Spirituality Matters by Steven Libowitz “Spirituality Matters” highlights two or three Santa Barbara area spiritual gatherings. Unusual themes and events with that something extra, especially newer ones looking for a boost in attendance, receive special attention. For consideration for inclusion in this column, email slibowitz@yahoo.com.
Getting Conscious About the Climate
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s one of the flashpoints for the environmental movement ever since the big oil spill of 1969, Santa Barbara has long been at the forefront of the Save Our Planet set. What with EDC approaching the issue from the local legal perspective, Community Environmental Council taking on the events/hands-on method (including Earth Day, which turns 50 next year), and the academic angle out at UCSB, the city has been far in front of most areas of our size in addressing issues of climate change and the environment. Perhaps the only thing missing is a more spiritual approach, save for Adam Hall’s EarthKeepers in Montecito. To that end, the Santa Barbara Consciousness Network – which has been branching out into themed events rather than the Expos ever since founder Forrest Leichtberg returned to town, including vocal healing via the Koren Brothers and relationship repair – the nonprofit is now tackling environmental issues with this weekend’s Climate Change & Consciousness symposium. The event features a panel of experts including David Pellow, Ph.D, UCSB Environmental Studies professor and Director of the Global Environmental Justice Project; Rinaldo Brutoco, J.D., the founder and president of the World Business Academy; environmental activist/Awakening Body Intelligence leader Lamara Heartwell (who founded Dance Tribe in 2009); and Kathi King, CEC’s Director of Outreach and Education. “There’s a strong connection between the spiritual development and our relationship to the environment,” Leichtberg explained. “Addressing climate change as a personal issue is meant to allow, or even impel, the realities of the situation to sink in on an emotional, subconscious level. To be more in integrity with environmental well-being in your thoughts, actions and communication requires a level of compassion and awareness that goes deep into your being.” So while King and Pellow will come at the issue largely from an informational or practical perspective, Heartwell, who Leichtberg said sees nature as an extension of our own bodies requiring the same level of healthcare, and Brutoco, who has worked with Mother Teresa and Deepak Chopra, will come at it from a more spiritual point of view. “Lamara will explore the relationship between health of our bodies and health of our planet – momentby-moment conscious choice making,” Leichtberg said. As moderator, he plans to steer the conversation toward the consciousness side. “What is it about human nature, for example, that when something like an earthquake or even the Montecito debris flow happens, it quickly gets brushed off. How can we generate more compassion so we can act on behalf of the well-being of the planet? What is it about us? I am curious.” The Consciousness Network’s Climate Change & Consciousness symposium takes place at 6 pm on Friday, June 7, at Unity of Santa Barbara, 227 East Arrellaga Street. Admission is by donation.
Goin’ to the Dogs
Adho Mukha Svanasana (aka Down Dog, Downward Dog, Downward Facing Dog) is one of the most frequently employed yet complicated and misunderstood postures in yoga. To do it correctly requires multiple joints and large muscle groups to be flexible and strong, and lots of practitioners never quite perfect it. That is, unless you’re a dog, the domesticated animal from which the pose was drawn. This weekend, you can check out your posture alongside an actual canine, as Power of Your Om Yoga is offering an outdoor class where human share the space with their dogs. Man’s best friend is, of course, a natural yogi – flexible, energetic, and life-embracing in just about all situations – not to mention pretty darn good at down dog pose. Bring your fur baby to a special class at 12 noon this Saturday, June 8, held at Elings Park – the off-leash dog park on Las Positas Road near Hendry’s Beach. Enjoy possible snuggles, tail wags, barks, and kisses in the donation-based class, with 100 percent of the proceeds donated to the Elings Park Foundation. Prefer not to cavort among canines to maintain complete focus on the asana? Christina Klein’s Shoulder & Wrist Care class back at the POYO studio at 1221 State Street, slated for 7:30 pm Friday June 14, centers on down
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dog, providing details on the body mechanics behind the pose and fun techniques to practice so you can get a fresh perspective on the classic posture. The class employs yoga tune up balls and exercises that focus on mobilizing the shoulder all the way down to the wrist joints. Admission is $25.
