Luckily, this year’s Wisdom 2.0, an event we team up with every year as a media partner, was not cancelled as the dates happened to be right before the government warnings hit nationwide: stay home, don’t travel, don’t touch your face and wash your hands often.
A week later, all events over 1,000 people were cancelled in Silicon Valley and other major events like SXSW, a massive event that people from around the world travel to, was also cancelled. Concerts, trade shows, benefit dinners, you name it. But as it turns out, we showed up as planned for Wisdom 2.0 on Friday, which although there was a smaller than normal turnout, people were in positive spirits and came out emotionally moved from many of the sessions on the main stage.
This event, which is at the crossroads of innovation, technology, wisdom and heart-centered connection was held at the Hilton in San Francisco‘s Union Square from March 5-8, 2020, however the sessions on Sunday were cancelled, so we all packed up to go home Saturday end of day.
As most crisis situations do, all were brought together in a wonderful kindredness of support and love as we broke down our tables and talked about what we took away from the event.
Wisdom 2.0. Credit: Debra Giusti
Although some didn’t attend out of fear, I was surprised at how many did show despite Corona virus warnings — the event was just a mere few days before government alerts telling people to stay home and avoid all large crowds. Despite the growing number of cases within days, people flew in from Chicago, Canada, London, Australia, other parts of Europe and beyond.
Jack Kornfield, Marianne Williamson and Byron Katie are always among my favorite speakers every year and of course this year Marianne has a strong message around her campaigning experience and it always goes back to love. In politics, it feels out of order to mention the word love but isn’t that the way to elevated consciousness and the betterment for humanity?
Marianne Williamson on the Wisdom 2.0 main stage. Credit: Debra Giusti.
Soren on the main stage at Wisdom 2.0. Credit: Debra Giusti
The Buddha Booth
There was also an extensive area for booths — sponsors, partners and beyond, which included everything from wellness products and services and retreat centers to mindfulness apps, jewelry, meditation leaders and more.
In addition to topics focused around mindfulness, connection and kindness, there was plenty on the sessions as well — from yoga and meditation to dance and movement. There are also exercises as well as something they call Hosted Conversations.
Hosted conversation on Consciousness
We led a hosted conversation as well as a hosted dinner around the topic of Consciousness that focused on the following questions.
- Are you living your life’s purpose and what are the distinctions between a career you may love and living your life’s purpose?
- What stops us from stepping into our purpose and living our passion?
- What stops us from speaking our truth without fear or resistance? (difference between claiming “”this is true” versus “this is my truth)
- Where does Consciousness come from? Is Consciousness located in the brain – or somewhere else
- What is the difference between the Soul and Consciousness?
And beyond. Other hosted conversations and dinners included things like Transformative Tech & Oxygen, Dare to Dream, Mindfulness in Dating, Social Impact Entrepreneurship, Women in Leadership, Compassion in leadership, Online Courses & Communities (what’s working and what isn’t), Digital Wellness, Embodiment, Mind over Money, Psychedelics and Ceremonies of Healing, Different Modalities of Energy Healing and many more.
The speakers were powerful and riveting as always — each challenging aspects of health, humanity and technology, mindfulness, well-being and social change.
Additional speakers included Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, Chelsea Handler, Diego Perez, Dan Siegel, Russ Hudson, Rick Doblin, Qigong Gu, Trudy Goodman, David Simas, Richard Fernandez, Jenee Johnson, Joe Green, Prophet Walker, Eldra Jackson and others.
On the top floor of the venue, there were magical views of San Francisco as well.
See their website for more information, including the line-up and details for upcoming events — they also hold online experiences as well.
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Note: we were a media partner but all opinions expressed are entirely our own.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
