This too is Sacred
An Ongo Retreat for a Changing World
23rd to 28th September, 2025
Bali, Indonesia
"I felt moved beyond words... it had been an indescribable experience of great beauty and joy... I feel safer, and less afraid... I'm keen to open my own heart to the world and it seems more possible having worked with you."
This too is Sacred
Compassion in Action - For Whatever Arises
“This Too Is Sacred” reminds us that we were made for these times—not by accident, but by design. In moments of chaos, struggle, or uncertainty, this phrase can become an anchor, gently affirming that even now, there is meaning. It invites us to trust that we are equipped with exactly what we need to face the present moment, no matter how heavy or unfamiliar it feels.
Instead of resisting or wishing for different circumstances, we are called to show up fully, with open hearts and grounded courage. By seeing this moment as sacred, we reclaim our agency and remember that we are not just surviving—we are participating in something meaningful and deeply human. While challenging, the world we live in can be navigated, each and every day.
We invite you to gather with us in Bali this September. Practice in sacred community, and return home with embodied tools, clarity, and support to face whatever arises with grounded compassion – in and around you.
"Ongo provided me with a community who chose to support each other with empathy, respect, trust, deep connection, nurturance and support, with wise guidance. This was really important to me at this time in my life."
a Retreat for Your Life
Spiritual Resilience
Spiritual Resilience
Healing Community
Love-in-Action
Healing Community
Spiritual Resilience
Healing Community
Love-in-Action
Love-in-Action
Cultivate a steady heart for unsteady times
Find peace in facing both inner and outer unraveling. Learn to hold grief, uncertainty, and beauty—all at once.
Transform knowledge into embodiment
Turn insights into lived experience by grounding practices like NVC and mindfulness in your body, breath, and nervous system.
Practice courageous conversations in a safe, supportive space
Grow your nonviolence skills experientially. Set life-serving boundaries, speak truth, and respond with clarity and compassion in safe, guided role-plays, so you're ready when it matters most.
Restore wholeness through silence and ceremony
Experience the deep healing that arises in collective meditation and ceremony—awakening that which is often forgotten in the busyness of everyday life
Take home practical compassion tools that simply work
Ongo practices are simple, doable, and useful in everyday life. Get familiar with them at the retreat, then put them to work at home.
Build lasting, soul-nourishing relationships
Leave with a circle of kindred companions and the support structure to stay connected—so your growth doesn’t end when the retreat does.
Early bird discount of $600 off registration (up to 30% off), until July 1st only
the Ongo retreat experience
Every experience—no matter how mundane, painful, or joyful—holds value and meaning. "This Too is Sacred" challenges our tendency to label parts of life as either good or bad, worthy or unworthy, inviting us instead to embrace the full spectrum of our human experience with reverence. Whether it’s heartbreak, uncertainty, stillness, or celebration, this phrase encourages a deeper presence and acceptance, recognizing that even the messiest moments carry the potential for growth, transformation, and grace. It’s a call to see the divine not only in the extraordinary but also in the ordinary – even in the most difficult moments.
Each day of the retreat will be shaped by what arises in the circle—what participants are facing in their lives, and what their hearts are calling for. We’ll listen deeply and offer practices that respond to those needs, drawing from familiar Ongo practices you may know from our book or online programs, while inviting a deeper, more embodied experience. You’ll also encounter offerings, like Dance Lodge and Despair Work, that awaken dimensions of connection and healing only possible in shared presence. Learn more in the tabs below.
Meet your guides
Catherine Cadden
Co-Author, The Ongo Book
Nonviolent troublemaker. Mom. Educator. Storyteller. Dancer. Author of Peaceable Revolution Through Education.
❝
Catherine, your teachings continue to bubble up at every important major life change for our family. It amazes me, how often I call on you, like I did to Saints as a child, to help me organize my... words before blurting out some reaction.
– Graell
Jesse Wiens Chu
Co-Author, The Ongo Book
Buddhist nerd. Dad. Artist. Facilitator. NVC Trainer and Assessor. Executive Director at Baba Tree International.
