• Creative Lives trains educators in a pioneering, whole-child approach.

  • 93% of trainees report they are better able to help children learn and thrive.

  • Learn to empower students with more agency in their own growth and well-being.

  • Join the movement toward wiser education.

“If I could wave a magic wand, I would put this Framework in the hands of every parent and teacher around the globe. It’s that important.”


—Liz Wiley, Director of The Marion Institute

Gain New Tools to Transform:

  • Discouragement ➞ Inspiration & Connection

  • Poor decision-making ➞ Focus & Wisdom

  • Low self-esteem ➞ Curiosity & Confidence

  • Unkindness ➞ Caring & Courage

  • Emotional reactivity ➞ Emotional Well-Being & Empathy

  • Poor relationship skills ➞ Balanced Relating & Creative Identity

  • Irresponsibility ➞ Discipline & Accountability

Discover how Creative Lives can support your teaching, parenting, or counseling—and strengthen your own well-being in the process.

Why is our approach so impactful?
A Framework for Wise Education, by educator and author Ellen Tadd, stems from her discoveries about the human energy (chakra) system and its role in human development.

Thousands of educators, counselors, and parents have experienced the benefits of this Framework.

  • “I have never encountered a more powerful or meaningful framework for approaching education.”

    —Sharon Webster, elementary educator

  • “If every teacher and teacher-to-be took this course, there would be a positive worldwide revolution in the field of education. This course is a MUST for anyone who will be in contact with young learners."

    —Tracy G., University Mental Health Director

  • "I wish every educator in our school could take this training."

    —Alex M., elementary educator

  • "The wisdom of this approach can and will transform classrooms whether or not you have ever heard of a chakra before. Maureen Burford and Ellen Tadd outline a simple and powerful framework to better understand the human beings teachers steward, and to better support their growth.”

    Tatum B., educator

  • "We are noticing ripple effects throughout the school day. Children are expressing creatively where they were too shy before. They're talking with each other about new ways of handling their feelings. There are children for whom this approach has truly shifted their direction forward."

    —Marcia M., educator

  • “The chakra-system approach is...amazing. I work with students who have trauma and train many teachers about dealing with trauma. This is the approach we need.”

    —Kay J., social worker

  • “Martial arts educators have no particular training in how to teach! Your approach so beautifully aligns with our philosophy and gives our staff concrete tools and strategies for helping every child succeed. I would love to see your course offered to my many colleagues at other Dojos.”

    —Kevin C., karate instructor and Dojo director

  • “Creative Lives Director Maureen Burford is an inspired, dedicated, and extraordinary teacher—and teacher of teachers. Decades of experience in music, theater, education, and contemplative discipline have seamlessly merged into her framework for teaching and professional development.”

    —Steven G., middle school educator

  • “I wish every teacher in our school could take this training. It helped us understand each other more deeply and work together more wisely. This has improved our impact on students.”

    — Lauren L., elementary educator

Enroll Yourself or
Your Team Today

  • Free online Webinar: The Epidemic of Disconnection (click to enroll)

    Join director Maureen Burford for a deep look at root causes of discouragement, disengagement, and depression — and what you can do today to support the young people in your life.

  • Click to enroll in our bite-size training, The Inspiration Factor

    The Inspiration Factor is where we always begin in our longer courses in the Framework approach. Why? Because the first step in working with any child or group is inspiring them to trust and be with you!

    The Inspiration Factor helps you build the inner foundation that fuels motivation, openness, and connection — a key to lasting well-being and fulfillment.

  • Click the links below to explore options and schedule:

  • Our signature courses empower you with expertise in each of seven essential areas of development. In brief, these include:

    • Inspiration

    • Focus

    • Self-Esteem

    • Good Intentions

    • Emotional Well-Being

    • Relationships &

    • Creativity

    • Self-Disciplines

    Graduate credit and PD hours available. Click the links below to explore your options: and enroll.

    Foundations 1
    Foundations 2
    Cohort Training for Teams (Includes both Foundations 1 and 2, plus additional support)

  • Private, paid consultations for individuals and organizations seeking deeper guidance, reflection, and practical next steps.

    Book Here.

  • If you have questions about Creative Lives’ programs, are exploring training or workshops, or want help identifying the best next step, we invite you to start with a brief conversation. These sessions are designed to offer clarity, orientation, and guidance about fit — not in-depth consultation or coaching.

    Please choose the option that best matches your needs on our scheduling page by clicking the links below:

    15-Minute Individual Q&A (Free)

    30-Minute Group Information Session (Free)

    If you are seeking individualized guidance, problem-solving, or deeper support, please schedule a paid private consultation.

Meet Our Director

Creative Lives Director Maureen Burford invites you to explore our free webinar, The Epidemic of Disconnection (register above), and discover how our approach addresses today’s pressing challenges.

Hear From a 4th-Grader

In this video, a young boy shares a powerful Framework strategy he learned and used to navigate a challenge with friends.

Note: Although this child uses chakra terminology he learned from his mother, children can experience the same benefits using alternate language, such as “Wise View” in place of “Third Eye.”

Stacked smooth stones of various sizes, increasing in size from top to bottom, with a blurred background of water and sunlight reflections.

A Framework for Wise Education:

  • Stems from educator Ellen Tadd’s groundbreaking work on the role of the chakra system in human development

  • Includes seven essential categories—each addressing distinct human potentials such as wisdom, curiosity, self-discipline, caring, emotional well-being, resilience, and empathy.

  • Offers practical tools and strategies to support optimal learning and well-being.

  • Provides a vital missing piece in helping young people thrive.

Join us and be part of the solution.

Our approach:
A Critical Missing Piece

Learn More About Our Approach
A young person with blonde hair writes on a blackboard with multicolored chalk, writing in Portuguese and English about flowers, growth, and life's tempo.

Based on Tangible Outcomes

  • 93% of our trainees report significant improvements in their ability to help children learn and develop their unique potential.

  • 73% of our trainees can consistently help children make wise decisions and assess next steps with clarity, compared to 27% before training.

  • 81% of our trainees report experiencing regular joy in their work and/or parenting, compared to 30% before training.

    “This program doesn’t just change educators.
    It transforms teams.”
    — Nikki D., Early Education Center Director

Guide Star