Exciting new format this Monday! Thanks to all those who have been participating in the Empathy Cafe's in the last couple of months. It has been a fun and connecting experience.

This Monday, we'll modify the format a little, based on wishes expressed by past participants. We'll continue to include empathetic reflection (like what we've been doing at the Empathy Cafes up to this point) for those inexperienced or rusty with NVC. In addition, for those with NVC training or experience, we'll include in the format the guessing feelings and needs of the speaker (NVC style). We'll also try opening the reflection and feeling & needs guesses to all listeners in a group, so everyone stays involved the whole time.

Join Edwin Rutsch, Vicki Lapp and others for an empathy circle. Edwin will facilitate so each person will be heard and receive empathy. Our intention for the circle is to foster and build a local empathic community. That is to nurture empathy for ourselves (self-empathy), empathic connection in the circle, as well as, in the larger society & world.

Open to experienced nvc people, as well as those who don't even know what nvc stands for, but appreciate empathetic listening. This is an opportunity to build and establish a sense of community and connection, using simple, easy to use reflective listening techniques.

Come participate in creating and being nourished by a local empathy based community that supports our deepest values, needs, aspirations and dreams.

Meet Every Monday

We will try to meet every week on Mondays, alternating between Berkeley and Oakland locations.

This a free event. Please consider purchasing some food or beverage from the venue to support them in offering the space. Also, donations to pay for the meetup site will also be gladly accepted.

For more information about the circle and Edwin's work, see:
http://facebook.com/events/550101135080912/ (https://www.facebook.com/events/550101135080912/)
http://cultureofempathy.com (http://cultureofempathy.com/)

Participants Comments: I Like...

• The structure of this practice allowed/facilitated connection and understanding with my partners.

• Opportunity to listen, share, be heard and be seen.

• Laughter. Reflection leading to further insight.

• I feel nourished by the stories and feelings everyone shared. Nice location. I like that the group is slowing growing.

• People listening rather that giving advice.

• Being heard, not being judged/pressured into saying the right thing.

• Being able to practice empathy, especially reflective listening.

• The intentions setting and lighting the candles. Felt it set a great tone for the group and why we were all there. I enjoyed splitting into the smaller groups so that we could have a lot of involvement in the group.