About Patricia Ellsberg
On the eve of my sixth birthday my beloved mother died of breast cancer at the age of thirty-three. Despite having three older siblings and a devoted father, I felt bereft and would cry myself to sleep every night for years.
Yet sometimes in spite of my grief I would be taken over by a sense of breathtaking joy. I remember being transfixed by light filtering through the delicate leaves of a Chinese maple tree or seeing many colors sparkling on fresh snow in sunlight or listening to Chopin.
All my life I have been on a quest for this state of being where boundaries dissolve, time stops, and there is a sense of spaciousness, deep peace, and profound wellbeing.
I have explored many forms of meditation, expanded states of consciousness, and psychotherapy. My trainings include Reiki mastery, the Mystery School led by Gay Luce, the Institute of HeartMath, biofeedback, the Awakened Mind training by Anna Wise, and the Dedicated Practioners’ Program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
Along with following a spiritual path, I have been a long time peace activist and public speaker. After graduating from Harvard University I had my own nationally syndicated radio program where I explored spiritual and social issues with leading figures in the arts, politics and sciences.
In 1971, I helped my husband, Daniel Ellsberg, release the Pentagon Papers to the press. Both of us were inspired by Gandhi’s concept of the Truth-Force. (See Yoga Journal — Nov. 2009) For decades I have been speaking and leading guided meditations at large events around the country addressing peace, women’s and environmental issues.
For years I’ve had the great pleasure of leading guided meditations for “Awakening Joy”, a course created by James Baraz. This series, which presents teachings from spiritual traditions, positive psychology, has benefited thousands of people around the world. (see www.AwakeningJoy.info)
I also teach a course called “Living as Your Essential Self”, drawn from the work of my sister, Barbara Marx Hubbard, and her book, “Emergence: The Shift from Ego to Essence”.
Drawing upon a lifetime of spiritual exploration, social change activism, and teaching, I find that my passion is to work with people who are seeking greater joy, meaning and purpose in their lives.
