Finally, A Way to Practice Mindfulness in Community!

Most of us have heard the phrase "live in the Now," but few of us are taught how to do it when faced with the relentless noise of the modern mind. 

Practicing the Power of Now is a therapy group involving a structured, six-week immersion into the core teachings of Eckhart Tolle, designed to bridge the gap between reading a book and actually shifting your state of consciousness.

Here is a session-by-session breakdown of the themes, inquiries, and practices we explore together.

Phase 1: Identifying the "Thinker"

Sessions 1 & 2

The journey begins by distinguishing between the "mental noise" of the mind and the "Being" that exists underneath it. We start by observing our thoughts as if they are separate from us, learning to notice "the thinker" without getting swept away by it.

• Key Inquiries: Who am I beyond my thoughts? What happens to my experience when I bring presence to a mundane, routine activity?
• The Focus: We explore how the "ego" or phantom self is sustained through constant thinking. We also begin the vital work of Body Awareness, learning that emotions are the body’s reaction to the mind. If we can’t feel our emotions, we learn to focus on the "inner energy field" of the body to prevent emotional charges from turning into physical symptoms.

Phase 2: Resistance and the Mechanics of Pain

Sessions 3 & 4

In the middle weeks, we look at why the present moment often feels unacceptable or unpleasant. We discover that the "burden" of life is often not the situation itself, but our internal resistance to it.

• Key Inquiries: In which areas of life am I labeling or judging my experience? What happens if I accept the "isness" of a situation before I take action?
• The Pain-Body: We introduce the concept of the "pain-body"—an accumulated field of old emotional pain. We learn to watch the pain-body as "the silent watcher." By observing the energy of an emotion without letting it turn into a thought-story, we break the identification with the pain and allow it to dissolve in the light of consciousness.

Phase 3: Joy, Ease, and the Wisdom of Surrender

Sessions 5 & 6

The final weeks focus on the practical criteria for a conscious life and the "profound wisdom of yielding" to the flow of life.

• Key Inquiries: Is there joy, ease, and lightness in what I am doing right now? Do I have a problem right at this exact moment?
• Surrender vs. Passivity: We clarify that surrender is not defeat or doing nothing. It is an inner phenomenon of accepting the "Now" unconditionally while still taking outward action to change or improve a situation. This is "surrendered action"—where your doing is infused with the quality of Being, leading to results that reflect a higher state of consciousness.

Who is this Group For?

This group is a therapeutic space specifically created for those who feel "taken over" by psychological time—the constant pull of the past or the future. It is for the person who:

• Feels life as a struggle: If you feel that life is a burden to be "gotten through," these sessions provide the tools to shift the how of your doing.
• Struggles with "Mental Movies": If you find yourself projecting future problems or replaying past events, the group provides anchors to pull you back to the "narrow gate" of the Now.
• Wants Somatic Connection: For those who feel cut off from their bodies, the exercises focus heavily on "feeling the inner body" to ground the nervous system.
• Is Ready for Change: This is for those tired of the "vicious circle" where negative thoughts feed negative emotions.

The Takeaway

By the end of the six weeks, the goal is not to have "mastered" the mind, but to have cultivated a "silent presence" that can observe the mind. As we honor the present moment, we find that the struggle dissolves, and life begins to flow with a newfound ease.

I am currently finalizing the roster for the upcoming group starting Wednesday, February 18. See the event listing on CounsellingBC or contact me for more information.