“Contemplative living is living in true relationship with oneself, others, God, and nature—free of the illusion of separateness.” — Thomas Merton

How different would your day go if you lived from a deep knowing of your inherent goodness? In this event, Dr. Christine will look at neuroscience with a contemplative lens showing that, as humans, we possess an inherent core of goodness embedded in our very biology. The vagus nerve—often called the “nerve of compassion”—plays a central role in our capacity for connection, empathy and inner regulation. 

Together we'll learn vagus nerve reset practices—to use alongside our contemplative prayer practices—to cultivate the conditions for this innate goodness to flourish. Love, compassion, insight and intuition deepen as we gently release habitual inner dialogue and shift awareness from the mind into the heart. In this space, the illusion of separation softens, giving way to a lived experience of connection, wholeness and authentic self-expression.

You are invited to join this experiential workshop, followed by four weekly Zoom sessions designed to support integration and embodiment of these practices in daily life. 

On Saturday, May 9th, we’ll explore the big picture of what’s happening in our bodies when we engage the reset practices listed below. Christine will demonstrate each practice and guide us through it. 

1. Awe and Gratitude: immediate heart activation to gently override ego patterns
2. Welcoming Prayer*: an embodied practice of surrender and letting go
3. Bliss Brain Practices: integrating Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), affirmations, visualization and crystal bowl sound healing
4. Forgiveness Meditation*: experienced as a heart-opening process  

*If you are familiar with the Welcoming Prayer and Forgiveness Prayer practices taught by Contemplative Outreach, Christine’s reset practice will add a final step to the prayers that shifts you into a new state of awareness.

During the weekly classes, we’ll take one practice per session and dive deeply. We’ll practice and discuss, with an eye toward solidifying the practice.

The workshop and weekly classes are designed to give you the practices and an opportunity to integrate them into your life with Christine as your coach for four weeks. Step into a space where your nervous system can reset, your heart can open, and your true nature can emerge.

The Saturday Workshop and weekly classes will be recorded and sent to all registrants. However, participant questions and answers will be removed to preserve safe space and privacy.
 

Participant Testimonials from Dr. O'Brien's previous presentations: 

• This class was very informative with so much information — with solutions — the simple physical exercises. I really think it is important to know how our bodies react to the outside environment.

• I am so grateful for this presentation and all the effort made to make this happen. It was a blessing in my life and a value for me to practice. A beautiful, fast three hours. I want to see more of this. 

• The practical exercises were so helpful. Dr. Christine explains so simply the connections between ACE's and Heart Rate Variability and their impact on health and how Centering Prayer and these exercises can bring about emotional regulation and health. 

• I learned a lot of ways to augment my Centering Prayer and Welcoming Prayer practices.