Personal Exploration   

Have you ever wondered how you might feel stable and more at ease in unstable and uncertain times? This six-week course, for the novice as well as for the seasoned meditator, is designed to be user-friendly and devoid of any ideological framework. It aims to integrate the practice of meditation seamlessly into ordinary life. It’s an invitation to quiet an overactive mind, regulate and calm your nervous system and follow your curiosity down the yellow brick road of your inner world, as well as to better understand how we all create our subjective experience. Each class will include discussion, guidance and lengthening periods of meditative practice. 

NOTE: Participants from previous classes are welcome to repeat this class. It is quite useful to deepen the meditation experience. 

Sydney Banks, a Scottish welder working in Vancouver, B.C., had a profound mystical experience that transformed his life. Banks traveled the world teaching at universities, writing books and sharing about the principles he discovered. We will explore two novels of his, inspired by a Three Principles global community course: “Second Chance” and “In Quest of the Pearl.” Students are not required to read the books, because we will watch video excerpts of Three Principles teachers reading and discussing passages. These delightful, enchanting books follow Richard, a troubled man dealing with a terminal diagnosis, pain, grief and depression as he vacations on Maui. He meets a mentor, Jonathan, and their rich conversations evoke deep feelings of peace.

NOTE: This course is based upon two books by Sydney Banks, “Second Chance” and “In Quest of the Pearl.” Both books are available from the Jackson County Library Hoopla website as audiobooks. The instructor also has copies he can loan to students in the class.

This nine-week course explores the chakra system and its relationship to emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Students will learn the function of each major chakra, common signs of balance and imbalance, and practical techniques for supporting overall well-being through greater self-awareness. Topics include the energetic body, the seven primary chakras, the aura, grounding practices, meditation, and the connection between thoughts, emotions and energy. Instruction will include lectures, group discussion, guided exercises and experiential activities designed to help participants better understand and apply the concepts presented. The course is presented from an energy-healing perspective while encouraging personal exploration. 

NOTE: No prior knowledge or experience is required. Participants are encouraged to bring a notebook or journal for personal reflection. All participation is voluntary and may be adapted to individual comfort levels. There is no class on Nov. 11.

This class will explore and discuss four famous spiritual teachers: Ram Dass, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rumi and Jane Goodall. Each class will include a short meditation, teachings, Q&A, class discussion, and time for tea and cookies. There will be several documentary films. Breakout groups will be held on weeks 3, 5, 7 and 9. We will be studying and discussing the life and core teachings of each figure, his or her place in history, and their lasting impact on the world. This is designed to be a course in comparative religion, spirituality and philosophy. Therefore, a diverse range of ideas, understandings and responses — positive, negative and neutral — will be examined and considered in a safe space. There will be optional reading assignments and suggested homework. All are welcome!

This course explores a practical model of the human spirit through three knowing centers: the Ego Center (sense of self and identity), the Heart Center (compassion and connection) and the Control Center (awareness, decision-making and action). Students will examine how life experiences shape these centers and influence behavior. The course also introduces the God-Soul as a source of wisdom and explores how its interaction with the human spirit can foster transformation. Participants will identify patterns of alignment and imbalance through discussion, reflection and small breakout groups. Class members may well leave with a clearer internal map of how they function and insight into how to live with greater empathy and intention.

Share ideas, make new friends and celebrate women in an updated answer to the salons of the French Enlightenment. Find common ground and camaraderie with other women via conversation and intellectual stimulation using modern pop culture as the catalyst for discussion— like a book club, but with films. At the first meeting, students will jointly select themes, which can range from angels to zeitgeist, diving deep into topics that touch women across ages, cultures, communities and circumstances. Weekly emails will include film titles and links to quotes, articles, visual artistic works and music that will become touchstones to recall personal stories and insights to share in discussions at the following sessions. Classes may include a short meditation. 

NOTE: Students will watch one to two films weekly at home before class, chosen from current selections on Netflix, Amazon Prime and/or other popular streaming services available via free trials.