Share Your Experience of Awakening Together

June 16, 2023

We are very excited to be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Awakening Together this year. As a part of this celebration, we are seeking volunteers who are interested in sharing their experiences with Awakening Together via an “Interview Toast.”

If you’re feeling called, here’s what we are asking:

Complete this form.
Julie Butler or Helen Avery will reach out to you via email to schedule a 15-minute time slot. (The interview will only be about 15 minutes.) Really these interviews are like chatting with a dear friend about something you love. Those who have participated have said it’s easy, fun, and inspiring.
The interview will take place via zoom.
During the interview, we hope to hear how Awakening Together has supported you in becoming Self-reliant on your own Inner Wisdom.
The interviews will take place between June 15-July 15, 2023.

We will be creating a reel that will be shared in the sanctuary, on YouTube and on various other channels on which Awakening Together shares. The reel will be shared beginning August 6, 2023.

What better way to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of this community than to “toast” the community. Please volunteer if this opportunity calls to you.

Volunteer Here

What’s Happening in the Sanctuary ~ Saturday, June 17, 2023

June 16, 2023

All times are Eastern Standard Time. Look below for helpful links.

1:00 – 3:00 pm – Self-Inquiry Dyad Practice – Facilitated by Anne Blanchard

The practice is intensive, direct self-inquiry. The format is partner-assisted contemplation, commonly referred to as dyads, which means two.

The day is Saturday and the time of the practice is 1 to 3 PM ET. You can join for either the first hour, the second hour, or for both depending on the time available in your schedule.

What do you want? What do you really want? What is the aim of your spiritual practice? What is the purpose? What is your purpose? We ask because we embark weekly to practice in the sanctuary, and have a direct experience of the truth of what we are. The very good news is that you cannot, not be the Truth of what you are. Truth doesn’t go away because we don’t know it, can’t see it, or don’t presently experience it.

If you are interested in exploring your own blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, to the Truth of what you are, you are warmly invited to join us.

No prior experience is necessary. An introduction and overview will be given at the beginning of each hour.

Enter the Sanctuary or see the complete listing of speakers.
All Times are Eastern Standard Time – See helpful links below.

How to Enter the Sanctuary

What’s Happening in the Sanctuary ~ Friday, June 16, 2023

June 15, 2023

All times are Eastern Standard Time. Look below for helpful links.

7:30-8:30 am – Being Aware of Awareness Meditation – Facilitated by Anne Blanchard
This program provides an opportunity to be in community with others who will to find that place of no place, that attention to our natural attentiveness, that innate humanness that can often be overlooked. Anne Blanchard facilitates this program on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:30 – 8:30 am ET by leading participants through gently guided Being Aware of Awareness meditation.

3-4 pm – Nisargadatta Maharaj: Contemplating “I am That” – Facilitated Anne Blanchard & Yvonne Unger
In this program, we contemplate the teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj together. “Between the banks of pain and pleasure the river of life flows. It is only when the mind refuses to flow with life and gets stuck at the banks, that it becomes a problem.” – Nisargadatta Maharaj

While the impetus for this program was born from the power and the clarity of the practice of the Minister Preparation Program curriculum, “The Teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj,” in which his pointings were contemplated, the desire is to share in this practice with all at Awakening Together regardless of any prior familiarity with the teachings of this Indian Master. So whether you have taken the MPP class or are brand new to these teachings, you are warmly invited to join in and see how Nisargadatta speaks to you.

Enter the Sanctuary or see the complete listing of speakers.

All Times are Eastern Standard Time – See helpful links below.

How to Enter the Sanctuary

Awakening Together Internet Broadcast: Listen Live on AT Radio

What’s Happening in the Sanctuary ~ Thursday, June 15, 2023

June 14, 2023

All Times are Eastern Standard Time – – – – See helpful links below

7:30-8:30 am – Being Aware of Awareness Meditation – Facilitated by Anne Blanchard
This program provides an opportunity to be in community with others who desire to find that place of no place, that attention to our natural attentiveness, that innate humanness that can often be overlooked. Anne Blanchard facilitates this program on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:30 – 8:30 am ET by leading participants through gently guided Being Aware of Awareness meditation.

