Saturday, August 11 at 9 AM - 5 PM Take your meditation practice to the next level. Treat yourself to this day-long meditation retreat at the Metta Center of St. Petersburg. We will practice various styles of meditation including:
A vegetarian/vegan lunch (as well as water, tea, coffee and fruit) will be provided. Space is limited to 12 participants. Reserve your spot today! Cost: $88. Register HERE. For more information, visit our facebook event page.  ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTORS:
Joran Slane Oppelt is an international speaker, author, interfaith minister, life coach and award-winning singer/songwriter. He is the owner of the Metta Center of St. Petersburg and founder of the Integral Church. Joran is the author of Integral Church: A Handbook for New Spiritual Communities and Sentences and co-author of Order of the Sacred Earth (with Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox). Joran holds certificates in Religious Literacy (Harvard Online) and Sacred Storytelling (Multifaith Storytelling Institute). He serves as President of Interfaith Tampa Bay and Ambassador of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions. He has spoken around the world about spirituality and innovation at events like South by Southwest in Austin, TX; Parliament of the World’s Religions in Salt Lake City and Integral European Conference in Siófok, Hungary. Gabriela Miliano (Zen Firefly) is a Certified Hatha Yoga Teacher and Meditation Instructor. Zen Buddhism and Taoist Tai Chi have had a special influence on Gabriela’s teaching style. After many years of exploring different approaches to meditation she has grown to love the simplicity and effectiveness of zen-mindfulness techniques. Her class focus is mind, body and breath awareness. Blended into the meditation experience are the soothing and healing sounds of her Himalayan Sound Bowls. Savanna DeLuca (Muddy Lotus, Life Adventures Counseling) is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, Life Coach, and Registered Yoga Teacher. She applies a holistic method that combines a cognitive-behavioral approach with mindfulness and adventure-based counseling to support profound and enduring lifestyle change. She brings a warm, motivating and strategic approach along with practical tools to aid and empower clients through the counseling process. Her clinical experience includes, but is not limited to: youth, adults, and veterans dealing with anxiety, depression, history of childhood trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders. She specializes in working with clients who seek to make changes to improve their lives, remove personal barriers, and fulfill their potential. Tuesday, July 17 at 7 PM - 8:30 PM Mandalas have been used throughout history for meditation and healing. The practice of using mandalas for meditation and coloring is growing in popularity as more people embrace the centuries old customs of using mandalas as tools for contemplation and meditation.
Join us for a night of focused relaxation as we color, contemplate and commune. Donation: $10. Tea will be served. All materials provided. Space is limited! Register HERE. For more information, visit our facebook event page. Sunday, February 25 at 1 PM - 3 PM Awakening the Alchemista is a women’s transformative arts group that guides you in exploring, understanding, and integrating the rich, symbolic language of your psyche and soul. Through guided meditation, expressive arts exercises, and facilitated discussion, you will activate your imagination, awaken your senses, and gain insight and wisdom. Dress comfortably in clothes you can move and make art in. Bring yoga mat and journal. Led by Camille Bianco MA, RYT-200 and Dayna Wood EdS, REAT.
