Opening To Consciousness Through Breathing w/ Dr Diane Hamrick
1:30 -2:30 pm (EST), Every 2nd & 4th Tuesday at bliss, 1007 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, The Mezzanine Suite 228 in Mt. Pleasant. When bliss connections & experiences nourish your soul, please consider making a donation at givetobliss.com. Thank-you for your continued friendship & support. When we turn our attention inward, withdrawing from the outer world, to focus on our breathing we enter the mind-body where heart and soul can be accessed without fear, favor, judgment or prejudice. So often we keep ‘hidden’ our true feelings and thoughts, wishes and fears, and consequently miss knowing our truer self or SoulSelf. This lack of experience keeps our identity of ourselves in the grips of the False Self (who I think/fear I am). Conscious breathing relaxes our fears’ grip on the unknown interior life and gently opens our hearts and minds to making contact with our truth/True Self, our unspoken thoughts and dreams. In this one-hour class you will never be asked to share your experiences, unless you want to, but bring pen and paper to take notes. The Authentic Self is where our autonomous agency, Free Will/Won’t can be found. And because there is no separation in truth/integrity (“Nothing real can be threatened; nothing unreal exists.” From ACIM) we can let the truth come into our hearts and minds without the False Self needing to maintain its defenses against our imagined fears. And remembering that we are the ‘meaning-makers’ in our lives, we retain our ‘authority’ on the meaning, significance, validity of our experiences. Pierre Teillhard de Chardin (1881- 1955), French Jesuit, Catholic priest, scientist, paleontologist, philosopher, mystic and teacher, postulated that we are entering an evolutionary stage in our development as a sentient species that is dominated by consciousness, the mind, and interpersonal authenticity and integration of all previous levels of geological, biological, human and technological activities into a new level of planetary functioning. If this idea resonates with your thinking, feeling, knowing truth, then come join us. Facilitator: Dr. Diane Hamrick, dr.dhamrick@gmail.com, (843) 209-8347 I came to Charleston, SC, from LA, California in 1970 with a vision of making a difference in a town that I perceived to be 50 years behind in its collective consciousness from what I had experienced in LA. I completed my Ph.D. research at MUSC where I studied the (calming) of the orienting response (startle response) in children—a neurological requirement for all ensuing learning and successful adaptation. This led to my starting Pie-in-the-Sky, an open-classroom preschool where I could observe the natural learning behaviors in children. The school was a subsidiary of Further, Inc. that organized and operated the HOTLINE of Charleston, a suicide prevention center. My private psychotherapy practice specialized in the diagnosis and remediation of Learning Disabilities in children and writing the educational plans for LD children. I became a Teaching Member of the International Transactional Analysis Association (based on Carl Jung’s theory and practices of clinical ego analysis and therapy) and applied TA toward the collaborative practices required for reaching mediated settlements in divorce cases. Parents were better than the Family Courts in prescribing how they were to separate their assets and debts and how best to raise their children after divorce. At the same time, I became involved in establishing Hospice of Charleston, a caring service where people could prepare to make their transition from their life consciously and conscientiously. I took a sabbatical to study the application of Buddhism in my psychotherapy practice and, at the same time, I began my study of A Course in Miracles. I realized that all diseases of the mind and body begin in conflict within the mind and body and between egos identified with fear and struggling with the illusion of separation from one’s wholeness while identifying with the unforgiven and unforgiving, fearful, false self (ego identity) and struggling with issues of loneliness, alienation and betrayal incurred along the way. For 10 years I taught a course at the College of Charleston, “States of Consciousness,” that traced how Western thought systems maintained the notion of the separated, rational mind practices that maintained the illusion of a separated, quantifiable, objective reality; whereas Eastern thought practices of meditation and yoga could lead one to experiences of integration and extended consciousness. A midlife Vision Quest showed me that the practices of self-analysis in human nature, mediating between the inner reality of mind and body and the outer reality of having to adapt to the man-made reality, were supported with meditation and deep breathing and a prayer life of Serenity and Gratitude that includes the acceptance and forgiveness of our destructive habits (much like the AA 12-Steps) and can bring us to our peace of mind and realization (Wisdom) of our purpose for which our natural lives were designed while we live our brief time on earth. I have come to consider myself an evolutionary humanist, a more holistic practitioner than the behavioral ego psychologist I was taught to be in my limited training as a clinical psychologist. However, a course in Existential Psychology inspired me to seek my identity through searching and identifying the meaning and purpose for my life.
