Mindfulness techniques & practices are historically rooted in meditative traditions that are intended to reveal, through direct investigation, the truth of how things really are, with the ultimate purpose of liberation, not just for oneself, but for all beings. They are based within an understanding of our deep interconnectedness and the idea that our liberation is bound up with that of others.

Despite the many benefits of secular mindfulness, which include increased accessibility to those from a variety of religious and spiritual backgrounds, or lack thereof, and the amenability to scientific inquiry & research within a Western psychological framework, there are also some dangers. These include separation from the ethical framework within which these practices were originally intended and appropriating these practices solely for the purpose of individual gain.

The increasing popularity and commodification of mindfulness has also allowed it to be subject to the large blind spots of our capitalist culture, that is often invested in maintaining the status quo, rather than helping us clearly see suffering, especially that of those most marginalized with regard to race and inequity. One damaging manifestation of this is viewing mindfulness as an approach that places the burden of wellbeing and change on the individual, while concealing the role of institutionalized systems of oppression. The other is universalism, or the idea that everyone is the same and equally subject to the challenges of the human condition, thus centering the experience of those who are privileged enough to assume this, and excluding the suffering and marginalization of others.

Given these trends in the mindfulness movement and our current cultural and political climate, several providers at the Seattle Mindfulness Center have been engaged with looking more closely at our own privilege and conditioning with regard to social, political and economic structures such as Whiteness & Patriarchy, and how these show up in our communities & work. We are committed to ongoing conversations and continued exploration of these topics, along with taking active steps to counter their impact.

Here are some of the steps that practitioners in our community are taking:

UNPACKING WHITENESS SERIES

Tuesday, Apr 26th - Jun 7th, 2021
5:00PM-7:00PM PST/ 8:00PM-10:00PM EST
Tuition: sliding scale $560 - $280*
Includes one private consultation with Anna-Brown or Kimber

REGISTRATION LINK: https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?appointmentType=category%3AImmersion%20Series&owner=19907755

Co-Led by: Anna-Brown Griswold & Kimber Simpkins

What is whiteness? What is white supremacy culture? How can folks who identify as white see and dismantle our racism? At this historic moment of uprising against the violence and injustice of systemic racism and white supremacy, how can our practice support waking up to and dismantling these systems both in our own bodies and in the world? And how can our somatic and awareness practices support white folks to courageously follow this inquiry without collapsing in shame, guilt, or defensiveness? 

Racism is not only racial hatred and bigotry, it includes the vast array of visible and invisible systems that give advantages to people who are considered white while disadvantaging people of color. Simultaneously, it includes deeply conditioned somatically held ways of being and relating, usually unconsciously. For white identified folks, exploring this can be painful, provocative, and ultimately liberating. 

Come and unpack these questions with the support of somatic, mindfulness, and connection based practices.  

The 7-week series format will allow time to digest and inquire in a supportive but challenging environment. 

The curriculum of this series is designed primarily for people who identify as white to do the important work of waking up to racism in ourselves and the world, and building our resilience to dismantle it– i.e. it is intended to be a white caucus space as one very small part of larger social justice movement spaces that are BIPOC centered.  If any BIPOC folks are interested in joining (at no charge), please be in touch at the email below.  

Class recordings will be available after each class for those who miss a session, although the relational practices that happen in class are a core part of the learning. 

*Please know that we offer the majority of the tuition gathered to a group of black educators (our mentors), and your generosity makes a real difference. No one will be turned away for lack of funds -- it is important to us that this work is accessible to anyone who wants it. Please be in touch if you need to about the tuition.

MY TIME FOR MASSAGE

The Seattle Mindfulness Center shares their space with My Time for Massage, a massage therapy practice run by Myesha Mitchell, LMP: https://www.mytimeformassage.com/about-me

Myesha is also a doula and community activist who is fundraising to support reproductive justice and Black maternal health: https://www.gofundme.com/f/34cr6z-for-the-love-of-community