Caloosahatchee Mindfulness |
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In the book, All I need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, the author, Robert, Fulghum reminds us: "When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together." This is good advice when we're five, and it's good advice when we're grown. Life can be even more difficult if we try to do everything alone. We in southwest Florida learned this lesson in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Neighbors checked on neighbors. Nonprofit groups handed out water on corners. Churches opened their food banks and cooked for people. The silent message was "we'll get through this, together." In Pali, Kalyana Mitta means spiritual friend. The term refers to a group of people who get together to practice meditation. There is no power structure between the teacher and students, instead, this is a group of peers learning with one another.
We are happy to announce that Caloosahatchee Mindfulness is exploring the idea of a spiritual friend. group. In March, we will be holding a get-together at Lakes Park. During that time, we'll share some food, take part in meditation practice, and consider the idea and logistics of starting a spiritual friends group. The details are in the activities section below. We hope to see you there and remember,
stick together.
Much Metta,
Maggie
Caloosahatchee Mindfulness Chair
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Debra Leigh is the most eclectic of the Caloosahatchee Board Members. She is a multigenerational native of Ft. Myers. Her maternal grandparents came to Ft. Myers after homesteading in Arcadia around 1915. After attending local schools, she graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Psychology and K-8 teaching credentials. She moved to California in 1973 to pursue a master’s degree in psychology at Cal Poly Humboldt on the north coast of California near the Oregon border where she fell in love with wilderness hiking and the beauty of old-growth forests and ancient redwood trees. In the summer of 1975, she was introduced to Zen Buddhism at the Tassajara Mountain Zen Center in Carmel Valley, CA where she returned, summer after summer. Debra has a Master’s degree in Dance and Choreography. She attended clown and circus school in San Francisco and did street performing with various troupes while dancing professionally and teaching psychology and dance courses at local colleges. She began studying with Babaji (Baba Hari Dass of Hardiwar) in 1975 and continued until his death in 2018. Babaji taught Ashtanga Yoga. Debra began teaching introduction to yoga in the late 1970s.
Debra’s teaching career includes teaching K-12 and community college in central coastal California for 30 years. She was a dance specialist and academic teacher in private and public schools. Her teaching career included working as a Mentor Teacher, Master Teacher, Supervising Teacher, Guidance Counselor, and teaching in a Teenage Mother Program.
Debra studied lay midwifery, taught natural birth classes, and volunteered as a birth assistant and doula. Midwifery is close to her heart as she was born at home and delivered by her maternal grandmother, a midwife in the Ft. Myers area. Debra was also a certified Emergency Medical Technician.
A lifetime dreamer interested in the interpretation of dreams, Debra is a certified Dream Work facilitator through Marin Institute for Projective Dream Work. Her mentor was Jeremy Taylor. Debra offers dream work workshops for small groups several times a year. Debra also enjoys participating in and co-facilitating SoulCollage workshops.
Debra’s husband, Dr. Forrest “Dean” Freeland, Jr., a University of California professor, fellow dream explorer, and lover of nature, who taught History of Consciousness at the end of his career, died in 2013. Her son, (Keith) Srikanta Barefoot, ex-Cirque du Soleil fire dance performer and artistic director of the performing company Fusion Arts lives in France.
She has been on the Board of Caloosahatchee Mindfulness and a member of the book group for a year. Debra deeply appreciates the work the organization does to bring mindfulness to the community.
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Mindfulness Practice Opportunities |
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Dream Work
“All dreams come in the service of health and wholeness,” said Jeremy Taylor, UU minister and author of several books on dreaming, including “The Wisdom of Your Dreams, Using Dreams to Tap into Your Unconscious and Transform your Life.”
Debra Leigh, a certified dream work facilitator (Marin Institute for Projective Dream Work) will lead a six-week session of dream work on Saturdays beginning February 18th, 10:45 am-12:15 pm in classroom 2 (or the amphitheater, weather permitting) on the UUCFM campus, 13411 Shire Ln, Ft. Myers, FL 33912.
