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Immerse yourself in this simple, fun, and soul-satisfying process where you create a personal deck of collaged cards from found magazine images for the purpose of self-exploration and spiritual growth. In this workshop, Kathy Bresler, a trained SoulCollage® facilitator, will give an overview of the SoulCollage® process, provide you with an abundant selection of images, and guide you through the intuitive process of creating your cards. You will have an opportunity to experience a SoulCollage® reading and learn how to use the cards in your daily life for guidance, expression and insight. Absolutely no artistic skill or experience is necessary!
Registration Fee: $30 (includes all supplies). Registration encouraged by January 10th.
Facilitated by Kathy Bresler
Introduction to SoulCollage®: A process of self-discovery and creative renewal
Friday, January 17, 2020, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm.
Awakening Circles are gatherings of spiritual seekers who come together for mutual support in their life journeys. Each Circle opens with silent meditation and intention-setting followed by the core of the experience - time for personal sharing by participants. During the sharing process, participants are asked to hold each other in respectful silence. Sharing time is for each speaker’s personal exploration of their unfolding spiritual life. Listeners spend this time deeply listening to the speaker, while reflecting on their own journey. The experience is one of being with others in a profound way that goes beyond the experience of a typical support group. You will experience a sense of spiritual community that leaves you feeling deeply seen, supported and connected to others in your journey. Please contact Bill Epperly to find out more about Awakening Circles.
Registration Fee: $20 per session. Registration encouraged by January 15, 2020.
Facilitated by Bill Epperly
Awakening Circles
Fourth Wednesdays, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., beginning January 22, 2020
Do you enjoy the Moth radio hour or SNAP Judgment? Would you like to tell a story but are pretty sure you aren't as good a teller as your Uncle Horatio? Join us for three storytelling sessions, two hours each, in February 2020. We will explore our personal stories, experiment with different narrative strategies and leave class with a story that is show ready in any of the local story telling shows in the Chicagoland area. We will start each class with story telling and learn how to begin to focus on specific narrative strands. We'll explore what to keep and what to save for another story. By the end of the third class, you will have a story that is ready to tell at local shows such as Do Not Submit Chicago.
Registration Fee: $60 for the series. Registration required by January 30th.
Facilitated by Melissa Perrin
Storytelling and the Unthought Known
Thursdays, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., February 6, 13 & 20, 2020
We are in the midst of a mindfulness revolution. Mindfulness, an ancient spiritual practice with roots in the Buddhist tradition, has found modern applications as a tool for stress management, psychological wellness, and awakening. Neuroscience is discovering that mindfulness meditation causes fundamental changes to our brain and nervous system that restore our natural balance and allow healing of stress-induced disease states. In this experiential program, you will learn what mindfulness meditation is and how it differs from other forms of meditation. You’ll consider reasons why you might want to take up mindfulness meditation, including:
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stress reduction and wellness
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peace of mind and present moment awareness
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managing anxiety, worry, and depression
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awakening to your interconnectedness with all
You’ll experience a guided mindfulness meditation that releases held stress, putting you into a state of relaxation. Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for light stretching and meditation while lying down.
Registration Fee: None. However registration encouraged by February 20th.
Facilitated by Bill Epperly
Introduction to Mindfulness
Thursday, February 27th, 2020, 7:00 - 8:00pm
Mindfulness is a path to healing, peace of mind and deepening spiritual awareness. Ultimately, the practice of mindfulness meditation leads to present moment awareness and awakening to our interconnectedness to all life. Though many people believe that meditation is difficult, it is something that anyone can do. In this experiential four-week course, you will learn how to practice mindfulness in four key aspects of life: with oneself, with the body, in relationships, and in our lives in the world. You’ll learn how to work with thoughts, worries, emotions and anxieties. You’ll learn how to enhance your awareness of your body, opening to the wisdom of the body. We’ll explore relationship as an opportunity for mindfulness. And we’ll conclude by exploring how to bring mindfulness practice to our engagement with the world, including families, colleagues, and social issues. You will come away with an established practice of mindfulness meditation as well as tools for taking mindful awareness into all aspects of your life. Each evening of this experiential program will include meditation time as well as time for discussion and Q & A. Prior meditation experience is helpful but not necessary. Wear comfortable clothing suitable for light stretching.
Want more information or have questions? Contact Bill Epperly or attend the free Introductory Session on Thursday, February 27th, 7:00 – 8:00pm.
Course Outline
Week One
Introduction to Mindfulness: Posture, Practice Guidelines
Week Two
Mindfulness of Body & Self: Working with Mind & Body
Week Three
Mindfulness of Relationships: finding Spirit in Relationships
Week Four
Mindfulness in the World: Taking Mindfulness into the World
Registration Fee: $80 for the series. Registration encouraged by February 27th.
Facilitated by Bill Epperly
Mindfulness Meditation
Four Thursdays, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., March 5 - 26, 2020
