Mindfulness

Ukulele Club is a fun group for all ages and skill levels! There is no teacher, but we all help teach each other. Think of songs you would like to learn, and we can learn them together. If you don't have an ukulele, we have extra ukuleles When: *almost* Every Saturday, 10am-11:30am Admission: food/drink order

Have you ever wondered what goes into a tea blend that not only tastes delicious, but also nourishes the body, mind, and soul? Did you know that herbs have long been connected to the rhythms of the seasons, astrological signs, and chakras? Join Sonja in this interactive workshop where you will craft your own tea blend infused with both the quiet wisdom of the winter season and a personal intention for the new year. The workshop will begin with Freya’s Sacred Wintering Blend—a thoughtfully chosen mixture of herbs designed to gently nourish the body and calm the mind during winter’s stillness. Participants will mix the herbs themselves as Sonja explains the energetic and supportive qualities of each plant and why it was selected for this blend. You will be able to add an (optional) herb from a selection of 3 additional herbs, allowing each participant to further personalize their tea and intention. Sonja’s approach to herbalism is deeply rooted in lived experience. Raised in a household where natural remedies were honored, she carried these traditions into her own family as she raised her children. As her connection to plant medicine continued to deepen, Sonja pursued formal training in herbalism with renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. Today, sharing this knowledge has become a heartfelt passion—guiding others to reconnect with nature as a source of nourishment, balance, and gentle healing. Workshop Experience 1. Seasonal Herbal Wisdom & Energetics A guided exploration of three carefully chosen herbs whose energetic, spiritual, and wellness qualities align with February’s themes of rest, reflection, and intentional recalibration. We will observe how plants, like humans, are conserving nutrients and storing energy beneath the surface—preparing quietly for the growth and expression of spring. 2. Intuitive Tea Blending Ritual Participants will be able to create, with Sonja’s assistance, a personalized tea blend using four seasonal herbs. With 3 pre-chosen herbs that embody nourishment, strength, and gentle activation and a fourth herb chosen by participants to reflect personal intention, weaving individual purpose into the collective energy of preparation and renewal. 3. Freya’s Teas Intention Ceremony Through a guided tea ceremony, we will consciously infuse our blends with intention—honoring the plant allies, the season, and the inner work of rooting dreams before they emerge. This ritual invites presence, gratitude, and embodied connection with the medicine we have created. 4. Meditation & Integration The gathering will close with a grounding meditation to anchor intentions into the physical and energetic body. This final integration offers space to reflect, receive, and gently call in the path unfolding ahead as we move toward the returning light of spring. This workshop includes herbal instruction by Sonja and printed instructions to take home, supplies to make your own tea blend, tea ceremony, and guided meditation. Each participant will take home their own tea blend pouch with 15 servings (a $12.50 value). Please note that this event has limit of 8 spaces in order to ensure a more intimate experience and requires prior prepayment registration to allow Sonja to gather the ingredients and supplies. Early Bird Discount!! If you register by Monday February 16th, it's only $44 per person, after that it goes up to $50. See links below to register! Paypal: https://www.paypal.me/SonjaKline Venmo: https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3567792959784992657&created=1770002983 Zelle: 2675359775 (Sonja Kline) SPECIAL OFFER!!! If you want to continue to ground your healing and intentions further, consider staying for a relaxing Sound Bath immediately folllowing this workshop! Save even more with the lowest price of $70 for both events! See link below: [https://www.meetup.com/raising-your-vibrations/events/313219974](https://www.meetup.com/raising-your-vibrations/events/313219974/?eventOrigin=group_events_list)/

Mindfulness Meditation group practice every Wednesday evening at Unity of Gaithersburg. Mindfulness practice is not about achieving some special state of mind; it is more about noticing the experience you are having without trying to change it. This interesting video suggests why you might sit and watch your mind wander off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmmBF8eTl18 This noticing tends to shift your nervous system from a 'fight-or-flight' state to a more relaxed and receptive state. In this receptive mental state, you begin to see your own experience differently and, over time, see other people and the world differently. Also, it is good for you: "the effect of regular meditation on the cortex was so profound that fifty-year-old meditators had a prefrontal cortex that looked like that of a twenty-five-year-old" [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT) Here is an interesting and funny take on meditation by Ajahn Brahm: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs). If you arrive on time, there will be an introduction at the beginning, if you arrive late, find a chair and join us. There will be some discussion after. This is a free event, but contributions to the church's expenses are welcome. You can just show up this Wednesday or subsequent Wednesdays. More information at [https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org](https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org/)/