The class size is limited to 11 participants.
Bring water, a pillow to sit on if you like, and something to write with. This workshop is in conjunction with Caloosahatchee Mindfulness.
Please commit to all 6 sessions.
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Orientation to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Eight-Week MBSR Course
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an evidence-based and intensive 8-week training in mindfulness. It was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in 1979. The course combines systematic practices of mindfulness meditation, body awareness, and yoga with an interactive exploration of patterns of behavior in thinking, feeling, and action. These practices and explorations help participants cultivate attention and emotional regulation skills, helping to reduce rumination and worry. Clinical research conducted over decades suggests that MBSR has potentially beneficial effects on both mental and physical well-being.
The MBSR (8-Weeks) consists of eight 2-1/2-hour classes and a 7-hour retreat practice day between weeks 6 and 7 or between 7 and 8 (date and location to be determined). A home practice commitment of approximately 45-60 minutes daily (on days the class does not meet) is asked of all participants.
Practice recordings will be provided to participants to guide their home practice.
The course begins with a 2-hour mandatory orientation. The orientation session is considered integral to the course. During orientation, participants will have the opportunity to decide if they wish to continue with the 8-week course.
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Spiritual Friends Gathering
March 19, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Lakes Park, Pavillion A3.
Maggie Stevens and Ken Laszczych are the Facilitators for this FREE event. This will be a "pot-luck" gathering. Participants will take part in sitting and walking meditations. A discussion will be held to determine people's interest in establishing a spiritual friends group.
Spiritual Friends groups commit to meeting regularly with peer-led small groups of people who share an interest in meditation and the Buddhist path—an opportunity to develop deep roots in the practice, together.
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Caloosahatchee Rising Tide Sangha's
Midweek Mindfulness
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Sangha is the Pali word for community.
You are invited to join us every Wednesday Sangha as we meet on Zoom for meditation and deep sharing. This is a great opportunity to check in with yourself and the sangha during the week. So come relax and calm the mind and body, and practice meditation and deep listening together with us.
Did you know that Caloosahatchee Rising Tide Sangha is listed in Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village Global Sangha Directory?
Join us and see how sangha can support your practice.
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Mindfulness Book Club
Our small group studies and shares books on mindfulness practices to create a happier and healthier life. For information on joining the group by Zoom and the next book to be discussed, call or text (941) 888-0116 or email caloosahatcheemindfulness16@gmail.com
Our first book for 2023 is: Our first 5 Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living by Frank Ostaseski.
Discussion is focused on understanding how the author’s words and concepts
are relevant to our daily lives.
The book club is free to all Caloosahatchee Mindfulness members or participants can join for the pre-pandemic fee of $20 a month ($5 a week).
For more information about membership see the membership information below.
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Every Friday morning and evening at 10:00 am and 5 pm, meditation sessions include a 20-minute meditation with initial guidance and then silent sitting. After the meditation, there is a group discussion, a 5-minute silent reflection, and then a thought for the week and check out. These meditations are offered at no cost and no experience is necessary.
For information on joining the group by Zoom, call or text (941) 888-0116,
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With Gratitude to our Community Partners |
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We are so grateful to our Community Partners for their support of mindfulness! |
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Valarie Olsen Counseling & Wellness |
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"Ding" Darling Wildlife Society |
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Become a Caloosahatchee Mindfulness Member! |
We invite you to join us in our practice of mindfulness. We welcome you to check out our new and improved website at
You can join us directly from the website,
We look forward to practicing with you. 🙏🏼
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Mindfulness on the Go!
Can't make Midweek Mindfulness?
Need a few minutes to quiet the mind?
Join us on Insight Timer! 📿
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If you love finding meaningful, uplifting quotes and posts on social media, we could use your skills! We are looking for a volunteer to help create inspiring social media posts as part of an upcoming project for the year.
If you are interested, or would like more information, please send our social media manager an email at susanrashley@aol.com for more information!
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