The big story this newsletter was solely going to be about Pilgrimage, however, with COVID-19 taking over everyone's thoughts, we didn't want to give this topic up, but instead we thought we'd add in a little COVID-19 related content. First though let's start this newsletter with some practice tips. We are sharing more practice ideas for those in lockdown on our new twitter page so why not follow us. This one is from one of our favourite meditation teachers; Michael Stone.  Who once said

"Mindfulness is intimacy —

to really connect with life in a deep way, to see it clearly for what is."

This is a short video, on youtube, in which Michael gives his tips as to the differences between Mindfulness and Concentration. We highly recommend checking this out, and also watching his many other teachings on youtube and on his website. He was an astonishingly good teacher. 

2020 a Year of Mindful Pilgrimage

Many readers will be aware that we see Pilgrimage as an important approach to Mindfulness; encompassing quiet contemplation, walking, and spiritual reflection, as well as a deep sense of place, landscape, and connection to history. We also would define the word ‘museum’ in the widest definition to include all heritage assets; inclusive of Cathedrals.

Cathedrals stand in the landscape a constant presence, good and bad, throughout times of change, today they serve large audiences, many of whom do not belong to churches, because so many come just to explore or, seek comfort, encouragement, hope, peace, new perspectives, and wellbeing.  They are places of spirituality, prayer, safety, stability, and sanctuary. 2020 will see a remarkable number of individual cathedral anniversaries and initiatives that will help to tell their stories, past and present.  Many cathedrals are already planning major celebrations – Canterbury, Peterborough, Portsmouth with the anniversary of Thomas Becket, Lincoln Cathedral with 800 years of St Hugh and Salisbury commemorates the 800th anniversary of the founding of its city and its iconic cathedral. St Edmundsbury celebrates the 1,000 year anniversary of the Abbey, and Coventry Cathedral will remember the 80th anniversary of the bombing of the old cathedral during the Blitz.

Moreover, the Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project, carried out by the Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture at the University of York, showed the opportunities and challenges facing cathedrals, and its research conclusions are being implemented, both nationally and locally. 

The really great news is that the Association of English Cathedrals has been working with the British Pilgrimage Trust so each cathedral now has at least one walking pilgrimage route to the cathedral.  The routes vary from an afternoon or day’s walk to those which take longer.  Many are based on historic pilgrimage routes but others are new. So once the lock down ends why not get out there and explore these pilgrimage routes as a form of Mindfulness in these unique heritage assets. If cathedrals aren't your think, how about applying the same ideas to a pilgrimage to a media site?

But you don't have to wait until then. If you follow the British Pilgrim Trust on Instagram, they're organising occasional online pilgrimages. If you help manage any site of pilgrimage there is an online project to monitor the effects of COVID-19 upon sacred shrines and site that you may be interested in taking part in. 

Should Wellbeing be political?

Suzanne Moore argues quite rightly that wellbeing is a political issue “if optimism is contagious, so is pessimism”. She says that “the infrastructure that provides the conditions for happiness have been decimated: community centres and youth clubs and schools (as something other than exam factories). […] The organisations that do provide social value are small, local and arise organically, such as volunteer-run cafes and community gardens.” This piece does give museums something to think about when we talk about political neutrality and/or social justice in museums, are we talking about happiness? And when we advocate for museums in the political sphere are we considering happiness? When we do come out of Lockdown we can be fairly sure that our collective Wellbeing will be an issue for all of society, and museums may have a crucial role to play.    

Some News:

Not all alone time is good

Many of us involved in mindfulness and meditative practices crave time alone, away from the hustle and bustle of the world, a time to reconnect with ourselves. However, it is important to remember that for many loneliness is a real concern and point of crisis. The Government has published their January 2020 Loneliness Annual Report.

One of the key elements highlighted is growing people’s sense of belonging; this is where museums, especially in their Wellbeing programming, could play a real role. Mindful awareness of community needs is a serious practice that museums could take up.

During the lockdown the issue of loneliness has also be raised, and many including AGE UK, are creating networks of connection, and many of the Mutual Aid groups are focusing as much on connection as they are on essential supplies. 

Yarpole celebrates 10 years
Strictly speaking, this isn’t mindfulness or museum related, residents in a Herefordshire village are celebrating running their post office and local shop for 10 years. The community shop was set up in Yarpole after the local store closed. Originally it traded in the pub, then moved into St Leonard's Church where it is still thriving. We include this as a meditation prompt, to ask what service/s could museums offer our communities?

Help Decide UK Research Priorities

Researchers on Wellness… Prof Helen Chatterjee (UCL), Dr Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt (Kings College, London), and Dr Linda Thomson (UCL) are conducting research on behalf of the AHRC to develop research priorities around inequalities across the UK… help them on this surveymonkey! (or button below).

Save the Date

POSTPONED

Free symposium on Spiritual Tourism in Wales. 6^th April 2020,

The aim of this symposium is to enable participants to learn about the various spiritual / faith tourism / pilgrimage initiatives under way or being planned and to draw up an action plan for making more of the potential for spiritual tourism in Wales. 
The Symposium will be held on 6 April 2020, at the University of South Wales Conference Centre, Llantwit Road, Treforest, Pontypridd CF37 1DL. For further information, contact Christopher.Catling@rcahmw.gov.uk