Meditation: Awakening to Your Thoughts & Emotions
A 10-week online class to help you let go of egoic dualism
Dates: January 21, 2020 – March 24, 2020
Day/Time: Tuesdays from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm (CST)
Day/Time: Tuesdays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm (CST)
Where: The Mindfulness Classroom of MeditationChapel.org
Maximum Enrollment/Class: 10 participants
Who: Are you plagued by runaway thoughts and emotions? Does your ego get in the way of living in the divine? Do you want to strengthen your meditation practice while learning practical skills to discern what comes from ego and what comes from God? If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, this class will benefit you.
Goals: This experiential 10-week class will strengthen your meditation practice and reinforce your self-awareness to non-judgmentally manage the thoughts and emotions that keep you trapped in egoic dualism and separate you from God’s love.
What to Expect in Class: The class combines meditation with elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Each class devotes the first half hour to discussing your experiences with your daily home practice. The second half hour focuses on research-based CBT tools to develop awareness of thoughts and emotions. This is followed by a half hour of meditation. Participants spend the last half hour in guided discussion about what you’ve learned and experienced. Check out the working syllabus.
Companion Text: Participants will be expected to read and pray Lectio Divina on self-selected reflections from The Dance of Life: Weaving Sorrows and Blessings into One Joyful Step by Henri Nouwen and edited by Michael Ford.
Leader: As a clinical therapist, Sandra Miller, MSW, LCSW, has taught meditation and mindfulness to individuals since 2012. She started leading Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy groups for people with clinical depression and anxiety in 2016. She has practiced meditation since 1981, including insight meditation and centering prayer.
Sandra retired in August 2018 to focus on her passion, adapting Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy to help Christians live more fully in the mind of Christ. She piloted this class during Lent 2019 and has led six Awakening classes now. Learn more about how Sandra thinks through her blogs.
What Participants Say About The Class: Jeanne K. writes I would recommend the class to anyone seeking a God centered life. You helped each of us to find God in ourselves and to place Him/Her center stage.
Donna O. says I signed up for the class with goals of being closer to God and better at listening for the Holy Spirit’s correction and direction as a Lenten exercise. So much more has been given me…joy and serenity by simply resting in His presence. Nouwen’s words and the class have reminded me that God wants me to accept these spiritual gifts. The caring and nonjudgmental facilitation encourages me to continue in gentle (new concept to me) persistent efforts to remain close to God. What a blessing! Each week has brought new revelations, tears, laughter and peace. Thank you and my fellow participants for providing a loving spiritual environment for this journey.
Wes M. writes, In essence, this class has helped me to practice prayer not as a Christian duty and empty ritual of faith, but rather as a life-affirming relationship with a loving God whose presence and healing are always available to me. Read more of what participants are saying about the class.
Register Now: Registration is first come, first served. Please be sure to indicate whether you want the 12:30 – 2:30 pm or 5:00 – 7:00 pm Central Standard Time (CST) class. The first ten registrants for each class will be confirmed. Other registrants will be put on a wait list. All registrants will be notified your registration was received and its status, either Confirmed or Wait List.
Step 1: Register as a Meditation Chapel user (if you haven’t already)
Step 2: Complete and submit this brief registration form
Step 3: Watch for a Confirmation or Wait List email from Christians Meditate.
Questions: Email Sandra Miller. You will receive a response within 24 hours.