Many perspectives insights come through the Friday Talking Circles, or they could be described as a Talking Meditation. For those new to the experience, we have a set of guidelines that help create and the container and space, and then we utilize meditative techniques to communication and cultivate awareness. Feel open to join in anytime.
One of the resounding themes or comments made during this gathering was that "God is an Atheist". That statement is up for interpretation, and one would have to be there to hear that person's version of it. I am sharing as it resounded with a few people and served as a moment of contemplation and reflection.

We also covered and discussed the power of listening and the different ways or faculties of listening.  I discussed and shared about listening to more than just the words. I often refer to Albert Mehrabian's percentages of communication. He states that the aspects of communication are 7% words, 38% tone, and 55% body language or feeling. I shared a recent event where a person sent me a message with words, but intuitively or feeling wise I was able to pick up on a different signal.  For my method of communication, a person may share something using beautiful words yet if the tone or vibration of what they are saying is not congruent, I disregard the words and give more attention or respond to the tone or physiology.

It then sparked a topic of poetry and the words in poetry being congruent or like music, and the power or studies of music and its effect on several aspects of the brain. This gathering was quite profound and unique. The overall synergy of sharing and discussion pointing towards vibration, sounds, words, and frequency of sending and receiving messages.  It culminated for me as each person representing a unique sound, tone, or frequency in their overarching theme of life.

Each attendee walked away with a unique take away or benefit from listening and sharing. Many thanks to the continued members and attendees who gather each Friday to talk and/or listen in a unique way.
​
If interested, here is more information about Albert Mehrabian’s communication model.

Greetings Community, here's the information for the Ancestral Healing music and meditation that was implemented on Sunday April 23rd.  The intention for the overall experience was for Purification and Cleansing/Clearing.  In order to do so we utilized the breath and incorporated a meditation and music by Tom Kenyon for healing and clearing connections and energy for ourselves, our ancestors, loved ones, and beyond.   The Ancestral Healing part can be done independently at any time as instructed below.  As stated, ensure you're in a suitable environment.  If you desire to warm up with a few breathing techniques before going into the process, feel open to do so.  And recall that a key part is to envision the music streaming from the heart center and to give oneself time for integration and silence afterwards.
Below is the meditation, link to the full article, and music download.​

Greetings Everyone, we're back in City Park at the Chime Tree (Singing Oak).  Each Thursday join in for Guided Group Meditation near the Chime Tree in City Park.  Meditation starts around 6pm and goes until 7pm.  This is the Thursday meeting location until November.

Greetings everyone,

A simple update for meetings during the winter season. 

Thursday meetings are officially moved indoors until Spring (March).  We currently meet every Thursday at 6pm in Lakeview at the Community Church Unitarian Universalist, 6690 Fleur De Lis Dr, New Orleans, LA.

Friday meetings are outdoors weather permitting.  If the temperature is too low and/or there is rain, we will meet indoors at the Love 2 Life Center located in Broadmoor, at 2021 S. Dupre St, New Orleans, LA, next to the Broadmoor Community Church.

Sunday meetings are outdoors, weather permitting.  In the case of inclement weather, the meeting will be cancelled.

Tonight's meditation was in the theme of the Fall Equinox which represents a time for Harvesting.  Equinoxes are a time when the hours of the day and night are equal due to the position of the sun and the Earth's equator. 

​The death of the previous Winter, the re-birth of the Spring, and the planting of the Summer is behind us and now is the time to move forward with the harvest and reap.  To embrace the energy and flow of Fall we utilized the breath to assist in allowing us to let go of previous events and move forward into the field of opportunity/new beginnings.  We were guided through "The Gateway to a New Beginning" by Toby Ouvry.   Below are the key points to the meditation.  You are welcome to view the full article and explanation here.  Gateway to a new beginning | Toby Ouvry Meditation

It Is recommended to repeat the meditation.

"The gateway to a new beginning
A beginner’s body-mind is a way of entering the present moment and whatever greets us there as if for the first time, a bit like a young child. It is curious, open, flexible.

After today's Talking Circle and sharing we were blessed with a live performance from one of the group members.  Her artist name is Falori-i.  We're grateful to have many talented members in the community able to share their gifts.

he meditation for Sunday 8/7 was inspired by the Yoga Sutras 1.34 – 1.39.  Every first Thursday of the month, from 7:35pm – 9pm, a talk on the Yoga Sutras is held at the Sama Studio in Arabi.  They have a group discussion along with food and tea.  A few of us went, after the Thursday meditation in City Park of course, lol, held every Thursday at 6pm.

As shared at the Sama meeting, this section of the Sutras focuses on steps to have a Serene Mind, leading to a Stable Mind, leading to a Mind that can Concentrate, leading to prolonged Concentration, leading to Samadhi.  Samadhi is interpreted in several ways in different traditions.  Here are a few translations:  a state of pure consciousness, a state of meditative consciousness, a state of union with the Divine, a state of pure concentration or single-pointedness of the mind.

As stated during the intro of each meeting we utilize a variety of meditative techniques from different traditions.  Today's theme was partially centered on "Management".  To facilitate this intention we incorporated the use of sound and tones to harmonize different body parts and muscles.  Here's a full list of the sounds and associated body parts that can be implemented at home or in a group setting.  In today's meditation we covered a portion of the list.

Mmm    ~ sinuses
Nnn   ~ ears
Eemm   ~ eyes
Lmm    ~ nose
Paam    ~ stomach
Kaa Gaa Gha   ~ throat

One of the most simplest and potent ways to experience meditation is through the breath.  During the gatherings we explore a variety of breathing techniques which offer many  benefits.  One key is simplicity.  Here are 6 simply breathing techniques originally shared by Toby Ouvry.  We use these at various times during the group meditation meetings and they are simple enough to implement in everyday life.

"Meditating like a baby – Six breathing meditations
Breathing meditation is something that, if you do it well can provide you with a wealth of benefits. In particular, if you use it for your longer meditations it can help you connect relatively easily to states of body, heart and mind that are both blissful and insightful. Here are six types of breathing meditation that you can use and enjoy:
Natural breathing – Give your body permission to breathe in the way that it needs to breathe in order to move towards balance and harmony. Then just keep your attention on the breathing as your body intelligence does what it needs to do to re-balance by using different breathing patterns.
Belly breathing – Breathe slightly deeper than you would usually, and send the air down into the bottom of your lungs as you begin your inhalation. If you do this you will notice your belly moving outward 2-3cms as you inhale, and back to resting position as you exhale. Focus on this belly movement as you breathe.