The European Pod has been developing over a period of many years dating back to the early 90's with courses offered by Gigi Coyle (Germany and Holland), Leon Berg (Italy, Germany and England) and Susanna Knittel (Italy, Switzerland and France).

For the past five years Gigi has initiated a series of trainings there closely associated with and sponsored by both the School of Lost Borders and the Ojai Foundation, working consistently with the network of Vision Fast Guides throughout Europe. She and Marlow Hotchkiss have offered a series of trainings in Germany for people working in the areas of health and healing, social service, business, and education. 

Latest news from Europe - December 2010:

• Six trainings were held in Europe this fall by Marlow and Gigi, as well 3 mentoring days.

• The ECN met and 20 people from different countries, ages, and backgrounds deepened in council governance over a period of 3 days. Marlow and Gigi served as witnesses, and a Leadership Council-of-5 was confirmed to help move the network forward during this next year.

• All those present established, by consensus, a way to make decisions as a network, confirmed the criteria for participation, and launched a plan for the next meeting.

There are 12 people currently being mentored to be Council Trainers in the Ojaitradition, following the guidelines as adapted by Gigi and Marlow for Europe. There are many more leading and facilitating councils throughout England, Scotland,Switzerland, Holland, Austria, and Germany, in addition of course to Israel and Palestine.

There are a few people already offering trainings through their own organizations. And all are encouraged to use and offer council in their work and in their personal ives.

CCT will explore how the interface between the networks, in the US and abroad, might best unfold in the coming year. Marlow and Gigi will work as mentors and return to Europe, and possibly Israel/Palestine, at least one more time for trainings, along with a number of other CCT trainers to be announced on both websites soon.

In closing, a significant milestone in the spread of council in Europe was celebrated this Fall. With the assistance of many dedicated souls, Jack and Gigi’s THE WAY OF COUNCIL, was published in a German language edition, entitled Dergroße Rat (The Great Council)…Thanks especially to Werner, for such beautiful perseverance and Doris and Geseko as well, for their parts. In addition, Marlow’s training workbook, The Practice of Council, is also now available in German, CouncilArbeitsbuch, thanks to the Eschwege Institut. These two German publications have already resulted in a ripple effect of greater accessibility for the widening circles of council practitioners in Europe.

For more information please contact:

ECN – reinhard@ARSeminre.de

SOLB – school@lostborders.org

Gigi – gigicoyle@earthlink.net

Marlow – marlowhotchkiss@ojaifoundation.org