Communities of enCOURAGEment
with Sydney Spears, PhD, RYT-200

In this post-election, pre-holiday season many of us are experiencing a rollercoaster ride of feelings that have left us unsteady, uncertain or depleted. Let’s come together with some of our community’s innovative contemplative educators and healers from a variety of backgrounds to offer ourselves and one another some enCOURAGEment in preparation for what lies ahead.

Attend one or all 6 gatherings online Sundays from 6-7 pm US central time from Nov 17 through Dec 22. Each meeting will feature guides with special talents who will help us meet the moment, the season, and/or the era with resilience, courage and compassion. Practices may include music and rhythm, story telling, guided meditation, rest and reflection, community sharing, creative explorations, or gentle movement.

1. Nov 17 Encourage with Tracy Ochester: Tracy will launch the series with a guided meditation practice, some reflections on enCOURAGEment - the many ways we offer ourselves and each other support in challenging times so that we’re resourced enough to show up skillfully in our lives and in the world.

2. Nov 24 Enliven with Karen Lisondra: Karen will offer an enlivening breath practice and gentle mindful movement to animate our bodies, uplift and revitalize each other for the good work we do in our families, communities and the world. You might like to have your journal handy or something you can use to record your responses to some written reflection prompts.

3. Dec 1 Enhearten with Sydney Spears: Sydney will share some reflections on “Being with the Heart and Soul of Loss.” Then she will offer an informal reflective exercise along with the combination of a self-compassionate restful practice and an empowerment-based movement practice. These practices can help us reflect and discover the wisdom, possibilities, and opportunities embedded within loss that can deepen us all. Please have pen/paper and a blanket handy

4. Dec 8 Inspirit with Theresa Hubbard and Walker Bird: Theresa and Walker will offer a musical story telling experience inspiring individual and collective curiosity, courage, and compassion.

5. Dec 15 Inspire with Cathan Kabrelian: Cathan will offer a space of self-care through somatic movement and meditative, self-connection exercises meant to inspire curiosity and care for our own and others’ needs.

6.  Dec 22 Enlighten with Pam Hausner: Pam will guide a mindful creativity practice (using markers or colored pencils or crayons - whatever we have on hand - and paper) designed to help us find clarity and shine brightly together. Please also bring a candle or some other light source.