The heart work of Kathryn Jefferies, Ph.D. is to transform schools into places where children and youth are self-knowing and thriving. What’s necessary for this transformation is: 1) evaluating how we understand, value, and treat children, and 2) re-evaluating what we think of as intelligence. These two things alone would radically later how we view the purpose and possibility of education. Her research into our innate, non-conceptual intelligence is something that she’d like to see reflected in a paradigm shift that acknowledges children as their own authority and deserving of autonomy. Dr. Jefferies has taught in Central America, South America, and North America with students of all ages in various settings (small grassroots schools, outdoor education centres, inner city schools, and elite secondary schools).
Kathryn is a Certified Facilitator of The Work of Byron Katie, which is described by its founder as “a peace movement.” Dr. Jefferies is currently developing programs to bring self-inquiry into elementary and secondary school classrooms as a way to well-being, resilience, self-understanding, and emotional-spiritual intelligence for both students and teachers. Kathryn gives workshops and keynote addresses in self-inquiry, education, and non-conceptual intelligence. For the past three years she has been a lecturer in the faculty of education at Lakehead University in Orillia. Her most beloved role is that of being a parent to her daughter, Bella.
Dr. Jefferies is the author of Awake: Education for Enlightenment, Wide Awake: Anatomy of Awakening on the experiences of Krishnamurti, Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, and other awakened masters, and of the forthcoming Becoming the Butterfly: Quotes to Change the World from Those Who Have and Into the Half-Light: In Search of the Ground of Being.
Kathryn’s quest for meaning took her to exciting places to live and work: an ancient Mayan city in Central America, boat-access-only villages and remote beaches in South America, the rocky mountains and helicopter-access-only wilderness of Canada to name a few. Her search also found an outlet in a PhD on the nature of mind, consciousness and its transformation.
All of this, along with years of metaphysical psychotherapy and intuitive training, launched her into an understanding of where not to look for that meaning and, ultimately, where to find it: the far reaches of her own self. Her insights came during periods of intensive contemplation to see if she could find out for herself once and for all, what is true. This began through the contemplative practice known as The Enlightenment Intensive — a form of self-inquiry in the lineage of Ramana Maharshi that is also found in The Work of Byron Katie — and found its full flowering through The Work.
Kathryn likes to support people in realizing that they are not what — nor who — they think they are, quite literally. After a life of living ‘in her head’, at the mercy of an unquestioned mind, Kathryn wishes to support others to realize their true natures, to discover their inherent intelligence that in turn allows them to express the fullness of their unique brilliance. Her wish is to give children and youth in particular the tools for this awareness so they grow into thriving adults.
Kathryn writes: “My purpose as I see it is to waken to myself continuously and to live authentically from the truth of who I am. What I notice is that it seems I wish to relieve suffering anywhere I find it, to the best of my ability. In particular, I have my sights set clearly and firmly on a paradigm shift in how we educate our children. I refer to them as the last acceptably oppressed group of people on the planet, by which I mean, we don’t realize how we treat them. And, if we allow children to be what they already are when they are born—get out of their way, as it were—enlightenment for them will be unnecessary: they are that already. It is also a way to give us back the joy of children — to allow them to be our teachers, to have an awareness of the truth of that.”
Kathryn’s years of serious study combined with deep, experiential learning takes her insights in the lineage of Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, and other spiritual masters and applies them to education, as Krishnamurti did before her. The result is a dramatic and exciting paradigm shift — within school and without — towards an evolved human consciousness on Earth.
Listen to an interview by Dr. Jefferies on many aspects of her work, including on awakening and education.
Scroll down linked page to: Listen to previous Mystic Monday Calls Archived Here and look for July 13, 2015.
I want to know {God’s} thoughts; the rest are details.
~Albert Einstein
Comments on Dr. Jefferies’ courses and teaching
Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed today’s class, as always. So much to think on and sit with… the many ‘ah-ha’ moments…that percolate during and after class. I want to express my personal appreciation for you being you; your class is transforming me and giving me hope (“There were more stars in the sky than empty space.” ~Jacob Sheier). Much gratitude. 🙂Jennifer W-C
Thank you so much for allowing us to read this book. I honestly cannot tell you how much this book has impacted my journey not only as a teacher but most importantly a mother. Thank you again for an amazing course.Carlene A.
I enjoyed your course so much and I thank you for making all my muddy thoughts about education and how I fit in become clear to me. It really felt like the summation of my life in your class; what my life has been working towards. I really mean that!
Thank you for being a part of my chapter in my book of education.Natalie H.
I also wanted to say that I really enjoy this class and very much appreciate the kind of “open forum” environment you are attempting to facilitate, in which we are free to discuss our concerns and doubts about the teaching profession and system as a whole.Erin G.
Thanks again for a stimulating semester; I really appreciated your efforts to get us to think outside the box! 🙂Caitlyn F.
You were right!! Writing this paper was very meaningful to me, I am so happy to be able to write my experiences down and analyze them!Amanda D.
Thank you for such a great semester. It was so open-minded and really made us question education and our personal philosophies.Sarah H.
Also, thanks again for such an inspiring course. Our conversations and class discussions were great and I thoroughly enjoyed this class.Krystina N.
I value your class so very much for the safeness with which I feel to express these messy thoughts and how I always feel as though I understand myself, my gut feelings, that much better when leaving our class. Thanks again for allowing us to reflect on ourselves and our own beliefs. I feel I have needed this – and expected it – from the 24 years I have spent in the schooling system.Jennifer L.
…your class has really changed the direction of my life… I am not sure what I am going to do next year but I hope our paths cross again! I am very pleased with your course and I felt it was one of those rare classes that asked us to think.Lauren C.
Hello Kathryn,
I wanted to write to you to tell you that at the beginning of your course I was unsure about whether or not I was going to enjoy it. I haven’t had a formal philosophy course before and for the longest time I have hated the idea of philosophy. I know that your course is not necessarily one of philosophy but you are asking us to ask questions in a philosophical way about education. I don’t know how to explain it but I have to admit that I am thoroughly enjoying your class, the class discussions on the text book….and the other discussions that we have had during the past two classes. I just want to thank you for opening up my mind towards the idea of philosophy and for being the professor that you are.Chris M.
Thanks so much for the class this semester. I have to say it was my favourite this whole year.Jessica V.
Can’t thank you enough for your classes this term. It gave me something to look forward to and it was a great way to finish each week off. I feel empowered to make a difference.Nathalie M.
Thank you Kathryn for all of our class discussions. They were very helpful to guide us through the semester. Our cohort is very much appreciated your kindness.Tara R.
I truly enjoyed your class… for a second time. Thank you for opening my mind.Alyssa C.
Thank you for your understanding, and also for such an interesting class this term. I thought it would be really dry based on the title of the course, but I really enjoyed some of the thought provoking discussions we had in class. I have to say it really made me think about my personal educational experience, and also what that means for my teacher career.Alanna O.
Thank you for a wonderful, insightful course!Alexandra K.
Kathryn,
Thank you for the opportunity to learn and grow in your class.Matthew N.
