A morning of Mindfulness led by Janelle Combelic on Saturday 12th December.

Nonfear is the basis of true happiness, and if you can offer nonfear to someone, you are giving that person the best kind of gift.

— Thich Nhat Hanh (2012)
Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm

Fear separates us; love unites us. Dealing directly with our fears can open the doorway to love. Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us to use the energy of mindfulness to embrace our fear, the power of concentration to understand it, and the grace of insight to transform it. “Nonfear” does not mean that we’re not afraid; it means that we acknowledge our fear, calm it, and choose the way of compassion.

We all face fear every day: fears big and small, individual and collective. Fear has been part of the human experience forever — fear is essential to survival and hard-wired into our brains. But in the 21st century it seems that a tidal wave of terror is sweeping over the earth. We live in a time of immense transition, when the old structures of society are crumbling and the new has yet to appear. As theologian Walter Wink wrote in The Powers That Be, we are coming to the end of a 10,000-year-old domination system and “we may be the first generation in the history of the world that can make a conscious choice between these world views” or in essence, to choose between fear and love.

During this half-day together we will study a teaching from Thich Nhat Hanh and then have a chance to look deeply at some of our own fears, calling on the power of mindfulness, concentration and insight to transmute fear into love and joy.

Love and fear form the great opposites of the world. Love can even transform the Earth into the substance of love. The whole evolution of the Earth and of human beings points in the direction of their fulfilment through this mighty force, the only force that can subdue the ravages of fear.

— Robert Sardello (2001)
Freeing the Soul from Fear

Janelle Combelic is a therapeutic storyteller, poet, and teacher trained in transpersonal psychology. In 2006 she was ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh into the Order of Interbeing and in 2010 she moved from Colorado to the Findhorn community in Scotland, where she has led workshops on women’s sexuality, storytelling, and forgiveness.

When: Saturday 12th December 2015 9:30am to 1:30pm
Where: Salisbury Centre,  2 Salisbury Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5AB. Just opposite the Commonwealth Pool. See map below.
Booking: Just turn up. (Say you are coming on FaceBook if you like)
Cost: By donation. Suggested £5/£10 but more or less is fine (we don’t look at what people put in!)
Bring: Small amount of vegetarian food to share at lunch. Cushions, mats and chairs are supplied but if you have a meditation cushion or stool you like to use please bring it along.
Questions: Please contact us through the form.