Six Minutes, Six Bullets: METTA and Staying Awake

How we can maintain and strengthen our personal resilience and freedom of choice in the face of constant systemic racial oppression? Anger gets a bad rap in mindfulness circles. Anger points to that which we care about deeply. Sitting with anger, giving voice to implicit bias, and getting to know fierce tenderness allow us to hold the past and the present simultaneously; grieving the state of things, the events that we’re in. As we mature about what Love really means and how that feels in and on the body.

Locating Culture: Exploring Race Body Scan

Our bodies are our oldest and dearest friend.  Within our DNA lies the heritage of our ancestors and the impacts of their cultural practices.  So much of you isn’t you at all, but a mix of cause and effect of their lives as you.  Getting in touch with your ancestors through cultivating Feltsense and body scan meditation.

Unmentionables: Sex

Can there be an end to suffering around sexual energy? sexuality? sexual activity?

How do I use my sexual energy toward wakefulness? Living fully? Emptiness? Is it nutritive? Yes, we will look at what will liberate you, but also invite you to look at what are your ideals, beliefs, mythos and ethos that go into even your concept of sex and “liberation”.

Unmentionables: Race

Race is a powerful social idea that gives different access to resources and opportunities. Race justified(s) social inequalities as natural. Mindfulness teachings have always been about relational practice. As practitioners, we must do work, work with ourselves, to have direct experience with the role of racism in our lives and psyches.  What is the role of race and racism playing in my life? In my insight meditation practice? How to be with it all?

Clock Ticking Meditation

Unmentionables: Power

Power as energy, power as Practice.  A real beauty in yes, following the breath, but THE COMING BACK, RETURNING, ACT OF WILL TO PULL OUT OF THE MIND STREAM  . . . here is the turning point.  Or “If we are to be aware of the whole process of authority, if we are to see the inwardness of it, if we are to understand and transcend the desire for certainty, then we must have extensive awareness and insight, we must be free, not at the end, but at the beginning.”

 – Krishnamurti, J. Krishnamurti, The Book of Life

10-Minute Sitting Meditation

Standing Yoga

3-Minute Breathing Space