Simi Valley, CA
We will engage in meditative and contemplative practices of the many branches of the Christian Faith throughout its history, into the present. We focus each week on a contemplative from Christian history and engage in meditative prayer together.
Wednesdays from 5-6 PM (PT) via Zoom.
Led by Rev. Jim Burklo
by Rachel Ricketts
Do Better is a revolutionary offering that addresses racial justice from a comprehensive, intersectional, and spirit-based perspective. This actionable guidebook illustrates how to engage in the heart-centered and mindfulness-based practices that will help us all fight white supremacy from the inside out, in our personal lives and communities alike. It is a loving and assertive call to do the deep—and often uncomfortable—inner work that precipitates much-needed external and global change.
When you’re beginning to practice meditation, often the biggest roadblock is “emptying” the mind. It is common to quit meditating all together, because no matter how hard you try, it seems impossible to stop random thoughts from popping into your head.
Often what happens is that someone will attempt to silence their thoughts, random thoughts come, and then that person will start to judge themselves for not being able to meditate “correctly.” Then, instead of freedom from attachment, they are fully attached to thoughts of “I just can’t do it!”
There is a cycle that happens here that we must find a way to break!
How do we break that cycle?
Breathing!
Instead of focusing on whether or not you’re “doing it right” shift your attention to your breath. The rhythmic pattern of inhaling and exhaling has an effect on your mind similar to the effect a lullaby might have on a fussy infant. We are simply calming everything down: our bodies, our thoughts, our worries, etc.
Scientists are now just beginning to understand some of the marvelous benefits of breath control. According to The New York Times:
“Studies have found…that breathing practices can help reduce symptoms associated with anxiety, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and attention deficit disorder.”
The “Just Breathe” Method
This 5 Minute Meditation Method allows us to practice using our breath to still our minds.
What appears, on the surface, as a simple exercise actually has deeper implications.
Mastering the “gap” between “what is” (or our reality) and “what can be” (or our imagination) allows us to participate in the natural flow of consciousness.
Too often we wait for things to happen and then merely have a reaction. A life of spiritual practice, even a simple one like the meditation method mentioned in this post, allows us to break the habit of reaction and live purposely.
Learning how to harness and direct our thoughts cleans up all the mental junk we accumulate and allows us to create more, love more and envision a better existence for ourselves and our world.
Thursday Evenings at 8 p.m. on ZOOM I think of God as a Presence that I can be in relationship with, one that I can draw wisdom from, who guides me, and fills me with peace and love. The spiritual practice of meditation helps bring me into that presence. Meditation reduces stress, cultivates a sense …
![Meditation for Beginners [How to start in only five minutes!]](https://i0.wp.com/uccsimi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/monk-hands-faith-person-45178.jpeg?resize=525%2C350&ssl=1)
When first beginning to explore meditation, it can be very difficult to figure out how to get started. We often want to jump straight into becoming a meditation master! Many of us lack the ability or the time to spend hours in deep states of consciousness. This series of posts seeks to explore beginning meditation …
Continue reading “Meditation for Beginners [How to start in only five minutes!]”
A day in the park.Masked man greets me.Smiling eyes.“Isn’t it wonderful,all these people in the park!”Just what I was thinking.“It almost feels normal.”I agree. We’re searching for normal,not the old normal. We can’t go back.A new normal?What does that look like? Hand shakes instead of fist bumps?Hugs all around.Time with family and friends –no longer …
![The Mighty Power in Simple Breathwork [5 Minute Meditation]](https://i0.wp.com/uccsimi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/pexels-photo-775417.jpeg?resize=525%2C350&ssl=1)
When you’re beginning to practice meditation, often the biggest roadblock is “emptying” the mind. It is common to quit meditating all together, because no matter how hard you try, it seems impossible to stop random thoughts from popping into your head. Often what happens is that someone will attempt to silence their thoughts, random thoughts …
Continue reading “The Mighty Power in Simple Breathwork [5 Minute Meditation]”
Thursday Evenings at 8 p.m. on ZOOM
I think of God as a Presence that I can be in relationship with, one that I can draw wisdom from, who guides me, and fills me with peace and love. The spiritual practice of meditation helps bring me into that presence. Meditation reduces stress, cultivates a sense of inner peace, helps us to find clarity of purpose, and can produce healing, as some in our medical profession have been finding out.
Each Thursday evening for 20 to 30 minutes I lead a guided meditation, followed by a short time of sharing. The meditations draw from Christian, Buddhist, and Inter-spiritual traditions i.e. Loving Kindness Meditations, Tonglen, Relaxation Meditation, Examen, Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer and meditations focused on themes of Gratitude, Peace and Love.
All are welcome to join us on ZOOM. Just fill out the contact form below, and I will send you the link to join.
Finding peace during these challenging times.
Susan Brecht
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