Spirituality Matters by Steven Libowitz “Spirituality Matters” highlights two or three Santa Barbara area spiritual gatherings. Unusual themes and events with that something extra, especially newer ones looking for a boost in attendance, receive special attention. For consideration for inclusion in this column, email slibowitz@yahoo.com.
Radhule’s Refuge in the Storm: Connecting in a Time of Conflict and Coronavirus
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anta Barbara meditation leader Radhule Weininger sent out a missive to her mailing list over last weekend, and also asked if I could find some space in my column for her thoughts on anxiety over the growing cases of the Coronavirus as well as the coming election. Here’s an edited version: “I am listening to a rising swell of alarm about the spread of the Coronavirus, knowing that we have a need to inform ourselves, to make ourselves as safe as possible, and to protect ourselves and our families. But terror management can disconnect us, as fear of a pandemic can make us circle our wagons, contract and become less open to others. While this unpredictable, mysterious virus is a real danger, it could perhaps also be seen as a metaphor for so much else that is alarming, uncertain, and potentially dangerous on a very primal level. “What helps us to protect ourselves in a time like this? And in the midst of all these forces that feel quite volatile and scary, how can we keep our hearts open? “Recently, I talked with my friend and mentor Joanna Macy (the author, teacher and Buddhist scholar who has offered ‘The Work That Reconnects’ since the 1970s) about the effects we may notice within ourselves when having to deal with an acute or ongoing crisis. She told me that ‘The human spirit does not want to avoid. When we turn away from reality, then our energy contracts and wanes, and we begin to feel dull and tired… We have been given eyes, ears, and intelligence. As humans, we are called to meet courageously what is obstructing our path. That gives us energy. When we meet the challenges in front of us, may they be illness, climate crisis, danger to our democracy or to vulnerable fellow humans, then we become discerning, eloquent, courageous, and able to hold our heads up. Courage gives us the energy to see when things are not right. Then we can feel healthy anger, our passion for justice and democracy. And this awakens our compassion.’ “Courage in French means ‘large-heartedness’. How do we keep our hearts large and wide open times such as these? Perhaps, as Rumi said, ‘Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there’. I want to encourage you,
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and myself, to ask how we can find our way to this field of compassion. Maybe through spiritual practice, compassionate work for others and our world, or connection with trees, mountains and the earth? No matter what happens, we are held by something deeper that gives us security and makes it possible for us to show up and be present.” Radhule Weininger, Ph.D. MD, offers donation-based meditation sessions weekly at Yoga Soup, The Sacred Space in Summerland and St. Michael’s in Isla Vista. The community-oriented Solidarity and Compassion Project meets at the Unitarian Society’s Parish Hall from 7-8.30 pm each second Wednesday of the month, featuring guest speakers from the community to discuss healing during difficult times and bringing together members of the leading faith traditions, as well as a variety of thinkers, visionaries and activists. The event on March 11 addresses the theme of “Refuge in the Storm” with meditation, a panel of speakers, discussion, music and sharing community. Visit www.mind fulheartprograms.org.
‘Death is But a Dream’
Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Santa Barbara’s 7th Annual PHorum features the return of Dr. Chris Kerr, neurobiologist and CEO & Chief Medical Officer for the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care in Buffalo, New York, whose new book, Death is But a Dream, celebrates our power to reclaim dying as a deeply meaningful and soothing process for both patients and their loved ones as well as a form of spiritual healing. Dr. Kerr will discuss his latest findings in his research on end-of-life experiences, which has received international attention and been featured in The New York Times and Atlantic Monthly as well as on the BBC. In his first study, using quantifiable data, Dr. Kerr demonstrated that pre-death dreams and visions are experienced by the majority of dying patients, with positive psychological and spiritual benefits. At VNA Health’s Phorum, which takes place 5-7 pm next Thursday, March 12, at the Lobero Theatre, will discuss his recent studies which examine how such experiences help the dying grow
and adapt as life ends as well as the effect of these experiences on the loved ones left behind. Free admission with required registration at https://vna. health/ways-to-give/special-events/ phorum2020. Call (805) 690-6218 for more information.
