Hey there!
If you’re reading this, you most likely found me and signed up to RE:MIND through Medium. For a while, I’ve tried making this newsletter into a useful and practical resource that helps people bring more meditation and mindfulness into their lives.
But something always felt a little off about this. For one, there’s already so much content and crap out there that the last thing people need is someone else telling them what to think and do. Albeit, there is a lack of high-quality, sustenance-rich content.
Two, writing a newsletter about mindfulness is like going skiing at the local arcade. It can only ever be a taste or a support to the real thing, if that. This is dangerous too because, as it offers a comfortable experience that claims to be as good as the real thing, it may mean you never go skiing in the Alps.
With all the information that’s already out there, you could spend a lifetime reading about practices like mindfulness, and people do, but never actually practice it and see its benefits in their lives.
So, it’s clear that writing another newsletter to add to the pile of stuff you have to read has its limits.
But more to the point, it’s clear that what is really needed is a way to get practicing more often and make mindfulness a regular part of day-to-day life.
For a while now, I’ve been looking for a way to practice meditation in a group, whether it be on a private Patreon live stream, at the local Buddhist centre, or with a ragtag mix of friends.
Despite all the above having good things about them, I haven’t found one that has stuck. Maybe I’m picky, but to me, there seems to be either too much chatting and informality or too many rules and too much formality. Or, they involve too much commitment and cult-like behavior or are super unreliable, flaky, and inconsistent.
After talking with friends and hearing similar things, I realized I’m not the only one. There’s a lot of people out there who are interested in meditation and would like a chill place where they can practice regularly, or as and when they feel like it. A place that is reliable and respectful, but that isn’t strictly governed by the rules and rituals of tradition (I like mantra singing and incense and find robes pretty comfortable, but to me, meditation is not about that).
So, all of that is a long way of saying this newsletter will now be the basis for the RE:MIND Meditation Group.
Whoop!
Here’s what you can expect from the group (subject to change, as is life):
Schedule: Twice daily, 8 am and 6 pm EST, five times a week, Monday to Friday. Occasional longer sits on Sunday.
Delivery: Live stream with text-based chat. No video necessary.
Format: A 1-hour session (maximum) with 20-30 minutes of meditation starting promptly at 10 minutes past the hour. This allows ten minutes for settling in, greeting, messing around with cushions, etc, and basic introductions. 10-20 minutes after for any questions relating to the practice (wider discussions are for another time).
The practice: Mindfulness meditation. It will involve a brief review of posture and some minimal guidance each time, and it is suitable for both people with experience and beginners. I will send out a brief instruction sheet in an email that you can use to support the practice if you like.
Other: The morning will naturally involve less talking and more silence (I’m a slow starter), but still no more than 20-30 minutes of practice. You can sit for longer if you like as the group practice will end with a ding and silence. You can reach out for individual support outside of the session if you need it. Time can be spent during the session addressing particular points if it is seen to be of benefit to everyone.
About Me: I’ll be hosting the group and leading the session, but this is not a teacher-expert, guru-student dynamic. I’m just a regular guy-human with a MA in Mindfulness-based Approaches and teaching certifications from Mindful Academy International and Zenways, London. I have a personal daily meditation practice of around five years, and have been meditating since 2014. I found meditation through depression and chronic fatigue, and my favourite food is sushi.
The RE:MIND group will get started next week, with two sessions on Monday 24th May through Friday at 8 am and 6 pm EST (if these times end up being no good for people we can adjust).
The link for the session will be in the next email. There will also be a link in the email for donations. You can donate anytime you like and however much you feel. The more donations I receive, the more time and resources I can put into the group and less into my day job/s.
The long-term plan includes guest talks, longer Q&As, and intensive online programs in MBSR, Zen meditation, and mindful movement.
For those who are interested, hit the heart below to let me know and await my next email with further instructions :)
Look forward to practicing with you!
Hugs,
Joe