WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2024 (and continuing until further notice)
(There are no changes really. But let's revisit what the "normal" schedule is!)
Wednesday, October 30, I will be back at the Pomona College Organic Farm in Claremont to resume my weekly 9:30-10:30AM sessions of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IQTC). The given address is 295 E. 1st St., but the entrance is elsewhere. For directions, email me at MindBodyLosAngeles@gmail.com.
Thursday, October 31, I will be back at Bethel United Church of Christ (Congregational), 536 N. Euclid Ave., Ontario to resume my weekly 10:00-11:00AM IQTC sessions. Park in the lot behind the church. Walk up the ramp to the back door. Wander the hallways until you find us in the sanctuary!
Friday, November 1, 9:00-9:30AM. On the first Friday of every month, I lead IQTC at "The Castle" at Pilgrim Place for residents (in lieu of the different Qigong practice that has been in place here for decades). If you'd like to come, contact me, and we'll figure out how to make that happen. These sessions are freely offered. Donations of $0-$20 are welcome. Venmo: @MindBodyLosAngeles. PayPal: MindBodyLosAngeles@gmail.com. Zelle: MindBodyLosAngeles@gmail.com. Cash App: $MindBodyLosAngeles. Now that I have retired, donations are doubly appreciated. That said, please join us, even if you are not in a position to contribute monetarily. Whatever gifts of time and caring you can and do extend to family, friends, and the community at large will serve!
One month ago at the time of my last update, I was anticipating a 6-day silent retreat with a favorite dharma teacher whom I had never met: Matthew Brensilver. It was an enriching experience to be sure. The audio of all the talks by him and co-facilitator Beth Sternlieb were made available to retreatants while I was abroad, but after my laptop conked out. I stand to benefit from repeated hearings of the talks. Nevertheless, I've already begun incorporating some of the learnings into my personal Vipassana practice, which undoubtedly means they will also inform the Qigong instruction offer, if in subtle ways.
A month ago, I was also anticipating a presentation on Qigong that I had agreed to provide at The Gathering, a weekly event here at Pilgrim Place in Claremont. It was scheduled a mere three days after the retreat. I felt some responsibility to warn attendees that, during the experiential, Taoist-informed portion, I was likely to "pollute" with with some Buddhism. "Cain't be helped!" I really, really don't like hearing recordings of my speaking voice. That said, the event was videotaped and is available here, if you're interested in seeing what I came up with.
Sunday, November 3. As I usually do every first Sunday of the month, I will make the drive from Claremont to Los Angeles for Meditation Coalition's Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Allies sit and discussion, facilitated by JoAnna Hardy (often with a guest co-presenter), 11:00AM-12:30PM, Clockshop, 2806 Clearwater St., Frogtown, 90039. Catch up with me there?
OUT OF SEQUENCE
More weeks than not, I can be found as an attendee at the weekly gatherings of the Claremont Zen Meditation Group. Wednesdays, 8:00-9:15AM. When the Claremont Colleges are in session, we meet at the McAllister Center for the Religious Activities of the Claremont Colleges, 919 N. Columbia Ave., Claremont, CA 91711. This group was founded in 1993 by Claremont-McKenna College philosophy professor Steve Smith. He has since retired, lives here at Pilgrim Place, still facilitates the group, and has become a good buddy. The format is Zen (sitting-walking-sitting), but way relaxed (for example, all the bowing is optional). If you're interested in checking it out, let me know, and I'll send you introductory materials, so you'll have an idea of what the bells and clackers signal along the way!
LAGNIAPPE
The other thing I was anticipating one month ago was a 3-week trip to Spain and Portugal. After two days in Barcelona, John and I flew to the island of Menorca to attend the destination wedding of two Los Angeles Qigong students! From there, we went to Portugal for two weeks. It's almost embarrassing how many photos I took of food. Here though, I'll post one of the Parque Aquilino Ribeiro near our hotel in Viseu, Portugal, showing the view I chose for my Qigong practice one morning. The other Portugal pic is a favorite and atmospheric one of a castle we drove out of way to chase down: Sortelha.
LOOKING AHEAD
Pilgrim Place's 76 Annual Festival will happen over two days: Friday-Saturday, November 8-9, 9:00AM-4:30PM. Much of the 32-acre campus of this remarkable intentional retirement community will be dotted with booths and activities for all ages. There is no fee to enter; certain activities require a $1 ticket. The proceeds from activities and from sales of books, furniture, baked goods and jams, art creations (paintings, sculpture, ceramics, weavings, quilts and fabrications by residents and community members), etc. benefit the Pilgrim Place Resident Health and Support Program, "which enables our residents to remain in their homes and to live with dignity, even when the costs of daily living or unexpected medical expenses exceed their resources." Please come for the fun! Let me know ahead of time, and I'll plan to hang out (at times when I'm not cashiering at the food court).
Saturday, November 16, 9:00-10:00AM. My regular third Saturday of the month Silver Lake "Wilderness" Qigong. "The wilderness has no address!" For directions, email me at MindBodyLosAngeles@gmail.com.
Thursday, December 5, 5:30-7:00PM, I have been invited to lead Integral Qigong and Tai Chi at The Hive, The Claremont Colleges, 130 East 7th Street, Claremont, CA 91711. The Hive "helps students increase their creative capacity and practice collaboration across differences. Partnering with faculty, the Hive provides learning experiences that move students through ambiguous real-world challenges toward creative solutions. The Hive provides a space to experiment and play and fosters collaboration by bringing people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives together. We are helping transform the way liberal arts education is delivered." I am especially excited about this opportunity. More details, as I learn more.
LOOKING WAY AHEAD (and only indirectly Qi-related)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2025, 4:00PM. For the fourth year in a row, I will be performing the role of King Kaspar in Gian-Carlo Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors under the baton of Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann, founder and conductor of the Southland Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. What an honor! ("How is it at all Qi-related?" one might ask. Well, my Kaspar is a mystic, who goes in and out of trance for the duration of this touching, one-hour operatic gem. Does he contribute to conditions that just maybe allow for just maybe a miracle?) Between now and then, please check out the entire season and get to some of their concerts! The venue is Bethel United Church of Christ (Congregational), 536 N. Euclid Ave., Ontario, CA 91762. The next concert will be Handel's Messiah on December 8. Two of the featured soloists are good buddies: tenor Steve Grabe (with whom I shared the stage back in 2005 in a production of Lehar's The Merry Widow!) and alto Debbie Dey (whom I know from Repertory Opera Company productions, c. 2005-2009).
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