Mindfulness Meditation group practice every Wednesday evening at Unity of Gaithersburg. Mindfulness practice is not about achieving some special state of mind; it is more about noticing the experience you are having without trying to change it. This interesting video suggests why you might sit and watch your mind wander off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmmBF8eTl18 This noticing tends to shift your nervous system from a 'fight-or-flight' state to a more relaxed and receptive state. In this receptive mental state, you begin to see your own experience differently and, over time, see other people and the world differently. Also, it is good for you: "the effect of regular meditation on the cortex was so profound that fifty-year-old meditators had a prefrontal cortex that looked like that of a twenty-five-year-old" [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLRZVTT) Here is an interesting and funny take on meditation by Ajahn Brahm: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR60RRmXeYs). If you arrive on time, there will be an introduction at the beginning, if you arrive late, find a chair and join us. There will be some discussion after. This is a free event, but contributions to the church's expenses are welcome. You can just show up this Wednesday or subsequent Wednesdays. More information at [https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org](https://www.unityofgaithersburg.org/)/

Greetings - Blessings to everyone! We welcome you to join us for our House Kirtan Concert on **Friday, Feb 6** in **Bethesda MD** (address below). 7***:00 - 9:00 pm.*** ***We chant the Hanuman Chalisa at 7 pm –there is a break after the Chalisa and the regular chanting begins at 7:30 pm*** \~\~ ***Doors open at 6:45 pm - come early to get settled*** \~\~ *(**Please note:** this will also be live streamed on **Facebook Live** – on our chanting page – **Bhakti Chant Kirtan)*** This is a private residence - open to the public - all are welcome - bring a friend, the family, the kids, the parents, the spouse, the tribe - comfortable setting. If you want to sit on the floor, it might be wise to bring something to sit on - Zafu or pillow or the like. *This is chanting with meditation* \- we chant in Sanskrit and English\, mantras and bhajans\, honoring the many aspects of the Divine\. Feel free to bring a percussion instrument, if you are moved to do so. (This will be percussion by committee!) ***Donation***: Suggested $10-20 (no one turned away) **On Paypal:** paypal.me/RufusJuskus **On Venmo**: Rufus-Juskus Snacks afterwards 
Many thanks -- peace and blessings to all! 


-Rufus Juskus **Address:** **5914 Johnson Ave** **Bethesda MD 20817** NOTE: The announcement page for this event on Facebook is here: https://www.facebook.com/share/19v4Zq43H4/

**Stress Free Living: Create Calm from the Inside Out** Stress doesn’t have to be your default setting. This workshop offers a grounded, practical approach to cultivating inner calm and resilience in the face of life’s demands. Through mindfulness, breathwork, and nervous system regulation techniques, you’ll learn how to shift from stress to ease—without needing to escape your life. This is about building a sustainable inner sanctuary, no matter what’s happening around you. Key Takeaways: * Understand the root causes of stress and how it affects your body and mind. * Learn simple, effective tools to reduce stress in real time. * Build a personalized stress-reduction toolkit. * Cultivate a calm, centered presence in everyday life. Sun., Feb., 15th, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris Center, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/dvOpI](https://shorturl.at/dvOpI)

Have you heard of a Sound Bath? Have you been curious to learn why many say it is the most gentle yet profound healing method? Here is your opportunity to experience it for yourself! Sound healing taps into the body’s natural resonance, encouraging deep relaxation and a gentle shift in nervous‑system activity. When using sound healing instruments such as crystal singing bowls, Tibetan bowls, crystal pyramids, gongs, rain sticks, and thunder drums, their rich overtones create a field of vibrational energy that can synchronize brainwaves, moving them from the fast beta range toward the calming alpha and theta frequencies associated with meditative states, reduced stress, and enhanced creativity. The pure, sustained tones of crystal bowls and pyramids are especially effective at clearing energetic blockages, allowing subtle “chi” or life‑force to flow more freely, which many practitioners report as improved emotional balance and heightened sense of well‑being. Percussive elements, such as Tibetan bowls and gongs, add a broader spectrum of harmonics that stimulate the body’s proprioceptive and auditory pathways, supporting pain relief, better sleep, and a feeling of groundedness. The use of rain sticks and thunder drums introduce rhythmic, earth‑like pulses that can anchor the listener, fostering a sense of safety and connection to nature. Together, this blend of resonant sounds creates a holistic sonic environment that promotes mental clarity, emotional release, and physical relaxation—all key components of a restorative sound‑healing experience. The intention of this February sound bath session is to honor the winter months that allow our bodies to ground, rest and recuperate, preparing for new birth in the spring. Experience Fee: $36, register with links below: [Donation 2.JPG](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xicai-n0zNlKvmdBPl3DbAbe7zJsGIuM/view?usp=drivesdk) Would you like to SAVE MORE and receive an ultimate healing evening experience! If you attend Freya's Tea Event right before this one, you can take home your personalized blend and get both events for just $70! More information is in the link below: www.meetup.com/risingphoenixhc-com/events/313166798/ Both of these are first time events, can't wait to share them with you!