September Mindfulness Moment

Caloosahatchee Mindfulness

How do you connect? Text? Email? Zoom? During the pandemic, we learned to lean into digital connections. Sometimes though, it just feels good to see a person face to face and not in a small rectangle on a computer screen. We are happy to announce that beginning in September, we will have a monthly, in-person, sitting meditation session. You will find the details below. Sessions will be led by Caloosahatchee Mindfulness Board Members. We intentionally started with one sitting a month. If there is a strong enough interest, we will look into hosting this meditation twice a month. If you or someone you know has been looking forward to sitting in community, we hope you will join us.

Much Metta,

Maggie

Caloosahatchee Mindfulness Chair

Upcoming Events

September 16, Monday - Sitting Meditation with Anne Louise Kracmer, Lotus Blossom Clinic, 6710 Winkler Avenue, Building #2

(corner of Winkler & Cypress Lake Drive) 6:30 to 8 pm

September 25, Mindful Art with Vicki Durso

Behind the Buddha Studio; 7 pm to 9 pm.

October 12, Saturday - Walking Meditation Resumes!

with Valarie Olsen at Lakes Park gathering at 8:45, 9 to 9:30 am

October 21, Sitting Meditation with Anne Louise Kracmer

Lotus Blossom Clinic, 6710 Winkler Avenue, Building #2

(corner of Winkler & Cypress Lake Drive) 6:30 to 8 pm

November 16, Saturday, Silent Meditation Half-Day Retreat

Six Mile Cypress Slough (registration begins in October) 10 am to 2 pm with lunch following.

November 18, Sitting Meditation with Maggie Stevens

Lotus Blossom Clinic, 6710 Winkler Avenue, Building #2

(corner of Winkler & Cypress Lake Drive) 6:30 to 8 pm

January 18, Saturday, Annual Membership Meeting

Six Mile Cypress Slough, 10 am to 2 pm with lunch following.

What Else Is Happening?

You can check out guided meditations and talks by our Board Chair on the free app, Insight Timer at Maggie Stevens (insighttimer.com).

Board Member, Valarie Olsen is teaching yoga at Ritual Space. You can find out more about the services she offers at this link: Schedule an Appointment with Valarie Olsen Counseling & Wellness, LLC (acuityscheduling.com)

Mindfulness Practice Opportunities

Sangha Sitting Meditation

Caloosahatchee Mindfulness will hold an in-person sitting meditation session on the 3rd Monday of each month. Beginners and experienced meditators are welcome. The session will include sitting and walking meditation, and a post-meditation discussion. Chairs and cushions are provided. A dana (offering) of $5 is requested to help defray the cost of space rental.

The first session will be on September 16, 2024, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. It will be held at the Lotus Blossom Clinic, 6710 Winkler Rd #2, Fort Myers, (corner of Winkler & Cypress Lake Drive)

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

CM Book Club has just begun a new book, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old by Parker Palmer

From beloved and bestselling author Parker J. Palmer (Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, Healing the Heart of Democracy), comes a beautiful book of reflections on what we can learn as we move closer to "the brink of everything."

But this book is not for elders only. It was written to encourage adults of all ages to explore the way their lives are unfolding. It's not a how-to-do-it book on aging, but a set of meditations in prose and poetry that turn the prism on the meaning(s) of one's life, refracting new light at every turn.

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.

Friday Time Out

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,

or email caloosahatcheemindfulness16@gmail.com. You can also register on our website and receive the link directly. www.caloosahatcheemindfulness.org.

With Gratitude to our Community Partners

We are so grateful to our Community Partners for their support of mindfulness!