Past Workshops & Classes

Holiday Retreat for Balance: Dec. 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27, 2021

Over the years, I’ve learned to create ample downtime in the form of a retreat to balance the socializing and indulgence at this time of the year. 

Recently a friend asked me if I would be willing to open my personal retreat time to the public. He mentioned that this can be a hard time for people, dealing with loneliness and depression, etc.

Initially, I was quite resistant to his request and wanted to protect my time.

As I sat with his request, I began to warm to the idea. I started to think it might even be ‘fun’ to share my practice with others. And then I had the great idea to turn it into a fundraiser for the flood victims.

So please join me on Dec. 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 from 10 am to noon to practice. I will be sharing various elements of my practice:  breath awareness, stability and grounding practice, forgiveness practice, walking meditation, contemplating and visioning, qi-gong etc. This will be a hybrid event- – in person (at the Shambhala Centre) or via Zoom. 

The schedule is very flexible, so feel free to attend as many sessions as you wish. If you are pressed for time, please come for the first hour. At the hour mark, there will be a walking meditation which is an easy transition to leave. 

I will be sitting at the Shambhala Centre — 2033 Belmont Ave. 
Proceeds to the Red Cross Flood Victims.  
Suggested donation:  $25-35 /session (if this is beyond your budget, donate what works for you)

If you are interested in attending, please let me know at least one day in advance which session(s) you would like to attend and whether you will be attending via Zoom or in person. Your payment confirms your registration. Please e-transfer: counsellingwithocean@gmail.com

I hope to see you via Zoom or in person.
In the spirit of our collective awakening,

Ocean

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Open your mind to possibilities.

Open your heart to receive.

“The greatest gift you can give the world is to live your destiny.”

For many of us, the architecture of our lives is built on stories and beliefs we learned from our families, schools and society. It is usually a narrative of fear and lack. We are taught to play small, stay safe and find security. We learn not to make a fuss and that our wants, desires and needs don’t matter. To some degree this strategy worked. You are safe, you have a job and you are well fed. But maybe there is a sense of ennui—of going through the motions, or burden with anxiety, guilt, shame or debt. You wonder what happened to joy, awe and connection? You might realize you are living a strategy rather than living your life. In mindfulness meditation we realize we are not our thoughts. With practice we connect to a deeper current that courses through our lives. AND if we are courageous, we will listen. We will allow this impulse to guide us. When this happens, you are living life. You are living your destiny. This course is an invitation to listen; to connect to this current; to go to the edge of your narrative and discover what is possible. With meditation, we loosen the narrative and beliefs that have a stranglehold on our lives. With sustained practice we create more spaciousness and bring a deeper intelligence to the moment. We sense the enormity of possibility that exists for each of us. What do you truly desire? Will I say yes to my potential? This course is a training in:
  • Recognizing the narrative(s) that run us
  • Developing a stable and expansive mind through the practice of meditation
  • Meeting the obstacles on the way
  • Softening and opening our hearts, first and foremost to ourselves, so we feel worthy to receive
This 12-week course is divided into two parts. The first part covers theory, philosophy and meditation. The second part of this course will dive into more specific topics such as ‘Finding your true voice’, ‘Love yourself into change’ and ‘I am enough’. Those that are highly motivated and driven might find the first part of the course sufficient to start living life. For the rest of us, we want more time to dive deeper, more time to care for the tenderness emerging and nurture courage. And the richness and healing of the group is in the gathering and witnessing of each other. I hope you will join me on this remarkable journey. A new course is coming Fall 2021. Contact me to learn more or to register.Please feel free to call me if you have any questions @ 250-382-3810

Warmly,

Ocean

For many of us, the architecture of our lives is built on stories and beliefs we learned from our families, schools and society. It is usually a narrative of fear and lack. We are taught to play small, stay safe and find security. We learn not to make a fuss and that our wants, desires and needs don’t matter. To some degree this strategy worked. You are safe, you have a job and you are well fed. But maybe there is a sense of ennui—of going through the motions, or burden with anxiety, guilt, shame or debt. You wonder what happened to joy, awe and connection? You might realize you are living a strategy rather than living your life. In mindfulness meditation we realize we are not our thoughts. With practice we connect to a deeper current that courses through our lives. AND if we are courageous, we will listen. We will allow this impulse to guide us. When this happens, you are living life. You are living your destiny. This course is an invitation to listen; to connect to this current; to go to the edge of your narrative and discover what is possible. With meditation, we loosen the narrative and beliefs that have a stranglehold on our lives. With sustained practice we create more spaciousness and bring a deeper intelligence to the moment. We sense the enormity of possibility that exists for each of us. What do you truly desire? Will I say yes to my potential? This course is a training in:
  • Recognizing the narrative(s) that run us
  • Developing a stable and expansive mind through the practice of meditation
  • Meeting the obstacles on the way
  • Softening and opening our hearts, first and foremost to ourselves, so we feel worthy to receive
This 12-week course is divided into two parts. The first part covers theory, philosophy and meditation. The second part of this course will dive into more specific topics such as ‘Finding your true voice’, ‘Love yourself into change’ and ‘I am enough’. Those that are highly motivated and driven might find the first part of the course sufficient to start living life. For the rest of us, we want more time to dive deeper, more time to care for the tenderness emerging and nurture courage. And the richness and healing of the group is in the gathering and witnessing of each other. I hope you will join me on this remarkable journey. A new course is coming Fall 2021. Contact me to learn more or to register.Please feel free to call me if you have any questions @ 250-382-3810

Warmly,

Ocean