*No art or yoga experience necessary.* $40. RSVP to dayna.wood@integrativecounsel.org First Sundays, 7:00 - 10:00 pm During these basic experiential workshops, participants are introduced to core shamanism, the universal, near-universal, and common methods of the shaman to enter non-ordinary reality for problem solving and healing. Special emphasis is on the classic (Siberian/Mongolian) shamanic journeying styles and methods as well as those that are of Northern European in nature (not Native American). Particular emphasis is also placed upon the classic shamanic journey (Upper, Middle and Lower Realms of the World Tree), one of the most remarkable visionary methods used by humankind to explore the hidden universe otherwise known mainly through myth and dream. Participants are initiated into shamanic journeying, aided by drumming and other techniques for experiencing the shamanic state of consciousness and for awakening dormant spiritual abilities, including connections with Nature. The practice includes comparisons by participants of their discoveries in shamanic journeys as well as being introduced to shamanic divination and healing. They are also provided with methods for journeying to meet and study with their own individual spirit helpers in non-ordinary reality, a classic step in shamanic practice. Participants will learn how the journey is utilized to restore spiritual power and health, and how shamanism can be applied in contemporary daily life to help heal oneself, others, and the planet. This course is a prerequisite for all of the advanced courses
Learning shamanism is not just a matter of acquiring methods, but also of increasing spiritual power and knowing how to use it. From the shamanic point of view, people who are not spiritually "power-filled” are prone to illness, accidents, and misfortune. Anyone who has had a traumatic experience may lose a portion of their soul, of their spiritual essence. There are also other reasons this may occur. In the workshops which we hope to provide you with, participants will eventually learn about soul loss and soul retrieval from a shamanic perspective. There will be a particular emphasis on the importance of shamanic power to do successful soul retrieval. Participants will also learn how to re-empower a client’s soul after it has been returned so that the client is once again spiritually power-filled, leading to greater health and well-being. This soul retrieval training is based on worldwide core principles and methods. It does not require Western psychological perspectives and practices. Please remember that drumming in a sacred place can be powerful and life-changing! Welcome everyone! WHEN: EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH. Check our facebook events page for dates and more info. WHERE: Metta Center of St. Petersburg 4554 Central Ave. Unit F St. Petersburg, FL 33711 WHAT TO BRING: If you like, you may bring a rattle, drum or any musical instrument if you have one, no worries if you don’t, it’s not mandatory. Wear comfortable clothing, warm socks, and bring a bandana or scarf (something to cover your eyes with) if you wish, and a cushion or yoga mat and/or blanket, though there are some there as well if you don’t feel like bringing them along. TO REGISTER: In order to cover the expenses for renting the space, the voluntary participation fee/Love Offering for the course is $5 for students, the unemployed, and pensioners; and $10 for everyone else. The money will be used to cover the expense of renting the space only, and anything left over will be used to buy coffee and tea for us to drink at the events. You must send an email to me at: parkshenno@gmail.com, in order to be officially registered for the session. Simply hitting the “going” button in Facebook is not enough. Only those that have confirmed by email their participation will be ensured a place. Our limit is 15. The deadlines for registration are at least 2 days before the event itself. Welcome all religions, creeds, colors – or just plain human beings! FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: https://www.facebook.com/events/1567924306661520/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1141813325920088/?hc_location=ufi ORGANIZER: Henno Erikson Parks, Shaman Email: parkshenno@gmail.com Co-sponsor: Joran Slane Oppelt, Minister and Founder of Integral Church ABOUT HENNO: Henno Erikson Parks is a Northern European Shaman of Estonian descent more specifically and of deep Finno-Ugric roots more broadly. He is a healer, teacher, and a scholar, who dedicates himself to helping and advising people on their spiritual path. He has been called to this same shamanic path for 15 years, and has lived for the past 23 years in Northern Europe, where he has studied the practices, beliefs, and customs of the native peoples of Europe and Siberia. He has learned to listen to Spirit and follow its guidance and counsel, to heal and help people, to honor nature, and all of creation. Wednesday, January 31 at 7 PM - 8:30 PM The Full Moon is a powerful time of transformation. Illuminate your life and harness the moon’s energy to deepen your connection to your soul and your desires. Set your life’s intentions and release your woes with an evening of meditation and reflection followed by a Hermetic Moon Ceremony lead by Keirstin Proud.
