The Christine Center

Healthy Attachment and Buddhist Practice

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with Susan Mickel
April 22-24, 2022

In Buddhist practice there is an emphasis on releasing attachment to the aspects of life that cause our suffering. What does this set of teachings mean for householder practitioners? Many great Buddhist practitioners have families, friends, homes, and comfortable lives. How can we understand the teachings and the practices that allow us to release unhealthy attachments and transform them to a relationship with life that is alive and vital? This weekend retreat will explore these questions through meditation, teachings, and discussion. The teachings will draw on basic Buddhist teachings of lovingkindness and insight, as well as on the teachings of western attachment theory about the characteristics of healthy attachment. Although prior Buddhist practice, including retreat practice, will be helpful, the retreat is open to all.

If you have questions about the retreat, or to register, contact Susan at susanmickel2@me.com.

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Susan Mickel, M.D., Ph.D.  Susan has been meditating for over 25 years, initially in the Christian tradition, later in the Burmese mindfulness tradition, and, since 2003, in the Tibetan Mahamudra and Dzogchen traditions. She was authorized to teach Theravada vipassana meditation by Mary Jo Meadow, PhD with Resources for Ecumenical Spirituality, which offers Christian-Buddhist retreats. In 2001 she completed a certificate in ecumenically oriented Christian spiritual guidance from Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation.  In 2005 she was authorized by Daniel Brown, PhD of Pointing Out the Great Way (POGW), and by Rahob Rinpoche Thubten Kalsang, to teach practices based on the Indo-Tibetan essence traditions, Mahamudra and Dzogchen. She taught meditation retreats with POGW for ten years.  Susan considers Rahob Rinpoche to be her root teacher. Currently, Susan’s main teachers are Tulku Sang-ngag Rinpoche and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.  Other teachers who have influenced her are Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, Ayang Rinpoche, and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche.

Interested in the mind since she can remember, Susan’s college major was comparative religions. After medical school at Emory University, she worked as a behavioral neurologist and directed a memory disorders clinic for 22 years at a large nonprofit multispecialty clinic. In 2004 she returned to school for a clinical psychology Ph.D. and in 2013 became a licensed psychologist. She has wide interests in psychology including attachment, geriatrics, trauma, and integrative assessment of persons with potentially neurologically-based cognition and behavior problems. Her guiding interest in all her activity is how one can influence people to help them decrease their suffering and increase happiness.

In 2018 year Susan completed three years of intensive home meditation practice, following a curriculum traditional for a Nyingma 3-year retreat. She continues to practice intensively at home, participating in long-term practice commitments with her teachers.  In the last few years, she has deepened a long-term interest in exploring personally and acting on issues related to ending racism, facilitating groups in such explorations.  She is retired from work as a neurologist and psychologist, enjoying time with meditation practice, family and friends, nature, and gardening.

 

It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again

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It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again

Support through loss, grief, sorrows, or aging.
A 12-week book study and sharing circle
With Chris Flynn
Thursday’s from 10am-12pm
starting April 21, 2022
$225—Early bird special, sign up by April 1st  for a 20% discount ($180 for the series)
May be attended from home or from a room/hermitage at the Christine Center.

 

 

Maybe you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, divorce, change of job, the inevitable aging process or have unattended sorrows. This inspiring twelve-week book-study group is based on the work of Julia Cameron’s “It’s Never too Late to Begin Again”.

In her book, Cameron shows readers how cultivating their Creative Self can navigate, define, and bring into existence, a new meaningful life.

In the community of this study group, you will find companionship, encouragement, and inspiration to create a new life after loss. Exercises in mindful writing, artist’s dates, and solo walks… all lead to an opportunity to reflect on one’s life, passions, and what could be next.

Through the muddiness of grief and loss, you can discover a life which reflects what is meaningful and joyful for you. Although I’ve read many of Julia Cameron’s books, including her “Artists Way” and sequels, this book hits just right for those grieving any loss.

My invitation to you: Join me in the essence of the Easter Season, beginning anew. Together, let’s Spring forth and create the Life we each want.

You will need to purchase the book and a journal to write in. Optional art supplies are always an added benefit. Each week you’ll read the current chapter, do the suggested activities (optional), then show up to share how the week’s journey enhanced your life.

Expect to grow. Expect to be inspired! We will move forward with the spirit of Enthusiasm, Excitement, and Expectancy.

