The Blissful Brain

By Shanida Nataraja

NOW AVAILABLE: Gaia Books Ltd at £7.99 (ISBN-13: 978-1856752916)

In her new book, Dr Shanida Nataraja explores the extraordinary research that shows practices such as meditation, tai chi and yoga are not only helpful in reducing stress; they may actually be crucial for good health and optimal brain functioning.

Click here for more information.

International Resource Group Meeting 2007
Hotel Cheribourg, Orford
14 October – 16 October 2007


Participants

Australia Ruth Fowler; Canada Phil Barnett, Sr Kathleen Bolger, Norma Hannouch, Michel Legault; New Zealand Peter Murphy; United Kingdom Kim Nataraja, Shankar Nataraja, Liz Watson; United States Steve Lodesky.

Apologies received from Jeannie Battigin, Gene Bebeau and Glenda Meakin

Reports from around the world

The reports presented to the meeting showed that the School is absolutely flourishing. In fact, it is now an integral part of the work of the Community in most parts of the world. It functions as a ‘leaven’ or ‘generator’ to increase Community members’ involvement in all aspects of support and nourishment of meditators everywhere.

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Vermont School Report 2007

THE SECOND VERMONT CHRISTIAN MEDITATION
SCHOOLWORKSHOP

The Second School for Teachers of Christian Meditation was held in Burlington, Vermont on August 17-19, 2007. There were four leaders from the World Community of Christian Meditation and seven candidate teachers principally from the New England and New York area.

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Dancing With Your Shadow

By Kim Nataraja

NOW AVAILABLE www.mediomedia.org

An insightful and revealing book about meditation and accepting in joy and fearless love all the aspects of the Self and integrating them into a harmonious, cooperative whole – thus becoming part of the Dance of the Universe..

Click here for more information.

Lectio Divina

Thanks to Barbara Hazzard we are starting a new initiative. Every week there will be a passage for 'Lectio Divina' for your personal or group use.

Laurence Freeman always lays emphasis on the close connection between Lectio Divina and Christian Meditation. He encourages us to do both, as meditation helps us to read scripture at a deeper level. Lectio
Divina is a slow contemplative reading of Scripture, which allows us in St
Benedict's words "to listen carefully...with the ear of the heart." In doing
so we hear 'the still, small voice of God' (1 Kings 19:12).

In 'Resources' you will find an introductory article to the practice, which
includes a description of the practice itself. To read more, please click here.

Article on the Value of Meditation in Children - LA Times 05 September 2005

This month, a facinating article appeared in the LA Times addressing the value of meditation in children.

TEN-YEAR-OLD Trae Smith knows how to deal with the stresses of school, an acting and modeling career and, of course, the typical family squabbles. He closes his eyes, counts to 100 and lets it all go.

Trae, who learned to meditate last year with his fourth-grade class at Toluca Lake Elementary School, said that tests and auditions used to make him nervous. But since he's learned how to meditate, Trae says, "everything is like a piece of cake."

As meditation goes mainstream among American adults, it's slowly making its way into schools and programs for children across the country. Anecdotal reports of its success have become common, with parents and teachers contending that it can calm kids down, level out their moods and help them focus. Some proponents say it can even manage serious conditions, such as anxiety and attention deficit disorder.

To read more, please click here.

Report - School for Christian Meditation in Australia 2004

The National Coordinator for Australia, Ruth Fowler, has written a report detailing the activities of the School for Christian Meditation in Australia during 2004, as well as plans for 2005. To read this report, please click here. A list of forthcoming events in Australia during 2005 is also available. To download a PDF of this list, please click here.

Eileen O'Hea, CSJ (R.I.P.)

Eileen O'Hea died peacefully at 6.12 pm on February 1st. May she rest in the peace of Christ and be absorbed in the light of the divine. May God be praised for the richness and beauty of her life and work which will console those who miss her here.

