9/23/12

COMING EVENTS


'Full Moon of the Buddha' (5/23)
Buddha's Birthday & Enlightenment
 Potluck, Chant & Meditation
Called 'Wesak' in Buddhism, the full moon of May is a time when the veils between this world and the realm of Buddhas & Bodhisattvas is thin. It is an auspicious time for resting the heart in the grace of deep silence. After fellowship and dinner we will chant Om Mani Padme Hum and do deep meditation in the Longhouse Cedar Room.

Sat-Sang (5/30)
'Laugh, Sing & Meditate'
5:30 Student Potluck
6:15 Chant and Meditation 
A traditional Indian proverb says: 'Laugh, Sing & Meditate.' After delicious student potluck and joyful fellowship, we will chant and meditate together, opening the heart with healing breath, then making candle offerings of peace.

'Angel Wash' & Final Gathering (6/06)
5:30 Student Potluck
6:15 Angel Wash and Final Song Circle

Come say goodbye for the summer, and farewell to some. Wash each other in Beauty as we sing and perform the ritual known as the 'Angel Wash'. Friends from Olympia's 'Singing Alive' are invited too!   
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Bookmark our website,  and join us on Facebook!

9/13/12

What Is Common Bread?

* A Still Point in your Turning World 
     * A Crossroad of Spiritual Paths 
* Guest Speakers from Diverse Wisdom Traditions 
     * Good Food and Friendship 
* A Trusting Space to Share Your Journey
     * Song, Poetry, Meditation, and sometimes...
We Dance! 

Candle 

Common Bread is a crossroad of the spiritual paths, Eastern and Western, ancient and modern, and a contemplative space for The Evergreen State College community.

We meet weekly in the Longhouse for potluck dinner, fellowship, wisdom and meditation, often with a guest speaker. We honor each person's unique journey and welcome all sincere faith traditions, as well as those seekers who have no traditional faith. In our circle, there's a place for you.

Explore connections between spirituality and healing, social justice, community-building, art and peace-making. In this trusting space, we invite you to meet your Self in the Other.

What Students Say About Common Bread: LINK
"...Filled with genuine open-heartedness for the unique individual."  
"...Nothing quite like it. There is no judgment here."
"...A space to connect with your heart."
"...A nurturing place that lets you step out of name, title, pressure, expectation, to enter the joy that encourages our true light to shine."

Welcoming Veterans
Common Bread extends its warmest invitation to the Student Veterans Organization at Evergreen and the folks at Coffee Strong. Please be part of our healing community, and educate us about your journeys from war to peace.

PHOTO GALLERY

Yarrow, Cedar, Madrona, Dogwood: just a few of the Healing Spirit-Beings called "plants" that we sang to on a May night at Common Bread, led by Leah (center) and the drumbeat of Michael (far left), followed by deep meditation in the Long House. Thank you, Leah!
On a beautiful New Moon in May, we enjoyed Sufi-inspired 'Dances of Universal Peace' in Red Square.
 Dances were led by Evie Fagergren (left), long-time friend of Common Bread.
 
Philosophy Prof. Joe Tougas  plays guitar for the Dances.
 Our table at Club Fair, May 8, with Joe Briggs, Fred LaMotte and Liz Atkins-Pattenson.
  Liz (l) & Emma Jane (r) light up our lives at Common Bread.
 Nick and Joe, two Evergreen community leaders, at Common Bread.
Prof. Sean Williams, director of the Ireland Program, shared the wisdom of ancient Irish holy days, Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnassadh. This brilliant song-teacher and ethnomusicologist, author of six books, taught us to sing a Gallic Beltane song, and revealed insights into the Gallic imagination through language and song. What a gift she is to Evergreen! Pictured here with student leader Joe.
"Non-violence is the essence of the spiritual path. But we cannot end violence in the world outside us until we end conflict inside us, conflict between our thoughts and desires, violence against ourselves." ~Anam Thubten at Common Bread, 4/19/2013
 Sixty townsfolk and students attended the talk by Tibetan Buddhist Master Anam. Common Bread is grateful for our longtime friendship with Dharmata Foundation and Anam Thubten.
Jody Kesten (center) taught the wisdom of Shaivite Blue Throat Yoga to Common Bread, with chant, mantra, asana, pranayama, and stories from the Puranas, sacred scriptures of India. Thank you, Jody! Pictured to her left, her son Ricky and Lucia; right, Adam and Rascal.
 