$15 - Adults only Space is limited, please pre-register at squareup.com/store/lifesmagick Directions: The Metta Center of St. Petersburg is located at 4554 Central Ave. Unit E & F in the Faith Professional Plaza. We are located in the west building of the plaza. Parking is in the back of the building via alley access. Your class will be in room F. You can find Unit F by parking in the back, going to the walkway that is to your left, facing 46th Street. Unit F is the third entrance on your right. Friday, January 19 at 7 PM - 8 PM Introduction to Sacred Self-Healing
SSH Circle Format: The Sacred Self-Healing Circle will consist of a one hour gathering during which we will listen to one of twenty-four different 20± minute recorded guided meditations followed by discussion. THE BASIC IDEA: The Sacred Self-Healing program consists of 24 steps and utilizes several layers of energy work with the purpose being to gently guide and empower us to become more aware of our energy systems and how to reconnect with our innate self-healing abilities. THE STEPS: Although each step stands alone, most of the 24 steps were designed in clusters of two, gradually rising in vibratory rate. Each group of two steps utilizes the same background music and completes the process for a particular energetic resonance to be integrated. The groups each consist of one connecting step (guided by Jona Bryndis of transCODES.com) and one clearing and integrating step (guided by Jeff Casper of SelfUnification.com). THE RESONANCES: Resonances are healing frequencies that serve as energetic alignment for each step. Each meditation and its music is coded to a particular resonance which will be noted at the start of each recorded guided meditation session. These resonances are the main energetic focus of the program. Some of the steps will work with our heart’s resonance only, others were chosen to work with any mental resistances that may be present. THE PATHWAY: On a deeper level, the 24 steps are divided into 12 main resonances which incorporate the principles of the 12-step program. The course is therefore suitable for supplemental recovery work and a very effective tool to address all forms of addictive structure in our inner and outer relationships. Through exploring the deeper aspects of Ego, Shadow, Inner Child, Divine Masculine and Feminine aspects, Karma, Inner Divinity and False self, we are allowing these ego-layers to transcend as we build a new foundation. The goal is to learn hands-on tools and strategies for reclaiming our inner power and becoming aware of the ego’s stalling tactics so that we can see more options and choices than before. Each step is designed to help us understand our ego a bit better, allowing us not only to better self-reflect and reason, but first and foremost, to experience true compassion and forgiveness for ourselves and past choices. To register in advance, please email me at roger@recoveryourheart.com There is no charge for participation although donations will be accepted to help provide our space. Thursday, November 30 at 7 PM - 8:30 PM Tea is the vehicle, the destination is the heart.
Sacred Tea Ceremony is a journey into the Heart. We come together and sit in silence as we connect to the ways of the ancients. Ceremonial grade incense burns as we settle in with a few deep breaths and the sounds of ambient music supporting our process. Together we sit in silence as I open the field and begin to serve you one of Nature’s greatest medicines. Each bowl of tea gently guides us into a meditative softening, an opening to our inner realms. Through this space that Tea creates we are able to listen, to truly hear our Highest Selves. The leaves used in our ceremonies are extremely unique in that they are all organic and come from, wild, old growth trees and plants that are sustainably grown and harvested by farmers who love, respect, and understand the power of this medicine. Living Tea, as it is known in my tradition, has the power to cleanse, purify, ground and heal the Spirit, and when treated as ancient medicine, will guide us to subtle areas within that will be gently healed and processed. Qi is balanced and with each ceremony we are born anew. Tea ceremony is a sacred art, an experience that opens the doors of our inner heart and grants us access to places within that may be difficult to touch on our own. If you have felt the call to sit in ceremony, the time is now to respond to that inner voice. Follow your intuition and your true heart's calling to this truly profound and life changing experience. Please come to ceremony having eaten a light and nourishing meal (avoid processed foods, heavy/starchy foods, meats, or sugar so that your body is able to benefit and receive all the tea has to offer). Also be sure to avoid heavy perfumes or any chemical sprays. You can come into the space with your beginners mind, ready to just Be and to just receive whatever it is your body and mind need at that time. Cost is $35/person 1.5 