Heart Conversation this Sunday
You may recall that one of the main, initial objectives for offering Heart Conversations was to give people an opportunity to connect (in person) with people. Covid was in full swing when we launched Heart Conversations (outdoors, on the back patio of Light Art Space, you might recall!). The response to our HC gatherings was inspiring and strong.
As you know, circumstances have changed with regard to Covid, and most of us have more opportunities to get out and be with people . . . this is good news! And whether or not it’s due to the changed Covid circumstances, attendance at HC has been very light the last few times we’ve held them. To be completely honest, my workload is heavy right now and something on my “work plate” has to go . . . given the light attendance, and the fact that producing these circle shares is fairly labor-intensive, HC is the thing that’s going to go . . . for the time being anyway.
We will have one more Heart Conversation, and then we’ll go on extended break until we can find someone to take over the coordination of these circle shares; that last “scheduled” Heart Conversation will be on Sunday, October 30, from 2:00 — 3:30 PM. This HC is inspired by Lotus Center’s (along with PFLAG and Silver SASS) screening of The Wisdom of Trauma at Silco Theater on Wednesday evening, October 26 (https://lotuscentersc.org/events/ for more info). So, the Wisdom of Trauma screens on Wednesday the 26th, and we’ll have a Heart Conversation on “Trauma” on Sunday the 30th. To that end, here are some trauma-related contemplations . . .
Physician and author Gabor Mate’ regards trauma as an invisible force that shapes our lives. It shapes the way we live, the way we love and the way we make sense of the world. It is the root of our deepest wounds. Through The Wisdom of Trauma, Dr. Maté gives us a new vision: a trauma-informed society in which parents, teachers, physicians, policymakers and legal personnel are not concerned with fixing behaviors, making diagnoses, suppressing symptoms and judging, but seek instead to understand the sources from which troubling behaviors and diseases spring in the wounded human soul.
• Do you recognize the prevalence of trauma among all of us, including in yourself?
• Have you learned about, noticed and felt trauma symptoms in yourself? If not, would it be beneficial to endeavor to do so?
• Is it your view that whenever you have an emotional reaction, an old wound is being triggered? What are the implications of this reaction?
• Do you see the imprint of trauma on your behaviors and its impact on your relationships?
• Have you forgiven others for their unskillful actions while, presumably, under the influence of their trauma? Have you forgiven yourself for similar actions?
The sharing circles follow a format similar to that of 12-step recovery meetings. Personal sharing, rather than academic or philosophical views, will be encouraged; “cross talking” is not allowed, and all that is shared will be retained in confidence. No registration is required.
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Did you know that Lotus Center has a YouTube channel? We do! Access dozens of yoga and Qigong videos, as well as guided meditations by visiting . . .https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbf2eUTnQZgSZZX5ck97Yw
