Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone celebrating the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and/or cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside).
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“It may be allowed that examples of virtue elevate the soul, and are applicable in the moral instruction of children for impressing excellence upon their minds. But the destinies of peoples and states, their interests, relations, and the complicated tissue of their affairs, present quite another field. Rulers, Statesmen, Nations, are wont to be emphatically commended to the teaching which experience offers in history. But what experience and history teach is this,— that peoples and governments never have learned anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it. Each period is involved in such peculiar circumstances, exhibits a condition of things so strictly idiosyncratic, that its conduct must be regulated by considerations connected with itself, and itself alone. Amid the pressure of great events, a general principle gives no help. It is useless to revert to similar circumstances in the Past. The pallid shades of memory struggle in vain with the life and freedom of the Present.”
— quoted from the “II. REFLECTIVE HISTORY. (3) Critical History – the German method of modern times.” section of “INTRODUCTION. Various methods of treating History: Original, Reflective and Philosophical.” in Lectures on the Philosophy of History by G. W. F. Hegel, translated by J. Sibree, M. A.
Yes, we are back to Hegel.
We are back to Hegel, in part, because of my theory about individuals learning from history (versus the aforementioned “peoples”) and, in part, because of history related to this date.
Today is a day when I typically focus on historical events, from 1862 to 1963, related to how we deal with difference, imbalance, and injustice in United States. I could go back as early as 1565 (earlier, if we were to include the rest of the world) and can easily push as far forward as 1968 or 1996 (again, if we just stick to the United States). However, today, I come back to Hegel and these events with new questions:
What if the issue isn’t that we aren’t learning from history?
What if the issue is that we aren’t learning the right lessons?
Please join me today (Wednesday, August 28th) at 4:30 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom.You can use the link from the “Class Schedules”calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra(at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Wednesday’s playlist available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08282021 The Heart’s Wildest Dream”]
Extreme heat (and traumatic events) can not only make people lethargic and unmotivated, they can also lead to extreme agitation and anxiety-based fear. We may find it hard to think, hard to feel (or process our feelings), and/or hard to control our impulses. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is a new app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Happy Juneteenth! Happy Pride! “Eid Mubarak, Blessed Festival!” to anyone celebrating Eid al-Adha. Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone celebrating the Afterfeast of the Ascension and/or working for more peace, freedom, and wisdom (inside and outside).
This is the “missing” post for Wednesday, June 19th. It includes a couple of excerpts and some previously posted quotes. You can request an audio recording of this practice or a related practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
— Ms. Opal Lee, speaking during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, June 13, 2023.
NOTE: Ms. Lee recently clarified that “young people” is anyone under 97 years old.
Don’t take this the wrong way. But, I am once again going to ask what you were celebrating today (Wednesday) — if you were celebrating — and why you were celebrating (or not celebrating). When I ask a similar question on the Fourth of July, I’m being kind of being cheeky. Today, I’m asking because I was reminded over the last week or so that some people are still not clear about the history of Juneteenth and about why it is being celebrated as a federal holiday.
I could say it’s about freedom and emancipation. I could say it’s about the United States living up to its intentional idea(l)s. I could say it’s about any number of things — all of which are true… and most of which you will probably forget, even if I tell you a story.
But, if I tell you a story, there’s a good chance more of it will stick.
“‘People think it’s a Black thing when it’s not. It’s not a Texas thing. It’s not that,’ [Opal] Lee said. ‘Juneteenth means freedom and I mean for everybody!’”
— quoted from the CBS News story, “‘Grandmother of Juneteenth’ Opal Lee reflects on her journey to secure a national holiday” by Nikole Killion (dated June 15, 2022)
This year, as I celebrated this day of freedom and emancipation, I was thinking about stories (what Matthew Sanford calls “healing stories”), myths, and a living legend — all related to Juneteenth.
The living legend is Ms. Opal Lee (née Flake), who was finally able to move (back) into her childhood home this year. Born in Marshall, Texas, and known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” the 2024 Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree was 10 years old when her family moved into a house in a predominantly white part Fort Worth. Two years later, a mob ran the family out and destroyed their home.
That hate-fueled violence happened on June 19, 1939, also known as Juneteenth 1939 — exactly 74 years after General Gordon Granger stood on the balcony of the Ashton Villa and read General Order No. 3, which stated:
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”
— “General Order No. 3” read by General Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas on June Nineteenth, 1865
“Juneteenth” is a portmanteau of June Nineteenth. Although some people still call it “Emancipation Day,” that moniker is also used on other dates (in other states) commemorating similar announcements. So, what makes June Nineteenth so special? As Galveston was the last part of the Confederacy to be officially notified, the announcement on June Nineteenth, 1865, meant that everyone was (theoretically) officially free.
CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW FOR MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF EMANCIPATION.
While some folks have only recently started celebrating this day, Black Texans like me and Ms. Lee have been celebrating since we were kids. The fact that twelve year Opal Lee was traumatized on such on auspicious anniversary motivated her to live well, to be a teacher, and to engage in the workings of the country. She worked on several Democratic political campaigns, volunteered with some nonprofits, and joined the efforts to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. At one point, she started walking 2.5 miles each year to symbolize the 2.5 years people “waited” to be free. Eventually, she decided to walk from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D. C. — just to get people’s attention. In 2022, she told CBS News (and other outlets), “I decided that maybe if a little old lady, 89 years old, in tennis shoes [walked] from Fort Worth to Washington, somebody would pay attention.”
Her efforts paid off. Juneteenth became a United States federal holiday in 2021. Ms. Opal Lee’s story is inextricably linked to Juneteenth as an anniversary and, also, as a holiday. Now, her story has come full circle. She is back, living in a new home, on the land her family owned in the 1930s… celebrating Juneteenth.
As I thought about how that full circle moment makes for a great story — a story of mythical proportions — I started reflecting on how the human brain loves puzzles, patterns, rhythms, and stories and on how some of us love myths… and myth building. I certainly do. On a certain level, we all do. I’m not even sure we can help ourselves. I think it is human nature to take the facts, the details of a story or situation, and magnify them into something so grand that it is both memorable and inspirational.
Especially when the story is important.
And the most important stories in U. S. history are stories about freedom, liberty, and independence.
“When asked what she wants to be remembered for, [Opal Lee] responded, ‘I want them to know that the little old lady dreamed and they can dream too and that dreams can come to fruition.’”
— quoted from the CBS News story, “‘Grandmother of Juneteenth’ Opal Lee reflects on her journey to secure a national holiday” by Nikole Killion (dated June 15, 2022)
Myths and myth building are not, in and of themselves, bad things. Yet, when we see stories in history being built into myths we also have to look at what is getting magnified, why it is getting magnified, and how it is inspiring people.
In other words, what are people doing with the inspiration?
That last question is particularly important, because the best stories come out of conflict. Conflict is always a great source for myth building, especially when you combine a story with art. We see this all over world; we definitely see it here in the United States… especially in the South. Myths (and myth building) about the Civil War are the reason we ended up with statutes and places dedicated to the losing side and why we still see at least one of the Confederate flags out in the world. Myths are also the reason Alabama has three state holidays related to the Confederacy — and why none of them are Juneteenth.
Don’t get it twisted; I’m not saying myths or myth building are bad. After all, myths (and myth building) related to the Civil War are the reason William Tolman “W. T.” Carlton painted “Watch Meeting—Dec. 31st 1862—Waiting for the Hour” in 1863. It depicts a group of Black people focused on a pocket watch, waiting for the moment the Emancipation Proclamation became law. To this day, there are people who celebrate that moment on December 31st. However, “watch meetings” didn’t start with that moment. They predated 1862 and were secret church services in Protestant traditions. Additionally, it is unlikely that the moment in the painting happened as it is depicted.
Remember, the proclamation only applied to states that were in rebellion — states that had, for all intensive purposes, created their own country. At the “hour” in question, the proclamation had as much power as a current American law has over any other country in the world. Similarly, the painting is symbolic, meant to capture the feeling of the time and to inspire people to keep fighting for freedom. Abolitionists in Boston purchased the original painting as a gift for then-President Abraham Lincoln. A copy was placed in the Lincoln Bedroom during the 200-year celebrations of the Declaration of Independence in 1976. When he took office, then-President Barack Obama had the painting in the Lincoln Bedroom moved so that it could be seen by anyone entering or leaving the Oval Office.
“Just outside the Oval Office hangs a painting depicting the night of December 31, 1862. In it, African-American men, women, and children crowd around a single pocket watch, waiting for the clock to strike midnight and the Emancipation Proclamation to take effect. As the slaves huddle anxiously in the dimly lit room, we can sense how even two more minutes seems like an eternity to wait for one’s freedom. But the slaves of Galveston, Texas, had to wait more than two years after Lincoln’s decree and two months after Appomattox to receive word that they were free at last.
