Each one of us has a knowing of what it means to be "whole." It's unique to the individual, yet vital to celebrating life in community. How often do we have an opportunity to explore deeply, in an intimate and meaningful way, who we are? And to do that in a community of friends, colleagues, and peers, and while inspired by the poetry of David Whyte in the magnificent setting of Asilomar on the Pacific Coast?
This year's fall EANT Conference is just that opportunity. I invite you to gift yourself this time to immerse in personal exploration via the Enneagram and the evocative contributions of David Whyte. I first met David Whyte in the mid-'90s and have since been fortunate enough to have heard him teach and lecture on several occasions. His prose book , The Heart Aroused, is one I often share with co-workers for its call to being awake to ourselves and open-hearted in our work.
I am proud and excited to offer you the EANT Conference 2011, to be held in one of the most beautiful spots on this continent, with David Whyte, one of today's most articulate, genuine, and charismatic authors and speakers. I am also honored to offer our beloved founding teachers — inspiring in their own right — Helen Palmer and David Daniels, and peer presenters teaching and applying the Enneagram in the Narrative Tradition through their own insights, sharing with us their practices and instructional methods. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I am pleased to announce that returning to us in "Conference Chair" capacity is EANT Member and Teacher, Sandra Smith, whose Conference 2010 at Montreat in North Carolina, featuring Cynthia Bourgeault, was such a resounding success on many levels we are still experiencing the after-glow. We are thrilled to have her with us, guiding us, again in 2011.
Gerry Fathauer
EANT President
I add my encouragement to Gerry's invitation for you to give yourself the gift of this up-and-coming October conference, one that invites us into a posture of spacious attention and an inner depth, out of which our wholeness emerges. Our theme, our setting, and our sessions will gently lead us into an exploration of our virtues and the compassion inherent in us when we become present and receptive.
You can anticipate moving your body whether by the ocean or in Merrill Hall. Cutting-edge presentations will offer new insights and nudge us to expand our perspective so that we limit ourselves less. And, if you're willing for your heart to be touched, then the poetry of the natural world, the poetry of David Whyte, as well as the poetry that our community weaves each time we gather to grow new, will soften us.
The richness of our Narrative Tradition community offers a powerful energetic to our time together as we attend to our inner life and engage each other with questions and affirmation, with imagination and presence.
Eligibility to Participate in this Year's Conference
For those of you teaching the Enneagram, please consider inviting your
students to attend this conference. You may have noticed that the
registration form includes "students of certified EPTP teachers." This
option was first offered at our 2008 conference, and several students made fine contributions to our gathering. So, consider extending an invitation to those students in your classes/workshops who are seriously engaged in personal growth and have a working understanding of the Enneagram.
Gerry, the Conference Planning Circle (Elaine Culverwell, Madeline D'Andrea, Joe D'Andrea, Suzanne Dion, Susan Olesek, N'Shama Sterling, Anne Wotring, and Mary Anne Wampler), and I look all forward to seeing you in October!
In Anticipation,
Sandra Smith
Conference Chair 2011
