Workshops
& gatherings.

Narrative Enneagram
Community Gatherings

with Evangeline Welch and guest co-hosts

Third Thursdays monthly on Zoom

A free benefit to all Narrative Enneagram members, the monthly community gatherings offer a meaningful experience of learning and practice, breakout sessions, and engaging conversations. Nonmembers may pay $25 to attend a single gathering, or become a member for $75 to attend all year and enjoy other member benefits.

Learn about upcoming co-hosts, topics and free events, and register at:

https://bit.ly/Narrative-Enneagram-Gathering

‘Let’s Talk About’

  • Aging & end-of-life

  • Loss & grief

Two facilitated small-group circles that offer a safe, supportive space to explore topics most of us tend to avoid.

Contact me to let me know of your interest in organizing or hosting a gathering.

Jo Anne brings her experience as a Certified Speaking Circles® Facilitator, grief counselor, bereavement group leader, peer mentor, and meditation teacher to these in-person and online circles.

Read what people are saying>

Let’s Talk About: Aging & end-of-Life

Facilitated by Jo Anne Smith & Lynn Rogers, PhD

  • Contact me to let me know of your interest in organizing or hosting a group.

Most of us tend to avoid discussions about dying and death — until they become urgent concerns. Then we may find ourselves blindsided and overwhelmed.

By ignoring these uncomfortable topics, we miss the opportunity to prepare for the inevitable — emotionally, spiritually and practically. Engaging in thoughtful discussions with others helps us:

  • Understand our beliefs, fears, and wishes about death. We'll try a simple exercise to uncover things we might not have considered.

  • Make informed choices about healthcare and end-of-life preferences, including who should advocate for us (not necessarily the most obvious person).

  • Start important conversations with family, friends, and legal representatives to ensure our wishes are honored later.

  • Discover resources, including a guide to gather the practical information our loved ones will need.

Contact Jo Anne

Let’s Talk About: Loss & grief.

Facilitated by Jo Anne Smith

  • Contact me to let me know of your interest in organizing or hosting a group.

Loss is an inevitable part of being human. Big losses — such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or a major trauma — inspire major grief. But we also grieve the smaller endings, disappointments, and changes that we experience every day. 

While often overlooked, these everyday losses can accumulate and significantly impact our emotionzal well-being. They may include missed opportunities, unfulfilled expectations, or the gradual fading of cherished relationships.

Even the natural process of aging involves a gradual accumulation of losses: our bodies change; our identity might need to be redefined; our cognitive abilities may diminish; friends die or move away. 

How we respond to these losses, and move through the grief that follows, impacts our lives in ways both obvious and subtle. While the journey through grief is deeply personal, it is also a universal experience.

In this circle, we explore our own relationship with loss and grief through discussion, dyads, and a bit of show-and-tell. 

Contact Jo Anne
Contact Jo Anne

Kind Words

  • VICKIE JENSEN, Victoria, BC, Canada

    To be perfectly honest, I didn’t think I “needed” to take a course called “Living and Dying”. Having been the executor for my parents, I’d already learned a lot the hard way. But this course gave me so much more than I ever expected. Yes, I appreciated the resources provided—they were a needed kick in the pants to put my best intentions into action. But the company of the class and instructors proved to be the real delight—we shared stories, traded experiences and ideas, talked frankly about our end of life fears and hopes, and discussed our various situations. Sometimes we teared up. More often, we laughed and learned. I heartily recommend “Let’s Talk About Living and Dying”. You won’t regret it!

  • PAMELA WATSON, Arizona, USA

    I recently participated in the “Living and Dying” workshop held on Zoom. I am so happy I chose to do this workshop. It was very fulfilling in its ease, openness and inspiration. I am usually uncomfortable in group situations, but found myself at ease and even sharing authentically my concerns and gratitudes regarding aging and dealing with the logistics gracefully. The group was full of gracious support and encouragement for all. I feel I came away from it with a solid foundation of how to “put my house in order” AND a beautiful reminder to ENJOY each moment in the NOW. I highly recommend the workshop for all and especially those who shy away from the conversation of how to deal with death and how to live life….with all it many blessings. Also, I feel the group was so open that I could comfortably contact anyone if the need/desire arose, and that is a direct result of the beautiful mentoring from Jo Anne and Lynn

  • BONNIE MOTT, Green Valley, AZ, USA

    How many of us have a bad case of the “Mañanas” when it comes to dealing with our “sacred rite of passage”?  The four-week discussion, “Let’s Talk About Living and Dying,” forced me to define what was important to me in my final time — as simple as getting my Living Will (End of Life Care) instructions to my medical doctor to as complex as facing the overwhelming medical system in the USA.  We talked openly about everything connected with end of life. The Planner introduced by the leaders was a simple and comprehensive outline organizing the important data. It was very rewarding to explore the topic with others and to glean resources from the group. Our leaders, Lynn Rogers and Jo Anne Smith, skillfully and tactfully kept us on track. I successfully emerged with a concrete notebook easily accessible to those responsible for my care. Everything in one place!   

  • KIMBERLY ALTMAN, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

    Thank you so very much for all the organizing and research you put into making our “Let’s Talk” workshop over these last 3 weeks so informative and interesting! I truly wasn’t expecting to come away from each meeting with so many questions about my own end of life preparation to contemplate and to see how much I still have to do to be prepared for my own eventual death. I thought I was in good shape in this conversation, having all of my paperwork for our executor completed and delivered to him, but I now realize that what I’ve done to prepare only just touches the surface of the many more meaningful details and conversations that need to be had to be truly complete and to leave my affairs in such a way that my family is not left with a big burden upon my death. There is much more to tend to and this class makes this topic all the more urgent for me to handle! I hope you will continue to offer classes like these as they are so vitally important for all of us as we grow older and as we have less time to waste or procrastinate with these preparations. Well done!! Thank you!

  • PEGGY SLOTKIN, Atlanta, GA

    I really want to thank you both for the wonderful seminar about “Aging, Living & Dying”. The timing on the subject matter was perfect. It seems to be the topic of conversation with my friends who also need guidance about future decisions. One main objective that you encouraged was to arrange to have “the talk” with immediate family. When I return to Atlanta, I have invited my children and their spouses for Brunch to discuss this subject. (Feed them, and they will come!) In reality, the children need to get their paper work in order too. This is a challenge for me and for them, but it needs to be addressed. I am not sure I could have or would have taken this important step if I had not participated in this group.