Half-Day Retreat: What Matters Most
You know the way you can get stuck in routine, and forget to take time out to nourish yourself, reflect, and realign with what’s important?
You do all the things you ‘have to’ do, and behave in all the ways you’re expected to. But it’s so easy to become slightly out of touch with who you are, and why you’re even doing any of this.
You probably still remember what you really want from life. Sort of. But it’d be good to make more time for it, and proactively steer your life in a direction that’s as fulfilling as you want it to be.
You’ve most likely also had a few memorable times in your life when you stepped out of all of that.
You know those spaces when you slow down enough to appreciate what really nourishes you?
Spaces where people speak and listen from the heart, conversations touch on things that feel deep and authentic, and you feel a sense of belonging.
Where you can really tune into yourself and connect with aspects of your inner wisdom that felt slightly out of reach, and perhaps find answers to some of the questions you’ve been unclear about.
This workshop is an invitation to spend an afternoon in that kind of space. To pause your busy life and connect with others in ways that feel real and human.
And to turn your attention towards what you most care about. In your relationships, your work, and your way of being in the world. In ways that bring more clarity, warmth, and meaning.
What to Expect:
Through guided practices, shared reflection, deep listening, and honest conversation, we’ll explore what brings meaning and coherence to our lives, and what it might look like to stay rooted in that awareness in the midst of daily life. The workshop will draw on tools and practices from Nonviolent Communication.
You’ll have time for sharing in pairs and for group discussion, and you’ll experience the quality of connection that emerges when people listen with curiosity and care. And you’ll leave with a deeper sense of ease and alignment with yourself, and renewed appreciation for human connection.
Event Details:
The event will run from 1:30 to 5:30 pm, with a comfort break in the middle - we’ll provide teas, coffee and snacks.
The workshop takes place in Cloughjordan Ecovillage in Tipperary. This is on the train line from Dublin and Limerick, so it's accessible by public transport from most parts of Ireland.
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For more information about this or other events, or for any questions, please have a look at Mel and Aaron’s website, or please email intraconnecting@gmail.com
Pay what you can afford!
We don't want anyone to miss this opportunity for financial reasons, so we're offering a sliding scale from €30-70, which includes drinks and snacks.
For full transparency: the lower rates are not enough to cover our running costs - we hope some people will be willing to pay more to support those who would struggle to pay the full amount. If the minimum recommended contribution is still not accessible for you, please get in touch to discuss bursary, concessions, or other gift economy offerings.
How to book:
To secure your place at the training, please either pay your full donation, or pay a deposit of €20. The remaining contribution can be paid at the event.
Payment can be made either on Eventbrite, or by bank transfer (see booking form for details).
About the trainers:
Mel first encountered NVC around 20 years ago, when she stumbled upon Marshall Rosenberg's book in a charity shop. Reading it had a huge impact on her, and changed the way she perceived relationships. She later began training in NVC, and hasn't looked back since! Mel is also an award-winning spoken word poet and a visual artist, and a trained facilitator of Restorative Circles. Mel is constantly trying to find a balance between the things that are important to her, including connection and authenticity, autonomy and collaboration, creativity, lifelong learning, and creating a culture that aspires to meet the needs of all within planetary boundaries.
Aaron came across NVC when he was 18 years old and remembers how visceral it was: 'to my younger, and fairly open, mind it felt right, like I had found one of the puzzle pieces to my life - something that would take time to explore and integrate, but something that was making more sense of the other things'. Interested in people-dynamics, system-change, and conflict, he sought out mediation, Restorative Circles, and NVC training in Ireland and abroad. Aaron also practises nonviolence through martial arts, and has been active in the environmental movement in Ireland through peaceful civil disobedience.
For both Mel and Aaron, NVC helps bring clarity, authenticity, and empathy to this shared human experience. They would like to share these skills with anyone else willing to explore their communication and listening patterns, and inner worlds full of feelings, needs, and desires for more fulfilling lives. With the escalating levels of conflict, violence, polarisation, and disharmony in the world they feel called to offer these spaces where we can learn to embody compassionate states of consciousness, and practice skills that support us to nurture each other and thrive.