Note from Louisa



I’ve been worried about the trees lately. All this warm weather has got to be confusing to them as temperatures flirt with the 70s before the Vernal Equinox. I’m watching some try to bud, falsely thinking that spring is here ahead of schedule. Is it? Is this the new rhythm of nature now?

Friends with knowledge of such things tell me not to worry. The trees have their own wisdom. They are heartier than I give them credit for. They too are adaptable and, unlike us, do not have to navigate the vacuous terrain of social media and politics. They are not losing sleep worrying about the genocides, fascism, and whether their kids are going to be ok.

They have the mycelial network to rely on. Each tree connected through its root system to its neighbor, sharing resources, assessing which one is lacking sufficient nutrients at any given moment and redirecting out of its abundance to the one in need.

Trees are confident that the network will support them when their turn comes and they are the ones reaching out for support. They don’t let their pride, arrogance, or ego keep them from either giving or receiving. They understand their interdependence. They rely on it to survive.

We have a lot to learn from trees.

Be like a tree.

Stay grounded.

Connect with your roots.

Turn over a new leaf.

Bend before you break.

Enjoy your natural beauty.

Keep growing.

           ~ Joanne Rapits

Blessings on your journey,

Louisa

HEALTH POLICY UPDATE:

Please join us for these hybrid opportunities for practice:

• Wednesday Morning Sitting Group - 8:15 am to 9:00 am
• Mindfulness Study Group – First and Third Sundays 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

These offerings will allow for both in-person at The Center for Mindful Living and virtual attendance on Zoom. All other sitting groups remain virtual at this time. We will be offering several in-person programs this winter (please see below) and will continue to monitor the ongoing public health situation. 

Thank you for your help and understanding in keeping our community healthy and safe!

CML WEATHER RELATED CLOSURES:

Just a reminder that, if OPS is closed for weather related reasons, our physical building will also be closed and any scheduled programming will either be offered online only, or cancelled at the discretion of the facilitator. 

Please check with your individual provider regarding whether or not you will meet by telehealth instead of in-person for your session. Thank you.

Daily Silent Meditation             

8:15 - 9:00 am

Monday - Friday Morning

Zoom Link

Guided Meditation

1:15 - 1:45 pm          

Tuesday Afternoon

Zoom Link

Leaving The Soltane Forest: The Old Woman Weaving

A Weekend Workshop of Myth, Magic, & Metamorphosis

Facilitated by Dr. Louisa Foster

Friday, April 5th to Sunday, April 7th

Creation stories come in many forms, and many mythologies offer variations on the tale of the Old Woman Weaving. The Wise Crone sitting at her loom, weaving the World into existence, and reminding us of the beautiful interconnected, yet fragile tapestry of reality.

But what are we meant to do when we feel that the painstaking work is coming apart?

What is being asked of us as we watch the world unravel?

In this weekend workshop, we will spend time in community examining what we can do to care for ourselves, those we love, and the fabric of our global community that begins to fray in times of chaos, confusion, and despair.

We will spend the weekend immersed in developing and gathering our strength and resources. Using storytelling, mindfulness, contemplative writing, ritual, and art making, we will weave from our own wisdom and decide how to shape our own section of the cloth.

There are 8 spots available for this offering.

Tuition:

Supporting (I’d like to help someone attend): $320

Standard (I’d like to attend): $280

Supported (I’d like some help attending): $240

All materials are included. Registration ends March 29th. *Save $25 when you register by March 15th.

Register Here

An Introduction to Art Therapy

Facilitated by Pamela Mueggenberg, LMHP, MA

Saturday, April 13th 2:00 to 4:00 pm

(Discount registration ends March 25th)

Please join us for the third in our series of workshops : An Introduction to Expressive Arts Therapy.

Art is a primal, fundamental tool of human communication, both between us and within ourselves.  Often, the canvas is where our inner and outer worlds meet and have a conversation.  Art making and witnessing can speak to a deeper part of ourselves and help us understand ourselves, others, and the world better.  And with any powerful tool, we need to understand its use, how it can help us, but also its risks.  Not all art is good for everybody!  

Join Pamela Mueggenberg, LMHP, Masters in Art Therapy Counseling, for a workshop in the elements of art therapy.  We will go over the basic philosophical and psychological tenets of art therapy, explore art media as a continuation of the therapeutic relationship and, of course, do some art.  Pamela is a warm and accessible presence, fully steeped in the nuances of how art therapy can improve lives and would love to share this with you.

Interested in your organization attending?  Contact Pamela for group discounts.

Please contact Pamela@OmahaArtTherapy.com for more information.

Tuition: $36 until March 25th, then $45 after that. Registration closes April 6th.

Register Here

On Not Knowing

By Pamela Mueggenberg, LMHP, MA

I’ve been losing my words lately. Covid finally hit my house for winter this year, and two months later I can tell that my brain is still recovering from hosting its unwelcome guest. It’s not as though I’m forgetting words, having them lounge on my tongue until they’ve run off on a beach vacation to find themselves. It’s more like the words are sleeping in my brain; even with alarms and klaxons and their nest shaking in frustration, they continue to snooze completely untroubled by their rampant absenteeism.  

Often my mind attempts to find a way around the word, trying to communicate the emotion or image even if the sound is gone. I was as surprised as anybody when I called wrapping paper “surprise blankets” and my cat as “anger fluff.”

I was talking to a friend of mine, a speech therapist, who gave me a few tips to help me find my words again. “The biggest challenge is not to freak out,” she said. “When you can’t find the path to a word our first inclination is to clamp down and force your way through. Take a breath, remember you’re not crazy, and it will come to you eventually.”

This struck me as really good advice.  

We are all faced with the unknown - what will happen today, this year, this decade. What challenges and injuries we or our loved ones will encounter. What we think we can control when really, we’ve just been lucky so far.  

This time in history has stripped away some of the security we took for granted, and it makes sense that we would fill in the gaps of our knowledge with assuming the worst. How many times have you heard the phrase “end of the world” this week?  

We are facing serious challenges and have a lot of work ahead of us but the assumption that the unknown is imminently doomed isn’t true. The truth is we don’t know. And not knowing is not the same thing as annihilation.

Instead, let’s take a breath. Remember who you are. And the future will come. And when it does, you will have an opportunity to show your values and strengths and keep those you love in your heart. You have those same opportunities today, and today we can choose what to do. So, plant a garden, hug your friends, pick up trash, and live a life you’re proud of. And the words will come.