Healing Program - Module 1 - Opening Circle
Module 1 - Opening Circle
Introductory video (5 min)
Friday Evening Introductions (18 min)
Meditation - Setting the Intention (6 min)
Opening Circle (27 min)
Home Program (see exercises below)
Meditation - Honouring Life (7 min)
Homework
Drs. Rutledge and Walker along with participants from previous retreats reflect on how the weekend program has had a positive and lasting effect on their lives. (click here)
Friday Evening Introduction
On a Friday evening, fifty people affected by cancer gathered in a large circle to begin a Skills for Healing weekend retreat. Tim (Dr. Walker) and Rob (Dr. Rutledge) share some of their personal stories and the meaning of “Skills for Healing Retreat” at the start of the program. (Press 'play' on the video below and wait for about 10 seconds for the video to load itself before it starts)
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Meditation - Setting the Intention
In this first visualization, Rob shows how we can always generate loving kindness and compassion towards ourselves and others. Please follow this safe and easy visualization as you listen along.
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Opening Circle
It is important to share your most difficult feelings with at least one other person. During the opening circle we ask the attendees, both those with a cancer diagnosis and their loved ones, to say a little about their diagnosis, what has been most difficult on their cancer journey, and their hopes for the weekend. Warning: Listening to so many stories at once can bring up many emotions. However, like the participants, we encourage you to stay with whatever emotions come up as this is an essential step in the healing process. The other modules in the healing program are not as intense and you’ll witness some amazing transformations in the people in the video.
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Home Program
Exercise 1 - By Yourself
1a. Difficulties: In your journal, write about what has been most difficult on your cancer journey and/or what you are struggling with most right now. Think about what it was like when you or your loved one was first diagnosed, what your experience was like during treatment and/or what has happened since. Consider your emotions and how your sense of your self may have shifted. How do you feel about relationships? How has the cancer diagnosis affected your family, friends, co-workers or others? Consider your experience in the medical system. Write down what was most difficult.
1b. Gratitude: Now review the same period of time in your life and consider what you are most grateful for – especially during the most trying of times. Write it down in your journal. Example: Remember when someone was kind to you. When you have finished writing these down, read them over slowly, reflect on them, and as you remember, deliberately decide to be grateful.
Exercise 2 - With Others
Once you are finished writing and reflecting, share your experience of this first module and your answers to the first two questions either with the person(s) who watched this program with you or with a loved one or friend.
Exercise 3 - By Yourself
3a. Long Aspiration: Write in your journal what your hopes and aspirations are for in doing this Healing Program. Write it out in long form – allowing yourself to have different hopes. For example, to learn something specific such as relaxation skills, or to be inspired, or to become more peaceful, or to heal, or ...
3b. Short Aspiration. Read what you have written in section 3a and choose one idea which can be expressed in a short aspiration using the following as an example.
Example 1: May I gain peace and insight.
Example 2: May I find healing in a way that is best for me.
Example 3: May I find a way to be supportive and loving.
Example 4: May I learn to relax and enjoy life.
Announce your Aspiration. Sit in silent meditation for a minute. Whether in a group or by yourself, say your short aspiration out loud three times, one person at a time (or to yourself aloud three times). Believe it in your heart as you say it.
Meditation - Honouring Life
Tim begins teaching this meditation by bringing our attention to the here and now with a sense of gratitude and deep peace. You can learn this simple form of meditation by following this exercise and the other meditations in the healing program.
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Homework: Practice between the modules!
1. Practice a meditation every day. You can follow one or both of the two meditations from the first module, another meditation from our website, or any other meditation practice that works for you.
2. Every night, write in your journal the most difficult feelings you have experienced during that day. Also, write what you are most grateful for. The power of this exercise is in being able to claim these difficult feelings as your own and to focus less on the external circumstances. Gaining awareness of the energies inside of you is an essential step to healing.
