Durham Relational Flow: Conscious Play & Authentic Relating - Every Sunday

Welcome to Durham Relational Flow & T-Group! We meet every Sunday - a great place to meet people & feel more connected.

We tend to have 8-12 attendees each week, regardless of what Eventbrite says.

In a Hurry? The Basics:

This is something you've never experienced before. We mix meditation with relating for a deep, intense experience. See below for details on what to expect.

We host an intro & warm-up each week for newcomers. Our Meetup has been meeting for over 10 years... it feels that good.

We alternate T-Group and Relational Flow every other Sunday evening for variety.

Want invites? Join our mailing list: Mailchimp

Our main community page is here on Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/ancevents/events/

Full Details:

Our community hosts two different playful group practices on alternating weeks. One is called T-Group and the other is called Relational Flow. The two practices build on each other - that is why your first-time ticket is a 2-pass. Please plan to come two weeks in a row!

Here is a description of each practice.

What is T-Group?

I've been practicing T-Group for 10 years, and some of the happiest moments of my life were in these small groups. It's a great practice to fill your tank before your workweek begins!

On the surface, T-Group is very simple... you sit in a small circle, and share spontaneously and freely:

Emotions & feelings

Desires

Sensations

Reactions

Feedback

However, something huge that often ties us up in knots is left out—our thoughts & opinions! This is what makes it both fun, and an interpersonal meditation practice. T-group is an easygoing, deep and transformational practice, and one of my favorite authentic relating practices.

We begin each session with a brief meditation and a ~20 minute intro to the practice before we dive in to the T-group relational meditation practice.

What is Relational Flow?

Relational Flow is a contemplative practice, where we meditate on our sense of connectedness in the group, with an intention to open toward each other. On the surface, the practice is very simple... you sit in a circle, and share spontaneously and freely:

Feelings
Desires
Feedback
Stories

However, we add something huge: a conscious, meditative focus on sharing only what increases the well-being of the group as a whole, which we call the Good, True & Beautiful. This is what makes it both fascinating, and a relational meditation practice.

We begin each session with a brief meditation and a ~20 minute intro before we dive in to the Relational Flow meditation practice.

If you're thinking about joining us, click "Attend" below!

How to RSVP

We offer drop-in, 10-pass, and monthly memberships.

For drop-in, please RSVP using Eventbrite (or let us know via Meetup that you'll bring $30 cash at the door). Make sure to join our Meetup--that's where you can see the list of who is coming.

Discounted 10-passes & memberships are here: https://www.navigatechange.org/tgroup/

You'll see our webpage also has other upcoming events, such as book study groups. Come join a vibrant community that has been around for over 12 years!

Please let us know you're coming, as space is limited! And thank you for supporting our efforts to bring in-person authentic relating events to Durham!

Logistics

Doors open at 4:45. We begin at 5:00pm and end at 8:00pm. No entry permitted after 5:15pm. Please plan to stay for the entire session, as we do a grounding exercise at the end.

Please leave all food and drink other than water in a container with a lid in your car to respect the healing center we will be renting. Let's leave the space sparkling clean and full of good energy for the healing sessions happening early the next day!

The group is encouraged to self-organize to go out together afterwards for a walk or for snacks at the Durham Coop, where there is plenty of seating.

Who Is This For?

Those who join us tend to be brave—authentic relating requires a level of openness uncommon in our society. Are you willing to be in the presence of all emotions—including the ones we usually avoid like shame, jealousy, anger, sadness? Are you willing to express yourself openly and receive authentic feedback from others? If you have this level of bravery, then this event is for you.

We expect all participants to be fully responsible for their own physical, emotional, and psychological well-being during these events: Honor Self. And we invite all participants to respect each others' boundaries and be kind: Honor Other.

If this is for you, we look forward to meeting you!

To help us experience as much joy and as little drama as possible, we've created a Disclosure & Waiver detailing these expectations of self-responsibility & kindness to others, including the known risks of the practice and guidelines for conflict resolution. Your registration for this event means you have read and agree to the terms of this waiver, including the agreement to fully resolve any disputes related to this event using community conflict mediation. You can find our invitation toward diversity & inclusion on the same page.

We invite you to join a 10-year-old community and experience not just the depth possible in an evening of authentic relating, but the sense of soul-enlivening community available for all who play, relate with us over the long term.

And don't forget to Join Our Mailing List:

https://mailchi.mp/navigatechange.org/authentic_relating

About Your Host:

Benji Whitehurst, M.A.

Your Host:
Benji Whitehurst, M.A. studied Transpersonal Counseling Psychology at Naropa University. Benji also certified in Integral Circling through the Boulder Integral Center. He has been practicing T-Group and other Authentic Relating practices since 2012. Benji has led more than 150 Authentic Relating workshops and retreats in the Raleigh-Durham area since 2016.

Interested in Relationship Coaching? Set up a 15-minute Coaching Q&A call with Benji using this link: https://navigatechange.as.me/FAQ. Benji specializes in friendship and loneliness coaching - including if you're lonely within your current relationship.

Also glad to answer any questions you're having about T-Group, our upcoming retreats, or our courses!