Laurence Freeman OSB

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It is with great sadness that we hear of Sister Eileen's passing. I will personally miss her dearly as a friend and teacher and so will everyone involved in the School. Her influence will continue to be felt worldwide. Her ideas and support were invaluable in the formation of the School and her guiding influence will continue in every aspect of its work, especially in the emphasis on stages of spiritual growth and in the School retreats with spiritual direction, which were very much her inspiration and added gift to the Community.

I thank God her suffering is over and she has gone home to the loving arms of the Christ that was her life.

Kim Nataraja
International School Coordinator

Report from Retreat at Cold Ash in Berkshire, UK
22-29 November 2004

The recent retreat at Cold Ash in Berkshire was a success. The read a report of this retreat, including comments from participants, please click here. To see some photos from this event, please click here.

Report from Retreat at the Minnehof, Bruge November 2004

On the weekend of the 19-21 November an event took place that was a new initiative in two important ways. Firstly it was a European event, with participants from France, Germany, Holland, and Belgium. Secondly, the event was held in the ‘Minnehof’, a beautiful retreat centre in Bruge, run by a team of volunteers led by Ria Weyens. To read the full report of this retreat, please click here.

Kim Nataraja

European Coordinators Meeting in Belgium September 2004

The European Coordinators Meeting was held in Belgium last month led by Fr Laurence- see Mariya Plotzki's report on www.wccm.org. It was an enjoyable and productive meeting. I'd like to mention two of the many productive outcomes from this meeting:

1) An International Retreat Centre for the WCCM in Bruges, Belgium, run by a group of volunteers under the guidance Ria Weyens. Many of you will remember her as being a member of the Community in Campden Hill Road for 5 years prior to her return to Belgium - she is on the 'Coming Home' video. The beauty and silence of this new Centre in the medieval Beguinage of Bruges needs to be experienced first hand. For further details please contact Ria at ria.weyens@pandora.be

2) An 'Essential Teaching Workshop' specifically for National Coordinators and groupleaders who work closely with them will be held in this new International Retreat Centre of the WCCM in Bruges, Belgium on the weekend of the 19-21 November 2004. . The Workshop will be co-led by Odile van der Hoff and Kim Nataraja and will be held in English. If you are a groupleader and have not yet been to a 'School' this is your chance! There will be additionally to the usual format a special session looking at the role of a National Coordinator.(Contact Mariya Plotzki - the German National Coordinator on hm.plotzki@gmx.de)

Following this 'Essential teaching Workshop' there will be others in the near future in the various European languages. Planned already are a 'Workshop' in Italy and France.

Kim Nataraja

Report of the "Roots in the Desert" School Seminar held in Florida 11-13 February 2004

The final report of the "Roots in the Desert" seminar held at the Marywood Retreat Center for Spirituality and Ministry near Jacksonville, Florida is now available. To read this report of the seminar writen by Connie Price, please click here.

Final Report of the Roots of Christian Mysticism Course 2003

The final report of the Roots for Christian Mysticism Course is now available. To read this report, please click here. The course was so well appreciated that we will be running a new course from 14 September 2004 finishing with a Retreat Day on the 25th June 2005. Application forms will be available from Kim Nataraja after Easter 2004.

Report of the Christian Meditation School held in Florida 15-17 August

The Fourth annual Christian Meditation School was held at St Leo’s Abbey in Saint Leo, Florida. To read a report of this school, written by Gene Bebeau, please click here.

Report of Park Place School Retreat led by Laurence Freeman and Eileen O’Hea 9th-15th June 2003

The first UK School Retreat, held at The Park Place Pastoral Centre in Fareham, was a great success! To read a report of this retreat, written by Kim Nataraja (International School Coordinator) , please click here. To see some photos from the retreat, please click here.

Report of Fr Laurence's trip to Malaysia 23-26 January 2003

Fr Laurence recently visited Malaysia, giving a talk in Malacca and a School in Stella Maris, Penang. To read a report of this trip, written by Patricia Por (WCCM Malaysia), please click here.

Archive of Schools

Please click here to see the archive of previous schools on the main WCCM website.