Norwich
“There’s nothing right, there’s nothing wrong. There’s nothing good, there’s nothing bad,” said Liz Estabrook-Hatfield, of South Pomfret. “Each individual just has to find the time and work on it. Each individual has to find their own personal approach.”
One way Estabrook-Hatfield has increased her knowledge of meditation is by taking part in the four-part winter series hosted by Heart of the Valley Mindfulness Practice Center in Norwich.
“This particular experience really was nice,” Estabrook-Hatfield said. “I learned more about the Buddhist practice in life and the Buddhist faith.”
For the fourth year in a row, Fern Dorrensteyn and Michael Ciborski, of MorningSun Mindfulness Center in Alstead, N.H. Dorrensteyn and Ciborski are Dharma practitioners who follow the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. This year’s series is called “Our Sacred Inner Life: Exploring our inner life, where we can heal, refresh ourselves and experience a deep contentment and peace.”
“Their delivery is very good,” Estabrook-Hatfield said. “They’re down to earth and had some humor; they’re certainly educated.”
One lesson Estabrook-Hatfield took away from last year’s series is that every person and every being on earth is somehow connected. By focusing on those similarities, it can make the differences we all share seem less vast.
“Maybe in some respects we could be cut from the same cloth,” Estabrook-Hatfield said. “Maybe society’s influence on us have brought a diversion.”
Estabrook-Hatfield is still working on making meditation part of her daily routine.
“It can help you de-stress, maybe gain some energy, maybe gain some clarity. Maybe do away with some frustrations,” she said. “It’s just centering yourself and opening yourself to everything around you.”
Elizabeth Higgins will be taking the workshop series for the first time this winter.
“From time to time, I’d try to develop a meditation practice,” Higgins said. She started attending meditation sessions at Heart of the Valley Mindfulness Practice Center about a year ago when she was going through a tough time, she said.
“Anything new is a little intimidating, but the people just were so welcoming,” Higgins said.
Meditating with a group has helped Higgins to develop her meditation skills.
“There’s something really different about sitting in a room full of people in silence (than) practicing by myself,” she said. “That gives me sort of energy to practice alone that I still feel connected somehow.”
Meditation Series Schedule
All sessions take place from 6-8 p.m. at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 262 Main St.. Norwich. People can attend one workshop or the entire series. Admission is by donation. For more information, call 603-277-9318.
Jan. 17: “Exploring our Inner Life, Coming Home to Ourselves.”
Jan. 31: “Cultivating Our Inner Life.”
Feb. 7: “Creating Healing Space Within.”
Feb. 21: “Experiencing the Sacred in Daily Life. ”
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
