Diversity is a hallmark of the Wilmette Institute’s Web Talks, both in topics, presentations, and presenters. The Institute’s Web Talk on June 5 is no exception, as it will challenge understandings about consultation and the creativity that makes it work. The Web Talk will take place on Sunday, June 5, starting at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (11 a.m. Pacific and 8 p.m. Western Europe Time). Trip Barthel will discuss “Creativity in Consultation.” Click
here to sign up. Trip says that “The most difficult problems require the most creative solutions.” In his Web Talk he will connect the Bahá’í writings and the science and the practice of creativity and show how to apply both in consultation. “Creativity,” Trip says, “is not nine people serving on a Spiritual Assembly (or any number of people) talking around a table.” Rather, “creativity begins in isolation. Even dreams enable our creativity.” Studies have shown that subjects who dreamed during a nap resolved 40 percent more puzzles than those who did not dream. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said in a talk given in London in 1913 that “
It is an axiomatic fact that while you meditate you are speaking with your own spirit. In that state of mind you put certain questions to your spirit and the spirit answers: the light breaks forth and the reality is revealed” (
Paris Talks 174, rpt. 1972). “The source of every new idea is the same,” Trip says; “it is a network of neurons shifting into an unfamiliar pattern. Knowing this, how do we create an environment of creativity?” He promises that he will end the webinar with some simple activities that promote higher levels of creativity. Trip Barthel, M.A.C.R. (Antioch University), has been teaching and practicing mediation and facilitation around the world since 1997. He has taught at the National Judicial College, the University of Nevada, Reno, and Shivaji University in Pune, India. He was an adjunct faculty for five years at JiaoTong University in Shanghai and Shanghai University of Political Science and Law. He has given training programs in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Russia, the Czech Republic, and England. He was the Founder and past Executive Director (1999–2009) of the Neighborhood Mediation Center in Reno, Nevada. Trip has conducted over 400 mediations and 50 arbitrations and trained over 3,000 people in courses ranging from 2 to 40 hours. Trip is past President of the Nevada Dispute Resolution Coalition and a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution. Trip serves on the Advisory Board for Mediators Beyond Borders and the Asia Pacific Mediation Forum. Trip was a trainer for the Bahá’í Justice Society’s 40-hour Mediation Program from 1997 to 2007. He has written two Bahá’í books—
Golden Choices and
Dynamic Consultation.