ONSITE Self-Exploration through Poetry w/ Tish Voit
6:00 – 7:00 pm (EST), every 1st and 3rd Thursday at bliss, 1007 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, The Mezzanine Suite 228 in Mt. Pleasant. When bliss connections & experiences nourish your soul, please consider making a donation at givetobliss.com. Thank-you for your continued friendship & support. After a brief round of introductions, we will begin each class with a fun warm-up exercise to get our creative juices flowing. Next, we will explore utilizing a fresh writing prompt for each class to delve a bit deeper during a 20-minute timed stream of consciousness writing exercise designed to quiet the inner critic. Then we will have the opportunity to share what we have put on paper in its pure unedited form. All levels are welcomed and encouraged to enter our circle. Sharing your work is optional and helps us discover more about you. We may offer further growth opportunities to share your poems through open poetry reading events at bliss and other local venues. Facilitator: Tish Voit, tish@blissspiritualco-op.org From early childhood I have experienced an intimate connection with spirit. This ever loving, encouraging and persistent guide from within has directed me to become a dedicated leader for causes that help others by building community. I am a playful and intuitive visionary, artist, singer, author, cook, and friend. My favorite place to be is home which I co-create wherever I am. I write to explore my soul self, which is eternal, expansive, and uniquely creative. I enjoy sharing my poems and hearing what others create. To be known is a blessing. Please join us for this inward journey whenever you feel called.
ONSITE Conscious Connected Breathwork w/ Sloane Brummer
7:00 – 8:30 pm (EST), monthly on the 2nd Thursday at bliss, 1007 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, in the Open Mat Mezzanine. Important Note: If you have moderate to severe heart issues you must consult your physician before taking this class. When bliss connections & experiences nourish your soul, please consider making a donation at givetobliss.com. Thank-you for your continued friendship & support. This Conscious Connected Breathwork class is a powerful journey inward. Using a continuous, connected breathing pattern, we gently bypass the thinking mind and access the body’s innate intelligence to release stored tension, emotions, and energetic blocks. This practice can create profound shifts in awareness, clarity, and emotional freedom while supporting healing on a physical, mental, and energetic level. Each class is held in a safe, supportive container and concludes with integration and rest. Come as you are – open, curious, and willing to breathe. I will be there to teach and guide the breathing exercises, hold the space for our group, and very importantly, bring us back safely. When we activate through connected breathing you may experience physical reactions such as crying, yelling, laughter, heavy movement in the body, or complete stillness. As you breathe, you may feel repressed emotions beginning to surface. This is an expected benefit, and you may want to acknowledge these activated emotions and then relax to let them go. It’s different for each participant. As your guide, I will hold space and keep you safe. Should a very extreme emotion come through, I will be there to anchor you. I’m present so that you know you are supported. This is profound work. I want to share it with you and the world. Some have shared that breathwork is like 10 years of therapy in one hour. You are connecting to yourself, dropping into your subconscious, and experiencing that safe altered state of consciousness. My style of breathwork does have some touch points on the body. I will always ask for consent and honor the request if you do not want to be touched. With consent, I may gently touch chakras or lymphatic points of the body such as the head, neck, belly, knee, and feet. I also use a queue to keep the breath moving. I will lightly touch the belly and the chest as a queue to remind you to keep the breath moving during the session. Facilitator: Sloane Brummer, bodhienergetics.com Sloane is an experienced breathwork facilitator with several years of dedicated practice guiding individuals through transformative breathing experiences. Having worked deeply with the breath for multiple years, Sloane brings a grounded, intuitive, and compassionate presence to every session. His approach blends conscious connected breathing with nervous system awareness, creating a safe and supportive space for emotional release, clarity, and self-discovery. Deeply passionate about the power of breath, Sloane is committed to helping others reconnect to