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Mirror Meditation

Monday, September 12, 2016
6:30 PM–8:30 PM

Mirror meditation is quite literally an exercise in self-reflection. Scientists are finding that gazing at one’s reflection in the mirror without an agenda reduces stress, anxiety, and depression and increases self-compassion.

Tara Well, a professor of psychology at Barnard College and Columbia University, will lead this workshop in the ambience of the fourth floor gallery after hours. The workshop includes mingling exercises, background information on mirror gazing, a meditation session, and the chance for participants to share their experiences.

Dr. Well on mirror meditation:

“Some traditional forms of meditation involve gazing on a fixed point, known as a drishti. If you are a visual person, you may find that focusing on a still point makes it much easier to stay present than closing your eyes. In mirror meditation, you are your own focal point, and of course much more complex than a spot on the wall. Seeing your own image can evoke emotions and memories more readily than fixed gaze meditation. Your mind may drift but it always comes back to you in the mirror. Through mirror meditation, you come to realize that there is really no escape from yourself. If you do the mirror meditation regularly, you will confront yourself—your thoughts, emotions, hopes, and fears—seeing yourself actually experience these emotions can be incredibly transformative. You see your own joy and suffering and it evokes self-compassion.”

About the Speaker

Tara Well has over twenty years of experience in conducting research on what motivates us and influences our perceptions as well as extensive training in meditation, yoga, and other mind-body healing modalities. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) have funded her research on achievement motivation and autobiographical memory. She has served as an associate editor of The Journal of Research in Personality and as a consulting editor for the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Tickets: $30.00 (limited availability)

Member Tickets: $27.00

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