Centring Down with Compassion

This gentle short meditation invites us to connect to our "Agenda" parts which curiosity and compassion.

Meeting our Agenda Parts by Carolyn Baynes

This short meditation invites us to centre down and meet with parts of us that we wish to get to know more. It has been inspired by Michelle Glass's wonderful book Daily Parts Meditation Practice.

This track invites us to embody Self energy and offer it to our "Giving Parts" who are often overstretched and very tired.

When our parts feel like they are giving out all the time, sometimes in feels so good to let them receive. This gentle meditation explores Self energy in the hands and brining it to the heart and the rest of the body.

This body invites us to use gentle touch and movement to connect more deeply to our bodies. Please get in touch with me on [email protected] if you are interested in exploring your inner world using Internal Family Systems.

At this time of year Joy can feel very far away as our striving parts work so hard to create a beautiful Christmas. Pause for 10 minutes to allow these parts to relax and feel the warmth and light of Self-energy.

At this time of year parts of us carry overwhelming and exhaustion. Let this gentle meditation bring compassion and presence to these parts.

When we meditate we can stay very much in our heads. This gentle meditation invites us to drop down into our bodies and bring an embodied compassion to part of us that are burdened with hopelessness.

This meditation allows you to connect to your body and any parts that tend to show up in your body. It tends to the heart area and explores the concept of "Self energy" what Quakers refer to as "the Light" and other traditions refer to as "Christ consciousness" "Spirit" or "Soul"

Becoming embodied can open us to this moment and this experience of Light/Self. If this spoke to you and you would like to work with me contact me on [email protected]

This meditation can be done when out on a walk or if walking internally. Quakers talk about opening to the Light, which in the language of Internal Family Systems (IFS) is the Self. Try opening your senses and your heart to nature and allowing it to speak to you. Contact me for therapy using IFS at [email protected]

Advices and Queries 37 asks us to examine our commitment to Truth and Integrity. In the current climate of deep fakes and blatant lies this advice could not be more important.

Advices and Queries 36: Do you uphold those who are acting under concern, even if their way is not yours? Can you lay aside your own wishes and prejudices while seeking with others to find God’s will for them? This special Advice and Query asks us to become aware of our wishes and prejudices, our judgements and biases so that we can uphold Friends acting "under concern".

This advice and query looks at how Quakers have at times felt led to break the law. For example when hiding people from the Nazis, helping people escape slavery, or peaceful demonstrations. How do we internalise oppressive laws in our own minds and what burdens do we want to "lay down" as we come to the end of 2024? This podcast is dedicated to the hope war in Gaza can end. If you feel led to support please donate to UNICEF here: https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/children-in-gaza-crisis-appeal-email-dec24/?utm_source=Unicef_UK&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=email_dm_loyalty_emergency_gaza_aug2024_update

"Remember your responsibilities as a citizen for the conduct of local, national, and international affairs. Do not shrink from the time and effort your involvement may demand." This firm and clear advice directs us away from apathy and hopelessness and asks that we engage fully in our duties as a citizen.

Advices and Queries 33: 1. Are you alert to practices here and throughout the world which discriminate against people on the basis of who or what they are or because of their beliefs? Bear witness to the humanity of all people, including those who break society’s conventions or its laws. Try to discern new growing points in social and economic life. Seek to understand the causes of injustice, social unrest and fear. Are you working to bring about a just and compassionate society which allows everyone to develop their capacities and fosters the desire to serve?

This advice and query is an invitation to do the inner work of reconciliation with our own emotions and attitudes that we so often refuse to acknowledge. "Bring into God’s light those emotions, attitudes and prejudices in yourself which lie at the root of destructive conflict, acknowledging your need for forgiveness and grace. In what ways are you involved in the work of reconciliation between individuals, groups and nations?"

The peace testimony is a core part of Quaker practice. How do we ensure our outer lives do not inflate war and how do we do the same in our inner lives. This Advice and Query invites and challenges us to explore how we cultivate peace.

Are you able to contemplate your death and the death of those closest to you? Accepting the fact of death, we are freed to live more fully. In bereavement, give yourself time to grieve. When others mourn, let your love embrace them.

