What if I told you there’s a solution to that inescapable stress that you’re feeling? That there’s a group on campus that promotes compassion and acceptance towards others, and mindfulness in everyday life? It’s in the Spiritual Center, right beneath our noses: the Circle of Compassion.
The Circle of Compassion is a student-run organization that aspires to foster a sense of compassion here at TCNJ, and guide people to become more mindful. Every Monday evening at 7pm, the Circle holds vegan friendly (and insanely delicious!) dinners where students can have open, thought-provoking discussions in a welcoming space. Meet a few new faces, open your mind to new perspectives, and enjoy some healthy food while you’re at it. There are different topics for each month: February is preparing for healthy relationships, March is community, and April is the natural world.
Other programs offered by the Circle include daily mindful meditation sessions. These sessions, led by students, consist of a 10-15 minute guided meditation and a closing reflection. We understand that not everyone has meditated before and welcome beginners and the experienced alike! I’m very proud to say that I just became a meditation leader, so stop by for a moment to relax and breathe. You can catch me and my stellar partner, Raekwon, in the chapel on Thursdays at 7pm. Prepare to be zenned. There is at least one session every weekday, because we know everyone has different schedules. We hope to see you there!
Weekly meditations are as follows:
Mondays 7:30am – 8am and 6:30pm – 7pm
Tuesdays 11:30am -12pm
Wednesdays 7pm – 7:30pm
Thursdays 7pm – 7:30pm
The Circle is a place where any and all are welcome. We hope to see you there!