Community Rituals
“Love is the name
for our pursuit
of wholeness,
for our desire to be complete”
Plato, Symposium
What is a ritual?
a Ritual is an intentional event that effects changes in relationships, communicates values, creates culture, shapes people’s perceptions, informs how they navigate life, and changes the world
Guided Meditation
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 will resume on Monday, April 6, 2026, and continue on Mondays at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET.
Sign up below or email Bill to join the roster and receive a weekly reminder. If you don’t want that reminder:
or go to zoom.us/join, Meeting ID: 881 4462 1369, Passcode: peacequiet
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.
Symposia
Rituals, ceremonies, traditions
starting points for understanding, engaging, and constructing ritual life
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. The objective isn’t expertise — it’s making meaning.
Symposia can be facilitated in person or via Zoom. There’s no prerequisite to participate — the only things you need are the desire to engage and an open mind.
I occasionally offer symposia, and all are welcome! If you’re looking for something to bring a group of friends, colleagues, or strangers together, I can tailor any topic to your group and schedule. 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
Interested? Email Bill, or check this page or Bill’s newsletter for updates.