Spiral Journey International Facilitator Development Program

A 6-Month Foundational Program in the Art of Work That Reconnects Facilitation

Directors: Molly Brown, Mutima Imani & Constance Washburn

Join an international cohort of people dedicated to the Great Turning towards a just and thriving future for all beings.  Participate in our 6-month online learning community to develop facilitation skills in the Work That Reconnects.

“This Spiral Journey program has been life-changing. It expanded my experience and understanding of the art of facilitation, deepened my commitment to the essential work of decolonizing our minds and culture, and brought new inspiration, purpose and friendships into my life.” ~Carol Russel, 2021 cohort

The Spiral Journey Facilitator Development Program (FDP) is designed to meet the needs of people who aspire to facilitate the Work That Reconnects, supporting emerging and experienced facilitators in deepening their theoretical understanding of the Work and developing their skills in facilitation so they feel confident in bringing the Work to their communities. We give special attention to social justice issues and reframing the Work That Reconnects so it can serve to dismantle oppression and foster liberation for all. We especially invite People of the Global Majority from around the world to join us.

One’s ability to guide others through the Work That Reconnects is enhanced by one’s own personal work, knowledge of and engagement in social and ecological challenges, developing one’s skills as a facilitator, and working to dismantle the social systems and conditioning that induce oppressive and compliant behavior (often unconsciously). Our intensive program weave all these dimensions together.

Program Details:

An intensive 6-month online learning experience

The curriculum addresses four major “threads”:

I – The Work That Reconnects concepts and practices
We will review and expand on the core texts and deepen our understanding of the underlying concepts, theories, and practices of the Work That Reconnects.

II – Facilitation skills
This thread will explore group facilitation techniques as they relate to the Work That Reconnects with particular focus on creating a strong and safe container for working with strong emotions and diverse populations.

III – Decolonizing Our Minds and Building Inclusion
The evolutionary edge of the Work That Reconnects at this time is understanding the intersectionality of social injustice, racism, and environmental crises. In order to live in peace with the planet, we must learn to live in peace with our human siblings.

IV – Living the Great Turning
This thread offers suggestions for deepening our mindfulness and spiritual practices, our nature connection and human connections as well as expanding our activism and joy.

Our program offers monthly webinars, online learning platform, study circles, prep work, and optional “cafes.” Webinars will be held the second Saturday of the month at two different times to accommodate worldwide participants.


The 2024/25 FDP will begin with opening webinars on September 14, 2024. The next five webinars, homework, and study circles will follow the Spiral of the Work, moving through Gratitude, Honoring our Pain for the World, Seeing with New/Ancient Eyes and Deep Time, and Going Forth. The closing webinars will be on March 8th, 2025. 

You will be expected to read one core textbook for each of the four threads along with other materials on environmental and political challenges, anti-oppression, social justice issues, facilitation skills, working with trauma, and living the Great Turning with support from mindfulness, nature connection, diversity, and joy.

This program was transformative and deepening in so many ways. It has nourished my commitment to Work that Reconnects with the wisdom of those guiding this program, and all of the Teachers they brought into it through readings, videos and podcasts. It has broadened the myceliums I am part of with fellow facilitators and those contributing to the great turning from all over the world. I feel especially grateful for having been connected with the five other women in my study circle – what an absolutely joyful, empowering, and encouraging space that is, and I am sure this is only the beginning. I have grown as a facilitator and as a relational being, and I am forever grateful to Mutima, Molly, Constance, and Joanna for continued commitment and love to this work!
Liene Jurgelane
Denmark/Latvia
Program Topics Include:
  • WTR theory
  • Systems thinking
  • Deep time
  • The spiral of the WTR
  • Deep ecology
  • Confronting and exploring together current social, environmental, political, economic and spiritual crises
  • Facilitating WTR practices
  • Workshop design
  • Principles of inclusive, respectful facilitation,
  • Group processes
  • Awareness of power privilege, and systemic white/western domination and racism, as well as “best practices” for counteracting this social conditioning.
  • Exploration of how each of us makes the Great Turning real in our personal, spiritual and community lives.
Core Textbooks
  • Coming Back to Life, by Joanna Macy and Molly Young Brown
  • Facilitating Group Learning, by George Lakey
  • My Grandmother’s Hands, by Resmaa Menakem
  • Sacred Instructions, by Sherri Mitchell
Structure:

Monthly 3-hour interactive webinars on Zoom (held at two different times) include experiential practices of the Work as well as presentations and small group discussions, and a midway 15 minute break.  
Study Circles will meet between monthly webinars for 2+ hours.  
Participation in online forums, recommended individual practices as well as prep work (readings and videos) will require about 3-4 hours per week.  
Participants will also plan and present a Work That Reconnects workshop. This practicum can be offered either in partnership with other participants or solo depending on location and resources.

Prerequisites:

The Facilitator Development Program is open to beginning and experienced facilitators in the Work That Reconnects. Prerequisites include:

1) Participation in at least 3 days (or 12 hours) of experiential practice in the Work That Reconnects retreats, workshops, ongoing study groups, or online workshops. The WTR Network maintains a calendar of upcoming events.

2) Read books: Coming Back to Life and Active Hope;

3) Diversity/Anti-Oppression study or training.

To learn more about how you can meet these prerequisites please go to our Resources page.

Application Process:

Applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis, April through August 5th with a $50 ($75 after June 30th) non-refundable application fee. The application process includes an online or phone interview to mutually assess whether the course is a good “fit” for your learning goals and life situation.

Tuition:

The cost of the 6-month program is on a sliding scale between $1,800 and $3,600. The more people who participate at the higher level, the more scholarships we’ll be able to give. If you are economically secure, we respectfully ask you to offer what helps you feel generous, rather than contracted, so as to support those who are experiencing financial hardship or live in less resourced regions of the world. (Thanks to Reverend Angel Kyodo Williams for this economic model.)
Once accepted into the program, a $750 deposit is required to hold your place. Scholarships are available on an as-needed basis and no one turned away for lack of funds.

“The program is a thoughtful and delightful course of study working to meet the needs of a growing worldwide network of facilitators. The content is powerful, the practices transformative, the community grounding, and the teachers supportive. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who’s passion or path in life has led them to deepen their devotion to the planet and to be of service in this way. The Work that Reconnects has changed my life, and now so has the Facilitators Development Program.”
Rachael Alaia Helschein
Mexico