Listening deeply during the pandemic, 4: Simple presence is a weekly (5 Sundays) gathering, spanning spring and early summer.
In the spring rain
All things grow beautiful.
Chiyo-Ni
Many of us feel exhausted after a year of Covid-19 and the many different ways that it has impacted on our lives. This fourth ‘listening deeply’ cycle offers a compassionate, non-judgemental space for acknowledging the wholeness of this past year, both its suffering and its joys. It facilitates simplicity, lightness and ‘doing less and being more’, in Jon Kabat Zinn’s phrase. Through simple, mindful presence we can trust that what arises in the moment is what naturally needs our attention and is what truly needs to be done.
As the natural world awakens, brightens and gathers energy and focus it invites us into more wakeful presence, too. We'll practice opening to our senses and the simple information that comes to us through them, in the form of sounds, smell, taste, touch and sight. Practice suggestions for in-between the weekly sessions will invite sensory engagement with the natural world.
There will be a facilitated listening circle as part of each session.
Morning mindfulness retreat on May 09, 10:00 – 13:30 (optional attendance)
The fourth session on May 09 is intended as a longer stretch of mindfulness practice (3.5 hours) to give ourselves a chance to deepen our practice and find nourishment through stillness. This morning retreat will include mindful eating during a half hour break, guided mindfulness practices including bodyscan and mindful walking, lots of mindful breaks away from the screen and time for sharing in breakouts and the big group towards the end of the retreat.
Mindfully retreating, even for a few hours at home, can be a powerful way to reset and come home to ourselves.
Join us in April and May to drop into simple presence together through mindfulness practice, deep listening and opening to our senses.
Sundays, 11.00am - 12.30pm on April 18, 25, May 02, May 16
Morning retreat on May 09, 10:00 - 13:30
Spaces limited to 14
Participation: €60/€30*conc, or whatever you can afford at this time. Please feel welcome to get in touch with Niamh with any questions at hello@showingup.ie
Photo credit: Max Bender/Unsplash