At potluck, Ash and Rascal attempt to describe Chaplain Fred's split pea soup with seaweed and Swiss chard. Below, Common Fred with Yogini Jody Kesten, April 11.
A beautiful green parrot named Phoebe regularly attends Common Bread. When we chanted with Jody Kesten, Phoebe sang really loud!

March 8-9, Common Bread hosted a weekend retreat with Llyn Roberts and Mick Dodge, 'The Barefoot Sensei': spirit-body skills for living in an age of environmental responsibility. They called us back to harmony with the earth, from their marvelous EarthWisdom Circle in the Hoh River Rainforest (LINK).

Above and below, the Barefoot Sensei (center) leads students in Barefoot Earthwisdom.
 While Mick taught outdoor skills, his partner Llyn Roberts (Below center) author of three books on Shamanistic transformation, taught the skills of "shapeshifting to higher consciousness."

Below, tools and offerings for a session in Barefoot EarthWisdom...

On February 28, Mike Mercker (below left) an old friend of Common Bread, well-known Olympia musician, and energy healer, gave a gentle but profound evening of chakra-toning and attunement to divine love: 27 attended.
Below, students as well as graduates and Olympia townsfolk love our Song Circle, with Singing Alive Olympia. Picture below, Lucia Whelan (l.), Song-Holder Drewhissimo (c.) and friends.
On February 22, Open Heart Open Mind performed their healing music for 70 people in the Longhouse, featuring one of the nation's greatest collection of Tibetan Singing Bowls and Burmese temple bells. Picture below, Karl Black and Dave Ermantrout, the bowl masters; between them, Donia and Scott Berry, didgeridoo specialists with student leader Joe Briggs, Fred LaMotte in background.
 After the bowl and didge healing sound meditation, students and townsfolk from Olympia explored the bowls, some of which are over 700 years old.
On January 31, over 40 attended an Agape gathering hosted by Quakers from Olympia, with a profound Quaker Meeting for Worship.
 Above, James chats with Nakki Stevens, a lifelong Friend. Below, students learn of the Quaker Peace Testimony and Environmentalism.
An elder tells Ricky that Quakers find the Light of the Divine in all living creatures.
After Meeting, Friends and Greeners continue to mingle for tea.
On January 24 Mary Solberg and friends from St. Michael's  Catholic Church led us in Centering Prayer. Mary, 2nd from left, between our student leader Joe Briggs & Emma Jane Garcia.

Centering Prayer is an elegantly simple, graceful meditation rooted in the Christian mystics. Thank you, Mary and friends!
 Greener & wisewoman Chelan Weiler (2nd from left below) gave a profound talk & experience of 'Inner Spirit Hypnotherapy' after potluck. Mike Mercker (with guitar) provided music.
Thank you, Chelan for renewing us with inner joy! Chelan is pictured below witt Common Bread chaplain Fred LaMotte.
 The amazing Scott Huckabay performed for over 200 guests from Evergreen and the Olympia community on November 2 in the Longhouse, Common Bread's largest event of 2012.
Our gratitude also to Lisa Diane of Olympia and Evergreen's Sean Williams for helping with this event.
 Scott creates healing energizing landscapes of sound using guitar in unique ways.

