The Heart of Compassionn

"The way out of the storm and the mud of suffering, 

the way back to the high edge of strength and courage, 

is through the power of compassion."  

~ Joan Halifax

Compassion, a force not only directed outward but also inward, forms the emotional bedrock of the 5th rhythm envisioned by Gabrielle Roth. To immerse ourselves in the vast expanse of compassion, we must embrace our fear, our anger, our sorrow, our joy. As we navigate these depths, we expand our capacity for empathy and understanding.

Gabrielle Roth said, “Compassion is a chameleon: it can wear the face of fear, anger, sadness, joy or even dispassion, depending on what's needed at the time. The compassionate Buddha has a smile in one eye and a tear in the other, and our Buddha mission is to lead people to true freedom, not to hold their hand and tell them that everything is going to be all right. In teaching, compassion means doing whatever needs to be done to get to the next phase.”

True compassion is an art, an intimate comprehension, a tender or resolute response to the horrors we and others endure. It fills our existence with purpose.

Join us on Saturday, May 4th, from 2-8pm, for a soul-stirring, and thought-provoking gathering in the embrace of compassion.

Please bring:

A mug for Cacao

A pillow and blanket

A pen and journal

A meal or snacks for our break

A willingness to once again inhabit your life fully and to share this journey with others

We eagerly await your presence.

Ann 

EQUILIBRIUM: a 5Rhythms Workshop on the Polarities of Presence

This soothing season of release and bounty, of shorter days and cooling winds, delights us in an exuberant display of color and abundance, a reflective space of gratitude and luciferous change. The coming season of autumn brings a shift into decidedly cooler and longer nights; a time for harvesting, fruition, and transition for many forms of life in this hemisphere. Leaves brighten, crisp and fall. Melancholy musings turn our focus inward as the space between the possibilities of Summer and emptiness of Winter arrives. Birds begin to fly to warmer climates, opening the soundscapes of our mornings and evenings into a growing silence. Fruit and leaves begin to litter the forest floor as their bodies nourish whatever grows next. Some of us venture out into the wilds while the temperate weather persists, gathering around fires, with practices that acknowledge and give thanks. Some return to learning and the halls and chambers of curiosity, reconfiguring families and offering new opportunities to the next generations.

As we approach the autumnal equinox, we invite you to dance the polarities of the 5Rhythms as we explore each rhythm in it’s endarkened and enlightened expression. This journey of movement, connection, ritual, and integration is offered as a waypoint on your path to the reflective, soothing, and generous energy of harvest that autumn can offer.

Friday September 20: 6-9pm

Saturday September 21: 11-6 pm

Sunday September 22: 9-3pm

Workshop will take place at:

Center Studio, 961 2nd St SE, Suite 306, Charlottesville, VA 22903

Full Workshop:

Sponsor*: $ 335.00 | Standard: $285.00 | Reduced Rate: $235.00

Friday night only:

Sponsor*: $ 50.00 | Standard: $40.00 | Reduced Rate: $30.00

*Your payment at Sponsor level allows another to pay the reduced rate.

*If the reduced rate would still prevent your participation please complete the registration form and then email connect@afterbefore with your request.

This workshop counts as 2.5 days (15 Hours) of Waves for those on the 5Rhythms Teacher Training path.