Please join us for our annual Winter Solstice Celebration at 7 p.m. on December 22nd!  It has been our tradition to welcome the “return of the light” by gathering together at this time to share food, tea and stories, to light candles, enjoy music and to meditate together as we emerge from the dark to the light. 

We invite you to join us virtually via Zoom from the comfort of your own home.  Prepare a nice beverage for yourself, perhaps gather some pinecones or winter greenery, have a candle ready to light and perhaps contemplate what you might like to share with the group (a poem, a song, a special passage from a book, something that’s inspired you or touched you or simply something that you are grateful for).  Sharing is totally optional of course.  Your presence without words is precious too. We will also take some time to set our intentions for the coming year and perhaps consider what we might be ready to let go of, so you may want to have a pen and paper ready to make some notes for yourself.

How to attend: We'll send out an email the evening before the Solstice with a link for the Zoom gathering the next day.  Please just click on that link and join us at approximately 6:50 p.m. on December 22nd so we can start on time at 7 p.m. 

To join our mailing list please send a request to OHMCToronto@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing all your beautiful faces.

In light of current concerns about the global escalation of COVID-19 the Open Heart Mindfulness Community has made the decision to suspend our weekly sits at St. Joe’s until further notice.  We do this with care and concern for all our Sangha members, the staff and patients at St. Joe's and the people they come in contact with each day.  This evolving situation vividly reminds us of our inter-connectedness.  It presents an opportunity for us to find other ways to act with compassion and loving-kindness towards all sentient beings without gathering in small or large groups.

We invite you to stay dedicated to your practice during these times of anxiety and fear, perhaps making a commitment to sit at 7 p.m. each Wednesday evening at home.  There is comfort in knowing that other Sangha members are also meditating at the same time.  In addition, to help nurture your practice, there are many guided meditations and Dharma talks available for streaming on Dharma Seed at https://www.dharmaseed.org.  

We will continue to update you as things change.  In the meantime, please stay well.

Metta,

The Open Heart Mindfulness Community Council

Wed, March 4 ~ James Baraz, "The Quarrel at Kosambi"
Wed, March 11 ~ Shaila Catherine, "Ways to Awaken: Five Ways to Become An Arahant"
Wed, March 18 ~ GUEST TEACHER: Jill Davey
Wed, March 25 ~ Thanissara SR, "Dharma Practice Within our Planetary Emergency"

Feb 5 ~Tara Brach, "Gratitude: Entering Sacred Relationships"
Feb 12 ~ Oren Jay Sofer, "Mindfulness is Intimacy with Life"
Feb 19 ~Jill Davey Guest Teacher
Feb 26 ~ Leela Sarti, "Desire and Belonging"

Jan 1~ Cancelled for holiday
Jan 8 ~ Conscious Activity by Tara Brach
Jan 15 ~ Letting Go of Control/Let Everything Happen to You by Tara  Brach
Jan 22 Guest teacher: JILL DAVEY
Jan 27 ~ Behind the Mask Tara Brach

For July and August we're re-playing some of our favourite dharma talks that we've listened to over the past year. 
Aug  7: LIVE Guest Teacher Jill Davey for her last visit with us before she goes off on an extended fall retreat. 
Aug 14: Amma Thanasanti ~The End of Suffering and Neuroplasticity
Aug 21: Christina Feldman ~ Dukha & Vulnerability
Aug 28: Jack Kornfield ~The One Who Knows
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We meet at 7 pm, every Wednesday evening for a meditation followed by a recorded dharma talk. Classroom 5, Sunnyside Wing, St. Joseph's Health Centre, Toronto. 30 Sunnyside Ave. All WELCOME! 

7 pm every Wednesday we have a guided meditation followed by a (mostly recorded) dharma talk. All welcome.

Wed, June 5: Tara Brach ~ "Without Anxiety About Non-Perfection"
Wed, June 12: Tara Brach ~  "Stress Presence and Freedom"
Wed, June 19: LIVE Guest Teacher Jill Davey
Wed, June 26: Tara Brach ~ "Planting Yourself in the Universe"

Wed, April 3  - CHRISTINA FELDMAN: "Dukha & Vulnerability" 
Wed, April 10  - CHRISTINA FELDMAN: "Standing in the Crossroads"
Wed, April 17 - CHRISTINA FELDMAN: "Towards Embodiment"
Wed, April 24 - JACK KORFIELD: "The Garden of the Heart"
Sun, April 28 - Daylong Mindfulness Retreat with Jill Davey, 10 am - 4 pm Tickets here