Compassion Practice: Cultivating Compassion for Ourselves and Others

Are you feeling overworked and underappreciated?

Do you find you sometimes overreact and have no idea why? Then — to make matters worse — you beat yourself up for losing your cool?

Do you find it difficult to feel real compassion for yourself or for the difficult people in your life? Or are you more likely to tell yourself to get over it or just let it go, ignoring your own inner cry of suffering?

Immerse yourself in a transformational learning community dedicated to the practice of authentic compassion. Centered on the work of Dr. Frank Rogers, Jr., professor of spiritual formation and creator of the Compassion Practice, this 35-day hybrid experience beginning April 26th includes three in-person retreats and five online touchpoints, with expert instruction by trained Compassion Practice facilitators, guided meditations, focused readings, and facilitated small groups.

Discover the flow of real compassion — not a fake version based on the obligation to love someone or the ideal of loving yourself, but genuine compassionate regard for yourself and for others. A real compassion that moves you beyond the sentiment of compassion and into meaningful action.

Presented by and the .

Saturday Retreats: In-Person at

• April 26 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• May 10 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• May 31 - 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Monday Practice Sessions: Online via Zoom at 6:00 - 7:00 PM PST

• April 28
• May 5
• May 12
• May 19

• Up to 16 hours of direct instruction by trained Compassion Practice facilitators, guided meditations, focused readings, and facilitated small groups split between 3 in-person retreats and 4 virtual practice sessions
• A copy of by Dr. Frank Rogers, Jr.
• Audio recordings of guided meditations
• Lovely ocean view retreat space in Del Mar
• Lunch/refreshments included at in-person retreats
• 1-on-1 pastoral care and spiritual direction available for processing your experience with facilitators in a compassionate space
• Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for clergy (Disciples of Christ, United Church of Christ, and other denominations)

• Deeper connection to your own compassionate center
• Practical, contemplative tools for cultivating compassion
• Strategies to discern compassionate action with others you find difficult
• Access to guided meditations that integrate a Sacred Source of Compassion
• Instruction in Compassion Practice theory and framework
• Likeminded community

Rev. Rachel Cooley Shawler is a pastor in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and currently Associate Minister of Youth & Community-Building at Kensington Community Church (United Church of Christ). Her experience in hospital chaplaincy and yoga teacher training call her into deep listening to diverse stories and spiritual frameworks, and to integrating the mind-body-spirit connection. She is a Compassion Practice Facilitator in Training most interested in spiritual formation in community during these anxious, fractured times.

Shelly Suggs is the Co-Founder of Beloved Way Church and Beloved Compassion Network, the educational outreach ministry of the congregation. She holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Claremont School of Theology where she studied with Dr. Frank Rogers, Jr. and Dr. Andrew Dreitcer, creators of the Compassion Practice. Shelly is a trained spiritual director and long-time leader in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who has a deep longing to heal the injuries experienced by clergy and others by the church.

Early Bird Registration through March 29th: $300

General Registration March 29th - April 20th: $350-425

Practicing the concept of GracEconomics, we invite you to choose the registration level that reflects your ability to contribute to this experience. Those who contribute at a higher level make it possible for others to participate at their own level.

Late Registration after April 20th: $450

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