A Personal Story
For many years I avoided words such as Spiritual, God, Higher Self, or anything that sounded religious. Many people who came to Embodied Life retreats had been wounded by the religion of their upbringing and carried painful memories of beliefs imposed upon them. I often felt they had “thrown the baby out with the bathwater”—letting go not only of dogma, but also of a living connection to something larger than themselves and the material world.
I deeply respect the impulse to question inherited beliefs and to reject external authority when it does not resonate with one’s own experience. That commitment to individual freedom has always been central to my own path.
Although I have long been comfortable teaching embodiment and meditation, a seminar title that includes the words Spirituality and Faith Traditions feels like a significant step. Yet, in truth, I have been guiding people in this direction for many years—always honoring each person’s freedom to discover their own relationship with what I might call Source, Essence, True Self, or the Larger Space.
I now feel ready to risk being misunderstood in order to speak more openly about this dimension of our lives. Our world urgently needs people who are grounded, non-dogmatic, and able both to express the sources of their deepest meaning and to listen respectfully to perspectives different from their own. I believe this is one of the gifts we can offer our divided world.
In the coming weeks I’ll share more about my seminar, along with the other inspiring offerings in the FORGE program.
Dear Friends,
More than a technique, Focusing—a central aspect of The Embodied Life teachings—is a way of being and relating. It cultivates qualities such as deep listening, curiosity, warmth, and a non-defensive attitude toward our inner experience. While Focusing is well known as a powerful approach for personal growth and therapy, its potential for working with groups has not been explored in depth. Today, perhaps more than ever, our relationships and communities can benefit from a Focusing attitude, especially during difficult conversations.
Psychotherapist and Focusing teacher Lynn Preston has created an international training program called FORGE (Focusing-Oriented Relating in Group Environments) to help develop these capacities. As Lynn writes, “In these tumultuous and challenging times, there is a growing need for connection to overcome polarization and to empower community life.” The program is intended for group leaders, therapists, as well as “regular folks” wishing to strengthen these essential relational skills.
Lynn has invited a number of experienced Focusing teachers to offer seminars in their areas of expertise. I am delighted to be leading one of them:
“Uncovering the Larger Space:
Embodiment, Meditation, Spirituality, and Faith Traditions”
For more information, please visit:
https://theembodiedlife.org/larger-space-sept-nov-2026/
{Over the coming weeks, I’ll also introduce the other FORGE seminars in this newsletter}.
These seminars are about more than learning to facilitate meetings. Each explores a unique area of human development. My seminar focuses on cultivating Embodied Presence—an essential quality for any leader and especially those leading meditation, spiritual, or faith-based gatherings. Through various awareness and interactive processes, we will deepen this capacity.
The seminar is intended not only for those who lead or hope to lead groups, but also for anyone seeking greater depth on their own spiritual path and more skillful ways of relating with others.
With warm wishes,
Russell