Marshall Rosenberg developed Non-Violent Communication, a set of principles and practices designed to increase awareness, connection, and understanding. His teachings have been used around the world to reduce conflict, support non-violent social change, and improve individual health.

This class is for those who want to deepen their practice of compassion, listening, and being present to others.

In this four-session adventure, we will explore NVC, noting the four components of observations, feelings, needs, and requests. We will practice translating someone’s “story” to knowing their feelings and needs, and in turn, have the experience of being present to someone’s experience without any judgment of them.

Marshall quotes Chinese philosopher Chuang-Tzu: “The hearing that is only in the ears is one thing. The hearing of the understanding is another. But the hearing of the spirit is not limited to any one faculty, to the ear, or the mind. Hence it demands the emptiness of all the faculties. And when the faculties are empty, then the whole being listens. There is then a direct grasp of what is right there before you that can never be heard with the ear or understood with the mind."