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[W]hat came through for me was care, empowerment and presence... Jesse - I really celebrate that you are making a difference in the world, ... bringing self-care, empathy, safety, and groundedness.
– Valerie
Kate Raffin
ongo facilitator
Community builder. Mediator. Restorative circles and Work that Reconnects facilitator. NVC Trainer. Handbound bookmaker.
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If you want to learn a more peaceful way to be in the world, then I highly recommend coming to a course with Kate. It is more than communication. It is everything alive in us.
– Nikki
Wendy Haynes
ongo facilitator
MBSR Facilitator. Funeral Celebrant. Circle holder. Story weaver. Mother. Grandmother.
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I don’t think I’ve ever felt so safe and held... [Wendy's] wonderful facilitating skills made every moment of silence, every collective breath, every remark appear right when it was needed.
– Helena
Our retreat venue
Not just a venue. A support for our practice
At Floating Leaf and its sister lodge, Bodhi Leaf, there is a stillness and generosity that nourishes both heart and soul. Their mission is to foster sangha – Beloved Community – and Putu, the owner, embodies the warmth and wisdom of her ancestors, and a deep connection to the island. This multi-award winning resort is situated outside of the crowded tourist areas, and has a large salt healing pool, restaurant, spa, yoga sanctuary, and three rooftop terraces offering dramatic views of the Indian Ocean, Bali’s majestic volcanoes and surrounding rice fields.
Refuel with Organic, Garden-to-Table Meals
Sensational flavors, nutrient-rich cuisine, prepared using produce from their own permaculture garden as well as local farms. Expect your whole body to be nourished and delighted during this retreat.
Restore wellness at the Therapeutic Spa
Western spa practices combined with Balinese heritage, drawing from health and wellness recipes passed down through generations of one of Bali's royal families. As a special gift, one massage is included with your registration.
Everything that's included:
What's not included:
"[I]t was without a doubt one of the best eye opener weeks of my life. The realisation that everything can really be alright came alive in me. I sang all the way home and felt so happy. I feel like I've got a voice now..."
– Jeni, retreat participant
Ready to deepen your Ongo practice?
Come join us in Bali!
(All prices below in USD)
$1398 $1998
Early Bird Discount $600 off (until July 1st)
Retreat with Shared Room (Triple)
Full retreat (everything included), with shared lodging (room with 3 twin beds) and private ensuite bathroom
$1553 $2153
Early Bird Discount $600 off (until July 1st)
Retreat with Shared Room (Double)
Full retreat (everything included), with shared lodging (room with 2 twin beds) and private ensuite bathroom
$2033 $2633
Early Bird Discount $600 off (until July 1st)
Retreat with Private Room (Single)
Full retreat (everything included), with private lodging (room with 1 king bed) and private ensuite bathroom
(All prices below in USD)
$1498 $1998
Early Bird Discount $500 off (until July 1st)
Retreat with Shared Room (Triple)
Full retreat (everything included), with shared lodging (room with 3 twin beds) and private ensuite bathroom. Only pay 50% deposit ($749) today.
$1653 $2153
Early Bird Discount $500 off (until July 1st)
Retreat with Shared Room (Double)
Full retreat (everything included), with shared lodging (room with 2 twin beds) and private ensuite bathroom. Only pay 50% deposit ($827) today.
$2133 $2633
Early Bird Discount $500 off (until July 1st)
Retreat with Private Room (Single)
Full retreat (everything included), with private lodging (room with 1 king bed) and private ensuite bathroom. Only pay 50% deposit ($1067) today.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main prerequisite is that you’ve participated in an Ongo practice group—this could be an Ongo Book group or an Ongo Online program with a facilitator. We recommend at least 6 months of Ongo practice before attending.
We have space for up to 40 participants. Based on early interest, we expect these spaces to fill up quickly.
Yes, this Ongo Retreat counts as 6 Nonviolent Communication training days. Upon completion of the Retreat, if requested, we can provide a document that states the number of days of NVC-related training completed.
