Meditation

Many people I work with wish to incorporate meditation into their lives. Spiritual direction sessions with me can be combined with one-on-one meditation coaching. I define meditation as the cultivation of an inner investigation—paying attention to one's present moment experience on purpose, with a spirit of curiosity, acceptance, and unconditional friendliness.

Meditation isn’t about trying to become something better; it’s about befriending who we already are. It's not about getting rid of thoughts, but changing our relationship to our thoughts. We develop an unshakeable presence that is calm and engaged in the face of life's joys and challenges. Meditation can be a rewarding personal practice as well as an important aspect of spiritual direction work.

My primary approach to meditation coaching is based on Insight meditation, the form of meditation I’ve practiced for 25+ years. This style of meditation originated in the Theravada Buddhist tradition and involves investigating our experience while developing a kind and steady presence with that experience, regardless of what it is. The effect of developing this kind of presence is an increased sense of ease, calm, well-being, and self-acceptance. I also have extensive experience with many other forms of meditation such as centering prayer and Zazen. I am certified as a mindfulness meditation teacher through the Sage Institute in Taos, NM.

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I love to be flexible and find an approach to meditation that will meet your specific needs. If you already meditate, I can support you in developing and sustaining

your current practice.

I am also available to conduct mindfulness meditation workshops or multi-session classes to small groups and organizations (churches or other religious/spiritual groups, community centers, businesses). Please contact me for further information.

"Sitting meditation gives us a way to move closer to our thoughts and emotions and to get in touch with our bodies. It's a method of cultivating unconditional friendliness toward ourselves and for parting the curtain of indifference that distances us from the suffering of others. It is our vehicle for learning to be a truly loving person."

                                          ~Pema Chodron

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