Grounding meditation + practicing in chaos + facing "scanxiety"

We had October Teacher of the Month, Sebene Selassie, on this week for a live meditation and Q&A with executive producer, DJ Cashmere. If you missed it, you can always watch (or rewatch) at your own pace. Paid subs get the full session; the opening meditation is free for everyone.

Sebene kicked things off with a ten-minute meditation focused on using the body as “home base” — the one thing that’s always in the present moment, even when the mind is spinning.

After that she and DJ answered questions from all of you. Here’s some of what they covered:

• Practicing in chaos: Why you don’t need perfect silence or conditions to meditate. As Seb put it, city noise might be “bad for meditation but very good for dharma practice.”

• Planning vs. presence: How to balance mindfulness with real-life needs like grieving, reflecting, and planning for the future without spiraling into overthinking.

• Choosing the right tool: Seb emphasized that meditation isn’t the only modality. Sometimes you need therapy, movement, or a good cry. “You don’t use a screwdriver where you need a hammer.”

• Facing illness and fear: Sebene spoke candidly about life with cancer and the “scanxiety” that comes with medical tests. Her reminder: the mind and body aren’t separate — and illness isn’t your fault. “That extra layer of self-blame is bullshit.”

• Taking a stand without hate: How to stay engaged and compassionate in a polarized world.

Thanks again to everyone who participated. I’ll be going live with Sebene this Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. ET for another guided meditation and Q&A, exclusively for paid subscribers.

Finally, today is Friday which means Friday Fixations is live in the chat. Come weigh in on my selections, share your own obsessions and hot takes, or just shoot the shit with folks in our community.

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