2:00-4:00 pm – Gentle Healing Year 3 – Judy Lekisch
Rev. Susan guides a group of committed students through year 3 of Gentle Healing who would like to make consistent, gentle progress toward genuine peace, joy, and love. This group meets weekly on Thursdays at 2-4 pm ET and all members are committed to specific assignments and practices between group meetings. This class is based on The Seven Steps to Awakening.

6:00-7:00 pm – Gentle Healing Year 3 – Rev. Cyndi Krupp
Rev. Cyndi guides a group of committed students through year 3 of Gentle Healing who would like to make consistent, gentle progress toward genuine peace, joy, and love. This class is based on The Seven Steps to Awakening.

[Read more…]

What’s Happening in the Sanctuary – Tuesday, June 13, 2023

June 12, 2023

All Times are Eastern Standard Time – – – – See helpful links below

7:30 am – Being Aware of Awareness Meditation – Facilitated by Anne Blanchard
One of the core practices of the Awakening Together community is Awareness watching Awareness meditation. Those words can inspire as much confusion for some as they do clarity of purpose for others. This program provides an opportunity to be in community with others who will to find that place of no place, that attention to our natural attentiveness, that innate humanness that can often be overlooked. Anne Blanchard facilitates this program on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:30 – 8:30 am ET by leading participants through gently guided Being Aware of Awareness meditation.

9:00 am – Heart Explorations is canceled for today.

5:30 pm – Discussion of Be As You Are – Facilitated by Lina Luckway
Be As You Are is a treasury of Ramana Maharshi’s knowledge. The book collects conversations with the many seekers who came to him for guidance, answering the questions sought on the road to enlightenment. Self-realization is the vital quest we must all pursue before we can attempt to understand the world.

Let’s get together, read and discuss the essence of Ramana Maharshi’s teaching Be As You Are, and see what insights and delights unfold.

6:30 pm – Early Insights- Facilitated by Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert & Connie Poole
The pair will play Regina Dawn Akers’ Early Teaching videos and invite those in attendance to contemplate those teachings along with them.

Regina’s recently completed YouTube playlist featuring the “meat” of her early teachings is a treasure trove of insight into the practices and understanding that illuminated her path to awakening. Regina compiled the teachings by trimming down her early teaching audios to highlight the core components of the guidance she received early in her journey.

Because these teachings are so helpful, Jacquelyn and Connie plan to slowly review them by playing one or two of them each week and contemplating them in a group format.

7:30 pm – 500 Days Contemplating NTI – Facilitated by Revs. Kelly Barber, Joanne Schneider, & Rhoda Makled
This bi-monthly program was formed to facilitate the contemplation of the “500 Days with NTI” curriculum together.

Revs. Joanne Schneider, Susan Bacon, and Rhoda Makled host the program on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from 7:30 – 8:30 pm ET.

In this program, together we engage in the 500 Days with NTI program designed by our founder and the scribe of The Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament (NTI), Regina Dawn Akers. Regina developed this free self-study spiritual curriculum for people with very busy lives. If you don’t have a lot of available time, but you are serious about spiritual awakening, this may be the curriculum for you!

500 Days provides daily exercises that you can do as you work, socialize, clean house, do yard work, work out, play, etc. It’s a course that goes with you wherever you go!

8:30 pm – Contemplation of Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament – Joy Bedford
Join us to contemplate The Holy Spirit’s Interpretation of the New Testament. We’ll be noticing what arises and surrendering beyond resistance, if we are willing for this (and there is no judgment if we are not yet willing), as we explore NTI with Holy Spirit’s guidance.

The Sanctuary closes at 9:30 pm ET.

Enter the Sanctuary or see the complete listing of speakers.
All Times are Eastern Standard Time – See helpful links below.

How to Enter the Sanctuary

Awakening Together Internet Broadcast: Listen Live on AT Radio

What’s Happening in the Sanctuary ~ Monday, June 12, 2023

June 11, 2023

All Times are Eastern Standard Time – – – – See helpful links below

5:00-7:00 pm – Consistent, Gentle Healing Year 1 – Facilitated by Rev. Michele Hojnacki
Rev. Michele guides committed students to make consistent, gentle progress toward genuine peace, joy, and love using the Gentle Healing Curriculum. Year 1 is based on A Course in Miracles Workbook for Students and other non-dual teachings.

