This summer I have been given the great opportunity to teach Mindfulness at Human Options a wonderful resource for women suffering from domestic violence in Orange County, California. Read about them here. I am teaching Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to both the counseling and HR staff, and the women in their transitional housing program- Second Step. (Separate classes) This past week one of the women shared about practicing Mindfulness while washing the dishes. “This week I had an unexpected challenge regarding my children. I was washing the dishes and worrying about it, and caught myself going off into the future and getting really stressed. Then I remembered the class. I put all my attention into feeling the warm water and the dishes, looking at the soap bubbles, and suddenly I realized – I am safe here . In the present moment everything was OK. Here at Second Step at this time I am safe. It was really amazing to turn it around myself. Usually I get myself all worked up.”
This was only class 2! I was really moved by her insight, and find myself thinking about it often. To learn more about developing these skills, please join us for our annual summer Mindfulness Retreat July 22-24th at Yokoji Zen Mountain Center in Idyllwild California. The retreat will include wonderful Yoga classes, with Jessa TArbert of Anahata Movement Arts and a music workshop with Noelle Pederson of Resounding Joy Inc 
Music Workshops
Meditation and Mindfulness will be led by Beth Mulligan and Hugh O’Neill. We’ll have delicious vegetarian food prepared by the monks and spend time outdoors in beautiful surroundings.Read more and register here. We hope to see you there,
Beth and Hugh