hours Max 11 Advance registration required. Reserve your spot here. Ashley Smith into the Heart l into the Sacred Sacred Tea Ceremonies, Women's Awakening, Empowerment and Healing intotheHeart.co *Respond to every call that excites your Spirit* Tuesday, November 28 at 7 PM - 9:30 PM Join us for an intimate evening of sharing our hearts and voices through sacred sound and ceremonial cacao. Together, we will co-create a safe space of healing and transformation, in which we can release blockages, reclaim our power, and shift our frequencies, coming into resonance with our natural state. ABOUT CACAO: Our delicious cacao has been nurtured by Mayans in the Pacific rainforest region of Guatemala, and directly-traded to and processed by loving hands at the magical Lake Atitlán. Traditionally, cacao has been used shamanically by the ancient Mayan and Aztec cultures; it has been rightly called the "Food of the Gods", bringing re-membrance of our divinity. The spiritual energy of cacao brings a subtle heart-opening and activation of the higher energy centers, making it ideal for spiritual exploration and multi-dimensional communication. As a loving partner, cacao assists us in personal and planetary healing in the light of the highest good. Drinking cacao is always optional – you're welcome to enjoy the ceremony with or without actually partaking in the cacao! $20 in advance / $25 same day https://www.paypal.me/MaggieTaurick About the instructor: Maggie Taurick, visiting us from San Francisco, is a yogini, designer, and carrier of sacred sound. She has been practicing yoga for over 12 years and is forever a student, constantly deepening her practice and exploring ways to integrate it further into her life. This exploration has led her to the unique combination of sound and cacao, which she became immersed in while living in Guatemala. With the help of these tools, she guides students to recognize the infinite wisdom within them; bringing more intention, freedom, and awareness to their daily lives.  Saturday, September 9 - 3:30 PM - 5 PM Join us for an exploration of finding balance through music, Ayurveda and Bhakti Yoga.
Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion. It is often practiced through uplifting music and chanting shared in a group called a Kirtan. Those who love music, singing or chanting may think all music is good. However, some music may put you to sleep while it energizes another. Why can one song bring up feelings of irritability or even anger while another soothes your soul? Ayurveda, or the Science of Life, explains why everything we do (including the smallest things) can bring us closer to balance or further away. It all depends on our unique blend of qualities. IN THIS CLASS: We will learn about Ayurveda and our individual nature or doshas. We will identify the quality of music most suited to our nature and for bringing us equanimity. Then we will practice Bhakti Yoga and finish with our own Kirtan! Come raise your voice in song! Love donations appreciated, no one will be turned away. About Penny Heffelfinger Penny began her journey in the Wellness/Fitness Industry in Fitness and Aquatics over 35 years ago in the Chicago Area. Her areas of expertise include E-RYT 500 Yoga Instructor, Reiki Healer, Aquatics Instructor, Fitness Instructor & Personal Trainer. Penny is completing Ayurvedic Counselor training in September 2017. She also specializes in Sound Meditation and Chant Practices. Through continued practice, Penny strives to apply the principles of yoga to every type of class that she instructs.  NEW MOON Thursdays- 6:30 PM - 8 PMTake some time for yourself and join us in this monthly heart-filled event!
2017 Dates:
Modern Goddess Gatherings are a safe place to learn, reflect and share with each other. Our intent is to bring a community of women together to hold space for each other and the goddesses of the modern world. We encourage women from all walks of life (and those identifying as women) to join us in gathering together to create a more grounded and harmonious world. Each monthly gathering will reflect the energies of the solar system. What to expect: We will engage in a short meditation to help ground us in these energies. We will spend some time diving into a specific goddess energy to help open ourselves up to the divine within. A circle of love will be created for sharing and contemplation. There will be a new guest speaker each month who will share their knowledge of a specific topic. 18+. Door opens at 6:15 to get settled. Meditation begins promptly at 6:35 PM and door is locked at that time. We love our children, however, we would like this to be a time for yourself. We understand the beautiful challenges of parenthood so we ask pre-crawling babies in arms only. $10 suggested love donation, no one turned away Hosted & Facilitated by Keirsten Proud & Jennifer Oppelt Visit our facebook events page for RSVP & more information: https://www.facebook.com/pg/mettacenterstpete/events |