their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and access their inner resilience through intentional breathwork. Sloane has studied abroad and here in the U.S. Learning from the Maori Tribe in New Zealand while staying in one of their sacred Tamaki Maori Village. Sloane gained his facilitator license through Spiritus based out of Australia. Having spent a month with the creator of Spiritus and learning from a person with over 30 years of breathwork knowledge and experience. I will always continue to further my education into breathwork and the power it holds to heal our mind, body, and soul. Previously I had a job working for an investment group. I was the guy they sent in to get their start-up businesses going. I learned a lot and it was a good job but extremely high stress. I did it for 15 years. One day I found myself feeling empty. The job gave my family stability and a decent income, but I was miserable. I couldn’t fathom doing it for another 20+ years. There had to be more to my professional life than this. More to my life. Fast forward a bit and I found breathwork. I started using it to deal with the stress of my job and my work life balance. It took a lot of practice and study but after about 6 months. I felt alive again. I had this amazing anchor to fall back on when things would get difficult. It changed my life. I was so amazed at the results and the power of this work. I kept having dreams of giving this to the world. It was wild, the visions I would have when practicing my breathing were calling me. Triggers that once threw me through a loop, they faded. My patience grew longer. So many things that would throw me off now landed a little softer. I still had my emotions and I am not saying that nothing bothered me anymore, but my perception had shifted. I felt things differently and viewed my life through a new lense. I was so inspired that I resigned from my job and started Bodhi Energetics. It was a huge leap of faith and extremely scary. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m still going and am out to help whoever is ready. I look around and see so many people that are struggling to keep up in the world today. The way I felt at one point. My goal is to help everyone I can and do this for the rest of my life. Insta/FB = Bodhi Energetics & Sloane Brummer Sloane Brummer Office – 803-953-0884 Direct – 843-709-3986
ONSITE Healthy Smoothies for ALL w/ Ted McKnight
12:00 – 12:30 pm (EST), every 1st & 3rd Monday gather in the kitchen at bliss, 1700 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, The Mezzanine Suite 228 in Mt. Pleasant. When bliss connections & experiences nourish your soul, please consider making a donation at givetobliss.com. Thank-you for your continued friendship & support. Begin the week with a smoothie demonstration and tasting at noon while you ponder whether to attend The Quaker Minute, a respectful debate 12:30 – 2:00 pm. When bliss connections & experiences nourish your soul, please consider making a donation at givetobliss.com. Thank-you for your continued friendship & support. Facilitator: Ted McKnight, tedmcknight8@gmail.com A generous collaborator who has perfected the art of healthy smoothie hosting.
ONSITE The Quaker Minute w/ Ted McKnight
12:30 – 2:00 PM (EST), every 1st and 3rd Monday at bliss, 1007 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., The Mezzanine Suite 228 in Mt. Pleasant. When bliss connections & experiences nourish your soul, please consider making a donation at givetobliss.com. Thank-you for your continued friendship & support. This sharing is being offered again by popular demand. In 2019, Ted invited bliss Participants who had a wide variety of points of view on various topics of the day to speak and be heard in a thoughtful, respectful way. The Quaker Minute encourages everyone attending the class to respectively LISTEN to what each speaker has to say. Then, for one minute, THINK about the idea being presented in quiet contemplation and discernment before responding. Together, we are practicing how to be heard and voice our personal feelings about a hot topic in a non-hostile manner. Old fashioned discourse and debate are at the center of this exercise of our cherished 1st Amendment. Please join Ted to participate, either as a silent listener and thinker, or as someone who wants to voice a view. The participants will select the topics to be to be addressed with a vote. Ted McKnight, tedmcknight8@gmail.com Ted is a retired district attorney of 24 years with extensive experience in respectful debating skills. He served as a member of the bliss Spiritual Co-op Board for five years. Plan to arrive early. He makes a really good smoothie, which he will happily share with all preceding each class at noon in the kitchen.