“When under pressure we go to what we practice, and we are always practicing something.” -Rev. angel Kyodo williams

Exactly a year ago, we set a course for The Well.

Let's listen, we said.

And listen we did. We listened to the Three Sisters, to our wise poets in Mindful Poetry gatherings, to our Mindful Music students and teachers, who taught us about grace under extreme pressure. And each week, we began the week turning inward to listen to what wisdom guides us into our work. (Join us! Every Monday!)

We have been inspired by so many humans this year, from writers to teachers, from interns and fellows to trustees (welcome new trustees!) and friends. Rowe, our Associate Director, and I have spent a good deal of time listening to the wise Rev. angel, quoted above. I have enjoyed many Half-Day Sits learning to focus my meditation practice, and Rowe fortified their understanding of Embodied Social Justice in a multi-month course led by Rev. angel. Rowe shares a gorgeous project below, in our Stories from the Well feature, to bring active awareness to how norms of oppression show up in our day-to-day experiences.

As we kick off another year of Mindful Music Moments, with new partners, playlists and programs, we will continue to make listening the foundation of what we practice as a mindful organization serving a diverse universe of deserving humans. To that end, tell us:

What do you need to be well? What do we need to hear? What can we help you practice?

Warmly,

Stacy Sims
Founder

Stacy Sims, Adriana Prieto Quintero and Kara Michelle Pierson are the voices of this year's Mindful Music Moments.

New Voices for Mindful Music Moments

Starting this August, students, teachers and families will begin to hear some new voices for Mindful Music Moments! Joining Stacy, our Founder and "founding voice" for MMM, is Adriana Prieto Quintero and Kara Michelle Pierson, our first Wellspring Fellow.

Along with these new mindful experience guides, students, teachers and families will have access to 15-weeks of Spanish language prompts translated and narrated by Adriana.

Mindful Music for Schools

Pre-order your Mindful Poetry 2021 Book now and receive early August.

Celebrate Poetry Live and In-Person!

We are thrilled to publish the second edition of Mindful Poetry, thanks to On Being, with 50 different poets from around the world! Join us to celebrate and hear from this year's poets on August 18th, 6:30 pm EST at The Mercantile Library.

This is a free hybrid event, so no matter where you are, you can join!

RSVP to attend in person.

RSVP to attend virtually.

Mindful Poetry 2021 Book Launch Celebration

Leading a workshop for the staff of Empowering Youth in Cambodia.

Listen, Connect and Serve

Immerse yourself in cultural conversations and experiences with folks from around the world from January 21-28, 20222, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia!

Together, we will consider what rituals are essential to healing, connection, and community. Our current format is a 3-day intensive training followed by five additional days of training and field trips with an emphasis on cross-cultural sensitivity to trauma and resilience.

NOTE: We will invite all Cambodia participants to the next 6 month True Body Virtual Leadership Training in the event travel becomes complex again.

True Body Cross-Cultural Leadership Training in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

A completed weaving, illustrating how one's daily interactions uphold white supremacy culture norms.

We cannot change what we cannot see.

What values and/or white supremacist norms do I/we embody in your daily interactions and relationships? What practices shape these moments? How do those patterns of habituated response reinforce systems of oppression?

These questions emerged for The Well's Associate Director, Rowe Schnure after they completed a 3-month Embodied Social Justice Certificate course. They share their experience and a weaving practice to explore these questions with curiosity in this month's Story from The Well.

Stories from The Well: We cannot change what we cannot see. By Rowe Schnure

Upcoming Ways to Engage

Weekly, Monday Morning Strategic Meditation Practice, 9-10 am EST. Virtual (free)

August 14th, 1-2:30 pm EST, TBP: Mindful Embodiment Practice Space. Virtual (by donation)

August 18th, 6-7:30 pm EST, Mindful Poetry 2021 Book Release Celebration. Hybrid (free)

In this time of crisis we have been able to provide soothing resources to individuals all around the world. Help support our efforts to continue nurturing the well within each of us by providing low or no-cost, barrier-free mindful moments to all. Even with a small donation you are helping us to keep keep our poetry, music and meaning-making content available in the most equitable way possible.

DONATE TO THE WELL

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