The Turning World:

A Soulful Journey through the

Cycle of the Seasons

A 4-Month Online Course 

Fall Session: September – December  2024

Led by Tania Casselle with guest teacher Sean Tetsudo Murphy, Sensei.

There is more to the cycle of seasons than mere weather changes.
A seasonal rhythm pulses beneath the noise and busyness of our modern life… a continuous drum beat… a heartbeat calling us home. However, it is too easy to lose touch with that heartbeat in our fast-paced world. Come join us and sip from the wisdom of the seasons!

Our 4-month circle will lead us on a journey to deepen our intimacy with the natural cycle of the changing seasons, exploring the way our inner world is in relationship with our outer world.

And in these pre-election months in the USA, it’s more important than ever to keep a sense of balance and inner awareness. Can we maintain a deeper connection to our own hearts and the heart of the natural world amid the noise and polarities of the media and social media?

Our circle will meet once a month by Zoom, you will receive email guidance and inspiration, and you can also share your experiences with others in a private Facebook group. (More details below.)

Many participants in our last 4-month cycle of this group expressed great breakthroughs and realizations in their inner understanding, including processing grief, loss, and working with life challenges, as well as a sense of enhanced creativity and engagement with life.

This is not a therapy group… but you’ll have the opportunity to explore your emotions, your body, your insights and inner rhythms, delving as deep as you wish into your soul connections with the progression of the seasons.

This is not a writing group… but we will use journaling and writing prompts to tune in to the authentic voice coming through us and to explore our true heart responses as we go along. We will also explore other creative approaches including drawing, music, collage, or taking photos on our cell phones to connect with the pulse of the season.  (Of course, you never have to share any of your creative explorations with us if you don’t want to! This is intended to be a fun and heartfelt exploration, not homework!)

This is not a meditation group… but we will draw on mindfulness and other contemplative practices to help us drop below the surface of our busy lives to connect with the deeper river that flows and sustains us.

Participants in a previous cycle of this course said:

“The Turning World ended up being just what I needed and at the perfect time. The combination of materials and prompts, along with the monthly zoom meetings helped me move forward, with a real sense of direction, after feeling like I’d been running in circles for quite some time.
It was obvious from all the information in the first email, that there would be chances to not just reflect, but to take action too. Having loose guidelines allows people to make it whatever they like and to move at a pace all your own.
Tying things in with the seasons gave a unique perspective and an added layer of depth to everything I learned.
There was more wisdom given through this course than I could’ve imagined possible.”

“The Turning World offers inspiration, practices, and community. Tania creates a safe and connected space where everything’s invitational. For me, The Turning World was about self-expression, reflection, creativity, and action. I deeply value Tania’s lived experience — internal and external — and loved connecting with the outdoors and seasons with intention. Thank you, Tania!”

“This inspiring journey through the cycle of the seasons provided me with the deepened connection to the natural world I’d been craving – psychologically, spiritually, and creatively, with more than a hint of magic!“

“I’ve loved the Turning World course. So often, New Year’s resolutions suggest we need to roar into the new year with plans for conquering the world. This course prompted me to take a very different approach, which was much more relevant to me in 2024, of stillness and observation. Tania has created a very thoughtful and inspiring course that encourages us to dive into our creativity month by month. It has stacks of sources of inspiration, including music and quotes, and is supplemented by supportive monthly online chats. I highly recommend this course if you want to discover how the seasons can inspire you to explore your creativity in new and unexpected ways.“

HOW IT WORKS:

* MONTHLY EMAIL GUIDANCE AND INSPIRATION: At the beginning of the month from September through December you will receive an email with our monthly theme, plus inspirations, journal writing prompts, suggestions for creative explorations, and mindfulness practices to deepen your connection with the ongoing cycles in both your outer and inner world. (If you join later in the cycle, you will receive all emails sent out so far.)