Approach old age with courage and hope. As far as possible, make arrangements for your care in good time, so that an undue burden does not fall on others. Although old age may bring increasing disability and loneliness, it can also bring serenity, detachment and wisdom. Pray that in your final years you may be enabled to find new ways of receiving and reflecting God’s love.

Advices and Queries 28: 1. Every stage of our lives offers fresh opportunities. Responding to divine guidance, try to discern the right time to undertake or relinquish responsibilities without undue pride or guilt. Attend to what love requires of you, which may not be great busyness. Come and explore how to "attend to what love requires of you" with this gentle meditation.

1. Live adventurously. When choices arise, do you take the way that offers the fullest opportunity for the use of your gifts in the service of God and the community? Let your life speak. When decisions have to be made, are you ready to join with others in seeking clearness, asking for God’s guidance and offering counsel to one another?

Drop into the wisdom of the body with this short practice.

Do you recognise the needs and gifts of each member of your family and household, not forgetting your own? Try to make your home a place of loving friendship and enjoyment, where all who live or visit may find the peace and refreshment of God’s presence. This beautiful advice invites to recall to mind our needs and to "try softer" to create loving friendship.

This advice and query looks so honestly at how relationships can give great joy but also be full of tensions. How do we let in the joy and allow that to nourish our lives AND explore the difficulties with discernment. Do get in touch if you would like to be a part of these podcasts on Farnham.quakermeeting.org

Centring Down is a term Quakers sometimes use to describe the process of "becoming still and cool in heart and mind". In this Advice and Query we explore what are the blockages to "love and stability" in our own minds; so that we can open more fully to the flow of love for children and their carers. If you would like to join one of these meetings please contact us on Farnham.quakermeeting.org.

If you would like to join these sessions live please email [email protected], you would be very welcome. This evening explores the blockages to understanding each other in close relationships and the meaning of a religious commitment in a quaker marriage.

A Quaker’s approach to meditation; this exploration of Advices and Queries 22 explores cultivating an appreciation of diversity as well as forgiveness of ourselves and others.

Advices And Queries 21 by Carolyn Baynes

Advice and Queries 19, Rejoice in the presence of children and young people in your meeting and recognise the gifts they bring. Remember that the meeting as a whole shares a responsibility for every child in its care. Seek for them as for yourself a full development of God’s gifts and the abundant life Jesus tells us can be ours. How do you share your deepest beliefs with them, while leaving them free to develop as the spirit of God may lead them? Do you invite them to share their insights with you? Are you ready both to learn from them and to accept your responsibilities towards them?

In advices and queries (42 short quaker passages) we are invited to "take heed". What does that feel like? What would it be like to live our lives from a more heedful place. This recording done last summer has some back ground traffic noise... I invite you to take heed of the noise and let it come and go! Warm wishes Friends!

Take Ten Grounded, Greeted, Gathered by Carolyn Baynes

This podcast is for people interested in Quaker spirituality and centring down. We explore an Advice and Query every month. This month we open to nurture and acceptance and the power of forgiveness. To join our monthly group email [email protected]

If you are interested in developing mindfulness to support your teaching practise contact Carolyn at Mindfulfarnham.com

Quakers use the Advices and Queries to encourage reflection. In number 17 we explore the importance of wise speech and to consider "that we might be mistaken"

This wonderful Advice invites us to move past the armouring of our defences and judgements and open to the diversity that creates a healthy meeting.

If you are interested in joining these sessions please contact [email protected].

Grounded, Greeted, Gathered by Carolyn Baynes

Mindful Awareness (of Hand) by Carolyn Baynes

Mindful Eating by Carolyn Baynes

A beautiful grounding meditation to help us connect to our bodies.

You Are Enough by Carolyn Baynes

Rivers Of Light Take Ten by Carolyn Baynes

Take Ten Safe Space Brave Space by Carolyn Baynes

How do we become still and allow "Way to Open"?

Wintering by Carolyn Baynes

This mindfulness meditation invites us to rest deeply in awareness and remember that this is always a place available to us as a refuge or a home.

CDC 3 Meditation Holding In The Light by Carolyn Baynes

This session explore Advices and Queries 13 which looks at ministry. George Fox said "What canst THOU say" How do access our inner gifts and express that in the world?