Mindful Earth Refuge- Toronto Eco-Dharma Community May Meditation Sit

Staying Tender Through Times of Change: A Mindful Earth Gathering

Last month we anchored ourselves in grief and love for the Earth. This month we turn toward the practice of staying tender amidst change, not by forcing the heart to stay open, but by learning to trust the natural rhythms of opening and closing, expanding and contracting, like the breath of life itself.

Together we explore how to stay tender even when we feel ourselves harden and close, knowing that too is a natural movement and just right in its own way. We practice expansion and contraction with radical acceptance and compassion instead of judgment. We explore the idea of collective share and care, trusting that when one of us contracts, another opens, and together we create the field that carries us forward.

Through meditation, earth connection, and shared reflection, we will practice meeting life as it is, softening our grip on certainty, and leading with compassion and trust in the larger movements that hold us.

Our 90-minute session offers a practical pathway to pause, unwind, and reconnect with ourselves, our community, and the wisdom that has supported activists and humanitarians for thousands of years. In this session, you'll have the opportunity to decompress through guided sitting or lying meditation, gentle mindful movement, as well as readings and poems that inspire a deeper connection to the inner and outer resources that sustain us.

As Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us, “Wake up to the beauties of the planet to heal yourself and wake up to the suffering of the world and try to help.” This practice provides space to step back from the constant doing, be held by a larger body of teachings, and find solace and strength in community care.

Our refuge is designed for people of diverse and intersectional identities who long to connect deeply with nature and support collective healing, community building, and activism through mindful and compassionate practices. Here, we come together with our inner and outer landscapes, cultivating the courage to make a meaningful difference in the world.

When & Where

When:
Thursday, May 29, 2025
7:00–8:30 pm (Registration begins at 6:45 pm)

Where:
Wonderlit Studio
243 Wallace Ave, Toronto, ON M6H 1V5 (near Lansdowne TTC)

This session is open to all, with a sliding scale fee of $15–$20.

You are welcome to pay via Etransfer. Please choose that option at check-out, and your registration will be complete upon receipt of your e-transfer to mindfulearthrefuge@gmail.com. No payment reminder emails will be sent, and your ticket will be voided if we haven't received your e-transfer within 24 hours of your booking

Schedule

6:45 pm Arrival

7:00 pm Introduction to practice

7:15 pm *Doors Locked* Guided Practice (seated or lying down, occasionally including gentle movement)

7:50 pm Dharma Talk and Q&A

8:20 pm Closing Circle

Please note: the studio is located up a flight of stairs and offers one gender-neutral bathroom. Tea and water will be provided (please bring your own mug). Folding chairs, pillows, and space for personal cushions or yoga mats are available.

Our session is guided by two dedicated facilitators. Rose Mina Munjee, with over 20 years of mindfulness meditation practice, brings insights from her diasporic journey and deep commitment to ecological and social justice, creating a nurturing space for heart connection. Simona Irwin, the creative force behind the Befriending Fear series, offers a compassionate, trauma-informed perspective rooted in her lifelong mindfulness journey, enriched by permaculture and deep ecology insights.

Together, we gather in the spirit of presence and active hope—ready to embrace our shared vulnerability and step forward with love and action.

Learn more at Mindful Earth Refuge