The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (CMSC) invites you to experience the transformative practice of Mindful Self-Compassion. MSC public practice circles are live, online, and supported by your generous donations. CMSC offers these Circles of Practice to increase awareness of self-compassion and share the practice of self-compassion globally. Find the offering that best fits your practice below.

RETREAT

Finding Strength in Stillness

A Self-Compassion Silent Retreat for BIPOC Communities

Free Donation-Based 3-Hour Silent Retreat
Sunday, October 27, 2024
9:00 AM — 12:00 PM PT

Join on the hour for one, two, or three hours.

Register

retreat

Making Space for Ourselves and Others

U.S. Election Day Self-Compassion Silent Retreat

Free Donation-Based Silent Retreat
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
7:00 AM — 9:00 AM PT
4:00 PM — 6:00 PM PT

Join on the hour for one, two, three, or all four hours.

Register

Circles of Practice – Daily Public Offering

Daily 45-minute practice circles of Mindful Self-Compassion, Open to the Public.

Want to know who’s teaching today? You can view the teaching schedule here.

Learn More & Sign Up

MSC Graduate Circles of Practice

If you are an MSC Graduate, you are invited to join our free self-compassion practice circles created specifically for MSC Graduates (LOMSC 10-Week, MSC 8-Week, 5-Day Intensives).

Learn More & Apply

LGBTQIAP2S+ Circles of Practice – Weekly Public Offering

This global LGBTQIAP2S+ circle practices MSC together online weekly on Mondays at 6:00 AM Pacific Time.

Learn More & Sign Up

Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Circles of Practice - Weekly Public Offering

This global BIPOC circle practices MSC online together on Thursdays at 3:00 PM Pacific Time.

Learn More & Sign Up

Círculos de Práctica de MSC: Oferta Pública

El círculo de práctica global para hispanohablantes se reúne semanalmente los lunes de 12:30-13:15, hora del Pacífico.

Como es habitual, cada lunes, estas sesiones comenzarán a las 21:30 y finalizarán a las 22:15 (CEST)

  • 16, 23, 30 de Septiembre
  • 7, 14, 21, 28 de Octubre
  • 4, 11, 18, 25 de Noviembre
  • 2, 9, 16 de Diciembre

Como es habitual, cada lunes, estas sesiones comenzarán a las 21:30 y finalizarán a las 22:15 (CEST)

Learn More & Sign Up

Men’s Monthly Practice Group

This is an opportunity for all self-identified men to come together as a community to practice self-compassion, feel connected, and empowered. No meditation experience is required. All those that self-identify as men are welcome.

The Group meets the third Saturday of each month.

Learn More & Sign Up

SCHC Graduate Circles of Practice

If you are a Self-Compassion for Healthcare Graduate, you are invited to join our monthly offering. These 30-minute sessions will be hosted by certified SCHC teachers. The intention of these sessions is to deepen our learning and practice of self-compassion and connect with our healthcare colleagues in a supportive community.

Learn More & Sign Up

Support the Circles, Pay It Forward

This offering is made out of our sincere desire to support humankind.
We would ask that you consider, if you can, giving a contribution to CMSC so that we can continue to share self-compassion with the world. Follow this link to make a contribution of any amount, and we completely understand if this is not possible for you at this time.

Circles of Practice is a donation based program, supported by your generous contributions and sponsors including the Community for Deepening Practice (CDP). If you or your organization is interested in sponsorship, please contact us at hello@centerformsc.org

Community Agreements and Policies

Purpose of the Public Offering

Purpose of the Public Offering:  The purpose of these sessions, which are open to anyone, anywhere in the world, is to offer the resource of mindful self-compassion as widely as possible. We hope that participants will use the practices of mindful self-compassion in their daily lives and share them with others.

Please note that the session schedule is based on Pacific Time in the United States.  We will do our best to inform you when there is any change in the schedule.  You will only receive these notices if you have signed up. This also helps us to gauge the popularity of specific sessions 

What do I do when there is no Teacher?

WHAT TO DO WHEN THERE IS NO TEACHER:  We always do our best to make sure every session is led by one of our most experienced MSC teachers. Sometimes, there is no teacher present for the session. We apologize for that. When there is no teacher, we invite those who wish to sit together silently for 10-20 minutes or to listen to one of the approved MSC recording from the CMSC Soundcloud (only these recordings). We also invite you to leave the meeting and use that time for another self-compassionate activity offline.   

To preserve safety and well-being, no participant may lead the practice and no participant leads a discussion.Any participant who plays a recording for the group may begin by sharing these words:  “On behalf of CMSC, welcome to this practice session. No teacher is able to be present and these are our guidelines. We are all welcome and none of us is leading this session or leading a discussion.  We will play a recording from the approved list. Each of us is welcome to be here or welcome to leave and take loving care of ourselves in whatever way works best for that person.  Each of us is responsible for our own well being." 

Teacher guidelines:  We want you to be aware that we have asked teachers to guide practices from the mindful self-compassion course and practices relating to self-compassion only.

Empowered Self-Care and Emotional Safety Responsibility

EMPOWERED SELF-CARE AND EMOTIONAL SAFETY:  These sessions include participants from around the world including people located in dozens of different countries.  Participants are responsible to manage their own self-care, just as they already do in their daily lives.  The essence of self-compassion is giving yourself permission to have (even just a little) of what you need right now. Since we have all have different needs which also change from day to day, we encourage every participant to monitor your own safety and comfort. Our community is a global community of people from different countries all over the world with different cultures and very different needs. When a session is not offering what you need at the moment or when it does not feel safe to you, please give yourself permission to do whatever is best for you. Please give yourself permission, without self blame, to close up compassionately, leave the meeting and give yourself what you need; for example by using the time for any other offline self compassionate activity such as having a nice cup of tea, taking a walk, reading, listening to music, writing, singing, and so on.

Additional Information and Resources

  1. JOIN THE MSC COMMUNITY ON FACEBOOKClick here to join the global MSC public community on facebook to receive inspiring messages and share more with others about living with Mindful Self-Compassion.  This is also a space where you can sk questions and share concerns.  
  2. COORDINATORS & FEEDBACK:  When you have a question or concern, you can always email our volunteer coordinators for these sessions: Laila Narsi and Ben Weinstein at circlesofpracticepublic@centerformsc.org (Please remember that Laila and Ben are also volunteers!)
  3. SUPPORT THE CENTER:  It is an honor to offer these sessions to the world.  The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion is a non-profit with no full-time staff.  Should you feel the wish and are able to, please consider support the center by making a donation of any amount.  
  4. SHARE THE RESOURCE:  Please let your family, friends, coworkers, and social networks know about this offering.  Let’s all share this wonderful resource with whoever needs it, wherever they are…