Need a little peace and quiet? Join my 20-30 minute guided meditations via Zoom. My style is a blend of vipassana, examen, and centering practices, and my aim is to practice being present - to ourselves, to the people around us, to the world. No meditation experience or commitment are necessary.

Meditations are on pause for the summer and will resume in the fall. Email Bill to join the roster, and you’ll receive notice when they resume.

Here's what happens:

We settle in, both physically and mentally. Each of us finds our own comfortable position, one that makes it as easy as possible to breathe. Some sit upright, others lie down on a floor or couch. We pay attention to our breath, and I offer some guidance on staying present and setting distractions aside.

We enjoy a moment of quiet, of stillness, and then I share a brief text, usually a poem, a paragraph, or a question. Some pay attention to it and use the next moment of quiet to think about it, others ignore it and remain focused on their breath.

Then we have another moment of quiet, and we emerge and take a moment for gratitude, for recognizing the things that we're grateful for in that moment. Some share what comes to mind, others don't.

Some participants disappear from screen as soon as gratitude is finished, others stick around to chat. Sometimes we talk about the text that we heard, other times we get to hear what's happening in each other's lives. I've welcomed folx from next door, from all over the US, and as far afield as Australia and Italy.

symposium | late 16th c. (denoting a drinking party): via Latin from Greek sumposion, from sumpotēs ‘fellow drinker’, from sun- ‘together’ + potēs ‘drinker’

A symposium brings a group of people together to explore various aspects of a topic, to cultivate each participant’s capacity for reflection, and to build a community, virtual or tangible, that is characterized by respectful inquiry and open-minded reflection. Our objective isn’t expertise - it’s making meaning. Facilitated via Zoom, there’s no prerequisite to participate - the only things you need are a steady internet connection, the desire to engage, and an open mind. 

Each symposium meets weekly for 60-75 minute sessions for 4-6 weeks. 

Topics: 

• Good stuff: talking about listening, seeing, feeling, and other ings

• Madonna: a case study in creating culture

• Religious literacy: learning about religious traditions through film

• Rituals, ceremonies, traditions: starting points for understanding, engaging, and constructing rituals

• Good habits: understanding nuns through film

• Miss Jean Brodie is past her prime: teachers in film

• And it’s a classic because…?: exploring the relevance of old movies

Email Bill to sign up for his weekly newsletter and updates on upcoming symposia!