Events
Deep Resilience – Second Offering Under Way
7-Step Deep Resilience Program, with Michael Kearney
This new series started Thursday, May 1 and is continuing on May 8, 15, 20, 22, and June 6 and 7.
9 a.m. Pacific time, online only
Each session will be 55 minutes long
Michael is offering this second section of his popular Deep Resilience Program on request at a time that is convenient for “morning people” in the U.S. and our friends in other countries. Please use the Zoom link for Daily Meditations/Weekly Meetings on our website to join. To learn more about this course, visit the Deep Resilience landing page on the MHP website. The program includes lectures, sit-spot check-ins, and guided meditation practices to help enhance deep connections with nature and support self-care 2.0. The first cohort is continuing to meet online at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.
There is no charge for the program. Donations are gratefully accepted.
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Relational Mindfulness Starts May 6 in Isla Vista
Relational Mindfulness Guided Meditation and Exercises, with Alejandra Tashma, Shannon Jaffe, and guests
Every Tuesday starting May 6, 7-8 p.m.
St. Michael’s University Church, 6586 Picasso Rd, Isla Vista, near the UCSB campus
In person only at this time. There is off-street parking in two adjacent lots.
Relational mindfulness is a practice that brings the precepts of mindful meditation – compassion, attention, joy for others, non-judgment, and loving kindness – to the context of relationships. Relational mindfulness is a secular practice that draws on the emphasis Thich Nhat Hanh placed on interconnectedness of all beings. Each session will include a meditation period, followed by relational mindfulness exercises.
We invite you to join us for a practice that will help build joy and community in a safe place that honors all of our identities. This event is free. Students are encouraged to attend. Donations are gratefully accepted.
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Find Your Heart at La Casa de Maria
The Heart of Meditation
Half-Day Retreat, with Radhule Weininger
Saturday, May 10, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
La Casa de Maria Retreat Center, 800 El Bosque Road, Montecito, or online via our Live Retreats/Special Events Zoom link.
Due to space limitations at La Casa de Maria, registration is requested for this retreat. To register, click on The Heart of Meditation and scroll down to complete the form. There is no charge associated with registration or attendance. Donations to Mindful Heart Programs are gratefully accepted.
This half-day meditation retreat at La Casa de Maria will allow us to find peace and tenderness in our hearts. We can welcome and hold our pain for ourselves and the world with sustainable compassion. Awareness practices will provide us with refuge, wisdom, and the spaciousness we need to be truly present with whatever is occurring. In honor of Mother’s Day on May 11, mothers are encouraged to attend. Remembrances of our mothers may also be shared.
Directions: Take East Valley Road to El Bosque to access the property. Follow the directional signs to the main house. The team at La Casa respectfully requests that access to the property be limited to the meeting space and grounds adjacent to the building. A coffee/tea break will be served. The retreat is free; the suggested donation is $30.
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Bathe in Sound While the Moon Rises
Full Moon Meditation and Sound Bath, with Peter Moreno
Monday, May 12, 7 - 8 p.m.
St. Michael’s University Church, 6586 Picasso Rd, Isla Vista, near the UCSB campus
The full-moon meditation with a crystal bowl and bells sound bath will be held in the main sanctuary or on the patio, depending on the weather. There is off-street parking in two adjacent lots. Look for three blinking lights to find your way.
The suggested donation for this event is $10. It will be held in person; it will not be available via Zoom.
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Registration Open for Sedgwick Reserve Retreat - Space is Limited!
Remembering Who We Really Are
Sedgwick Reserve Retreat, in collaboration with the Mindful Heart Deep Resilience Program, UCSB, and the Center for Psychotherapy & Integrative Health, with Michael Kearney and guests
Saturday, May 24, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
In person and online via our Live Retreats/Special Events Zoom link (see instructions below)
This day-long retreat at UCSB’s Sedgwick Reserve, a hidden gem in the Santa Ynez Valley, will feature talks, nature connection meditation practices, and a chance to sit outdoors in silent reflection. We are accepting reservations for this retreat; space is limited. The fee to attend is $60, plus $30 for those who wish to obtain CEUs. Participants will be asked to sign a UCSB Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement. The reserve is an active research center with field studies under way. Therapists and other qualified applications may earn up to six Continuing Education Units. CEU and non-CEU registrants should use same registration link.
Registration page: https://psychotherapysb.com/register/
Event page: https://psychotherapysb.com/2025/04/14/remembering-who-we-really-are/
Multi-day Retreat at Sedgwick in the Fall
A three night, four-day MHP retreat will be held Oct. 10-13, 2025, at the Sedgwick Reserve. Planning is under way for this special, multi-day event. CEUs will be offered. Meals will be served. Rates will vary depending on accommodation types for overnight stays and interest in obtaining CEUs.
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Deep Resilience: When Self-Care is Not Enough
Half-day retreat, with Radhule Weininger and Michael Kearney
Saturday, June 14, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
La Casa de Maria Retreat Center, 800 El Bosque Road, Montecito, or online via our Live Retreats/Special Events Zoom link.
This half-day meditation retreat will reprise the talk Michael and Radhule will give at the Cottage Hospital Mental Health Fair (see above). They will show us how to grow deep roots in what is not afraid and what does not die. Deep resilience means realizing that we are an indispensable part of the web of life, which brings us a sense of depth and meaning and fosters sustainable, compassionate action. In honor of Father’s Day on June15, fathers are encouraged to attend. Remembrances of our fathers may also be shared.