Today we commemorate the anniversary of that delayed but welcome news.”
— quoted from President Barack Obama’s “Statement by the President on the Observance of Juneteenth” (2016)
Remember, a myth is just a well-told story and a well-told story is why we have the United States of America. It’s also why we have Juneteenth.
Happy Juneteenth, everybody!
“Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that you will hold in your body. It’s imprinted on you and affects you in subtle ways – ways you are not always aware of. With that in mind, be very conscious and selective.”
— Phylicia Rashād, née Ayers-Allen (born in Houston, Texas, June 19, 1948)
“Memory is the story. Our memories are what make us.”
— Tobias Wolff (born in Birmingham, Alabama, June 19, 1945)
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for ”0619 Juneteenth 2021”]
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is a new app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere”
– “General Order No. 3” read by General Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas on June Nineteenth, 1865
“Just outside the Oval Office hangs a painting depicting the night of December 31, 1862. In it, African-American men, women, and children crowd around a single pocket watch, waiting for the clock to strike midnight and the Emancipation Proclamation to take effect. As the slaves huddle anxiously in the dimly lit room, we can sense how even two more minutes seems like an eternity to wait for one’s freedom. But the slaves of Galveston, Texas, had to wait more than two years after Lincoln’s decree and two months after Appomattox to receive word that they were free at last.
Today we commemorate the anniversary of that delayed but welcome news.”
– President Barack Obama’s “Statement by the President on the Observance of Juneteenth” (2016)
Today is Juneteenth – and for me, it’s personal.
Over the years, as I’ve taught yoga on June 19th and shared the story of this day’s significance I’ve been surprised at the number of people – including some Black Americans – who didn’t know about Juneteenth. Coming from Texas, I thought everybody (outside of the State of Alabama) celebrated Juneteenth. Buddy, was I wrong! Here it is 2020 and some folks – even some who, theoretically, have commemorated the date – are just now hearing about it.
By now, as it has been in the news this week and will be all over the news today, you have heard some version of the story. My version involves a proclamation, a painting, a bill, a slew of presidents and legislators, the State of Alabama, and me. Here’s the short version with a little back story:
On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act. The act essentially ended slavery in the capital city (although it did not apply to fugitive slaves who had escaped from Maryland) and set aside over $100,100,000 as compensation for the 3,185 people who were freed.
You can read my post on the Emancipation Act here. There’s also a playlist on YouTube and Spotify that works for today.
Five months later (on September 22, 1862), President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, with an effective date of January 1, 1863. Remember, the proclamation only freed slaves in the Confederate States of America that were still in rebellion. It did not apply to slaves in the so-called “border states” (Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, and the parts of Virginia that would become West Virginia), which were not in rebellion, or Confederate States that were under Union control (Tennessee, lower Louisiana, and Southeast Virginia).
In reference to the painting mentioned in the aforementioned quote, can you imagine being one of those people, watching the clock, anticipating a new year and a brand new start? Can you imagine being free when you and generations of your ancestors had been enslaved? Can you imagine what it would feel like to look forward to living what had previously been a myth or fairy tale?
Now, imagine the clock struck midnight – twice – and you were still a slave. How do you feel now?
On June 18, 1865, General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas with 2,000 federal troops. The next morning, today, June 19th, he stood on the balcony of Ashton Villa and read General Order #3. “Juneteenth” is a portmanteau of June Nineteenth and this announcement is what people are celebrating today. (Although, some people call it “Emancipation Day.”)
Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or a special day of observance in 46 states. One of the exceptions is Alabama, which (last time I checked – in other words, as of today) has three official state holidays honoring the Confederacy. Yes, you read and understood that correctly: In the State of Alabama, Robert E. Lee Day (third Monday in January), Confederate Memorial Day (fourth Monday in April), and Jefferson Davis Day (first Monday in June) are paid holidays.
There were no cell phones or internet in 1865, but people had ways of communicating across the country and it is unlikely that no one in Texas, or other Southern states, had heard about the Emancipation Proclamation. Galveston was a major port in 1865. So, even if no rumors had drifted down from the Union, also unlikely, rumors could have easily come from other “international” sources. In all probability, slave owners and their slaves were aware that slavery had been abolished. There are all kinds of theories and conspiracies about what took so long, but that’s another story for another day. Bottom line, part of the reason General Granger came with troops was because he was prepared to meet resistance and needed to enforce all aspects of the general order.