7:00-8:00 pm – Consistent, Gentle Healing Year 3 – Facilitated by Rev. Shawna Summers *Graduation – Last Class*
Rev. Shawna guides committed students to make consistent, gentle progress toward genuine peace, joy, and love using the Gentle Healing Curriculum. Year 3 is based on The Seven Steps to Awakening. Here’s the Gentle Healing Year 3 Guide: Click Here

You can also use this link to the Year 3 Daily Contemplation tips: Click Here

[Read more…]

6-11-23 Weekly Gathering: “Transcending the Individual Self”

June 11, 2023

Weekly Sunday Gathering with Rev. Billy Sintiris

Title: “Transcending the Individual Self”

Description: Rev. Billy spoke about the fact that we can use the adversity of our present experience to deepen our Surrender, as we take each experience and bring it to its false god to a Baptism of Neutrality.

Reading: Joseph Schmitz read excerpts from NTI 2 Corinthians.

Listen to Audio

Watch Video

What’s Happening in the Sanctuary Sunday, June 11, 2023

June 10, 2023

All Times are Eastern Standard Time – See links below to join us in the Sanctuary

9:30 am – Michael Deforbes Meditation *Recording
Michael Deforbes’ meditations are inspired by non-dual teachings, direct path teachings, and Buddhist philosophy. With each meditation, Michael takes us on a journey through a non-dual perspective.

10:15 am – Weekly Gathering – Rev. Billy Sintiris
Title: “Transcending the Individual Self”

Description: Join Rev. Billy as he speaks to the fact that we use the adversity of our present experience to deepen our Surrender, as we take each experience and bring it with its false god to a Baptism fo Neutrality.

Reading: Joseph Schmitz will read excerpts from NTI 2 Corinthians.

11:30 am –Weekly Fellowship Time – Rev. Tawonda Chase
This is the time when Awakening Together fellowships as a community. We share what is on our hearts and minds from the recent homily or anything else that is truly inspiring us.

12:00 pm – Giving Up Kate! – Rev. Kate Brennan
Rev. Kate reads and shares her journal, contemplation, and experience of applying the teachings of Gentle Healing.

12:30 pm – God Through Audz – Audrey Whitehead
Join Audrey Whitehead for her new program God through Audz where she will read from Helen Hamilton’s, Dissolving the Ego. Audrey will share, if prompted, in dedication to discerning for Truth and invites others in attendance to listen deeply, for all answers are within, and succinct, soulful sharing is encouraged.

This will be a weekly ongoing half-hour program in the Sanctuary on Sundays from 12:30-1 pm ET/10:30 am MT.

1:00 pm – Sacred Inquiry – Rev. Shawna Summers
Rev. Shawna demonstrates the art of Sacred Inquiry in real time. Join her as she follows the guidance, questioning each layer that the thinking mind throws at her in an attempt to hide the wisdom that is inherent in us all. She is learning to go deeper into beginners’ mind with humble and honest curiosity. This is an evolving process, as she learns to feel for the vibrational level of each thought, exposing the source. She invites all listening to join her in their own Inquiry to experience the strength of this powerful spiritual practice. The original inspiration for this half-hour came from Adyashanti’s book ‘Sacred Inquiry’.

1:30 pm – Reflections from the Freedom Practice Sangha – Facilitated by Anne Blanchard
This will be a time of sharing our inquiries, insights and challenges, listening to others, or just knowing that we are in community as we find that undefended place within ourselves that longs to be free.

2:30 pm – 4:45 pm Awakening Together Radio Broadcast during the break.
This is the time designated as a break so that our Sanctuary Director may have the time to rest.

5:00 pm – The Mighty Companions – Revs. Glen Ganaway and Yolanda Mapes
Revs. Glen Ganaway and Yolanda Mapes, who are interfaith ministers, share a delightful, funny, and inspiring hour of A Course in Miracles. Come join in on the fun, the laughs, and the music while unlearning the ego through the lessons and chapters of ACIM.

6:00 pm – Enlightened Leadership: Building the Foundation – Facilitated by Revs. Jacquelyn Eckert & Rhoda Makled
The Tao Te Ching (The Way), written by Lao-Tzu (Old Teacher), is a guide to enlightened leadership. While most people believe effective leadership lies in knowledge and power, the Tao teaches it lies in emptiness, stillness, and presence.

