PRICE:

Early Bird (by January 27, 2023): $400.00 with 2 nights of campsite included. 

Regular fee: $400.00 (+ $30/night per campsite – optional)

*Limited scholarships available. See below for more info.

DESCRIPTION

Council Training 2 is a powerful opportunity to deepen one’s practice and explore the more complex contours of the work. This training is geared toward folks who have been facilitating Council for some time and have had direct experience with challenging situations, conflict and shadow dynamics in groups. Facilitators may also be starting to look at some personal obstacles that have shown up in their development as a practitioner.

This workshop delves into the specific forms of Council suited for a variety of situations and explores the joys and challenges of bringing Council into different parts of our lives. It offers a chance to develop more facility with “Reading the Interactive Field” and learning to invite “The Witness” perspective. One of the primary intentions of Council 2 is to support facilitators who are starting to encounter the sometimes powerful energies released in Council and to encourage them to move out of their comfort zones and “Turn Into The Skid,” learning how to navigate and best serve the circle, while maintaining safety and containment.

We offer a welcoming and inclusive space, in particular for marginalized groups, including BIPOC participants and LGBTQ+ identifying individuals. We respect and welcome diversity, recognize above all our shared humanity, and emphasize that council allows us to drop labels, expectations and biases.

We recommend the prerequisite of Council I training, and ideally a year or more to participate in and facilitate councils. The experience gained in circle will support your evolution as a facilitator, in addition to giving you the material needed for our time together in this training.

In this 2-day training you will:

• • Further develop facilitation and communication skills  
  • Deepen connections to community 
  • Apply Council to support Social Justice  
  • Broaden understanding and practice of “reading the field”, noting what is unspoken and intuiting the shared energy and needs of the circle 
  • Explore tools for mindfulness, self-inquiry and self-regulation  
  • Investigate ways to navigate moments of heightened emotion, both for participants and as a facilitator 

Itinerary

Saturday, March 4, 2023 – 9:00am-5:00pm.
Sunday, March 5, 2023 – 9:00am-5:00pm.

Please plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to the start time to allow for a prompt beginning.

Accommodations (campsite only)

Participants may camp for up to two evenings (Friday and Saturday) on the land at the cost of $30 per night (per campsite, each campsite allows one tent with max of 2 people). Participants must provide all their own gear. Topa Institute has drinking water, flush toilets, hot showers, and level campsites available. For those wishing to camp on the evening of Friday March 3rd, please plan to arrive between 3-6 pm.

For those who wish to make other arrangements, there are numerous hotels in Ojai that are within 10-15 minutes from Topa Institute by car.

Food

There will be light refreshments and snacks with the course (coffee, tea, simple snacks, etc.). Participants are expected to bring a bag lunch for Saturday and Sunday, and provide their own food for all other meals. Note: There is no kitchen available for use.

**Pricing

Topa Institute is committed to making the work accessible. As one part of this, we are offering a limited amount of needs-based financial aid. We would like to support all those who are interested and particularly those who have traditionally faced barriers in accessing such courses, those from marginalized and excluded backgrounds and identities- including queer people, trans and gender nonconforming people, people of color, and people with diverse immigrant backgrounds and statuses.

If you wish to apply for scholarship, please complete this form by January 27th, 2023. We will respond to all requests by February 1st, 2023.

Transportation

Participants are responsible for getting to and from the course. You can find driving directions using this Google Maps link. Parking is available onsite.

Fragrance-Free event

Please refrain from using any products containing artificial fragrances (perfume, cologne, hair products, deodorant, etc.). This allows people with chemical sensitivities to have equitable access to the event. If you have questions or need support, please write to contact@topainstitute.org

*COVID-19 Protocol & Safety Plan

Cancellations due to COVID-19

We recognize that planning is difficult for many during a pandemic. We ask that all participants read and sign the Topa Institute COVID-19 policy. If anyone tests positive for, exhibits any of the signs and symptoms of, or has had significant exposure to COVID-19 within 14 days of the course, you will be asked to NOT attend the course, and will be given a full refund of your money. If there are other comparable circumstances where a refund is needed, please reach out, and we will work to accommodate the need as best we can. The practices for safety continue to change, and we will adjust accordingly, but below are some of our standard practices at this time.

Common Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19

Please be sure to familiarize yourself with the following common signs and symptoms of COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face

If you are experiencing any of the above signs and symptoms within 14 days of the course, please reach out to contact@topainstitute.org immediately.

COVID-19 Safety Plan

• People may choose to mask at any time.
• If you’ve been exposed, wear a mask for 10 days.
• Individual water bottles are required, and there are spigots with filtered water for refills.
• Frequent hand washing and hand-sanitizing are encouraged, and soap and hand sanitizer will be provided. Individuals are encouraged to bring a personal hand sanitizer dispenser if desired.
• Topa Institute reserves the right to enforce the COVID Safety Plan with registered participants onsite, or refuse the right to participation for anyone unwilling to comply with the measures deemed necessary by Topa Institute, in accordance with CDC guidelines and Ventura County protocol and approved worksite plan.