Catherine and Jesse have been living in Bali since 2023. They’ve personally experienced how the spiritual integration found in Balinese culture deeply complements Ongo practices. Catherine, who lives with MS, has also experienced meaningful healing here, including regaining the ability to walk and swim with ease. We want to share this beautiful and nurturing island with you.
We’ll be staying at the Floating Leaf Retreat Center, located in the southeastern part of Bali in a small town called Sukawati. It is just a 3 minute drive from Saba Beach, 7 minutes from Tegenungan Waterfall and 26 minutes by car from the airport (transfer to and from included). Floating Leaf is a peaceful sanctuary nestled between the ocean and lush rice fields. It’s located away from the busier tourist areas but still accessible to the airport, beaches, and cultural highlights.
Plan to arrive in Bali no later than 11am on Tuesday, September 23rd. This allows time for immigration, travel to the venue, and settling in. It can take less than an hour to get through immigration if you complete your eVisa online a week before arrival. Depart no earlier than 4:30pm on Sunday, September 28th. This allows time for travel to the airport and checking in at least 3 hours before your flight (recommended for international flights).
Yes, most travelers need a visa for Indonesia. 90+ nationalities can obtain a 30-day visa online via the official government website or upon arrival for about $35USD. Note: your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date.
Absolutely! We encourage it. Let us know what you’re thinking, and we’ll connect you with great local contacts to help you plan.
Yes, Bali is a very safe destination. Petty crime is rare, and the food and water at Floating Leaf are fully safe and curated by us. We’ll also give you tips for staying healthy when dining outside the retreat.
Yes. When you register, we’ll ask about your dietary needs. The chefs at Floating Leaf prepare delicious, fresh, and mostly organic meals, and we’ll do our best to accommodate medical or health-related food preferences.
We understand that you and the other participants are coming to this retreat with an intention to focus on Ongo practice. While we have no moral judgment on anyone's use of intoxicants, in our own experience, using intoxicants is not supportive to practicing mindfulness and nonviolence. In designing this retreat, we want to create the conditions which most support your intentions for coming.
September in Bali is warm, sunny, and ideal for outdoor activities. Average daily temperatures range from 25°C (77°F) to 30°C (86°F). Expect humid, but also breezy tropical weather, with very little rain—perfect for a retreat setting.
Keep it simple and light. Bali is warm and relaxed. Here's a helpful packing list:
Clothing & Comfort
- Light, breathable clothes for yoga, meditation, and workshops
- One or two casual outfits for outings or evenings
- Swimsuit
- Light sweater or shawl (for cooler evenings or indoor spaces)
- Sandals or light walking shoes
- T-shirt (to cover shoulders at temples)
- Sarong (we’ll provide this for temple visits)
Essentials
- Passport (with at least 6 months before expiration date) + backup copies (digital and paper)
- Journal and pen
- Reusable (non-disposable) water bottle
- Small daypack or fanny pack
- Travel adaptor (Type C or F, 230V)
- Phone and charger (you won't need this during the retreat, but you may want it for travel)
- Debit card (ATM's are available around the island, when you need cash)
- Some cash in local currency for tipping or small shops (1.5 million rupiah will be enough)
Wellness & Toiletries
- Biodegradable toiletries
- Sunscreen that works for you
- Medications or supplements you need
- After-sun lotion or aloe
- We will provide natural insect repellent
Please do not bring alcohol, tobacco, or perfume (others may be allergic) to the retreat.
Bali has everything you might need, so don’t worry if you forget something!
Right now, we're offering a deep early bird discount of up to $600 USD off tuition. If you'd like to contribute so we can create a scholarship fund, please contact us here.
A minimum non-refundable 50% deposit is required at time of registration/booking. The balance of tuition is due on August 1st, 2025 (also non-refundable). If you would like further protection, consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance that covers workshop or educational expenses.
Yes! We’d love to connect. Please click here to contact us, and we’ll schedule a time to chat.