Gather to honor Spring Equinox and the change of the seasons with a half-day gathering.
Somatic movement, contemplation, conversation, and deepening together in our relationships with nature, community, and the seasonal cycles. Vegetarian potluck lunch.
Our theme through this season is Love in a Dangerous Time: How do we cultivate the strength to move through challenging times with love, instead of getting tangled in our self-defeating attitudes of anger, despair, distraction, or apathy? In the Buddhist tradition, we practice the Four Immeasurables: love, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. They are not feel-good platitudes, but require a deep reckoning with the nature of reality and of our minds. What do we truly value, and how do we actually live it, through the mundane annoyances and true challenges of life?
Spring Equinox is a time to make well-wishes for the year ahead of us, to bless and protect the bounty of the earth and all that nourishes our communities. We’ll be collectively building an altar as part of our ritual practice. The altar will include things that represent pieces and aspects of our world that we would like to hold in care, blessing, and protection in the seasons to come. This could include photos, plants, stones, words, and small items. You are invited to bring anything(s) you want to contribute to our altar (you are welcome to take it home with you after).
We have a morning session and an afternoon session, with lunch in between (typically around or a bit after noon). Folks are free to come and go as needed, attending all or part of the day. Our day involves a mix of silence, connecting with our bodyminds, sharing with one another, and connecting with community and the natural world.
Free will offering to help meet our expenses.
Please get in touch if you’d like us to try and find you a carpool, and let us know what neighborhood you’ll be coming from.
RSVP to gatheringround.seattle@gmail.com to receive the address, or for any questions or access needs.
Accessibility:
In Person: We will be meeting indoors and outdoors (weather allowing), in a house in NE Seattle. House has cats and a dog, and the dog can be put away for the gathering. There are a couple steps to the front door, and a slightly sloped driveway path to the house. There is abundant street parking. Please get in touch with any access needs.
Viral safety plan: We will be meeting indoors in a home and outdoors (weather allowing). Please stay home if you are having cold, flu, covid, or similar viral symptoms. We are typically a smaller group and masks are optional. If you need different guidelines, please email gatheringround.seattle@gmail.com so we can talk about an inclusive plan.
On Zoom: Cameras are optional; most of us participate with cameras on to help build community. Please email gatheringround.seattle@gmail.com with any access needs.