Peace Party Debuts
Although it sounds like a new political organization that might challenge the two-party system with a more pacifist approach, Peace Party is actually a new Santa Barbara Meetup that employs mindfulness meditation to cultivate inner peace and loving kindness. Based on the Dalai Lama’s words that “Changing the world for the better begins with individuals creating inner peace within themselves,” the new group welcomes both new and experienced meditators to weekly hour-long gatherings that begin with a small talk on peace followed by guided mindfulness and loving kindness meditations. Taking another wise cue that time in nature can be healing in itself, the Peace Party Meditation Meetup gathers in Ambassador Park, the strip of green directly across Cabrillo Boulevard from West Beach, at 205 West Mason Street. The meetings began in mid-May and take place at 11:30 am on Saturdays, and attendees are encouraged to bring a mat, chair, or cushion to sit or lay on. Visit www.meetup.com/Peace-Party-Meditation.
Psychedelics Support Circle
EntheoMedicine’s Psychedelics & Entheogens – Preparation, Integration, and Transformation workshop is in the rearview mirror, but there are more opportunities to talk about altered states of consciousness that are induced by psychedelics and/or spiritual emergence in a safe space here in town. SB Psychedelic Integration Circle supports the consciousness-minded community in bringing people together to offer and receive emotional support and guidance and to share stories and resources. Learn about recent psychedelic research for treating ailments such as depression, addiction, PTSD, and anxiety; find out more about popular techniques such as microdosing; and share safety strategies, psychedelic space navigation tools and integration techniques to successfully accommodate the lessons and healing into your life. The circle includes group and individual work to discuss and explore experiences with altered states of consciousness in order to grow and heal. The Monthly Integration Circle gatherings are open meetings for any adults who are curious about, thinking about experimenting or has experimented with psychedelic substances and plant medicines. Meetings include a talking circle and other activities such as intention setting, meditation, and music. No substances are used on site, of course. The next gathering takes place 7-9 pm on Monday, June 10, at a private residence on the Westside of Santa Barbara, with location provided after registration. RSVP is required to attend. Donation is $10. Visit www.meetup.com/SB-PsychedelicIntegration-Circle/
Walking in Beauty
That’s the theme for the next gathering of Radhule Weininger’s monthly Solidarity and Compassion Project, now at Parish Hall at the Unitarian Society. Veteran Santa Barbara spiritual teacher-poet-meditation expert David Richo and Michael Kearney are June’s speakers for the discussion what it means to “walk in beauty in our broken world.” Q&A with participants, music, and cookies round out the event, slated for 7 pm Wednesday, June 11. Weininger and Richo also share the leadership role for the Mindfulness and Loving Kindness in Relationships One Day retreat on Saturday, June 29, at the Buenaventure Hall at the Santa Barbara Mission. The workshop aims to help participants return to a state of loving ourselves and others, part of “our genetic code,” via an exploration of the Buddhist practices of mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation, utilizing them as keys to develop a spiritually conscious intimacy, and a committed caring connection. Visit www.mindfulheartprograms.org.
Soup’s On
Yoga Soup’s weekend workshops include the monthly First Fridays Ecstatic Dance, 7-9:30 pm on June 7; “Transform Yourself: Writing to Heal” with Montecito author Diana Raab, PhD, from 2-3:30 on Saturday, June 8; “Vibrational Harmonic Alignment,” a healing sound immersion that blends harmonic sounds, essential oil aroma therapy, gentle yoga stretches, and movement, from 6-8 pm later that evening. Details at www.yogasoup.com/ category/events. •MJ
Parker Willis “It is the month of June, the month of leaves and roses, when pleasant sights salute the eyes and pleasant scents the noses.” – Nathaniel
6 – 13 June 2019