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Libby Bachhuber's avatar

Thank you for these beautiful offerings. I am around the same age as you, and also spent my twenties trying to figure myself out in San Francisco. Maybe we danced together somewhere. :-) As with you, meditation and presencing increasingly led me, even as I continued to struggle with self doubt and confusion. I went to Spirit Rock sometimes, and silent retreats down in the Santa Cruz mountains. The beauty of that whole area is so precious, wondrous. Tonight I listened to your meditation and essay while sitting on my porch in Chicago, watching the full moon rise in the southeast. I'm moved by your voice. May we all continue our slow paths of awakening in this messy world, together.

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

Oh wow Libby. Yes maybe we were hanging out in the same Mission bars. πŸ˜‚ I love this image of you in your porch with the moon. Thanks for listening! 🫢🏾

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Linda Castronovo's avatar

Thank you for this! I LOVE, "What ease am I oblivious to now?" I hope you offer the Four Sundays again. I can't do it this month, but hope to join you another time. Thank you! Thank you! For your beautiful words!

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

Thanks for reading Linda. And , YES, I'm planning to offer it four Sundays in June and perhaps beyond...

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Tank Green's avatar

That pull to the present moment is why I walk. Did 30km today! It seems so much easier to be present when I’m outside in a forest or a field. So much beauty, β€˜I’ seem to fade and blend with the world around me.

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

Holy moly!! 30km is a lot of presence! That’s so cool Tank. Thanks for sharing. 🫢🏾

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Jennifer Patterson's avatar

Spent some time this morning with your generous words and recorded practice. Thank you thank you!

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

πŸ’•πŸ«ΆπŸΎπŸ₯°βœ¨β€οΈ

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Catherine's avatar

Thank you, Sebene, for this beautiful writing. I have just returned from a silent retreat here in South-West England. I took my own solo and enchanting walk- more forest and river than steep hills- and missed a couple of sits in getting back! There is so much here in your post. I will reread this many times and save it. I loved your questioning of what ease you are currently oblivious to. I am (🀞) for now on the other side of some physical challenges that played out over years. It felt wonderful and thought provoking to compare my walk with past ones. I love your reflections on the purpose of silent retreat. Thank you for your beautiful wise words: here, in You Belong, and on 10% Happier. I’m very grateful for your teachings. With love, Catherine ❀️

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

Thanks for sharing about your parallel retreat experience Catherine. I’m happy to hear you’re feeling better β€” all the more beauty available now for us both!! Wishing you many blessings! πŸ’•πŸ’•πŸ’•

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Matt Jones's avatar

Beautiful words Sebene, thank you

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

Thank you Matt’s πŸ’•πŸ«ΆπŸΎπŸ₯°

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Libby Bachhuber's avatar

Right! I feel very fortunate to have been young there. I learned so much.

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Libby Bachhuber's avatar

A fun possibility to entertain, re: those Mission bars! Or Lower Haight, or Castro... Lots of memories coming back this morning. Well wishes to all.

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

What a time! Ah, youth...

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Child + Line by Sasha Kahn's avatar

I’m so glad to have found your writing. And grateful for the calm steady guidance of your meditations. β€˜Stories of lack’… sometimes words can hit their target with laser precision πŸ™πŸ»

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

Oof. Right!? Let's change them to "Stories of luck!!"

xoxo

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Alysa's avatar

Thank you Sebene, for these gorgeous reflections ❀️ Your description of what you sensed as you set out on your hike - what you saw and felt and heard - evoked the immediacy of the present moment so powerfully and made me FEEL it deep in my bones. I am grateful πŸ’«

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

Thanks for reading Alysa and for sharing. πŸ₯°πŸ«ΆπŸΎπŸ’•

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Tracy's avatar

Hello. I am a long-time follower of yours on 10% Happier and I jumped over here to learn more about astrology as per the recent Meditation Party episode I heard. Like Dan, I too am a curious skeptic, and I'm hoping you could point me to some basic materials to get started in understanding our connection to the cosmos. Your meditations are some of my favorites so I'd like to hear more of what you have to say, but I feel I need a bit more background knowledge. Thank you!!

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

Thanks for the kind words. That’s cool that you’re open Tracy. A great place to start is the CHANI app. It’s very accessible and educational. You can get a lot out of the free option and upgrade if you like it. Also CHANI Nicholas has a book called β€œyou were born for this” that’s a great intro. Hope that’s helpful! πŸŒ•πŸŒ πŸŒ‘

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Tracy's avatar

Thank you, I say, feeling a bit starstruck and also like I’m talking to my friend who talks me to sleep πŸ’•πŸ˜‚πŸ™πŸ»

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

πŸ˜‚πŸ«ΆπŸΎπŸ’•

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Farah K.'s avatar

❀️

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

❀️

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Farah K.'s avatar

Dear Sebene, you are inspiring me to tackle the great loop.

I've started it and never had a chance to finish.

And I'm so appreciating the reflection β€œWhat ease am I oblivious to now?”

Thank youπŸ™β€οΈ

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

it's such a beautiful hike... but unless you're fast, you may need to miss a session. LOL! Thank you for reading Farah.

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Jane Hooper's avatar

Beautiful meditation and article about your Spirit Rock experience. You are a brave, beautiful soul. I’m so grateful I found you. πŸ™πŸ¦‹β€οΈ

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Sebene Selassie's avatar

Thank you for the kindness Jane. πŸ’•

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