Directions: Take East Valley Road to El Bosque to access the property. Follow signs to the main house. A coffee/tea break will be served. The retreat is free. The suggested donation is $30.
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Sustainable Compassion Practice June 28
Sustainable Compassion
Half-Day Retreat, with Radhule Weininger
Saturday, June 28, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Santa Barbara Middle School, Lotus Theater, 1321 Alameda Padre Serra, Santa Barbara, or online via Zoom. To join via Zoom, please use our Live Retreats/Special Events Zoom link. See below for instructions.
Compassion can be sustainable when we open our hearts to ourselves, others, and our beautiful and troubled world. During this half-day retreat, Radhule will lead meditations and discussions to help you prevent and manage compassion failure.
Directions to Middle School: Follow signs to the lower parking lot at the Middle School and take the stairs to the upper floor. There are some handicapped-marked spaces that can be accessed at the meeting room level. Coffee/tea and pastries will be served. Attendance is free. The suggested donation for this retreat is $30. Everyone is welcome.
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Starting Aug. 16 – Introduction to Meditation
We will present a series of introductory classes, starting with Mindfulness for Beginners with Harrison Heyl, on Aug. 16. The classes will be held at the Santa Barbara Middle School. We look forward to engaging with people who are new to our Mindful Heart Programs community and seeing friends who want to polish their practice! Details to come in June.
Newsletters
Heart Medicine in Difficult Times
In this online year-long drop-in series, Radhule will teach you psychological and spiritual skills that will guide you to address the root causes behind painful patterns and show how to address them with comprehensive practices. Working with painful patterns is especially necessary in these times, as many of our old painful patterns are getting triggered by current difficult circumstances in our world. Uncertainty and trauma bring up our own woundedness and fear. In order to be engaged in our world, we need to heal our painful patterns and connect to the wholeness that is already there.
Register with InsightLA
Awake Aware: Touching the Sky behind the clouds and bringing it back to Earth
New Series with Radhule Weininger, MD, PHD.
This Monday (over zoom), we will continue an exciting new series on awake awareness meditations and the pointing-out instructions. We are repeating this series on Monday nights at 7.15 pm (Yoga Soup, Studio 2, as well as zoom).
Location: Yoga Soup, 28 Parker Way, Santa Barbara
Heart Aware: Mindful Body Breath and Awake Awareness Meditation Group
Time: Thursdays at 6:30pm (beginning December 1st, 2022)
Location: Saint Michael’s University Church, 6586 Picasso Rd, Isla Vista, CA
We will meet in person to practice meditation and self-compassion. Join us to cultivate a regular mindfulness practice and experience a sense of community and belonging on a weekly basis.
Heart Medicine in Difficult Times
with Radhule Weininger, MD, PhD
Sunday, August 28, 12:30-2pm
Last Sunday every month in 2022
In this online year-long drop-in series, Radhule will teach you psychological and spiritual skills that will guide you to address the root causes behind painful patterns and show how to address them with comprehensive practices. Working with painful patterns is especially necessary in these times, as many of our old painful patterns are getting triggered by current difficult circumstances in our world. Uncertainty and trauma bring up our own woundedness and fear. In order to be engaged in our world, we need to heal our painful patterns and connect to the wholeness that is already there.
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC): 8 Week Course
With Hattie Bluestone, DPT and Anahita Navab Holden, PhD
Sundays: August 7th-October 2nd
(with the exception of Sunday 8/28)
10 AM-12 PM
La Mesa Park
Price: $400
For registration, please visit www.yogasoup.com
In difficult moments, what would it be like to offer yourself the same kindness, care, and support that you would naturally extend to a friend? Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) is an empirically supported, 8-week program that teaches core principles and practices to cultivate the skill of self-compassion. MSC was developed by Kristin Neff, PhD, and Christopher Germer, PhD, leader in the integration of mindfulness and psychotherapy. The program includes guided meditations, short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and take-home practices to integrate self-compassion into daily life. For more information please contact: info@anahitaholdenphd.com.
Deepening the Experience of the Sacred: Mindfully Embracing our World
During the morning of this day-long seminar, Radhule will teach you to deepen the practice of Ordinary and Non-dual Mindfulness, Introducing pointing out instructions, so you can learn to rest in awake awareness. Radhule will also introduce Self-compassion and Compassion-for-others (Tong Len) practices, which will include the care for ourselves and our world.
From 2 to 4 pm, Dave Richo will join us again, so we can together integrate our experience of the Sacred. We will also discuss how Kindness and Compassion can help us hold our personal suffering and how we can live with meaning and purpose in our troubled and breathtakingly beautiful world.
Maintaining our Balance in a Shaky World: Psychological and Spiritual Practices that Foster Inner Peace
In our present world of surprises, we may find it difficult to find a footing of safety and security in ourselves or in society. Violence and disease seem to be the new normal.
In an age of anxiety like this one it is perfectly understandable that we fear the future and perhaps lose trust in the political, psychological, and spiritual sources that were reliable before. Likewise, we may lose our trust in our own inner resources.
In this topsy-turvy world we still have one another. That is our source of hope. Our only challenge is to trust it when all the evidence has become shaky. We can learn to do that, always as beginners and always as enthusiasts.
In this workshop we will have time and space to explore what we fear or trust. We will experience practices of ordinary and non-dual mindfulness that take us to deep awareness.