The District House (Wed. 03/19 with Jon Vasu Seskevich)

The District House is a benefit of District216. Come by for a portion or all of the evening, meet amazing members + guests, and interact with speakers on a variety of topics.

Topic: "Navigating Uncertainty"

Description: The instructor Jon Vasu Seskevich is a pioneering health professional in holistic healing, mind-body approaches and palliative care. He helped create Duke University Hospital's Stress Management Consult Team in 1989; continuing till 2018. Patients taught him that one of the biggest stressors in life, is when we are "waiting and not knowing." Recognizing approaches to navigate uncertainty provide valuable keys to improving our quality of life at any point in life's journey. Through guided practice, participants will formulate skillful ways to approach uncertainty with a quieter mind and an open heart, both for themselves and in helping others.

When: Wednesday, March 19, 2025 from 5pm to 9pm (Speaker at 6:30pm)

Where: LoDo Studios, 216 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(Please only park across the street on the Office Max side of the lot.)

Members are Free to attend The District House evenings, and are prioritized when we reach capacity.

Guests Welcome to purchase $25 tickets (discounted from $50) to The District House evenings.

Note: We will be filming the speaker for the District216 Change Your Lens Series. Refreshments provided.

Topics to be Covered Include:

• Mind/Body medicine, stress management and psychological support strategies.
• A cognitive and potentially spiritual approach to protecting the mind: Mantra. *When uncertainty is present what to do and not do.
• Exploring the potential for death to be a wise advisor in living a quality life.
• Sharing about his mentors Ram Dass, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and Stephen Levine.

These skills and tools have been crafted from the instructor's clinical practice, NIH funded research and from 1975-2019 his friendship and mentorship with Ram Dass. He had more than 40,000 patient consults & taught hundreds of classes with staff. He was seen by hospital administration as someone who helped the rest of the staff do their jobs. The Acute Pain Service would consult him with patients on Ketamine post-op.

Speaker: Jon Vasu Seskevich, Spiritual Seeker, Healer, Retired RN, BSN, BA

In 1998 Jon received the Friends' of Nursing, "Excellence in Nursing Practice" award, and the "Alumnus of the Year" award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Nursing, Alumni Association in 1997.

Thirty years ago this time of year, I needed a letter from Ram Dass as a mentor in my nursing, spiritual healing life. He wrote back:

Dear Jon,

What a delight to hear from you, and to hear what a creative life you have designed for yourself. I'm really proud of you... If you need a quote from me as one of your previous mentors, you have the following: Jon Seskevich is clearly reflecting in his life's work the essence of the teachings that I was sharing with the class he took with me. That (15-month class), which happened only once in these many years, has served to deepen for all of us our commitment to living spirit and to service to others. I am proud to have been part of it, and happy to have had Jon in the class.

I consider him a true guru-brother.

I hope this will serve you, Jon, and I really encourage you to keep going with the beautiful things you're doing...

In love, Ram Dass

Host or Publisher District216