Common Bread gathering are always most magical when led by Evergreen students. Above, Sayre and Joe with plant medicine teacher and singer of plant songs, Leah Bodenhamer.
In the Longhouse Cedar Room, Leah teaches us the Cedar Song. She blessed us with prayers, herbal tinctures which she made, and smudging smoke from yarrow and sage. 
 
We honor Common Bread leader Sayer Herrick '12, a wisewoman, herbalist, poet, singer and now Reiki healer, hoping she will keep returning to Common Bread to teach us!
Above, leader Joe Gibbs with Teekani (which means 'Wolf' in Athabascan) after singing plant songs with leah. Below, Scott Barry and the Vibe Tribe performed unique sound therapy using the most ancient musical instrument in the world, the didgeridoo, a profound evening of meditation and healing music.
Ari, Chani and Sayer lead us in song.
 Llyn Roberts taught shape-shifting to higher consciousness to 27 Evergreen students and townsfolk in the Farm House, a Common Bread intensive retreat.
Llyn pictured below with Sayer, her daughter, Joe and Joav.
One student wrote: "I had a very profound experience these past two days. I discovered that my spirit guide is the very energy I had thought was my biggest obstacle or blockage. I feel so healed, empowered and infinitely grateful." ~Megan W.
Sayer, Ari & Chani singing at the Llyn Roberts workshop.
Thanks to Ari and Chani for leading Common Bread tonight, exploring the power of the Divine Feminine. "Meditate on what it feels like to open your Heart without fear of judgment, in complete trust."
Thank you, Dharmata Foundation, and Anam Thubten, for gracing Common Bread with your wisdom, humor and deep presence on February 3 in the Evergreen Longhouse, where 75 gathered to listen. Thank you, Sayer and Joe for your student leadership.
Below, Rinpoche meets Sayre Herrick after his talk. "The quintessential goal of our path is surrendering to reality each moment, then seeing and loving all as divine."
IMG_3390Satsang: Sayer and Ari, and below, McKenzie and Joelle.
 Satsang is a Sanskrit word meaning "Truth Community." It is a circle where people can be authentically themselves, sharing their spiritual journey with an open heart.
Zach welcomes Emir, our guest from Ocuppy Olympia, to Common Bread.
 Laughter Yoga with Miss Kate (Greener '08) for health and end-of- term stress release. Here's a LINK to an article on Laughter Yoga from the Washington Post.
 
Student leaders Joe and Sayer tabling in the student center. Come visit us Tuesdays at noon!

Thursday, November 10, Sean Johnson's Wild Lotus Band from New Orleans returned to Common Bread.Greener alum Johnson led us in Yoga kirtans with a cajun spice!
Evergreen professors Sarah Williams and Sean Williams with student leader Joe Briggs and Sean Johnson, who was a student of Sean Williams in Irish Studies. Common Bread cultivates lasting relationships between Evergreen's students, alumni, and teachers. 
Common Bread potluck: Vegan lentil soup, spinach salad, bread, veggie lasagna, pumpkin pie and tea.

Our Samhain alter, celebrating the Celtic New Year, when the Light of the World begins its inward journey to the Heart, rekindling in the Winter womb of the Great Mother.

Jordon Paige leads Common Bread in chanting kirtans and toning.
 Common Bread welcomes Joelle and Megan.
 Student leaders with Ryan, a new guest at opening potluck.
Tabling in Red Square: student leaders Ian, Crystal and Sayre.
Common Bread's Singing Bowls concert and meditation each year with Karl Black and partners: one of the finest collections of Tibetan bowls in the nation.
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Ari Moshe, Yoga Teacher and Evolutionary Astrologist, gave a workshop on the Journey of the Soul, October 13. 
Student leaders Ian and Crystal at the center of our annual Spring Labyrinth on Red Square.
At our final meeting in May, Daphne shared her writing/painting.