Awakening Together’s President-Minister, Jacquelyn Eckert, and Vice President-Minister, Rhoda Makled share from the Tao as they contemplate its principles in order to fully embody them.

7:00 pm – Deepening Into Clarifying the Teachings Together – Facilitated by Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert
During this program, we will listen to a portion of each previously recorded “Clarifying the Teachings” program. Afterward, we will spend time contemplating and teaching ourselves what is most alive for us at the moment. We may also spend time practicing what Regina is teaching. And…we will start at the very beginning.

Bring your journals, openness, and curiosity as we explore what is most alive in us and ready to be seen. We hope you feel inspired to join.

8:00 pm – Sounds of Awakening – Facilitated by Rev. Yolanda Mapes
Rev. Yolanda’s guest is Michel Pascal. Michel is a transformational and spiritual multi-talented artist, meditation teacher, singer, composer, photographer, film director, and author whose programs are in Fortune 500 companies, in prisons, and in his recent multimedia meditation performances at Carnegie Hall.

Michel is a Transformational Meditation Singer, one of only a handful in the world. He uses his voice and guided visualizations together to create a deep and visceral healing experience. Michel will be performing at Carnegie Hall on June 6, as he launches his transformative course: “100 Videos: Mastering Meditation Amidst Life’s Demands.” Discover how to meditate even when your mind is restless, your schedule is overwhelming, and daily pressures mount.

Before moving to the US, Michel Pascal called the Kopan Monastery in the Himalayas, home. To this day he cherishes his close relationship and dedicated study of 15 years with his mentor, the late Buddhist master Chepa Dorje Rinpoche. Now based in the US, Michel has performed in some of the major venues of America like Carnegie Hall in NYC, and Agape church in LA. His performances include some of the world’s most unique musicians and vocalists such as Myron McKinley from Earth Wind and Fire.

Rev. Yolanda is a trans femme genderqueer actor/singer/songwriter/performance artist & interfaith minister, originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama- The Hit Recording Capital of the World. Rev. Yolanda has been making music/theater/TV/film/performance art for well over 35 years, winning the NYC MAC Award twice and inducted into both the NY Blues Hall of Fame and The GLBT Hall of Fame. You can find out more about her and her music here: Yolanda.net

*Sanctuary closes at 9 pm ET/7 pm MT.

All Times are Eastern Standard Time – See helpful links below.

Enter the Sanctuary or see the complete listing of speakers.
All Times are Eastern Standard Time – See helpful links below.

How to Enter the Sanctuary

Awakening Together Internet Broadcast: Listen Live on AT Radio

What’s Happening in the Sanctuary ~ Saturday, June 10, 2023

June 9, 2023

All times are Eastern Standard Time. Look below for helpful links.

1:00 – 3:00 pm – Self-Inquiry Dyad Practice – Facilitated by Anne Blanchard

The practice is intensive, direct self-inquiry. The format is partner-assisted contemplation, commonly referred to as dyads, which means two.

The day is Saturday and the time of the practice is 1 to 3 PM ET. You can join for either the first hour, the second hour, or for both depending on the time available in your schedule.

If you are interested in exploring your own blocks to the awareness of love’s presence, to the Truth of what you are, you are warmly invited to join us.

No prior experience is necessary. An introduction and overview will be given at the beginning of each hour.

Enter the Sanctuary or see the complete listing of speakers.
All Times are Eastern Standard Time – See helpful links below.

How to Enter the Sanctuary

What’s Happening in the Sanctuary ~ Friday, June 9, 2023

June 8, 2023

All times are Eastern Standard Time. Look below for helpful links.

7:30-8:30 am – Being Aware of Awareness Meditation – Facilitated by Rhoda Makled
This program provides an opportunity to be in community with others who will to find that place of no place, that attention to our natural attentiveness, that innate humanness that can often be overlooked. Anne Blanchard facilitates this program on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:30 – 8:30 am ET by leading participants through gently guided Being Aware of Awareness meditation.

Enter the Sanctuary or see the complete listing of speakers.

All Times are Eastern Standard Time – See helpful links below.

How to Enter the Sanctuary

Awakening Together Internet Broadcast: Listen Live on AT Radio