For those who are interested, I am sending along both
news (lots of good news on a few fronts) and also a
schedule for summer classes.

-Miriam Hall, herspiral@yahoo.com

1. News!
2. Schedule for Contemplative Writing
3. Schedule for Miksang/Contemplative Photography

As the classes increase in popularity, and I continue
to keep a small class size, pre-registration is
required, and as soon as you can, you should let me
know if you are even interested (even if you cannot
commit yet) in a class time. I am elated about the
growing desire/need/interest, but I would hate for you
to miss out because you put off getting back to me!

1. News!
Miksang spent a day on the front cover of the Chicag
Tribune's religion section this last Friday!
Interviews with yours truly, plus the Chicago teacher
David Schreier (my first instructor) and our senior
teacher John McQuade, accompany kids doing the first
ever kids class of Miksang!
Link: (Look for May 25, Friday, Miksang)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/religion/

In other news, I went to Tallahassee,FL this spring
and set seeds for a Miksang group there, which is now
very active on Flickr, and also did a writing retreat
both there and just outside of Spring Green, WI. The
retreats were all very intense and lots of fun - we'll
aim to do two a year here in WI, and I hope you can
join us next time, if you are interested.

Now on to classes...

2. Schedule for Contemplative Writing:

Contemplative Writing is a practice through which
writers can further deepen their relationship with
their process, and "non-writers" can further develop
their relationship with themselves. The classes are
limited to six students, and are intimate, fun and
heartfelt. Openings in these classes are somewhat
rare, as those who attend tend to stay for a long
time! So enter now if you can. Openings are now
available in the following time slots...

Wednesdays 9-11am (six weeks: June 13, 20, 27; July
11, 18, 25 - July 4th off)
Thursdays 4:30-6:30pm (six weeks: June 14, 21, 28;
July 12, 19, 26 - week of July 4th off)
Thursdays 7:30-9:30pm (six weeks: June 14, 21, 28;
July 12, 19, 26 - week of July 4th off)
Cost: 10$/class, or 60$ for whole session. Sliding
scale available for those in need - please let me know
ahead of time so I can adapt according to your needs.

3. Schedule for Miksang, Contemplative Photography:

Miksang is, as one recent participant called it "A Vat
of Happiness, Kindergarten all over again". Through
the camera, we study how our perceptions function at a
very basic, non-judgmental level. For more information
on the philosophy of Miksang, please visit
www.miksang.org.

Five-week course, covering Levels one and two of
Miksang, located at the Madison Shambhala Center, 408
S. Baldwin.
Five Saturdays in June, July - note two weeks "off)
during the class: June 16, 30 (no June 23) and July
14, 21, 28 (no July 7). Class runs from 10-12 in the
morning, and in addition to class, one should aim to
be shooting on their own outside of the class for an
hour each week.

Cost: 80$ for the class, 60$ for Shambhala members and
50$ for those repeating the class.