June Solstice 2011

Day-long silent meditation retreat

Welcome to a day of silent meditation and quiet activities sponsored by the Emerald Coast Meditation Society on Saturday June 18 honoring the solstice, which is on June 21 at 17:16 UT, which is 12:16 p.m. CDT.

Hours: 6:15 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.. Location: Coastal Branch Library. Participate in the whole day or any part of it, free of charge. The day includes eight 30-minute meditation periods interspersed with breakfast, lunch, tea, outdoor walks, related activities and breaks. To sign up for the retreat, contact Nancy James at nancyjames@embarqmail.com or 231-1498.

James and Caroling Geary who lead the day's events, have been meditating since the 1970s. Caroling has done yoga since 1974 and meditative art since 1954. James was a founding member of the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center in 1972 and of the Emerald Coast Meditation Society in 2009. Links.

Schedule

6:15 a.m. Meditators arrive in silence

6:30-7:00 Meditate

7-7:05 Slow walk; instructions given

7:10-7:40 Outdoor walk

7:40-7:50 Break

7:50-8:20 Mindful breakfast and meal cleanup

8:20-8:40 Break

8:40-9:10 Meditate

9:10-9:15 Slow walk

9:20-10 Breathing and heart-opening exercises

10:00-10:10 Break

10:10-10:40 Meditate

10:40-10:45 Slow walk

10:50 - 11:30 Yoga

11:3 - 11:40 Break

11:40-12:10 Meditate

12:10-12:15 Slow walk

12:15-12:30 Break silence, discuss questions that have arisen

12:30-1 Mindful Lunch and meal cleanup

1-1:20 Break

1:20-1:50 Meditate

1:50-1:55 Slow walk

2-2:30 Refreshing breathwalk; indoors or out, depending on conditions

2:30-2:40 Break

2:40-3:10 Meditate

3:10-3:15 Slow walk

3:20-3:50 Qigong energy work

3:50-4 Break

4-4:30 Meditate

4:30-4:35 Slow walk

4:35-5 Tea and fruit, and cleanup

5-5:30 Meditate

5:30-5:35 Slow walk

5:35-5:45 Break silence, discuss people’s comments and questions

5:45 Closing words; end of day

Links

Print schedule. See also 12 solstices and equinoxes.