General Granger and the federal troops were not only meant to ensure slaves were freed, but also to ensure the newly freed would keep living in their slave quarters and doing the same work. Sure, they would now (in theory) work for wages; however, the wages would be set by those who had kept them in bondage. To add insult to injury, those same “employers” would also now be “landlords” – and there was nothing keeping the employer/landlord from charging more for rent and board than they would pay in wages (which is exactly what they did). Furthermore, the federal troops intended to enforce the last part of the order: “[The freedmen] are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”
Now, I personally have a problem with that last part, because I think – and believe most people would agree – that if you had worked all your life, you deserved a day off. If you and everyone you knew had always been forced to wake up, eat, sleep, even defecate according to someone else’s schedule, it seems like it would be reasonable to have a day or two where you did absolutely nothing – or everything – according to your own whim and desires. But, the general order made it illegal to do nothing and also illegal to seek asylum or refuge at a place people typically went for protection. (Remember, there were no police departments as we have them today.)
People still had impromptu celebrations back in 1865 and in subsequent years. However, segregation and Jim Crow laws made it challenging to have such celebrations. One of the big challenges was that it was illegal for Black people to congregate in public parks. To get around the law, communities of color would pool their money together to purchase land, essentially creating their own parks. If you have ever been to an “Emancipation Park,” there’s a good chance you were standing on hallowed ground: land purchased by former slaves and their descendants specifically to celebrate freedom.
But, there is more to the story. (Since I’m keeping it short-ish and sweet, I’ll leave out the rest of the bad news and get to more of the sweet stuff.)
Fast forward ninety-eight years and a day,* to June 20, 1963, when United States Representative Emanuel Celler (D-NY) introduced H. R. 7152 in the House of Representatives. This legislation had originally been proposed by President John F. Kennedy and would become the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It would pass (with amendment) in the Senate on Juneteenth 1964 – exactly ninety-nine years after General Granger read General Order #3 in Galveston. The amendment would be agreed upon shortly thereafter, on another fateful date (July 2nd), and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The law outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It specifically prohibits “unequal application of voter registration requirements, racial segregation in schools, employment, and public accommodations.” This is not to say that such discrimination ceased to exist. It simply made such discrimination unconstitutional.
Additional, amendments, acts, and laws would be proposed and/or approved over the years in order to ensure constitutional rights continue to be upheld.
“There were ‘things’ to be done. Nobody asked me what I meant by ‘things.’ I couldn’t have defined them if I had tried. ‘Things’ had to do with the study of music (this was a family interest), the books I read, and the dreams of travel, and the glimpses of elegance I caught on Fifth Avenue. But ‘things’ had also to do with the way people were hurt and how, because they were hurt, they were angry and quarreled and were jealous of one another.”
– from You Never Leave Brooklyn: The Autobiography of Emanuel Celler by Emanuel Celler, U. S. Representative (D-NY)
That’s more or less where I normally end the story. But, this year, there’s a footnote. Because, this week (specifically on June 15th), 155 years after General Granger arrived on Galveston Island and 56 years after the Civil Rights Act became law, the United States Supreme Court upheld a portion of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) as it relates to sexual orientation and gender identity. In a 6 -3 decision, the highest court in the country affirmed that it is unconstitutional for an employer to fire someone for being gay or transgender. That right there, my friends, is a civil rights victory that I plan to celebrate – even though it doesn’t directly affect me. (Not sure exactly where Representative Celler would stand on this verdict, but as a champion of immigration rights I think he would have loved the DACA decision that came yesterday!)
“Everything you do, every thought you have, every word you say creates a memory that you will hold in your body. It’s imprinted on you and affects you in subtle ways – ways you are not always aware of. With that in mind, be very conscious and selective.”
– Phylicia Rashād, née Ayers-Allen (born in Houston, Texas today in 1948)
“Memory is the story. Our memories are what make us.”
– Tobias Wolff (born in Birmingham, Alabama today in 1945)
So, that’s the story of Juneteenth – and for me, it’s personal.
You may think it’s personal because I’m a Black woman from Texas. But the story of Juneteenth is particularly personal to me because I’m BOI, Born on Island – yes, Galveston Island. I was born mere minutes from the balcony of the Ashton Villa. It’s part of my story.
