Join me for an evening of acupuncture and meditation, in community, as we support ourselves and each other in deep rest and restoration, and in keeping our hearts open, especially in the face of life’s great challenges.
But first - a poem:
The war will end.
The leaders will shake hands.
The old woman will keep waiting for her martyred son.
That girl will wait for her beloved husband.
And those children will wait for their hero father.
I don’t know who sold our homeland.
But I saw who paid the price.
- Mahmoud Darwish (Palestinian poet)
In 2001, on 9/11, the unthinkable happened here in the U.S. Nearly 3000 innocent people were killed, thousands more were injured, and countless were traumatized by these attacks. Many who survived have suffered long-term health effects.
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, in the U.S.-led wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and Pakistan, an estimated 432,092 civilians have been killed (as of September 2021). As of May 2023, 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly, in post 9/11 war zones. More than 7.6 million children under the age of five are suffering from acute malnutrition in these war zones. And over 38 million people have been displaced, become refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey and Iran.
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I often think about the question "What is healing? What does it mean to heal?" Even after all these years, I do not have any well formulated, succinct definition. It is an open and alive question for me.... (and, I'm curious what you think - please share!).
One of the things I have noticed is that in the face of suffering, even intense suffering, when I can keep my heart open - to my experience, whatever that may be, AND open to others - something happens. Some kind of transformation. A softening. An opening. And I wonder if that something, is a kind of healing. I wonder if that something is a mending of cracks, fissures, that keep us apart from each other, that keep us from accessing the boundless capacity of our hearts.
Join me on Monday, September 11th to gather together and allow our hearts-minds-bodies to feel, to remain open, to heal. We will begin with an ear acupuncture protocol ("put your oxygen mask on yourself first"), and a guided meditation to soothe and settle. We'll move into a compassion practice, connecting with the capacity of our hearts to remain open and loving - i.e., to be free.
Details:
Monday, September 11th, 7pm-8:30pm EST (doors open 6:45pm)
One Circle Wellness Center
124 East 40th Street, Suite 704
New York, NY 10016
Registration is required, as space is limited. E-mail mona@peopletreewellness.com and also text 917-834-2124 to register with your full name. This event is being offered as a fundraiser for those affected by the wildfires in Maui.
Please send in proof (a screenshot or email confirmation sent to mona@peopletreewellness.com and also text to 917-834-2124) that you've made a donation to:
https://hawaiipeoplesfund.networkforgood.com/projects/200566-maui-aloha-the-people-s-response-fund - (minimum $25) - to secure your admission. If you cannot attend and would still like to make a donation, please do so. Generosity helps to free the heart!