Thoughtfull philosophical principles, based on years of research and practical experience underpin my work.

• What makes our individual and societal choices life-destructive and often so tragic is rooted in a profound dissociation from life instincts and the values that nurture them (respect for human dignity and the integrity of all life, community with one another, solidarity, meaning and beauty etc). The work of reconnection involves a profound relearning at head, heart and hand levels: head to make sense of our reality and reflect on our actions, heart to recover the ability to feel and express emotions and hand to make a difference to the planet, people and communities around us through work and service.
• All human beings share the same needs. When our individual and collective choices are rooted in the firm intention to value everyone's needs equally, life and solutions that work for everyone start flourishing.
• Violent responses to life are neither biological nor 'natural'. They are a response to our needs being unmet and correspond to learnt patterns of behaviour and coping strategies.
• Unlearning familiar and disconnecting patterns of relationship to self, others and the planet is a life-long journey. It requires skills, resources and connection with a community of 'seekers'.
• These skills and resources include body practices (to recover aliveness in our body and create neural pathways for new emotional and cognitive abilities), training in presence and mindfulness (to create space between the stories in our head and the choices we want to make), study and space to reflect (to deepen understanding and critical consciousness), grieving work (to heal the protective structures that get in the way of our vulnerability and compassion), in-depth work on familiar patterns of separation (to tackle the roots of violence in our language and actions) and service (to root ourselves in community and learn the fundamentals of resilience and sustainability).
• To heal in full from situations of conflict and trauma (including inter-generational) requires coming back to seeing the humanity of the person (or people) whose actions caused us harm.
• Living life with full integrity entails a profound and nurtured relationship with our true self or divine nature. Resting in this dimension of life fosters the kind of humility and love that our humanity needs to attain full maturity. A spiritual practice is therefore fundamental to the journey towards wholeness and nonviolence.