Creativity, Meditation, and the Awakening Factors

Description

Price Options:

Basic rate: £99

Standard rate: £109

Supporter rate: £119

Early Bird Offer: As a special offer for anyone signing up to this course before 1 September 2026 we include a talk with Christina Feldman and John Peacock on The Seven Factors of Awakening

Theme

‘An artist expresses great vitality in the front but must have quietness in the back or they burn up.’  - Natalie Goldberg

Vitality (viriya) and quietness (passaddhi) are two of the awakening factors that nourish the art of our dharma practice. Our lives and our world call us to adapt, imagine, play, and invent, and for some this takes shape as creative expression alongside contemplative practice. Indeed, bhāvanā often translated as ‘meditation’ can also mean ‘to cultivate, develop, create’. 

With the awakening factors as a map, we’ll investigate how their warmer and cooler sides support practice and creativity, and lead us towards unbinding and freedom. We’ll explore how to bring lightness and joy to our creative and dharma paths, weathering the inner critic, and the storms of praise, blame, success, and failure.

Each session will include a reflection on the theme, a guided meditation, and group discussion. Participants will also receive suggestions for enquiry and practice between sessions.

Who is it for?

Everyone is welcome, whether you are a new or experienced practitioner, or seeking to re-invigorate your practice. You are also most welcome whether or not you consciously identify as a creative practitioner or artist.

Course content

Session One: Overview of the seven awakening factors, the nexus of the ‘first factor’ of sati/mindfulness, and the ‘cooler’ and ‘warmer’ trios. Practicing enquiry, curiosity, and courage. 

Session Two: Deepening joy and resilience in the midst of perfectionism and the critic. 

Session Three: Exploring collectedness, calm and equanimity in the service of letting go, generosity, and anattā (not-self).

What students say about River

‘It's felt very special to have taken part in this course, my appreciation and gratitude to River for running these nourishing sessions.’ 

‘I appreciated River's gentle and clear presentation. Her teaching was simple, practical and yet profound.’ 

‘The home practices were one of the most helpful parts of the course, in encouraging me to practice what River had suggested during the sessions, and having the opportunity to share this, and listen to others' experience in the following session.’

‘River’s teaching was clear and thoughtful, and follow-up questions helped to make the teachings practical and personal.’

‘I attended an online day, joining at 6 am from the US so I could practice with River and the community.   It was such a beautiful, peaceful, renewing experience.  I loved everything about the day--how it was paced, organized, and flowed.   The community that came together seemed to flow easily too.’

Jaya Rudgard says:

I'm delighted that River is offering this course through Bodhi College, bringing together the depth of her dharma with many years of experience as an accomplished practising writer. Whenever we teach together, as we have had the good fortune to do several times, I am struck by the authenticity, sensitivity and creativity of her teaching. These qualities are clearly evident in her poetry and writing. So, too, is her profound care for the world that manifests in the many ways she takes her practice beyond the meditation cushion. Combining investigation of the awakening factors with an exploration of our own creativity is an exciting idea. Whether or not anyone consciously identifies as an artist or creative of any kind I feel sure these sessions with River will enrich and revitalise their practice.

Event Details

Schedule

Three consecutive Tuesday evenings. 29th September, 6th October, 13th October 2026 - 18.30 – 20.30 UK time. 

Realtime attendance is encouraged, to support the container of community.

Cost:

  • The price includes a fee for the teachers, no additional dana will be requested. 
  • Possibility to pay a supporter rate by selecting the option available on the registration form.
  • If you are unable to afford the our basic course rate, please contact us here. We will make sure that no one is turned away because of lack of funds

Recordings:

We strongly encourage live attendance on this course.

If you are unable to attend the live session, the recordings will be shared following each session.

Suitability

All levels of experience are welcome.

Teachers:

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