Trauma-Informed Mindfulness in the Plum Village Tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
December 18, 2022
Hello Plum Village Sangha,
We hope this finds you well. In 2023, EMBRACE is offering programs to understand mindfulness practice from a trauma-informed perspective. We invite you to review the offerings below and join us by registering for the program of interest to you. Space is limited so please register as soon as you're ready.
EMBRACE Introductory Workshop
Description: An intro workshop for those new to EMBRACE work. It will be an introduction to neuroscience and trauma-informed mindfulness practice. Those who wish to participate in an EMBRACE Study Group are asked to take this workshop first.
Prereqs: None
Dates / Times:
Thursday, January 26th, 4 pm-6 pm Pacific Time
Sunday, January 29th, 10 am-12 pm Pacific Time
EMBRACE Study Groups
Description: Looking at our Plum Village practice through the eyes of neuroscience and trauma-informed principles. This will be 8 meetings with a cohort of other Plum Village practitioners. These study groups combine readings, and videos in the context of both large and small group discussions, and practices. There will be an optional facilitated monthly support group for those wanting guidance in their personal practice incorporating the materials during this same 8-week time frame.
Prereqs: EMBRACE Introductory Workshop
Dates / Times:
Cohort 1 - Every other Thursday from 4 pm-6 pm Pacific (2/9, 2/23, 3/9, 3/23, 4/6, 4/20, 5/4, 5/18)
Cohort 2 - Every other Sunday from 10 am-12 pm Pacific (2/5, 2/19, 3/5, 3/19, 4/2, 4/16, 4/30, 5/14)
Second Body Sessions (optional) These are one-hour optional meetings for tips on how to support each other in using trauma-informed practices.
Sundays 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. PST 2/26, 3/26, 5/7 for study group participants
EMBRACE Facilitator Training
Description: This training is intended for experienced Sangha facilitators who have already attended the Introductory Workshop and completed participation in an EMBRACE Study Group. Training participants will explore best practices for integrating trauma awareness into Sangha facilitation. The training will have an optional monthly follow-up peer support group to share how the process is going in sanghas, exchange tips, and deepen understanding.
Prereqs: EMBRACE Study Group
Dates / Times:
Saturday January 28th, 2023 9am-11am Pacific | 12pm-2pm Eastern
Spring & Fall Offering (Date TBD)
We hope that one or more of these offerings will spark your interest and be of service to you as you continue your practice. Please share this with your sanghas as well.
Thank you,
EMBRACE CTC
November 1, 2022
Here we are in November, fully fall. Yesterday I went out into the garden to discern if the cucumbers were still coming on and worthy of watering. To my utter surprise, woven in among the dark green prickly baby cukes were two pale green fuzzy ones as well. I did plant that variety as well, but it took them 5 months to get themselves to launch.
So too, it seems, with our fall phase of EMBRACE. While we've been raring to go, finding just the right presenters has taken some time. As you well know, engaged Buddhists are usually, just that, maximally engaged, so finding space to shoehorn in even juicy stuff can take more time than optimal.
Anyway, by way of all that, here's our current plan for unrolling the offerings:
The first EMBRACE orientation will roll out in late January the date to be arranged and announced. This will be for folks unfamiliar with EMBRACE and the neuroscientific and trauma-informed lenses. Kim offered the test run to 100 lay folks in PV of the new intro earlier this month and it was very well received. Kudos to the development group!
Following this EMBRACE orientation, in February will offer a new, improved round of study groups open to those who have already attended the orientation. The groups will meet from February through May. We're in the process of integrating all your feedback into the format of these new groups.
The first EMBRACE facilitators' training will also roll out in February. That training is available to anyone who has already gone through an EMBRACE study group. The training will consist of a two-and-a-half-hour online workshop and a commitment to bring this back and integrate the EMBRACE work into your sangha. For additional support, we will offer a monthly drop-in group for those of you continuing the work with your sanghas. This way we'll all learn from each other as we go. Pom poms for the facilitator training work group for their meticulous mining of the materials.
It was thrilling to hear from the various workgroups how enriching their experiences have been, working together, learning together, and bonding together in their virtual clubhouses!
Future Fantasy: Rather than say this is what is happening in the Fall of 2023, let's just say we hold lightly our "PLANS" for another Facilitator workshop and support group for those "graduating" from the spring study groups in September.
Phew, it's a beehive of activity. Continue to check out our website here. It seems to be growing daily. The resource group continues to do a stellar job and you can keep the resources coming in, again by emailing us: at embracectc@gmail.com
And yet again, thank you all for your continued support. Sending a warm and trauma-sensitive EMBRACE,
Anne, Eric, Jo-ann, Kim and Soco
Caretaking Council