The Need
We believe that we are engaged in an evolutionary transition and that the next step in our development requires conscious participation in our own growth. Conditioned by our limited understanding of how consciousness creates, we need to explore and develop new models and patterns of learning about ourselves and our nature as consciousness.

We live in stressful times with the political and economic forecasts continuously reminding us of how fragile our sense of stability really is. We are challenged to find balance and harmony in ourselves that exists independent of outside circumstance. Relying on the outside social support that our traditional institutions have provided in the past is problematic. Our families, schools, community services organizations and religious institutions are suffering from the same stresses that we feel so intimately in our own lives. It is, therefore, not surprising that to generate a sense of well being, we must turn our attention to the resources that exist within us to learn new skills for managing and expanding our state of being.

In-life Retreat
The concept of an in-life retreat center was born out of our changing lifestyles that leave little time for inner reflection and personal growth. By offering ongoing classes and workshops in Palo Alto, people can practice more frequently and bring this learning into their daily lives. The methods used, such as experiential exercises, sharing of examples and real life applications also help to integrate the work done in class into all aspects of the students' lives. Thus, this center is an in-life retreat in time, location and experience.

The practices themselves are designed to be taken into daily life by including experiential and intellectual learning in an approach, which integrates the mind, body and spirit. Another aspect of this practical application, is the focus on process as opposed to content, which encourages original and continuing evolution. Different learning needs and stages of growth are addressed through the core classes and workshops which include Becoming Self-Aware, Cultivating the Inner Life, Creative Play and Energy Tapping (EFT). These approaches use conceptual and experiential learning, meditation practices, experimental creativity and energy work to explore and learn.

Executive Director
Ellen Miller, Author and Teacher

Board of Directors
Gary Sherman, MSW

Judy Tatelbaum, LCSW

Martin Weiner, Ph.D.

Lesley Strother

Advisory Board
Hal Zina Bennett, Ph.D., Author and Teacher

Carie Broecker, Author and Teacher

Pierre Delattre, MFA, Author and Fine Artist

Gail Gregory, L.Ac., Acupuncturist and Healer

David Holzgang, MBA, Communications Consultant

Nancy Ortenstone, MFA, Fine Artist

Suzanne Punch, Fine Artist and Teacher

Marcia Taylor, MA, Artist and Counselor

Diane Wind Wardell, Ph.D., RNC, Author, Healer and Teacher