Free Yoga… from the Ground Up
Sierra Nolan’s free Yoga 101 Workshop: Foundations of Yoga is designed for first-timers, beginners or those who want to dig deeper into the yoga tradition and fine-tune their primary yoga asanas (poses). The two-hour session, slated for 1-3 pm on Saturday, March 7, at Divinitree Santa Barbara downtown, provides a non-intimidating environment to ask any questions you have about yoga – the poses, history, philosophy, breathing, meditation, and more – so you can maximize the benefit and understanding of the practice. Students will also learn how to use props and their own body to modify poses and movements to meet their unique needs. The poses will then be incorporated into an accessible and moderately-paced Vinyasa flow that links movement and breath. The intention is to provide participants with the tools to start confidently practicing yoga at home or in the studio.
Studio Special Events
Amardeep Kaur leads a Kundalini Yoga & Gong Experience – featuring sound healing, mantra chanting, and movement to assist in centering, grounding, and “awakening to the indescribable ecstasy of life” – from 7-8:30 pm on Friday, March 6, at the Santa Barbara Yoga Center ($20)... Also this week at SBYC: Sequences for Well-Being in a Stressful World with Sarah Tuttle offering specific Iyengar sequences and modifications to address such issues as headaches, digestive distress, insomnia, and anxiety 2-4:30 on Saturday, March 7 ($45); and Cheri Clampett’s monthly Therapeutic Yoga featuring breath awareness, guided meditation, handson healing massage, essential oils, and live improvised waveforms with healing intention played by Avahara, 2-4:30 on Sunday, March 8 ($50). On tap at Yoga Soup is the monthly First Fridays Ecstatic Dance, this month featuring Aaron Musicant spinning the tunes for the “live DJ getdown dance party” featuring a contact improv warm-up and then free-form dancing to music that follows an ecstatic dance “wave” with slow and mellow music building to chaotic intensity and then returning to stillness at the end (7-9:30 Friday, March 6; $15)… Patrick San Francesco’s periodic Full Moon Meditation, Healing & Talk takes place 7-9 pm on Saturday, March 7, with
“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” – Lao Tzu
individual healing followed by a guided live full moon “Harmony” meditation and talk on the topic of “What is the Universe?” ($30). Tricia Speidel’s Chakra Balancing Workshop at Power of Your Om yoga studio is an introductory class journeying through the system of energy centers that have an enormous impact on our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being by affecting our perceptions, feelings, and choices. She’ll employ essential oils, asana (poses), and meditations for each chakra, from root to crown (7:30-9:30 Friday, March 6; $40).
Meetup Minis
Santa Barbara Spirituality Cafe’s second gathering, slated for 2:305 pm on Saturday, March 7, at 108 Northridge Road, will be the first meeting to move beyond administrative issues into the intention to share knowledge and interests, and inspire one another to be active in the community. The hope is to apply spirituality to some program or action to one’s own work or interest, with the intention that as a community of like-minded people we can do our little bit to make the world a better place. Visit www.meetup.com/SantaBarbara-Spirituality-Cafe-MeetupGroup/events/268638900… Heart Songs Kirtan Circle’s Darren Marc and friends Kelly Irelan, Jayananda and Amy Bankoff join together to offer a celebration of the heart, including kirtan (call-and-response singing of simple chants incorporating mantra and English lyrics), sharing cacao and essential oils to uplift mind, body, and spirit (7-9 pm Saturday, March 7, at 37 Colusa Drive in Goleta; $10 suggested donation; www.meetup.com/ Song-Circle-Cacao-Medicine-MusicKirtan)... SB Psychedelic Integration Circle’s monthly gathering to discuss experiences with entheogens, psychedelics and plant medicines as well as explore insights and support for the purpose of integration and healing takes place Monday, March 9, at a private home on the West Side. Details at www.meetup.com/SB-PsychedelicIntegration-Circle.
We are Sorry
The Montecito Vedanta Temple was not asked or notified about a planned event scheduled for last weekend by the Santa Barbara-BuddhistMeditation Meetup, which was canceled before taking place. We were asked to run a clarifying statement about the temple’s policies to avoid any future issues. The Vedanta Temple welcomes people from all religions and denominations for quiet prayer and meditation, but is not available for outside groups to use for organized events. •MJ 5 – 12 March 2020
