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Join us for a powerful gathering of peace-builders looking to cultivate tools of resilience and hope during the ongoing crisis in Palestine and Israel. We believe that together, we can transmute despair into action and grief into a vision for a better future for all.
This retreat will incorporate compassionate sharing, dancing, movement, and trauma work while also strengthening participants' peace-building and leadership skills in these challenging and critical times. We’re inviting participants of all identities — including Israeli, Palestinian, and Jewish — along with peace-builders from around the globe to join us for this nurturing, healing, and inspiring experience.
As part of ongoing efforts among various peace activist groups to address these challenges, and to strengthen peace-builders’ capacity to take on leadership roles, we are organizing a 4-day retreat for Jewish, Israeli and Palestinian peace-builders and peace activists in the diaspora and international peace-builders who want to achieve greater reach and impact in promoting peaceful solutions. Eva Dalak and Cordula Reimann will lead the retreat, both experienced facilitators and conflict transformation experts who already work together with various peace-building groups. Jonathan Leighton will lead discussions about ethics, universal values and a vision for the future in Israel and Palestine, while Vivi Letsou, who is hosting the retreat at Zen Rocks, will share movement practices, yoga & mindfulness. We will organize ourselves in a flexible and highly participatory manner, which allows enough time for rest, self-reflection, one to each session, group work, and plenary discussions. Additionally, we offer meditation and movement practices.
The primary focus of the retreat will be enhancing the participants’ well-being, trauma-sensitivity, resilience and leadership skills. The comprehensive program will include workshops, training sessions, and discussions led by experts in the fields of mental and physical health, as well as experienced leaders in the non-violent movement. The sessions will cover topics such as stress management, self-care practices, inter-generational and collective trauma healing, conflict transformation skills, and spiritual psychology. Additionally, the retreat will provide a supportive and nurturing environment for participants to engage in peer-to-peer learning, share experiences and expand their support network.
Visionary, progressive solutions are already on the table for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, addressing the fundamental needs of both populations and helping to ensure true peace and not just a temporary pause in violence. One of the main obstacles to implementing these solutions is the persistence of fear, anger, mistrust and trauma among both Israelis and Palestinians, even though their collective vulnerabilities are very different. Since the October 7 attacks by Hamas and the ensuing war in Gaza, these elements have dramatically increased. Achieving peaceful reconciliation will require not just promoting technical solutions, but addressing the underlying emotions and trauma in ourselves and others in order to open the way to engagement, dialogue and cooperation.
Eva Dalak is an accomplished Facilitator, Trainer, and Coach with 25 years of experience in conflict transformation and organizational change. Her career spans collaborations with international organizations like the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Bank. Eva’s passion lies in soul-based peacebuilding, emphasizing that peace emanates from within each individual.
Dr. Cordula Reimann brings over 25 years of experience as a facilitator, mediator, trainer, and consultant, focusing on conflict sensitivity, peacebuilding, trauma, and gender. She has worked with grassroots movements, governmental and non-governmental organizations worldwide. Cordula’s expertise encompasses collective trauma, systemic conflict analysis, non-violent social change, and more.
A visionary and activist for positive change, Vivi returned to her homeland, Greece, in 2004 with a strong impetus to effect positive change through building enlightening communities. In her life and work she has been trying to integrate Yoga, Zen, and Tantric Philosophy, the spiritual paths she has sought to combine for over 20 years, while a filmmaker in California. Through her journey of teaching and practicing Yoga, Pilates, and meditation, Vivi has been able to find a way of practice that makes us strong in all levels and helps us to triumph even in challenging circumstances.
After years and years of meditation Vivi discovered in the powerful pithy teachings of her teacher, Sally Kempton, (https://www.sallykempton.com ), an immediate experiential path, a shortcut to enlightenment…
Zen Rocks is a place of beauty, community, and dedication to a deep practice for personal healing and global transformation. Sprawled within endless olive groves, with stunning views of mountains, sky, and sea, Zen Rocks was created as a center for deep practice, healing, community and harmonious inter-being.
Set against the dramatic expanse of the Mediterranean sea, this heavenly corner of the earth is beckoning us on a unique journey of personal growth.
Through mindfulness meditation and somatic practices we are invited to re-connect with our essential nature, rest, restore, and meet the most positive creative version of ourselves again.
Practice Areas:
There are several terraces on which yoga classes currently take place depending on the sun and the time of the day.One of our most unique attractions our newly build magnificent yoga deck. Large enough to accommodate 50-60 people with great views of the sea and horizon, our finely crafted Yoga Deck is actually one of the best places in the world to practice. You are up there in heaven practically, with mesmerising views and a very pleasant breeze even in the hottest summer days, our Yoga Shala makes your trip to Mani worthy and memorable.
Meals:
Home cooked, vegetarian and/or vegan meals may be prepared according to your needs and preferences. We use local seasonal produce grown from our land or neighboring gardens. Fresh goat milk, daily eggs, and hand picked fresh fruit can be added to your menu. Your meals are prepared by wonderful inspired cooks.
Retreat Package including the program, meals & accommodations:
Stay in shared accommodations arranged by order of registration. (If you sharing room with your own party, please indicate the name of the other person)
Our aim is to make the course financially accessible whilst covering the costs involved in producing and running the course and, if possible, supporting our Thriving community here at Zen Rocks.
Together, we Thrive!
Join the program for a whole day. Meals included.
(2-5 scholarships available) For those in need of financial assistance, students & youth, feel free to attend the program and support us by donating without breaking the bank! (You will need to provide your own accommodations & meals)
You are welcome to join and camp at Zen Rocks by bringing your own tent. This rate helps us sustain the course, the creators, instructors and community that is offering it. (Including daily meals)
This rate helps us sustain the course, compensate the teachers & instructors, while you enjoy your stay in our Glamping Tents or Dorms. (Meals included)
This option helps sustain the course and enables us to offer more scholarships while enabling us organizing future events. (Room accommodations & meals included)
