Tibetan Monks Visit Baltimore

Knowing people actually read my bebe blog is motivation to actually post. Who knew! Thanks especially to the solitary who reminded me of the Sacred Space Conference in Timonium - I did indeed attend this year and had an inspiring weekend of workshops ranging from invaluable tips on officiating handfasting ceremonies to an in-depth lecture on the Hermetic Laws. Michael Reeder's class on working with trama survivors in a circle/coven context was especially notable as someone interested in the pastoral counseling aspect of Pagan ministry.

As my spiritual interests & influences stretch beyond the cauldron, I'm spending the week attending workshops and meditation sessions with Tibetan monks at Baltimore Yoga Village in Mt. Washington. The visiting monks are from the Drepung Lineage, the same as the Dalai Lama. Throughout the week the monks will be constructing a colorful sand painting on the floor of the studio, called a Medicine Buddha Mandala. All the events are open to the public and donation based, all proceeds going to the monks directly to fund their institute in Southern India. If you're in the area, drop in for some/all of this week's events - spiritual/magickal/political minded folks should get something out of it, or at the very least get to say you met some refugee Tibetan monks. Free Tibet!

Schedule of Events for the Rest of the Monks' Visit to Baltimore:

Tuesday 7/19 @ 7:30pm: Meditation led by the monks (BYV Mt. Washington - 6080 Falls Rd.)

Wednesday 7/20 @ 7pm: Cultural Dance Performance & Tibetan Ceremony (First Unitarian Church - 12 W. Franklin Street)

Thursday 7/21 @ 6:30pm: Closing Buddhist Healing Ceremony (BYV Mt. Washington)

In addition, the studio is open for meditation with the monks each morning at 8am, with a Q&A session to follow.

I'll be posting experience throughout the week, and hope to see some interfaith-minded Pagans at these events!