Today, I’m taking a personal day. It’s going to be as much reflection as celebration, with a little bit of remembering thrown in for good measure. At some points along the way I will give thanks. I may go down the rabbit hole again trying to find out if there’s anything named for General Gordon Granger other than a “fort” that’s really a park. Or maybe I’ll just spend my lunch break fantasizing about Fort Rucker (or Fort Hood) becoming Fort Granger…or even Fort Emanuel Celler (remind me to tell you his fascinating story some day)! You can wish me a Happy Juneteenth, but I probably won’t respond until tomorrow.
*NOTE: An extra day is noteworthy, because, historically, it provides a legal marker for the completion of a year. In European feudal societies, a serf who escaped and was absent from their place of servitude for a year and a day, was legally recognized as free and granted certain rights and privileges – just as former slaves in America were granted certain rights on July 28, 1868, with the ratification of the 14th Amendment. Additionally, in a variety of ancient traditions – from the pagan Celts to the Vodou practicing Haitians – a year and a day is a sacred period, a period of time connected to an honorable duty that transcends lifetimes and generations.
When I first got back to Houston, a man I didn’t know inserted himself in a conversation with my mother; I only got to see a handful of friends; it took a really long time to walk a few blocks; I ate way too much sugar; and I took a yoga class many of my students would hate.
Wait! What? That doesn’t sound right. In fact, it doesn’t even sound like me. And the truth is that while the facts above real(ly) happened; they are not true.
In his book Open Heart, Open Mind, the Nepalese Tibetan Buddhist teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche describes how something can be “real but not true” – and offers the words as a mantra which allows us to check in with our attitudes, our perspectives, and the past conditions which establish both. The bottom line being that we view our current circumstances through the lens of past experiences. Mindfulness-based practices like yoga and Buddhism create the opportunity to examine our kleshas – or, how our thought patterns color our experiences.
So, if I were to re-frame what happened as I actually perceived it: When I first got back home to Houston, a man I’d never met before asked if I needed help with my bags (I did); I made plans to spend the day with friends who are like family to me; I spent part of the afternoon on a walkabout with two of those friends, exploring their neighborhood and quacking as we ducked; I ate a lot of dessert; and Itook a yoga class with some super groovy hip openers!
Yeah, still colored, but suddenly the events are joyful. Suddenly there is room for gratitude.
“Gratitude awakens another way of being in the world, one that nurtures the heart and helps to create a life of meaning and purpose. The old barriers no longer confine us and the old fears no longer constrict or claim us. Gratitude opens us to freedom, a sense of generosity, and connection to the wider world.” – Angeles Arrien
“I didn’t say, ‘We can be grateful for everything.’ I said, ‘We can be grateful in every given moment for the opportunity. And even when we are confronted with something that is terribly difficult we can rise to this occasion and respond to the opportunity that’s given to us…. Most of the time what s given to us is the opportunity to enjoy, and we only miss it because we are rushing through life.”
– Brother David Steindl-Rast
Right now, a lot of people are struggling to be grateful. That’s super real. It’s so real that we sometimes forget there is more to life than struggle. We struggle so much we actually look forward…to more struggles. However, it’s also true that each of us has something for which we can be grateful – and, we get to choose how we spend our time and energy. We get to choose how we look forward.
“There’s only one thing more precious than our time and that’s who we spend it on.” – Leo Christopher
When someone gives us a precious gift, we give thanks. So, thank you to all the people who have spent time with me this year – on and off the mat. Your presence reminds me to appreciate every aspect of the practice, and every aspect of life. Your presence reminds me of all the ways one can practice. Thank you also, to the very talented teachers covering my classes this week – and to the people who show up for those classes. Thank you all for the opportunity to learn and grow and love within this practice.
Every time I step on a mat, I learn something new. Maybe I learn it from the teacher that’s leading the group; maybe I learn it from the teacher on the mat; maybe I learn it from the teacher within – either way, my future self is grateful. This week, “Do something that your future self will thank you for.” (unknown)
The Nokomis Yoga schedule will be as follows:
Tuesday, Nov. 22nd @ 12:00 PM (60 minutes with SARAH)
Tuesday, Nov. 22nd @ 7:15 PM (75 minutes with ERIKA)
The Wednesday night Slow Flow at Flourish will be cancelled on November 23rd. Please join me on November 30th.
Weather permitting, I’ll return to Common Ground on Monday, November 30th.
For information on my incredible YMCA subs, please check the online schedules. (Also, please note that the Downtown Minneapolis will run an alternate schedule 11/24 – 11/275)
~~ HAVE A PEACEFUL, GRACEFUL, GRATEFUL, & JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON ~~
A Joyful Practice 