The art of listening

Inquiry to Insight ~ Awareness to Acceptance ~ Presence to Peace

Listening begins when we attend to the breath, ground in the body, and relax in the mind. It is a skill that requires a calm body, an open heart, and a deep sense of surrender. Listening from this place of embodied presence allows the stronghold of the conditioned mind an opportunity to soften and relax. 

Once the mind has softened it easily lets go of the habit of reaching for the future or regretting the past and what remains is a direct experience of the present moment. It is from this state of being that the art of conversation can begin.

Sometimes listening may be to simply bear the weight of the silence that lingers in the space between two people navigating new territory. Sometimes listening may be to refuse the invitation to fix or figure or change the other. Amani CounselingSometimes listening is the simple act of being with the other and bearing the weight of a silence that is filled with pain and sorrow, guilt and shame, uncertainty and regret. Sometimes listening is as simple as holding space or as complicated as saying nothing. 

Connecting the head, the heart, and the hara

Somatic Synergy: Coming to our Senses

In a somatic approach to therapy, the body is considered a source of information and a resource for healing. Traditionally therapists rely on talking to interact with clients during a session but somatically oriented therapists will turn to the wisdom of the body to guide the conversation. Somatic therapists learn to listen with their whole selves and read the body language of their clients. So much of who we are is expressed in...

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Virtual Zen Dens: A Wellness Resource Center

Some reasons for referral:   *Some skills and tools we may offer: Anxiety – *Breathing exercises to calm the body and quiet the mind Depression – *Believing in our capacity to face our challenges Cutting – *Reflecting on our fears and facing them Isolating – *Orienting to our surroundings and circumstances Stressing – *Regulating emotional peaks and valleys Obsessing –  *Tracking thoughts as...

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Sister Circles: Celebrating the Divine Feminine

Women have gathered for centuries in the ancient art of circles to share in the sacred bond of sisterhood. We come together to share our stories, our songs, our strength and our support. We laugh and cry and dance and pray as we heal our wounds and shed our shame.  Sister Circles are open to teens and young adults seeking the comfort and love of a group of gender fluid women....

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