Tag: classes in The Work of Byron Katie

Today is the day that early bird registration begins for Year of Inquiry, starting in September.

I am soooo excited! Because I love who shows up!!

We get together to do The Work of Byron Katie for an entire year, mostly in telesessions on the phone or skype, and two in-person retreats in Seattle.

Every month, a new topic: family of origin, complaining, money, the body, romance, sexuality, death. Twelve powerful topics and all their underlying beliefs, up for questioning.

Problem is, there are a few….

….between our stories, the way we see things, and entering deep inquiry.

You want me to give up my terrible and wonderful stories about the world, what’s happened to me, and what could happen again in the future?

But HOW?

The first gap, or block, to shifting oneself out of believing painful thoughts is the very intense, perpetual and bottomless urge in the mind to get more information. More training, more research. More seeking. Like an ever-present attitude of hope that soon, you’ll get it or get there.

It’s not here yet, but I’ll hunt it down and get it. I’m getting closer!

A new retreat, a new teacher, a new guru, a new class, a new method, a graduate degree, a new book.

The mind LOVES that!

Then you discard the new once it’s become old, or you never really deeply access the power in it (for example doing The Work) and move on before you’ve really digested what it has to offer as a practice.

Oh, The Work is helpful, but…..SHINEY NEW OBJECT.

Heh heh. Not that I’d know anything about that.

The second key gap that keeps us immersed in stressful thinking (and feeling) and our ancient stories is the tendency for most of us to want to do it alone.

“No Thanks! I’ve studied enough! I’ve read all about that! I’ve done a mega-million retreats! I got it! Been there! Done that!”

We don’t want anyone to push us (very understandably) or boss us around, or scare us, or brainwash us, or bore us. Nor do we want to try something that winds up failing again.

So we just continue by ourselves, trying to do The Work, doing it in the car in our head, writing a worksheet every so often when we’re pretty upset, calling supportive and incredible people we know to talk, finding relief, but again never really reaching deeper understanding.

I notice as I’ve looked back on my life that every time I had a huge internal opening, a major shift…other people were involved.

I was connected, real, intimate, and exposed. Whether one-on-one or in a group….and the power of others gathered together was immense.

The third missing link or gap between the mind and reality is the uncanny ability for us to go unconsciousness. Not really our fault, simply the amazing power of the mind to bury feelings, avoid pain, whistle in the dark, or try to be “positive” without really accepting the “negative”.

It’s like we hate feeling bad so much, we’re willing to suppress and escape all upsetting feelings without looking at them directly.

Trouble is, it doesn’t work in the long run.

I used to over-eat as my primary way to try changing channels and avoid feeling what I was feeling about reality. I’ve dabbled in many other addictive behaviors as well including smoking, drinking, lusting, analyzing and working.

These are the biggest “mistakes” (there aren’t really any mistakes of course) people tend to practice that make them fizzle out or stay stuck in their uncomfortable beliefs about life and reality.

Like I said, I’ve been an expert in all three.

But in the past decade, I’ve learned to use the process of The Work as a deep practice, like meditation, and it’s profoundly changed my entire life, and what I think and believe about almost everything.

My world is so much more fresh, sweet, peaceful and slowed-down in comparison to my previous perceptions of the world as dangerous, dark and unpredictable.

With all these gaps so evident in the nature of mind and what we’re all dealing with here…I knew what could be awesome for the people I worked with is gathering together for an entire year—a significant period of time spanning every season—because I had seen it work so well for me.

That’s what Year of Inquiry is created for. It closes in on those biggest gaps. What you do is:

• Relax the urge to seek MORE because you’re not “there” yet
• put yourself in a group of wonderful people who support your journey
• STAY…even if you feel uncomfortable, even as you remember a troubling situation. You turn and look directly at what you’re thinking when you feel bad.

Like any athlete going to the Olympics….you practice. Get support. Receive facilitation. Stay present. Love the journey.

I can tell you this….it’s so much fun to close those gaps.

There’s a Tuesday morning 9 am group (all groups Pacific time) and a Thursday afternoon 4:30 pm. There will be a third group on Fridays at 9 am if there are enough interested people.

All telesessions last 90 minutes.

Then, oh fabulous, we gather together in person Sept 19-21, 2014 and May 13-17, 2015 to do The Work together. We laugh, connect, get very honest and real, and get very deep into our inquiry. You are not alone.

You can join telesessions only, but many people report that the in-person retreats are absolutely awesome. We meet in Seattle.

I get very excited to work with whomever can make it live.

So here’s the deal….

Full Program for the entire year by August 16: $4497

Telesessions only for the entire year by August 16: $1697

After August 16: $4997 if paid in full before September 3, 2014.

After August 16: $1997 if paid in full before September 3, 2014.

Payment Plans are definitely available, more about those very soon (or email grace@workwithgrace.com for more information).

You have 60 days to test it out YOI and make sure it’s right for you.

Click this link and head over to Year of Inquiry to sign up. Be sure to fill out this short application form so I get to know you better and put you on the list.

Click here if you’re ready to sign up, or read more. I can’t wait to see the wonderful group that is formed and dive into a year of investigation, support, and enlightenment together.

What an adventure.

“If you’re in a hurry, do The Work.” ~ Byron Katie

Much love, Grace