In This Issue...

• Meditation Tip
• Meditation and the emotions
• 2006 Course Schedule
• Website of the Month
• Guided Meditation CD

Meditation Tip

Can you remember a time when you were deeply relaxed and content? What were you doing? What were you thinking? Where were you? Meditation can feel like this, if you let it.

Sometimes though, we're too busy trying to meditate - trying to calm down the mind, relax the body or heal ourselves. If you catch yourself trying too hard and meditation (or life) feels forced then it's time to use the 'Do Nothing Technique'.

Just get comfortable and let your mind do its thing. Set aside two or three minutes and deliberately do nothing. Give your attention permission to go wherever it wants - and to think about anything at all. This can be one of the most delicious experiences you'll ever have.  Try it, or better still don't try it.

Meditation and the emotions

Many people take up meditation as a means to escape the stresses of their emotional lives. Escape, however, may not be the best route to take - particularly over the long term. Emotions are an integral and important part of meditation, so we don't want to ignore them by insisting on remaining perfectly calm and detached. If you're interested in developing more useful ways to approach emotions during meditation read this month's article and check out the website of the month below.

New Courses for 2006

Great news for all those who have been patiently waiting for intermediate courses.  The first course will be running in Term 2 next year. Dates and locations will be confirmed early next year. Also an 8 week teacher training course is scheduled for the latter half of 2006.

The first term of regular courses for 2006 will begin in late January.

Website of the Month

Steve Mensing's Emoclear (www.emoclear.com)

The Emoclear website offers visitors over 70 innovative techniques for exploring emotions and emotional difficulties. These simple processes utilise techniques and ideas from meditation, mindfulness, psychology and acupuncture to help you develop healthy and comfortable ways to integrate emotions. All the processes are downloadable and free. The 'learning to feel and integrate your feelings' page is a great place to start.

Guided Meditation CD

Thanks to those who ordered and offered their feedback on the demo version of the CD. The studio recorded version will hopefully be out before Christmas.

Know someone who could chill out?

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