Upcoming 2023 Learning Lab

THE NINEFOLD PATH LAB is an experiential journey through the Beatitudes—Jesus’ manifesto for a whole new way of being and living.

In this 9 session “Beatitudes Boot Camp” we use the Beatitudes to explore key themes in the Sermon on the Mount, or what Dallas Willard described as the “curriculum for Christlikeness.” Then together we take on weekly practices to help us live in a new way.

The aim of this “learning lab” is to create an active learning environment, where participation is invited and expected. We don’t experience transformation just by getting new information. To grow and change we must relate new vision to our everyday lives, take risks, and try on new ways of thinking and doing. By engaging this dynamic many people experience a new depth of belonging, life-change and local engagement in issues of mercy and justice.

Think of the Ninefold Path as a series of workouts for the soul, an introduction to practices that you can return to again and again to help you live towards what is most real and true. In each session we will reflect on one Beatitude and then try to put it into practice through group activities, journal exercises, daily habits and experiments. The total time required to participate is 3 to 4 hours per week.

COMMITMENT:

1. Participate in all sessions and log in on time (2 hours). In the unfortunate circumstance that you have to miss a session, let the facilitators know ahead of time. We will record each session and you can listen at another time. 

2. Read required chapters from The Ninefold Path of Jesus: Hidden Wisdom of the Beatitudes by Mark Scandrette. Please purchase prior to the start of the lab (available in print, digital and audio versions wherever books are sold)

3. Do the weekly practices (2.5 hours). For each beatitude there are three suggestions for putting the invitation of the Beatitude into practice. There is a journaling practice to increase your self-awareness; a daily habit that is a small step forward; and a more challenging threshold experiment that will help you take a new risk to grow and change.

4. Check in on your experiences. Report back to the group and process the results of your practices. Each new session will begin with 25 minutes of check-in time in break out groups. 

5. Help make the group a brave space where it's safe to be honest. Share honestly, and keep what is shared in the group confidential. 

FACILITATED BY Mark & Lisa Scandrette, Sean Randall, along with other trained facilitators.

*The Ninefold Path Learning Lab was created by Mark Scandrette (markscandrette.com) and Danielle Welch with support of the NINE BEATS Collective - an international group of artists activists and thinkers inspired by the Beatitudes. Find out more at www.ninefoldpath.org & www.9beats.org.

For this Lab we will be exploring the following Beatitudes:

The Way of Trust: "Blessed are the poor in Spirit."

The Way of Lament: "Blessed are those who mourn."

The Way of Humility: "Blessed are the meek."

The Way of Justice: "Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness/justice."

Week Off: (We give a one week off in the middle)

The Way of Compassion: "Blessed are the merciful."

The Way of Right Motive: "Blessed are the pure in heart."

The Way of Peacemaking: "Blessed are the peacemakers."

The Way of surrender: "Blessed are those mistreated..."

The Way of Radical Love: "Blessed are you when people insult you... because of me."

Following the lab experience, a masterclass is offered for those who wish to learn how to lead this experience for others .

Here’s what past participants have said about their experience participating in a Ninefold Path Lab group:

“The Ninefold Path Lab brings the Beatitudes to life and in Technicolor. It's experiential learning at it's best!”

"The Ninefold Path Lab really made an impact on me. I would really like to spread these tools and knowledge to others.”

“The Ninefold Path Lab is practical, relevant and challenging. It allows you to explore how to live in a way that is more like Christ, in an environment that is open, safe and accountable.”

"I found my mind whirring each week as I reflected on the subject matter. Eureka moments for me - offering a real breakthrough - and taking me far deeper into actually living the life God intends for me.”

“A practical scriptural process that provided accountability AND allowed us to be creative about how to apply to our context.”

“I've been consistently challenged to not just hear the words of Jesus but to put them into practice in every area of life.”

“The most meaningful thing I have EVER been part of. Life-changing. It helped me get in contact with my spiritual longings.”

DATES:

Tuesdays, September 19 - November 21

TIMES: 

Cohort A: 11-1 p.m. PST, 7-9 p.m. GMT, 8-10 p.m. CET

Cohort B: 6-8 p.m. PST, 8-10 p.m. CST, 3-5 p.m. AEDT (the following day)

LOCATION: Zoom link will be provided ahead of time

COST:

Full Price Individual: $360

Sliding Scale Individual: $225-$360 (choose your amount)

Full Price Couple: $540

Sliding Scale for Couples: $338-540 (choose your amount)

No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. To request additional scholarship, contact: info@reimagine.org

We reserve the right to cancel and refund registrations if a minimum participant quota is not reached.

We aim to make this offering accessible to multiple time zones. Timing of the lab may change if, by consensus, the group decides to adjust to accommodate.


Mark’s writing, teaching and coaching are done under the direction of ReIMAGINE, a 501 C (3) non-profit organization supported by the generosity of individual donors; and supplemented by grants, program service fees and honorariums.

ReIMAGINE is a Center For integral Living Wisdom. We create processes for spiritual formation where we can be honest with ourselves and trusted others, try on new practices and reflect on how those experiences can shape the ongoing rhythms of our lives. We help individuals and communities apply spiritual wisdom to everyday life by: (1) Awakening Imagination (2) Creating Practical Resources (3) Facilitating Experiential Learning (4) Empowering Leaders who can teach others.

ReIMAGINE was founded in 2001. USC professor of Philosophy, Dallas Willard, was a major early influence. Over time ReIMAGINE developed an action/reflection method for group spiritual formation called Learning Labs. As a Rabbi/guru, Jesus expected his disciples to learn through new vision AND action, knowing that information alone would not change their lives: “Anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is wise.” We attempt to recapture this sense of immediacy and action in our approach to spiritual formation, which has been adapted by groups and organizations around the world. (To learn more about this action-reflection method of group spiritual formation see Practicing the Way of Jesus by Mark Scandrette).   

LEARNING LABS: Our learning labs are 5-10 session high commitment groups led by participant-facilitators who guide honest conversations and invite the group to take on transformative practices. Our process is informed by classical spiritual disciplines, adult learning theory, emerging understandings in neural psychology and the revolutionary approaches to learning articulated by bell hooks and Paulo Friere. To learn about our current lab offerings visit our learning lab page.

SPIRITUAL COACHING: We provide goal focused spiritual coaching to individuals and couples. Together we identify questions or themes to work with over our sessions. Some typical themes might be discerning purpose, navigating a faith or life shift, disappointment, facing obstacles to spiritual growth, establishing healthier relationships or life practices, etc. We use our life experiences and knowledge of psychology and spiritual formation to help our clients better understand their reality and take healthful steps. To learn more about our coaching philosophy and to sign up for a free 30 minute consultation visit our spiritual coaching page.

WORKSHOPS AND RETREATS: We create one day and multi day workshop and retreat experiences for organizations, groups and churches. Many of our workshops are based on our Learning Labs topics and books written by Mark and Lisa Scandrette. Some of our more popular topics: The Enneagram and Spiritual formation, Creating A Thriving Family Culture, and The Ninefold Path. We also create bespoke workshop and retreat experiences. To learn more visit our retreat and workshops page.

LEADER TRAINING: We offer professional level training on how to facilitate and design a learning lab. We do this through masterclasses, leader retreats and graduate and doctoral level courses. To learn more visit our leader training page.

We are grateful for your friendship and support!