September 22nd, with special guest Alessandra Otero
What if your most powerful vehicles for mindfulness and meditation were the dimensions of aesthetic appreciation that move you most deeply: art, nature, music, films, books and more? This program explores exactly that, by using what already speaks to you as the foundation of a creative, integrated practice.
In time, you'll begin to discern and emulate the aspects that most resonate, and make a new relationship with what feels dissonant or out of reach. Through both, you can increase your appreciation and manifestation of creativity.
This is not an art class. You are not required to paint, sing, or produce anything. That said, if the content and practices move you to create, that would be even better.
Each session we use a chapter from Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being as our guiding text, but it’s OK if you haven’t read the book before attending.
Facilitators and participants alike will share experiences of working with art, aesthetics, and mindfulness. This is a participatory program built on collective reflection, nudging us towards greater playfulness and presence; towards becoming an artist of life.
This 75-minute session includes:
Opening reflections on key themes from Alessandra Otero and Lama Adam
Discussion of the “Nature as Teacher” chapter of Rick Rubin‘s "The Creative Act"
Shared dialogue around your experiences applying mindfulness to art, nature, and creative living
Practical insights you can bring to everyday life
About our guest
Alessandra Otero is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and librarian from Puerto Rico, now based in New York's Finger Lakes. Her creative practice explores the connection between our inner selves and the living world through natural pigments, intuitive mark-making, and meditative forms. Inspired by plants, place, and ancestral memory, her work invites reflection, care, and a deeper sense of belonging to the ecosystems around us.
Schedule
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 7pm–8:15pm Eastern time (via Zoom)
What You're Committing To
This session stands on its own—no commitment to attend future sessions. Some people come every month as part of the ongoing Creative Awakening series; others join for a single topic that speaks to them. You are welcome either way. For this session, we ask that you:
Participate thoughtfully in discussion, either by speaking or contributing in the chat. Much of the value comes from the richness and variety of perspectives that each person brings to the room.
Help create a respectful and confidential space for fellow group members
Apply whatever resonates in how you appreciate and engage creatively with your life
Registration Options
We want this program to remain accessible while supporting the ongoing charitable work of Mindfulness For Life.
Anchor Club Members — Free. Select the "Anchor Club Members" registration option. As this program exists to fund Mindfulness For Life's charitable mission, any additional contribution is warmly welcomed. We suggest $30 per session, though no amount is too small and none is required.
Not a member yet? Join the Anchor Club and attend this series at no additional cost:
After joining, simply return here and register using the free member option.
Non-Members — $30. Want to give more? Sponsor, Patron, and Benefactor tiers are available for those with the means to contribute additional support. These donations help us provide free and low-cost mindfulness training to frontline caregivers and community advocates.
PLEASE NOTE: Registration closes one half hour before the program’s start time.
A note on experience
All experience levels are welcome, including beginners. Our focus is on the applied practice of mindfulness—especially as it relates to aesthetic appreciation and creative living. Though we will not be teaching formal meditation techniques, we're confident this will be meaningful and accessible wherever you are in your practice.
September 22nd, with special guest Alessandra Otero
What if your most powerful vehicles for mindfulness and meditation were the dimensions of aesthetic appreciation that move you most deeply: art, nature, music, films, books and more? This program explores exactly that, by using what already speaks to you as the foundation of a creative, integrated practice.
In time, you'll begin to discern and emulate the aspects that most resonate, and make a new relationship with what feels dissonant or out of reach. Through both, you can increase your appreciation and manifestation of creativity.
This is not an art class. You are not required to paint, sing, or produce anything. That said, if the content and practices move you to create, that would be even better.
Each session we use a chapter from Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being as our guiding text, but it’s OK if you haven’t read the book before attending.
Facilitators and participants alike will share experiences of working with art, aesthetics, and mindfulness. This is a participatory program built on collective reflection, nudging us towards greater playfulness and presence; towards becoming an artist of life.
This 75-minute session includes:
Opening reflections on key themes from Alessandra Otero and Lama Adam
Discussion of the “Nature as Teacher” chapter of Rick Rubin‘s "The Creative Act"
Shared dialogue around your experiences applying mindfulness to art, nature, and creative living
Practical insights you can bring to everyday life
About our guest
Alessandra Otero is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and librarian from Puerto Rico, now based in New York's Finger Lakes. Her creative practice explores the connection between our inner selves and the living world through natural pigments, intuitive mark-making, and meditative forms. Inspired by plants, place, and ancestral memory, her work invites reflection, care, and a deeper sense of belonging to the ecosystems around us.
Schedule
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 7pm–8:15pm Eastern time (via Zoom)
What You're Committing To
This session stands on its own—no commitment to attend future sessions. Some people come every month as part of the ongoing Creative Awakening series; others join for a single topic that speaks to them. You are welcome either way. For this session, we ask that you:
Participate thoughtfully in discussion, either by speaking or contributing in the chat. Much of the value comes from the richness and variety of perspectives that each person brings to the room.
Help create a respectful and confidential space for fellow group members
Apply whatever resonates in how you appreciate and engage creatively with your life
Registration Options
We want this program to remain accessible while supporting the ongoing charitable work of Mindfulness For Life.
Anchor Club Members — Free. Select the "Anchor Club Members" registration option. As this program exists to fund Mindfulness For Life's charitable mission, any additional contribution is warmly welcomed. We suggest $30 per session, though no amount is too small and none is required.
Not a member yet? Join the Anchor Club and attend this series at no additional cost:
After joining, simply return here and register using the free member option.
Non-Members — $30. Want to give more? Sponsor, Patron, and Benefactor tiers are available for those with the means to contribute additional support. These donations help us provide free and low-cost mindfulness training to frontline caregivers and community advocates.
PLEASE NOTE: Registration closes one half hour before the program’s start time.
A note on experience
All experience levels are welcome, including beginners. Our focus is on the applied practice of mindfulness—especially as it relates to aesthetic appreciation and creative living. Though we will not be teaching formal meditation techniques, we're confident this will be meaningful and accessible wherever you are in your practice.
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