Workshop Facilitators
Every retreat is facilitated by experienced practitioners and educators who specialize in meditation, leadership development, communication, wellness, and group transformation.
Our facilitators create experiences that are both deeply meaningful and professionally relevant—helping teams strengthen connection while advancing their goals.
Michael Lindfield
Michael Lindfield is a highly respected consultant and guide who for the past 50 years, has helped individuals and groups tap the creativity of the human spirit in response to the urgent need of our times and the compelling call to create a more sustainable society that works for all.
He learned his craft from a broad range of experiences that include a 14-year residency as gardener and Director of Education at the Findhorn Community in Scotland; small-scale organic farming in western Sweden and conducting seminars world-wide on the theme of ‘Transforming Self and Society from the Inside Out’.
Michael has worked in the business arena through his own consulting firm with clients in state government, health-care systems and high-tech companies, as partner in a Talent Management Agency as well as working with The Boeing Company from 1989-2005 as an executive coach and senior organization development consultant involved in large-scale systems change with special emphasis on wise leadership and management of the ‘people systems’.
Author of ‘The Dance of Change: An Eco-Spiritual Approach to Transformation’ (Penguin Books 1986) with numerous articles featured in psychology, education and business journals and co-founder of ‘The Science of Group Work’ initiative (https://www.scienceofgroupwork.net).
Michael has studied the Ageless Wisdom teachings since the late 1960s and seeks to make them more accessible and applicable so they may guide and inform our thinking and actions today. He is skilled in convening group sessions and has extensive experience in addressing the psychological aspects of human development within the ever-evolving life of organizations.
He currently serves as Board President of Meditation Mount in Ojai, California and is a contributing member of the Community of Living Ethics in Umbria, Italy (https://www.comunitadieticavivente.org/en/).
Katharine O'Neal
Katharine O’Neal brings a rare combination of corporate expertise and holistic wisdom to her work as a workshop and retreat facilitator at Meditation Mount. With a BFA, in Dramatic Art, from UC Santa Barbara and an MBA, in Finance, from the University of San Francisco, she built a distinguished career in the corporate world — serving as a Senior Consultant at Ernst & Young and as Director of Internal Audit at Montecito Bank & Trust. That foundation gives her a grounded, firsthand understanding of the pressures, challenges, and demands that today's leaders and teams face.
Drawn to the deeper dimensions of human potential, Katharine went on to become a Certified Mindset and Empowerment Life Coach, Reiki Master Teacher, Meditation Guide, and Yoga Nidra Instructor. She is also the founder of Basil & Lavender, a mindfulness and healthy lifestyle business, and currently serves as the Director of Meditation Mount.
With a strong background in leading workshops and retreats, Katharine has a gift for creating spaces where people feel safe to reflect, reconnect, and reimagine what is possible. Her unique ability to bridge the corporate and contemplative worlds makes her an exceptionally effective guide for teams and leaders seeking clarity, resilience, and renewed purpose.
Jodie Skalla
Jodie Skalla is devoted lifelong learner who has walked the path of spiritual exploration for most of her life, weaving together wisdom from diverse experiences and practices. She brings a unique perspective from 20 years of corporate experience including Sony Studios, where she worked as Director of Acquisitions for Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. This and other leadership roles taught her the complexities of high-pressure environments, strategic relationship building, and the critical human element behind business success.
Feeling called to return to her deepest passions of psychology, spirituality, and creativity, Jodie earned her Master's degree in Spiritual Psychology, integrating her professional acumen with sacred wisdom traditions and her lifelong commitment to personal growth and human understanding.
As an intuitive coach, workshop facilitator, and certified Reiki energy healer, Jodie guides individuals and groups on transformative journeys of self-discovery and healing. She leads guided meditations that create sacred space for deep inner exploration and regularly facilitates workshops that blend spiritual practice with practical application.
Today, as Manager of Development and Programming at Meditation Mount, Jodie applies her experience in relationship building and strategic vision to expand the center's reach and impact. Her background in corporate leadership combined with her spiritual practice enables her to create transformative experiences that help professionals discover greater balance, effectiveness and purpose both in their careers and in their lives.