Student leader, Joe Briggs, sharing poems by Rumi.
Evergreen's Administration invited Common Bread to gather diverse faith leaders in the inauguration of the new Student Center. Below with student leader Ian, Fred LaMotte (Common Bread Chaplain), Mustafa Mohamedali (Olympia Islamic Center), Rev. Rachel Wagen-Hoch (St. Mark's Lutheran Church), Koro Kaisan Miles (Open Gate Zendo), Rabbi Seth Goldstein (Temple Beth Hatfiloh), Leslie Edwards (Olympia Bahai Assembly).
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Muslim Americans met with students and townsfolk in the Longhouse to share the topic, 'What Does It Feel Like to be Muslim in America Today.'
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It was an evening to stand against bigotry and religious prejudice, and share the common spirit of humanity with our Muslim brothers and sisters of Olympia Islamic Center.
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On Feb. 2, meditative musician Christine Gunn returned to Common Bread, performing 'Imbolc Music' to awaken the energy of Spring with her electronically over-looping mystic cello.


Dairun Zenzi, head monk of the One Drop Zen Monastery on Whidbey Island, explained Rinzai Zen Buddhism to 50 students & led meditation.
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Art Night : celebrating student art, poetry, music & photography.
We created an interactive poem LINK HERE and group mandala to express our images for the Spirit.
Below right to left: Chelan, Sayre and Lillian sing spirit songs.
Quaker chaplain Fred LaMotte leads meditation.

Common Bread welcomed Zawadi Nakuze, co-sponsored by the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention Awareness & the President's Diversity Fund. From the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zawadi shared her work restoring hope to rape victims in the world's most violent civil war. To hear her speak to Olympia Quakers, LINK.
Common Bread leaders Crystal & Ian attend a national college conference on Interfaith Spirituality at U. of Puget Sound.

'Centering Prayer,' inspired by Christian mystics, is taught yearly at Common Bread by Contemplative Outreach's Mary Solberg.







A trio of musicians perform Hindi devotional songs and explain the mythic stories behind them, brought by Shon Murphy's leadership.


One of nine world leaders of the Baha'i faith, guest speaker Erica Toussaint was welcomed by Common Bread's Bahai leader, Chelan Weiler.

Dr. Mohammad Ayub helps us understand Islam. Dr. Ayub's wife, Amy Aisha (below), spoke to Common Bread on 'Women In Islam." Over 30 attended. Dr. Ayub is a Muslim peace activist, master gardener & member of the Jewish-Muslim Compassionate Listening Group. Dr. Ayub shared Muslim evening prayers with us. We cherish our connection to Lacey Mosque!


Krishnammal Jagannathan, winner of the 2008 Opus Award for world service, a disciple of Gandhi and Ramana Maharshi, addressed 90 seekers at Common Bread in the Recital Hall (Link to article).


Evie Fagergen leads Sufi-inspired Dances of Universal Peace twice a year. Guitar player is Professor Tugas of Evergreen faculty.

  
Evie (left) leads dances with her fiddle, helped by dedicated musicians. Below, our annual Samahim-All Saints-Halloween feast.



Quaker Deric Young spoke on 'Nature as Sacred Text.' Quakers visit Common Bread yearly to share Quaker Meeting.

Grandfather Cedar, Grandmother Fern,
this is where we worship in the Evergreen forest.
We thank you for making this Long House
from the bone and marrow of your ancestors.

Grandfather Cedar, Grandmother Sage,
you make our planet green and give us
a sweet fragrance of prayer.
We thank you for the gift of silence.

Grandfather Cedar, Grandmother Berry,
root us deep in the Earth as you are rooted,
so that we may breathe down the stars
and plant them where our feet walk.

Thank you Grandfathers.
Thank you Grandmothers.
Thank you, Raven.

~Common Bread interfaith chaplain Fred
 
'Forget every touch or sound that did not teach you how to dance.' (Rumi) Common Bread hosts contra dancing.

Talcott Broadhead, Director of Evergreen's Sexual Assault Prevention Awareness Program, pictured with activist Jenna Wes at her Common Bread workshop.