Series Overview:

This series explores Contemplative Practices as a transformative experience. Our sessions integrate Taiji, Qigong, Unity Praxis and contemplative prayer practices to deepen our relationships with the Divine as suggested in Romans 12:2,  “transforming by renewing your mind”(& body). Throughout our sessions we will learn to be mindful of Body, Mind, and Spirit as One instead of treating them as three parts. We will learn the Inner Alchemy of transformation using established and proven practices from Christian traditions along with practices in the Daoist, Ch’an, and Zen Buddhist traditions.

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The series will enable participants to experience and integrate the practices into their daily lives:

 

1. The Unity Praxis Golden Sphere Qigong, meditation, and contemplation.

2. Contemplative practices including Centering Prayer, the Welcoming Prayer, and the Jesus Prayer.

3. Bodymind Healing Qigong (BMHQ) tradition of Bodymind awareness training.

4. Sacred Body Movements and rituals integrating all of the above.

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What Is Golden Sphere?

Golden Sphere is you. Who, what, and how you are today, in this present moment.  It is a mythic framing of your conscious self.  Golden Sphere represents the spirit / soul essence of your physical being.  It represents all that concerns you, body, mind, spirit; family, friends, and community.  Golden refers to light, the Christ Light, or the Divine Spark within creation. Golden also refers to Inner Alchemy, the transformative result of spiritual practice.

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The Golden Sphere Set, a series of Unity Taiji Qigong movements and postures. Most Taiji Qigong systems have some method of Golden Sphere incorporated into their practice. Taiji Qigong can be translated as “Supreme ultimate energy work between Heaven and Earth.” The Christian tradition refers to this “work” as prayer.

 

What are Contemplative Prayer Practices?

Centering Prayer is a well-known contemplative prayer practice that was developed in the 20th century during the wave of spiritual awakening ignited by the mid-1960s second Vatican Council. Initially introduced as the “Prayer of the Cloud” in 1974, the practice became known as “Centering Prayer” as a reminder of practitioner’s intention: “If you really want to come to God, go to your own center, pass through that center into the very center of God” (Thomas Merton, OSCO). “Centering Prayer’s” twice a day 20-minute practice is complemented by its companion on the go Welcoming Prayer practice. The Jesus Prayer’s roots reside in practices developed in the 3rd century by the Desert Fathers of Egypt. Attendees will gain familiarity and practical comfort with each of these contemplative prayer practices to begin including them in their daily spiritual practices.

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What is Bodymind Healing Qi Gong (BMHQ)?

The integration of Bodymind awareness, Qigong, and modern Psychology to heighten our ability to manage physical, emotional, and spiritual impacts in our daily lives. Based on the work of Dr. Michael Mayer, Ph.D., participants learn proven techniques of monitoring the body, mind, emotions, and spirit while maintaining healthy life practices.  www.bodymindhealing-taichiqigong.com.

 

What are Sacred Body Movements?

Movements and postures from multiple traditions that recognize the sacred in all aspects of life. The intention is to train our body – mind – spirit to be aware of and to notice the subtlety of the human autonomic, emotional, psychological interactions in all of our experiences.  The human body utilizes 8,000,000 nerve impulses every second, give or take. Most people are conscious of roughly 8,000.  BMHQ and Sacred Body Movements train us to be attuned to these impulses. How to integrate them more fully into our consciousness and everyday experience.

 

What is Contemplative BodyMind?

Mindfulness is a growing trend and practice. Over-simplified, mindfulness is awareness or noticing. Contemplative BodyMind is a synergistic practice integrating the principles ofContemplative Prayer, The Unity Praxis Taiji, and BodyMind Healing Qigong (BMHQ). This will provide practical application of the postures, prayers, intentions, and awareness of the Oneness of Body Mind Spirit such that practitioners learn to “tune into” the body, emotions, thoughts, feelings, intentions and experiences. We will learn through community practice how to apply body awareness, simply noticing what is happening in our body and connecting it with mind and spirit as a full experience.

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Participant Outcomes:

Through the series we will develop comfort, confidence, and understanding of these teachings and practices. Participants will explore physical, spiritual, emotional, and psychological aspects of their life path through the embodied contemplative aspects of Unity Taiji, Bodymind Healing Qi Gong, and Centering Prayer. This series provides attendees with skills and insights to pursue personal transformation. You will leave these sessions with the beauty of these practices in your daily life.

 

Through concentration, focus, imagination, and consciousness we fill our sphere with intentions and desired outcomes. We focus body, mind, and spirit into and through our hands as we move in unity with creation. Bring this light of Christ into your work of life.

Presenter Bios:

Mathew Francis is the founder of Unity Praxis bringing synergies of 40 years dedicated to Christian Discipleship and Tai Ji practice. Mathew guides people to deeper experience of life through faith, practice, and business. He shares learnings from his personal spiritual journey balancing work, life and family through wisdom of Eastern and Western traditions. Mathew is currently President of Pacific Rim Advisory Group, a Business Development Strategy and Family Succession firm. Mathew lives in the Central Valley of California, married to his lovely bride Elizabeth, and finds his identity as a husband, father of two, grandfather of three, friend of many, and wayfarer on the Path.