* ZOOM CIRCLE GATHERING: Then, mid-month, our circle will gather for a 2-hour Sunday Zoom meeting from 1 – 3 pm US Eastern Time (New York time) to discuss the themes of the month and to share your own process as you deepen your connection to the turning world through its seasonal changes. Our Zoom meetings will include more mindfulness practices and creative exercises, and time for breakout rooms for more in-depth connection.

If you need to miss a gathering, the Zoom meetings will be recorded and available to you to see for approximately 4 weeks, until the following meeting.

The dates for the next cycle from September to December will be on Sundays:
– September 22
– October 20
– November 17
– December 15

The time is 1 – 3 pm US Eastern Time (New York time.)
That is 10 am – noon Pacific / 11 am – 1 pm Mountain / Noon – 2 pm Central.
UK time = 6 – 8 pm and Western Europe = 7 – 9 pm

Or convert to your time zone using Eastern Time in the bottom right box to compare with your home location.

* PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP to provide space for you to connect with other members of our small community and share your reflections and discoveries.

(After 4 months you will have the option to renew for the next 4-month cycle.)

SLIDING SCALE FEE:  The suggested fee for the four months is $40 to $140.
Please choose what works for you in that range, payable by PayPal, Venmo or mailed check.
However, nobody is turned away for lack of funds. If the suggested fee range for the four months is too much for your budget, we are glad for you to offer what you can!

Read about the instructors here

Cancellation policy: If it turns out that you don’t enjoy this group as much as we hope you will, cancel by the end of the first month (Sept 30) for a full refund.

HOW TO REGISTER:

PLEASE EMAIL ME AT tacasselle@gmail.com
Tell me:
A) Your full name
B) Your location (city/state/country) so I know what time zone you are on
C) Whether you want to pay by PayPal, Venmo or Check.

I will reply within 24 business hours and send you the relevant info for payment.
Thank you!

If you can’t join the September – December circle but would like to be alerted about the next cycle running from January – April, please email me at: Tacasselle@gmail.com.

THE INSTRUCTORS

Group Leader Tania Casselle holds a Masters in Transpersonal Psychotherapy and follows a contemplative path in the Zen Buddhist and Christian mystic traditions. Tania is on the board and faculty of the nonprofit Sage Institute for Creativity & Consciousness. She is an alumnus of Richard Rohr’s Living School for Action and Contemplation, and a guide and facilitator for the Center for Action and Contemplation’s 2024 Essentials of Engaged Contemplation course.

Professionally, Tania has been a writer and editor for 30 years, published in numerous books, magazines, newspapers and online media in the US, Europe and Asia. She is a former committee chair for the American Society of Journalists & Authors. Her nonfiction, fiction, poetry and radio work have been recognized in numerous awards and anthologies. As a writing coach and teacher, she works with people individually and in group seminars in person and online. Tania helps writers on every level, teaching not just the craft and business of writing, but also exploring the deeper creative and spiritual impulse, helping writers free their natural writing voices and navigate internal blocks. A Brit from London, Tania lives in New Mexico.

Guest Teacher Sean Murphy is a 2018 National Endowment of the Arts Creative Writing Fellow and an authorized Zen teacher (Sensei) in the American White Plum Lineage. He is a member of the Spiritual Directors International Coordinating Council. His One Bird, One Stone: 108 Contemporary Zen Stories (Hampton Roads 2013), won the 2014 International Book Award in the Eastern Religions category. He is the award-winning author of three novels with Bantam Dell Books, receiving the Hemingway Award for a First Novel for his The Hope Valley Hubcap King, the 2009 National Press Women’s Communication Award for best novel for The Time of New Weather, and the 2017 William Faulkner Wisdom Award for novel-in-progress for his current project, Wilson’s Way. He is the founder of the nonprofit Sage Institute for Creativity & Consciousness, which hosts an innovative meditation leaders training program. He teaches writing and meditation at UNM-Taos.  Sean’s website: murphyzen.com