the practice of presence

Dear friends, it was so good to see familiar and new faces in our circle. If you are joining for the first time it can feel like a sudden dive into unfamiliar territory. We are not used to learning and sharing in this way. It can feel exciting or awkward and scary. But as I said this is about a practice and all of it takes time. Whether it is the meditation practices, this kind of inquiry, the vulnerability of sharing... So take your time. For old timers it can feel unsettling when the familiar circle of friends suddenly expands. Presence is always asking us to expand beyond what has become familiar and cosy.

This kind of practice will open us to the depths of presence, of grace. It takes time and practice. It takes a safe and sacred circle of fellow travelers and the growing ability to relax and wake up to what is happening in this moment.

I will do my best to circulate the questions after each session so that those of you who were absent can follow along.

Questions:

Tell me a way this practice of presence disturbs you.

Tell me a way this practice of presence attracts you.

Explore your relationship to the practice of presence. Does it invite you. How does your body feel. Do you notice judgements.

We are opening the door to presence, even if we don't recognize it or feel it yet. As I mentioned last time this will activate the superego whether self judgements or criticism of others. The superego does not want us to engage in  spiritual work, especially work that takes us into the depths of our being.

For me it is a joy to begin this journey with you again. Hope to see you all next Monday. Alison