Winter at Holds the Moon Quan Yin Water Temple
“A student asked Baling,
‘What is Chan (Zen)?’
‘A silver bowl filled with snow.’”
—PZI Miscellaneous Koans Case 74a & Blue Cliff Record Case 13 (transl. by John Tarrant & Joan Sutherland)
Greetings, beloved community!
Blessed waxing moon and Solstice season from us here at Holds the Moon,
Thank you so much to our community for helping us bring this phase of Zendo & teahouse transformation into fruition, we are excited to welcome you all into the space this coming season for new dryland programming (below)!
We look forward to seeing you all here again soon.
-James Jishin Anthony & Seh-reum Tom, Temple Co-stewards
WINTER EVENTS
From Dirt Faery to Selkie-A Dance of Awakening
JANUARY 10 · 2:30-4pm
Our beloved community member Monnie Reba is offering their solo performance piece titled From Dirt Faery to Selkie-A Dance of Awakening in the new gathering space/Zendo/Teahouse at Holds the Moon
Asking for $5-$20 donation to go to Holds the Moon
NOTAFLOF
To pay $5, use code WATER5
To pay $10, use code WATER10
To pay $15, use code WATER15
Floating Afterparty for: From Dirt Faery to Selkie-A Dance of Awakening
JANUARY 10 · 5-7pm
This will be the floating afterparty for Monnie Reba's: From Dirt Faery to Selkie-A Dance of Awakening, loosely facilitated by Monnie Reba
Sliding scale $20-40
NOTAFLOF
To pay $20, use code FLOAT20
To pay $30, use code FLOAT30
water babies: a monthly queer circle
Every 1st Thursday
JANUARY 1 (*New Years Edition*), FEBRUARY 5 · 7-10 PM
Facilitated by Tanner Montierth (featured in our practitioner highlight below!)
$55-$22 sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)
To pay $44, use code WATER44
To pay $33, use code WATER33
To pay $22, use code WATER22
intermediate-advanced aquatic dance lab series
Every 1st Monday
JANUARY 5 · 6-9 PM
Waterdancing as healing play
Guided by Keith Hennessy and supported by Kriss Rulifson
From meditative float to solo, duet, and group dancing. We’ll explore the relationship of tentacles (limbs) to core, water as a dancing partner, and the healing potentials of play.
This experimental lab space welcomes aquatic dancers with existing experience to focus on specific research themes in warm water contact improv with guidance from experienced aquatic dancers and facilitators. Each session will be guided by rotating facilitators from Holds the Moon and visiting guest teachers.
6pm: Arrival/Opening
6:30pm: Lab
8:30pm: Closing/Departure
$70-$30 sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)
To pay $50, use code WATER50
To pay $30, use code WATER30
the water knows us: a monthly QTBIPOC/PGM circle
JANUARY 9, FEBRUARY 13 · 7:30-10 PM
Facilitated by Seh-reum Tom
$55-$22 sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)
To pay $44, use code WATER44
To pay $33, use code WATER33
To pay $22, use code WATER22
beginner aquatic dance series
Every 3rd Monday
JANUARY 19, FEBRUARY 16 · 6-9 PM
This space welcomes those new to aquatic dance to learn the basics of warm water contact improv and begin to develop familiarity and attunement in the water with guidance from experienced aquatic dancers and facilitators. Each session will be guided by rotating facilitators from Holds the Moon and visiting guest teachers.
6pm: Arrival/Opening
6:30pm: Class
7:30pm: Jam
8:30pm: Closing/Departure
$70-$30 sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)
To pay $50, use code WATER50
To pay $30, use code WATER30
pouring in: a birthworkers aquatic circle
Every 3rd Wednesday
JANUARY 21, FEBRUARY 18 · 6-9 PM
this is a space open to non-aquatic birthwork practitioners (doulas, midwives, nurses, etc) to be held in the water in a circle of peer support, facilitated by a group of rotating aquatic dance and bodywork practitioners and facilitators who have backgrounds in birthwork
~a space to fill your own cup~
$40 (NOTAFLOF)
weekly sitting meditation (dry-land)
EVERY TUESDAY · 6-7:30 PM in the Zendo*
Sitting meditation with James in the Pacific Zen Institute style: some simple instruction, a koan for the group, some silent meditation, and then some conversation and the four vows. We will be gathering in person and virtually joining David Weinsteins’s weekly zoom Koan meditation group. (www.pacificzen.org)
*free/dana based by donation
Intro to Aquatic Peer-to-Peer Bodywork Class (Triad Round)
EVERY SATURDAY · 10 AM-1 PM
Together, the group (up to 6) will explore aquatic somatic connection variously, including: solo, in triads, pairs, and the whole group, supporting and holding each other in bodywork mode--and also interacting in contact improv dance mode. Blissful to receive, delightful to give, and always amazing to connect, transform, and integrate in the moment. This is a non-professional, peer-to-peer practice of connection w/friends & family based on James's original training in the Watsu Round and blending elements of Healing Dance and Aguahara.
