The Nonviolence Intensive 2026 was our most unusual such event for many years. For health reasons at the last minute Kit Miller was unable to attend and Dominic Barter led the event with the organising team, and invaluable contributions from participants Maya Pachon Reyes, Bianca Pointner, Tanja Walliser and Benedetta Barabino.
Participants came from 16 countries, with sessions delving into questions around education, grief, conflict, support and the principles of nonviolence in the rise of authoritarianism and war in society and how we source creative responses to this.
Here is some of the feedback we received, 4 months after the event, that lead us to offer the Intensive again in 2027.
Participant feedback
"I learned that there is a huge potential for creating nonviolent social structures and it starts with building the personal capacity to go and stay at the fringes of society.
I really liked to be reminded of the phenomenon of endogenous wisdom. It makes me less worried about needing to know the answers and helps me trust the process.
I got to experience a community (haha) of people that practice nonviolence for the first time and I can physically tell that it makes a difference. The way I was able to access my life energy was beautiful. This is, for me, foundational for holistic social change."
"What was important for me was meeting a badger, hearing Dominc say "nonviolence is a skillless path", and feeling strengthened in the part of me that can take care of whatever is happening inside me.
There was an evening when something clicked about 'staying with questions'. It deepened my sense of seeing myself as a co-creator of knowledge rather than a receiver and copier of what has already been said."
"I became more mindful and conscious of the way I ignore things around me as a way to protect myself. I've been doing more to disrupt habits of quiet acceptance or disconnection. I also carry some insights about the power of vulnerability, the importance of asking for support, and how much more becomes possible when we listen more deeply and share with more authenticity."
"During this week-long event, I’ve really come to realise how difficult it is to engage in dialogue within a group and to keep doing so… how often participants experience anger for the first time… which manifests itself as deep dissatisfaction and, once again, simply seeks someone to blame… I find this very hard to bear, and I’m infinitely grateful to be able to witness it… especially the way you, Dominic, face this anger head-on, refuse to accept it, yet are always able to respond with empathy. I still can’t quite understand how that’s possible, but I’m trying to learn…"
"It had a huge and fundamental impact on me (it feels like tectonic shifts).
The biggest effect: I have a massively higher ambiguity tolerance, close to feeling comfortable in ambiguity.
On some days I have anxiety attacks and feel completely lost and a failure and - different to before - I resist in these difficult moments to rush to quick solutions and conclusions.
At the end of these difficult moments I start appreciating again that things are shifting and therefore messy and difficult.
I'm grateful for this. Thank you!"
