Meditating Together for Venezuela
A guided online meditation in support of Venezuela (guiada en español).
Monday 21 September, 7pm (Sydney time) | 45 minutes | Zoom | AUD $35 ($20 of every ticket is donated to Fundación Veportimismo, supporting visually impaired Venezuelans affected by the earthquakes.)
Venezuela continues to be on my heart. The earthquakes have left communities in ongoing need, and many of us, whether we're Venezuelan, love someone who is, or simply feel drawn to this country, are still carrying the weight of what has happened.
This gathering is a compassionate space to sit together and offer our care to those affected, and to hold our own hearts too. If you are Venezuelan, if you love someone who is, or if your heart opens for a country still in pain, you are welcome here.
You don't need any meditation experience. You only need to come as you are.
A note on language: This gathering will be guided in Spanish, in honour of the community it most directly serves. You're warmly welcome to attend regardless of your Spanish level, the practice moves through the body, breath, and heart, and language becomes less important than presence.
Why I have created this space
Meditation has helped me through the most difficult times of my life, and it continues to offer me a place where I can meet my feelings and emotions with compassion and without judgment. It lets them be as they are, and it opens a little more space for them to move, which brings some relief. With my heart in my hand, this is the only way I feel I can truly contribute in a meaningful way, beyond a monetary contribution.
What this guided meditation offers
Guided group meditation has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety and anger, and to deepen our sense of connection to others, whether we meet in person or online. When we calm our own nervous systems and meet our grief with care, we have something real to offer the people we love.
This is also a space to hold the guilt many of us are carrying. The guilt of being safe when others are not. Of being far away. Of going about our day while people we love are sitting in fear and loss. That guilt is valid, and so is your pain. You don't have to earn the right to grieve.
We cannot fix what has happened. We can refuse to look away, and we can practise meeting it with an open heart. That itself is a form of contribution.
Where your contribution goes: Fundación Veportimismo
For 9 years, Fundación Veportimismo has supported people with visual impairment in Venezuela, helping them regain their independence, access education and training, and be fully included in society.
After the earthquakes, many visually impaired people were left extremely vulnerable. For someone who cannot see, losing the familiar reference points of their surroundings means losing much of their independence.
Veportimismo is reaching them directly with food, clean drinking water, medications (especially for eyesight, hypertension and diabetes), mobility canes, and other essential supplies.
Their message to us: "Please don't forget us. Don't leave us alone."
Every ticket to this gathering supports their work directly.
The details
When: Monday 21 September, 7pm (Sydney time)
Where: Zoom (link sent to you after you register)
Cost: AUD $35 ($20 donated to Fundación Veportimismo)
Duration: 45 minutes
Language: Guided in Spanish (all welcome)
Bring: A private space, and headphones if you have them
With so much love,
Carolina xx 🩵