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New Resources on Compassion

Elaine Olson, Bettendorf, IA ([email protected]) presented a workshop on compassion at the Women and Justice conference. Elaine’s excellent PowerPoint presentation and handout (Word doc.) are available for those wishing to contact her.

Kim Voyle, Hillsboro, OR ([email protected]) and Mary Ann Anichini, Chicago, IL ([email protected]) sent notifications regarding the free, four-part series concerning trauma and compassion.

This series looks to be a valuable resource for therapists, spiritual directors, chaplains, social workers, teachers.

    • How do we integrate self-compassion into specific phases of trauma treatment?How can we apply self-compassion to help clients break free from the vicious “shame-maintenance cycle”?
    • How does compassion improve heart rate variability and vagal tone? What happens in the brain as compassion unfolds?

Speakers include experts in neuroscience, Buddhist psychology, compassion-oriented therapy, and compassion cultivation training, including Paul Gilbert, PhD; Kristin Neff, PhD; Christopher Germer, PhD; Jack Kornfield, PhD; Kelly McGonigal, PhD; Deborah Lee, DClinPsy; and Dennis Tirch, PhD.

Boundless Compassion Joins the Charter for Compassion

Wendy Mospan, manager of the BCF Facebook page, took the time and care to have BC become an official member of the Charter of Compassion. Boundless Compassion is listed on their website, with a link to a web-page they created for BC. As a Charter Partner, we will “join a growing number of members, partners, and compassionate communities who are working toward (the Charter’s) vision of a compassionate global community. We envision a world in which compassion and compassionate action, as articulated in our Charter, will become a transformative energy, motivating individuals and communities to care for each other, to relieve suffering wherever it is found, and to connect to other communities across the globe to ensure well-being for all beings on the planet.” (message from the Charter organizer)

You can find our membership described here. When you access it, please read and affirm the Charter at this site.

Membership Activity

Stella deVenuta, Milwaukee, WI ([email protected]) gave a weekend retreat at the Sinsinawa spirituality center in WI. Contact Stella for the well-worded description she used for publicity.

Donna Nordang, St. Cloud, MN, ([email protected]) led the first of a two part retreat series on self-compassion for the spiritual directors program at St. Benedict’s center in St. Joseph, MN.

Ruth Baker,Prescott, AZ ([email protected]
) has been invited to lead the Book Study on BC for St. Luke’s Episcopal church in Prescott, AZ. Ruth and Colleen Shepard’s first three day retreat at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, AZ was so successful they have been invited back to repeat it in 2020.(Colleen,Ladera Ranch, CA,
[email protected]) This is an example of how BCF can form a team, even when living at a physical distance from one another.

Jane Trasowech, Davenport, IA ([email protected]) will lead a BC book study at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Nov. Jane writes, “I’ve met with our parish nurse and two women who are trying to revamp and update what used to be called Altar and Rosary.” This is valuable information for BCF in parishes with Altar and Rosary or similar organizations. Tap into these groups to do a book study. They often look for input from local expertise. Parish nurses are excellent contacts to bring BC programs into a parish.

(I am including email info with BCF names for easy contact.)

Be sure to send information on BC programs/projects you are leading or organizing so I can include them in future newsletters.

Compassion provides safe shelter
to hold one another in hard times.

(Catherine Nerney,  The Compassion Connection)

Programs Related to Boundless Compassion

(Please publicize and encourage registration.)

October 25–27

Creighton Retreat Center
Griswold, IA
Fri. 5:00 p.m. – Sun. noon
“The Transforming Power of Self-Compassion/A Spiritual Retreat”
Jeanne Johnson, Anne Kubr, Patty Forsberg, Maureen Bausch
Joyce Rupp will give a presentation on Saturday morning.
Information and registration

 

I Love You and I Am Sorry

Sit with your feet on the floor and your eyes closed. Take a few deep breaths. Now imagine your loved one in front of you. Look deeply into this person’s eyes. If it feels right, tenderly cup his or her face in your hands. Let your heart expand and fill with love, acceptance, and compassion for this person. When you are ready, say, “I love you and I am so sorry.”  Surround him or her with light.Continue to breathe deeply. When this feels complete, open your eyes and take a long cleansing breath.

(Spirit Embraced,  Kim Colella)