Enrollment is limited to just eight people.         Register for 12 Week Program

Register for Free Introductory Session
Introduction to “It’s Never too Late to Begin Again”
Thursday, March 24th, 7-8:30 pm

In this brief introductory evening, Chris will share some basic tools for re-energizing your life after loss. Whether it’s a loss of a loved one or facing what to do now that you’re retired…expect to be inspired. Several folks from her previous book study group will be present to share their insights, processes, and the benefits they have experienced in the group process.

 

Chris Flynn:

Chris has been facilitating heart-centered groups for over 50 years.

She creates Sacred Spaces where people feel safe and comfortable expressing and sharing what’s in their hearts and minds.

From the Consciousness Raising of the 60’s, to The Course in Miracles of the 70’s, all the way up to present day, she has always invited participants to get out of their heads and into their hearts, and to speak from their own personal experience.

In the 1980’s she worked as a lay-minister and outreach coordinator for several Unity Churches. In the 1990’s she completed her Masters in Metaphysical Pastoral Counseling and was ordained as a non-denominational minister. She founded Conscious Connections Community, where she facilitated weekly groups and retreats. Her groups and workshops were closely affiliated with Unity, Unitarian, and Science of Mind churches.

For many years, Chris volunteered on the Suicide Prevention hotline. Then, in 2014, Chris joined her local Hospice Grief Support team. Seeing the need for community, beyond what Hospice could provide, she formed the New Horizons Community for widows and widowers. This group has been meeting via Zoom for three years. Her groups have included: Loss in the Second Year, The Five Invitations, Friday Family Check-in, Grief in the Time of Covid, The Artist’s Journey through Grief, Grief in the Holidays, and It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again.

As a Catholic youth, Chris had the ability to “blur her eyes,” and see what the priests and nuns really meant.  Now, at 75, and a student of the Tao, those early perceptions have come full circle, fortifying her concept of creating Sacred Spaces for personal and group growth.

From The Tao of Leadership: Verse 37.

Doing Little. Selfless gives one center.
Center creates order.
When there is order, there is little to do.

Chris lives in the California Redwoods with her husband and Saint Bernard. Six years ago, while visiting her Wisconsin relatives, she discovered the Christine Center and immediately found her spiritual home. She has attended many of the Christine Center’s virtual classes, the weekly Tao group, plus, last year she attended in person, The Tao in the Summer.  Through ‘Quantum Connecting via Zoom’ (thank you Sr. Gabe), Chris enjoys her deep connection with the Christine Center community.

 

 

Sister Gabe’s Reflection on Robert Sardello’s Program Coming April 20-24, 2017

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When Sister Virginia Mary Barta founded the Christine Center in 1980, it had long been her dream for it to be a place where people awaken in consciousness, remember who they are, where they came from and where they are going — all so that they could truly, fully LIVE!   

This April 20-24, in marvelous synchronicity and exciting resonance with this founding vision, the Christine Center is initiating the first of a series of annual retreats with Robert Sardello, PhD.  Visit his web site at heartfulsoul.com. Two of Robert’s books,  Silence: The Mystery of Wholeness, and Heartfulness have been Christine Center bookstore favorites. Visit Amazon to view Robert’s titles.

Our days together will be hosted in a spirit of collegial inquiry and grounded in a solid contemplative practice of heartful presencing:  for the sake of the individual heart, for the sake of the relating heart, for the sake of the heart of earth, with devotion to the heart of all creation.

Like S. Virginia Mary did, Robert Sardello invites us, lovingly and without compromise, to live fully who we are: fully embodied, fully present and fully “earth saving”.  

In my own experience there is an ecstatic dimension to the discovery of our own inner depth and outer breadth.  A renewed zest for life begins to support a bold engagement and transformative participation in both our personal relationships and our committed action.  We dare to shed,  as Robert says, “any adopted and adapted version of ourselves” and open to the revelatory, earth-saving moments of seeing anew with foundational creative intelligence and inner light.

There is exhilaration in discovering we are stardust manifesting soul, and a deep humility in understanding how this is so. Those who dare to inquire “Why?” encounter a profound initiation that will transform no less than the world, one present moment at a time. 

I want to laugh with others so as to bear the pain of conscious transformation.  I want to tend my heart and the heart of a breaking-open world.  I want to embody a pliant and buoyant compassion in the face of brittle fear. 

It is my own deepest desire to live and serve fully alive, awake and aware.   Join me and others who are part of the Christine Center this April as we host Robert.  Let us surrender together to our heart’s longing for life “and Life to the full…” without exception. May all Beings know such grace.

Learn More about Robert Sardello’s Retreat on April 20-24, 2017.