Breathe- Mindfulness Group-Part 1/3

People of Colour Meditation Gathering part 1/3

A heart circle on the first Sunday of each month from September 2020, 6 pm - 8pm (GMT), or 1-3pm (EST) 10am -12 (PST) 

Sensei Alex Kakuyo will lead the sessions on 6th September, 4th October and 1st November. We will be focusing on 'My Grandmother's Hands: racialising trauma and the pathway to mending our hearts and bodies,' by Resmaa Meakem.

Please feel to attend if you have not read the book.

Alex Kakuyo is a Buddhist teacher and breathwork facilitator.A former Marine, he served in both Iraq and Afghanistan before finding the Dharma through a series of happy accidents. Alex has a degree in philosophy from Wabash College and he helps students transform daily activities into spiritual practice.He is the author of Perfectly Ordinary: Buddhist Teachings for Everyday Life.

Our programme for 2021 will be led by a wide range of international speakers including: Rhonda Magee,  Eugene Ellis, Vimalasara M. Brown,Dr Erica McInnis, Cre Dye, Drew Sinclair, Muna Light, Nisha Halai, Rashid Hughes, Skywalker Payne,  Barbara Soltero, Vanessa Sibanda, Dr Rehena Harilall and many more. 

A heart circle is a form of healing and connection that is generated by a honest and sincere way to be all inclusive, and present to people's path and process. The heart circle is offered with a sense of connection to traditions which connect us to our ingrained humanity, our sense of internconnectedness with the earth, and our journey into the extraordinary. In these gatherings we can connect in ways which are traditional to indigenous cultures, using our life experiences, truths and convictions as our main tool. We are free to leave the normal conventions and concerns behind us, and transport into the world of our ancestors, connect with our higher power and with a sense of group empowerment through ritual movement and storytelling. 

Mindfulness curricula imply that there is an overt assumption that standard mindfulness practices are universally beneficial. The empirical evidence driving the curricula is “robust and rigorous,” as its application. Universality is assumed while never having to say that decades of evidence-based, well-funded, highly visible, and industry standard findings that support mindfulness curricula and practices are predominantly formed on the lived experiences of white people. 

The POC movement is sensitive to these dynamics and would like to ensure that POC communities are taking a more informed decision about their practice, training routes and how mindfulness can be delivered. We welcome a return to traditional practices to foster a re-connection to our interconnectedness, as a declaration of our shared humanity. 

The 7 intentions for POC groups.

• Community: a unique and safe environment where you are held. Where you can begin to explore areas of identity such as the intersection of sexuality, race, gender, class, disability, without judgement. To establish connection, celebration and value. 

• Meditation: an opportunity to explore and discuss our racialised bodies and a framework that contains, affirms and nourishes opportunities for spiritual growth. 

• Transcendence: to deconstruct and identify the oppressive power structures that govern the psyche and the ideas that perpetuate them. Construct a positive and affirmative healing environment. 

• Affirming: to awaken and strengthen the potential within our lives and the people of colour environment, and to attain a sense of belonging. 

• Ownership: grounding, knowing and seeing the truth, acknowledging our own complicity in maintaining these structures and the denial that allows us to continue life as usual. 

• Compassion: transcend and understand the concept of intersectionality and foster a sense of belonging, respect and responsible ethics. 

• Insight and Wisdom: to cultivate a sense of self investment and to see for ourselves the value and meaning of a life based on awakening and potential. 

Cost: Free with Membership or  £10 per session (exchange rate with dollar is £1.20 = $1.00)

About MNPC 

The Mindfulness Network for People of Colour (MNPC) is a small, not-for-profit independent organisation established in 2018 in the UK by William Fley. MNPC is made up of our community leaders, committee board members, peer group facilitators, key volunteers and project coordinators. 

We are not associated with any political, religious or institutional organization.

 

We are dedicated to making a kinder, wiser world by making transformational education widely available. 

We want everyone to have access to transformative tools such as mindfulness, emotional awareness and self-compassion regardless of economic, social or physical challenges. Our events are led by gifted and exceptional BAME teachers from various backgrounds who can connect with the BAME and the LGBT experience. And people who want to practice together and develop a meditative practice to build a better life for themselves and those around them. 

December 6th 2020 : Christmas date:  Drew Sinclair, Muna Light, Nisha Halai

January 3rd 2021 : Skywalker Payne

Febuary 7th : Eugene Ellis

March 7th :  Rashid Hughes

April 4th :  Vimalasara Mason Brown

May 2nd: Dr Rehena Harilall

June 6th : William Fley 

September 5th : Vanessa Sibanda

October 3rd : Cre Dye

Novemeber 7st: Barbara Soltero

Demcember 6th : Dr Erica McInnis