Try out our Charbonneau Meditation Society
Pamplin Media Group June 2024 A15
Building Community Connections
By DANA BRENNER
Try out our Charbonneau Meditation Society
The second Saturday in May , we had our second Community Club Storytelling gathering . Because of the beautiful weather , we got to sit
BRENNER outside in the outdoor lounge area and enjoy snacks , drinks , and interesting stories . There was a lot of laughter … and some very interesting stories .
Community Club and Social Sundays on hiatus
Due to heavy building / room usage in the summer months for events and anticipated lower attendance during nice weather , we are suspending Social Sundays until fall . Look for them to begin again in fall and for info in the September edition of The Villager and the online calendar !
Charbonneau Meditation Society enters second year
In spring 2023 , guiding teacher and longtime meditation and mindfulness practitioner Dana Brenner wondered : “ Would Charbonneau and Wilsonville residents be interested in learning about meditation , mindfulness , and somatic practices ? Are there people who practice already who would be interested in forming a ‘ sangha ,’ or meditation community ?” It turned out , there was interest in both ! Since that time , The Charbonneau Meditation Society has been formed and over 50 people have taken part in the workshops and classes that the society has offered to share foundational practices and concepts and an on-going group of dedicated practitioners come together weekly on a drop-in basis . Eighty-five percent have been Charbonneau residents and participants have been diverse in age , gender and experience .
Resident Elke Cruft shares : “ Regular meditation practice has helped me to
focus more on the present moment . Mindfulness practice encourages me to pay attention to details in everyday activities .” Cruft has practiced in the past with a group in Mt . Angel , but it disbanded after COVID-19 , and she found herself practicing less without the reinforcement of a community . Having support for her practice right in her community has made all the difference . She finds it welcoming and her practice has deepened and strengthened .
Fellow resident John Andrews agrees . “ The group has helped reinvigorate my practice . I get to stand back from the activity of daily life and seek inner peacefulness for a brief time . With continued practice , the peacefulness expands into my daily life . Being with the group helps solidify the discipline and I can explore new practices . Having it here at Charbonneau means I don ’ t have the stressful and time-consuming travel I would otherwise and allows me to experience that peace in community with others .”
To join the ongoing group , the society asks that people learn the foundational practices in a workshop or class series first , but those who have considerable meditation experience are invited to contact Dana , as the society welcomes experienced practitioners right away . Foundational workshops are offered on Saturdays once per quarter , and in fall there will be another eight-week series offered for those who want to learn the basics over time .
Over the summer , the Charbonneau Meditation Society will be designing a website and working on building infrastructure to grow and reach more people in the greater area , where there are limited options for group learning and practice .
Save the date and register for Practice Presence Workshop
The workshop will be held from 9 a . m . -12:30 p . m July 20 in The Clark Room of The Activity Center . This is a free , foundational workshop put on by The Charbonneau Meditation Society that will teach you the basic foundations of meditation and mindfulness practice , as well as somatic practices for ease and well-being . After attending this workshop , participants are welcome to join CMS weekly gatherings every Tuesday
See COMMUNITY / A20
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