A Reflection on Belonging: The merits of group meditation
The journey towards trusting your own heart and inner wisdom can at times feel lonely. Meditation may appear to be an isolating practice, one that is meant to be done alone in perfect stillness and quiet. There are misconceptions that meditation is about ridding the mind of all thoughts, and not moving a muscle as you attain enlightenment by looking pious in lotus position. However, nothing could be further from the truth. The mind does not stop, even in our sleep. Meditation is simply about not identifying with every thought that comes to mind, witnessing the fluctuations of the mind without judgement, while offering yourself a big dose of compassion and love no matter what. I have personally found it to be of comfort when I am in community with fellow meditators, yogis, and spiritual seekers. When you sit in circle with others meditating alongside you that shared energy immediately lifts you up.
Many years ago, I organized my first mediation circle, inviting some close family and friends to join me for an afternoon of meditation, discussion, and shared space. It was truly gratifying to offer the most practical tools for self-inquiry, in an accessible way, for our group. I have taught meditation over the years now, but I have dreamed of creating another gathering that echo’s the sentiments of that class. Safety, community, shared discussion, and listening being the cornerstones of the group’s ethos. It was important to me that everyone who participated felt seen and heard within the context of our practice and discussion. This is not always a given in some yoga communities. What we see on social media can sometimes paint yoga practices as exclusive to certain groups. Western yoga spaces can often feel unwelcoming to those who may be curious, but dubious about entering a yoga studio for the first time. And yet, community is exactly what many of us crave and need right now. A desire for belonging is a part of our human nature. From childhood to our older years, we long to be amongst those that love us and embrace us unconditionally. To be reaffirmed of our innate beauty and connection to all things, and to be able to reflect that back to others is what we are made for.
“What matters is that should difference enter the world of beloved community, it can find a place of welcome, a place to belong.”
Meditating in Satsang (or community) can improve individual dedication, motivation, insight, and self-inquiry skills. It can offer an opportunity for collaboration and become a supportive foundation for your personal studies and meditation experience. I have found the collective energy of a meditation group to be a buoy in the darkness of the mind. It eases my heart as I listen to other participants bravely share their stories and feel at ease in their vulnerability. The collective relief of the room, when someone asks the very question other students were dying to but felt silly doing so. How much we benefit from someone else’s willingness to speak their truth is incredibly powerful. It has helped me to discover my own brave heart and become a person who speaks out more confidently in a group setting. To ask the questions I yearn to, without second guessing my words. I have found, we learn more through our collective knowledge, allowing us to knit together a truer picture, which represents everyone participating.
“I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are.”
With a monthly mediation group, you will learn to refine basic meditation techniques, understand yoga philosophy, identify, and apply the practices that feel the most beneficial to your personal journey. Being in Satsang can provide additional inspiration to dedicate yourself, with consistency, to your home meditation schedule. And perhaps, the most wonderful aspect, is to witness the community grow, as you do too. To be a part of something so special you are inspired to continue to show up again and again, is such a gift. Beginning November 14th, I am offering a Monthly Meditation and Journaling Circle. I look forward to seeing you in circle virtually, so we can create a unique sacred space together, to learn, meditate, reflect, and grow with one another. This is a time for belonging and love.