$40 (NOTAFLOF)
age 55+ Intro to Aquatic Peer-to-Peer Bodywork Class (Triad Round)
EVERY TUESDAY · 10AM-1PM
Together, the group (up to 6) will explore aquatic somatic connection variously, including: solo, in triads, pairs, and the whole group, supporting and holding each other in bodywork mode--and also interacting in contact improv dance mode. Blissful to receive, delightful to give, and always amazing to connect, transform, and integrate in the moment. This is a non-professional, peer-to-peer practice of connection w/friends & family based on James's original training in the Watsu Round and blending elements of Healing Dance and Aguahara.
$40 (NOTAFLOF)
clarity, consent & curiosity: aquatic container culture & care pt. 1
JANUARY 18 · 2-5 PM
*while this is a workshop offered as a requirement for new facilitators & practitioners before sharing their practice here in the temple, it is also open to any participants who are interested in embodied consent practices within aquatic work
please take part 1 before taking part 2
(This workshop is influenced and inspired by the Wheel of Consent® as developed by Dr. Betty Martin. We have trained with the School of Consent and have permission to share these practices, but are not yet certified facilitators. For more information visit www.schoolofconsent.org.)
$111-$55 sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)
To pay $99, use code WATER99
To pay $77, use code WATER77
To pay $55, use code WATER55
clarity, consent & curiosity: aquatic container culture & care pt. 2
FEBRUARY 15 · 2-5 PM
*while this is a workshop offered as a requirement for new facilitators & practitioners before sharing their practice here in the temple, it is also open to any participants who are interested in embodied consent practices within aquatic work
please take part 1 before taking part 2
(This workshop is influenced and inspired by the Wheel of Consent® as developed by Dr. Betty Martin. We have trained with the School of Consent and have permission to share these practices, but are not yet certified facilitators. For more information visit www.schoolofconsent.org.)
$111-$55 sliding scale (NOTAFLOF)
To pay $99, use code WATER99
To pay $77, use code WATER77
To pay $55, use code WATER55
PRACTITIONER/FACILITATOR SPOTLIGHT!
(each newsletter we highlight one of the aquatic practitioners or facilitators in our community directory)
Tanner (they/them)
At the Holds the Moon Quan Yin Water Temple, Tanner (they/them) offers Aguahara sessions as a profoundly nourishing water therapy and gateway to deep relaxation, emotional release, and embodied presence. With seven years of private bodywork experience (trigger point therapy, shiatsu, thai massage, biogeometric integration, craniosacral therapy, and Reiki), they weave practiced traditions into each session, allowing the water to guide what is needed in the moment.
Each session is a co-creation—an intuitive dance between stillness and movement, holding and release. As the water supports you, you are invited to listen deeply, to move as you feel called, and to let your body’s wisdom lead the way.
To book, please email Tanner at tannermontierth@gmail.com
COMING SOON !
Keep an eye out for more new offerings emerging this coming year
Sessions
For 1:1, 2:2, or 2:1 aquatic bodywork sessions, you may book with James and Seh-reum here on Acuity
If you are interested in receiving discounted sessions from student practitioners, or if you yourself are a new practitioner interested in joining our practice groups, or for general inquiries, please fill out our google form here.
We are diligently working toward our goals for this year and are open to receiving community support toward them:
to continue making the temple more accessible for community members with mobility access needs, including remodeling the garage to have an accessible bathroom and kitchen, and to be an expanded dry-land temple gathering meditation space, apothecary & teahouse;
getting grant funding to subsidize our discounted community offerings and worktrade program to continue to make the pool more financially accessible;
supporting training for those who historically have had less access to aquatic work;
updating & developing community accountability, safety, emergency preparedness protocols
urban beekeeping and further care for the temple garden
Many hands & hearts make this work possible and we thank you for supporting us in all the ways you do! We welcome donations to help us sustain our work in the seasons to come so we can continue to offer this as a sacred space of refuge in these times of great collective uncertainty and possibility.
with love,
Seh-reum & James at Holds the Moon Temple
