Open Circle
Susa Silvermarie will present “The Fool’s Way to Joyful Aging” at the next meeting of Open Circle, Sunday, April 1, 10:30 a.m. on the patio of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS).
The Ojibwe translation for female elder is Mindi muyen (One Who Holds Things Together). Imagine what you might feel about aging if you grew up hearing every old woman referred to by a term that evokes status, strength, authority, sovereignty. Last year at Open Circle, Silvermarie read Mary Oliver poems, and this year she performs her own work showing how to use the Fool archetype to celebrate growing into our own skin – that is, to celebrate aging! Don’t miss the power of this spoken word performance.
Susa Silvermarie’s e-book, “Tales from My Teachers on the Alzheimer’s Unit,” is available on Amazon. She publishes in the Ojo del Lago and the Chapala Roll Call, and she facilitates a weekly write-to-a-prompt group at LCS. She is grateful to be in her second year as a permanent resident in Ajijic, writing poetry, fiction and essays at susaslivermarie.com.
For more information on Open Circle, see opencircle ajijic.org.
LCS Spanish classes
The Lake Chapala Society has announced its next round of Introduction to Spanish-language classes for members. This is a casual class offered for the beginner that covers the Spanish alphabet, simple vocabulary and phrases to use about town for shopping, and other useful information about lakeside and Mexican culture.
Classes begin Tuesday, April 3, and continue for three weeks at the LCS campus from noon to 1:30 p.m. and another class at 2 to 3:30 p.m.
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Sign up is available at the LCS office during regular office hours, Monday through Saturday. Or via lakechapalasociety.com.
Fundraiser
Viva Mexico restaurant in San Juan Cosala will host a dinner fundraiser for the Home for Abandoned and Elderly Women, Friday, April 6, 4 p.m. Tickets, 350 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Sunrise Restaurant, Viva Mexico and Lisa Le at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
New to Lakeside or Mexico?
Become a Lake Chapala Society member and sign up for their Introduction to lakeside seminar, April 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn all the basics: banking, shopping, restaurants, medical, getting around, entertainment, recreation for only 250 pesos. Sign-up at the service desk, or at lakechapalasociety.com.
LCS Wine Tasting
The Lake Chapala Society holds its third annual wine tasting event, Saturday April 7, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Tickets, 150 pesos for members, 180 pesos non-members and 200 pesos on the day of the event, are available at the LCS office.
Featured will be wineries from the Chile, Argentina, Spain, Mexico and the United States, with many varieties on display. Wines will be available for purchase and tastings are unlimited this year. Appetizers are included in the ticket price, accompanied by the sounds of Peter Moore.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Insight Meditation Community offers multiple opportunities each week for silent mediation. Sunday, April 1, a long meditation opportunity is offered from 9 a.m. until noon. Each session consists of three rounds of sitting meditation for 40 minutes followed by 20 minutes of walking meditation. Participants are welcome to come for all or just a portion of this extended practice period. Additional meditation periods are offered Monday at 9 a.m., Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m. All sessions are open to the public and chairs and cushions are provided.
During April, the Wednesday practice periods will be followed by brief video presentations from a series titled “Real Happiness.” Sharon Salzberg brings the topic to life in this series of practical teachings for these difficult times. Happiness that is not shaken by conditions begins with imagining that such stable and open happiness exists, and could exist for us. Meditation practice can play a large part in discovering a stable and open happiness that is not shaken by conditions. The practice of meditation is far simpler, more fun, less esoteric and much more relevant to the wide-ranging situations we encounter in everyday life than we might imagine. Meditation consists of practical tools to help deepen concentration, mindfulness and compassion. We rely on this depth when things change, when we feel out of control of events, and above all when we want a quality of happiness that is not so fragile, so dependent on shifting conditions.
The meditation center is located at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Ajijic. For more information, see heartofawareness.org.
Chapala meditation
Chapala Meditation Community is now offering silent mindfulness meditation in Chapala at Calle Cinco de Mayo 260 just north of Lopez Cotilla (brown door in white building). Times are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, beginning at 11 a.m. All are welcome. For more information, see chapalameditation.com.