Circle of Connection
The Way of Story
Be recognized and honour your shared humanity and interconnectedness
“There is an immense need now, more than ever, to slow down, to listen with heart, and speak with wisdom.”
Circle of Connection
(Included in The Apprentice & Student Training Tracks)
Relative identification and separation is a manifestation of the mind’s dual functioning. The simplicity of our primal human brain evolved into reliance and dependancy on the complexities of the now modern mind. As our collective minds define the intricacies of function and roles in a highly specialised world, so too has it conflated these into a complexity of separation, identity and realities. The essential function of the relative, dual nature of the various polarities appears to be diverging, and becoming more disconnected, estranged, and competitive.
The heart, on the other-hand, is by nature, non-dual. It does not prejudice, discriminate, separate, define or disconnect. The heart’s function is to unite, to find similarity. It embraces and loves diversity. For the heart, the more difference, oddity, weirdness, the more opportunity it has to expand its love muscle. Absolute in its unconditionality, regardless of opposition, it tends energy toward wholeness and pure connection.
“Nature depends on the merging of polarity for it to regenerate. Polarities, when fused create diversity. Unity and diversity owe their existence to each other. Unity is diversity, and diversity is unity, or: the Absolute is the Relative, and the Relative is the Absolute. The Middle Way of Zen and Daoism: Yin is Yang, Yang is Yin.” – Ekan Nangaku
At BEZA we train community members and group facilitators, equipping them with essential tools to build and maintain the growing need for community connection. To find solutions to our challenges as a collective we gather in our Circle of Connection to recognize and honour our shared humanity and interconnectedness. When trust is cultivated, one’s heart’s wisdom and truthful expression has what is needed to build purposeful alignments and effective collaboration. This, in turn, reinforces trust and fosters much needed resiliency, flexibility and reliability in all relationships.
Advanced Training Track
The APPRENTICE
Apprentices enter the Advanced Track through the Holistic Gatekeeper Apprentice Gateway. By combining Meditation with Shamanic practice you deepen your understanding of Self. This monthly membership of R750 (€100) offers you everything in The Initiate (see above) plus the following:
- APPRENTICES receive a 7.5% discount on all In-Person Retreats
- Holistic Communication Training (1x 2hr Community Council Training recording)
- 1x 3hr Community Council gathering per month (live online)
- 1x 50min Heart Mentoring Session per Elemental Module (live online)
- 1x Ango per year (a 3 month at-home Mindfulness Practice Intensive)
- 1x 50min Divination Session per year (live online)
- *Invitation to undergo Divination Training (10x 2hr sessions per month; minimum 5 people required; additional costs apply)
- *Completion of 2 Elemental Modules to receive a Divination
- *Completion of all 5 Elemental Modules required for Divination Training
- *Monthly Subscription & Registration required
R750/€112.50 monthly member payments
The STUDENT
Students enter the Advanced Track through the Lineage Student Gateway. Students enter into a committed relationship with the Teacher – Ekan Nangaku – as his formal Student and of the Lineages he carries. This membership is by invitation having first displayed your dedication to your spiritual evolution through The Apprentice Track. This monthly membership of R1000 (€125) offers you everything in The Apprentice (see above) plus the following:
- STUDENTS receive a 10% discount on all In-Person Retreats
- 1x 50min STUDENT Mentoring Session per month (live online)
- 2x 50min Divinations per year (live online)
- 1x 2hr Zen Buddhist Studies class per month (live online)
- 1x 2hr Zen Buddhist Precept Training per month (live online)
- *Invitation to Zen Buddhist Initiation in Japan (2 weeks; min 5 people required; additional costs apply)
- *After completing 2 Elemental Modules of being an Apprentice, a ‘Letter-of-Asking’ is required to become a Student
- *Initiation Ceremony into Student Sangha required (live online)
- *Monthly Subscription & Registration required
Gatekeeper Student Training is by invitation.
R1000/€150 monthly member payments
We plant a tree for the first training you attend. We help restore your inner and outer environment.
Becoming a student with Earth School over the last 5 months has been one of the most beautiful experiences that I have committed myself to. I have and continue to explore the depths of myself and encounter radical healing in my life. Nangaku’s open hearted way is a privilege to experience and witness, he is generous with his wisdom and his time and has a profound capacity and love for all beings and Mother Earth. It has been an honour to learn from him and grow as an individual in a loving, abundant, wholehearted and nurturing space. Thank to Nanagku and to this growing community of truly beautiful people. Makhosi.
Benefits of Circle of Connection
Journey to Wholeness
Join together to walk side-by-side with others on the journey to wholeness and deeper relationships. In togetherness, be with others who are on the sacred journey of authentic expression and have not yet arrived. You get to remove the hats that you normally wear as a manager, counsellor, friend, leader etc. and be yourself without the need to play a ‘role’. Members of the group are allowed to go to whichever height or depth they feel comfortable with when sharing while practicing to be genuine and heartfelt at all times.
Building Trust
Be held by members of the talking circle who endeavour to be worthy of each other’s trust. They understand that you are the only one who should tell your stories. Feel safe and free to feel whatever is inside, to talk about it, and not be told you how you should feel. Be nourished and realize the value of the giving and receiving of words spoken from the heart. Learn to practice talking through differences and challenges that may be occurring in a group or in your life and how to remain present and open to bring resolution.
Learn communication skills
Learn the Community Council agreements and protocols designed to hold members mutually accountable to the purpose and values of non-violent, healthy communication. Learn to practice active listening and empower yourself and the speaker by avoiding the need or feeling of rescuing people from their life experience. Gain a clear understanding on how to set up and facilitate a Community Council circle and how to bring this methodology into your own relationships and community.
Earthen Zen
The Elemental Journal
Mountains, Rivers, and the Song of Zen: A Journey Beyond Perception
“There are mountains hidden in hiddenness…”
