take into account what another person may be feeling or thinking when they do something I may not have liked. I also learned how to make a request that portrays my needs to someone in a healthy manner.
- Emma
The class “Becoming Skilled with my emotions” impacted me by teaching me new ways to cope with my emotions, and therefore I have gained many new “daily tasks” like getting off my phone, and spending time outside, which has helped me see new perspectives.
-Kena
DATES:
8 Thursdays, January 26th - March 16th. 4pm - 6pm.
$275, scholarships available.
Drop in Coaching
for parents of Tweens and Teens
Join us Wednesday afternoons for coaching on real life scenarios with our teens, based on principles of Nonviolent Communication, brain science, and my understanding of how teens are impacted by cultural messages, social media and the nonstop input endemic to our times. This group is offered as a drop-in class on gift economy, meaning everyone is invited to contribute what is doable and joyful for them.
Each parent is invited to bring a relevant scenario on which to receive coaching; to listen and absorb; and, to share their own insights and care. Together, we will accompany each other through these intense times.
Topics we’re likely to cover:
1. Looking at adolescence through a systemic lens. How the messages your teen absorbs affects their behavior.
2. Creating emotional safety. Giving your teen a place to be fully accepted as they are.
3. Repairing. Using tools of repair to build back trust.
4. Speaking truth with love. How to express your concerns, limits and desires in a way that confers care for all.
5. Agreements and Restorative Practices. When trust has been breached, how to move forward with connection to rebuild trust.
6. Technology. Reckoning with the effect of phones in our kids lives with integrity and connection.
7. Living Nonviolence. Replacing threats and punishment with restorative practices.
When: Wednesdays 4pm – 5:30pm, Oct 5th – Nov 9th
Where: In town, Durango. Contact me for info.
Email me for more info, to RSVP, and/or to receive reminder emails: rachelbturiel@gmail.com
Testimonials:
Thank you for your continued support for Silverton School. NVC has become a way of life for many of our staff, parents and even students. Your calm, consistent, honest way has helped us all learn about ourselves, each other and our children!
- Elizabeth Barszcz, Principal / Silverton Public School
Thank you so much again for the incredible parenting class you taught. I feel so honored to have been a part of it. Our home feels transformed. It took a while but I think the approach worked so much better than punishment, etc. The pace of life has not slowed but our stress has subsided and there is just so much more joy. Thank you doesn't even seem sufficient to convey the gratitude I feel.
- Maya Kane, attorney
My former husband, his wife, and I met with Rachel to discuss some things we were seeing with our son. Rachel was extremely helpful in helping us see deeper into what our kiddo may be feeling, thus inspiring us to take a more heart-centered approach with addressing behaviors. Rachel's presence is very grounding, honest, comforting and encouraging. She has very creative - yet very practical - ideas and insights about meeting kids where they are to help them (and ourselves) roll with life's challenges.
- Joslyn Erica, owner of Hummingbird Herbals
Rachel is kind and gentle. She is relatable and time with her just seems to stand still in the best way. Not feeling rushed when you're with her gives you the perfect opportunity to build rapport, develop open communication, and gain insights to growth. As I've watched her time spent with the adolescent girls at Silverton school, I have noticed a shift in our language and developing a culture of non-violence is so appreciated this day in age! Her soft, steadfast approach brings ease to the group and helps students find their own calm so they can regulate and find clarity to step into their own power.
-Megan Brosh, social worker @ Silverton Public School
My child had this to say: ‘You are SUCH a better mom now than you were before you started the class. I can’t believe how much you have changed.’ And she’s right. In particular, I have noticed that my new skills in empathetic listening have opened up really strong channels of communication and trust building. This is incredibly valuable to me right now, as we are navigating some very difficult and scary waters related to teen mental health. Like my child, I am a work in progress, but by learning these tools, and practicing them in my own unique way, I have made a tremendous amount of progress in parenting in a way that reflects my deepest values and commitments.
- Kyce Bello, Santa Fe
