It is that time of year when everything has a natural pause to mark the turning of the year. A chance to breath and look inwards before blossoming into the new year.

Here are the few days when we won’t hold our regular meetings:

• Mondays at Santosa: 17th & 24th December & 1st January.
• Tuesdays Mindfulness@Lunchtime: 25th December & 31st December
• Thursdays at St Marks: 27th December & 3rd January.
• Fridays early morning: 28th December

By the 7th January we will be back to our normal schedule.

Just because we aren’t having “formal” meetings doesn’t mean we can’t get together. If you’d like to meet with Sangha friends for food in the warm or a walk in the cold over the holiday period then speak up before we break up and arrange something.

Our friends across the water in Fife are running mindfulness courses next year in Falkland. These are very much recommended. The wonderful Orla is coordinating. Details below.

We will be holding a Morning of Mindfulness on Saturday 8th December to round off the year and celebrated the stillness of mid winter.

There will be guided and unguided sitting mediation, some walking and maybe some gentle movement. There will be silence. There will be companionship. There will be inspirational readings. And there may be a little Christmas cheer.

Why not come along and charge your spiritual batteries for the festive season ahead?

When: Saturday 8th December – 9:30am for 10am to 1:00pm
Where: St. Marks Unitarian Church, Castle Terrace
Booking: Just turn up.
Bring: Small amount of vegetarian food to share if that is easy.
Cost: By donation – to cover the cost of hiring the venue etc. Suggested: £10 (£5).

You are invited to a nourishing and relaxing afternoon with writer, storyteller and mindfulness teacher Jane Ellen Combelic. Come hear stories from her recent book, No Coming No Going, about the year she – and her dog, Serafina – spent on a farm near Plum Village in southern France, studying with Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh.

We will experience and discuss one of the most meaningful practices from Plum Village: deep listening and speaking from the heart, sharing that most precious of gifts, our presence. Everyone is welcome, from any faith tradition or none.

Jane Ellen Combelic is a long-time student of Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, and former editor of his magazine The Mindfulness Bell. Originally from Colorado, she now lives near Findhorn in Scotland.

Do you know someone who would be interested in attending or where this event should be advertised? Click here to download the event poster.

When: Saturday 6 October 2018 – 14:30 – 17:30
Where: St. Marks Unitarian Church, Castle Terrace
Booking: Just turn up.
Cost: Pay what you can: £10 recommended, £5 for unwaged, £15 for greater support

During the Edinburgh Festival Fringe St Marks church is used as a venue in the evenings and so we will take a break from our regular Thursday evening meetings in August. Our other meetings at Santosa and Mindfulness@Lunchtime at St Marks continue as usual.

• Mondays – continue as usual at Santosa
• Tuesdays – Mindfulness@Lunchtime continues at St Marks
• Thursdays – No meetings in August
• Friday – continues as usual at Albany Street

Enjoy the summer and see you at one of our other meetings or in September.

Welcome to a Morning of Mindfulness on the 21st of July, 10am-2pm at St Mark’s unitarian church.

Arrival from 9.30; we have to lock the door when starting, so do arrive before 10.

Come and join us for a relaxed morning of sitting and walking meditation, reflecting on Buddhist teachings of reconciliation (both within oneself and with others), enjoying delicious food, and each other’s company.

Facilitators will be Gustaf from the Wild Geese and Keith from Wild Geese and Wake Up Edinburgh.

Come as you are, and bring something vegetarian (vegan?) to share at lunch time.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

When: Saturday 21st July – 9:30am for 10am to 2:00pm
Where: St. Marks Unitarian Church, Castle Terrace
Booking: Just turn up.
Cost: A donation would be appreciated to cover the cost of hiring the venue. Suggested: £10 (£5).