Wild Heart Detroit

Olivia explores how mindfulness can change the way we show up in our relationships by helping us notice our feelings, reactions, and the stories we create around them. Through greater awareness, we can create more space between what we experience and how we respond—allowing for more honesty, compassion, and authenticity with ourselves and others. Prompt: If your house/residence was about to collapse, what would be the most important item to save (assuming humans, pets, IDs, and the like are safe)? Talk segment that complements the sit portion on Mindfulness in Relationships Group Date: 8/11/2026

Olivia explores how mindfulness can change the way we show up in our relationships by helping us notice our feelings, reactions, and the stories we create around them. Through greater awareness, we can create more space between what we experience and how we respond—allowing for more honesty, compassion, and authenticity with ourselves and others. Prompt: If your house/residence was about to collapse, what would be the most important item to save (assuming humans, pets, IDs, and the like are safe)? Sitting segment that complements the talk portion on Mindfulness in Relationships Group Date: 8/11/2026

This week Andrew explores the foundations of developing a meditation practice and why making space to sit consistently can become such an important part of our lives. Drawing from the Buddha’s teachings on mindfulness of breathing in the Ānāpānasati Sutta, Andrew offers a simple framework for practice—from establishing mindfulness and knowing the breath to settling into the body. Prompt: What was one moment over the past month when you were able to simply set things down and be present? Talk segment that complements the sit portion on Beginning Again Group Date: 8/4/2026

This week Andrew explores the foundations of developing a meditation practice and why making space to sit consistently can become such an important part of our lives. Drawing from the Buddha’s teachings on mindfulness of breathing in the Ānāpānasati Sutta, Andrew offers a simple framework for practice—from establishing mindfulness and knowing the breath to settling into the body. Prompt: What was one moment over the past month when you were able to simply set things down and be present? Sitting segment that complements the talk portion on Beginning Again Group Date: 8/4/2026

This week Olivia explores the idea that we often mistake holding on for safety, when in reality many of our deepest experiences of peace and freedom come from letting go. Drawing on both Buddhist teachings and everyday life, it suggests that happiness isn't something we have to chase or create, but something that naturally becomes visible as we release what causes suffering. Rather than making us care less, letting go allows us to love, live, and meet life with greater openness, ease, and joy. Prompt: No prompt :/ Talk segment that complements the sit portion on The Happiness of Letting Go Group Date: 6/30/2026

This week Olivia explores the idea that we often mistake holding on for safety, when in reality many of our deepest experiences of peace and freedom come from letting go. Drawing on both Buddhist teachings and everyday life, it suggests that happiness isn't something we have to chase or create, but something that naturally becomes visible as we release what causes suffering. Rather than making us care less, letting go allows us to love, live, and meet life with greater openness, ease, and joy. Prompt: No prompt :/ Sitting segment that complements the talk portion on The Happiness of Letting Go Group Date: 6/30/2026

This guided seated meditation invites us to ground in the body, notice what is being held, and gently explore the possibility of softening. Through awareness of breath, sensations, thoughts, and emotions, we practice recognizing grasping without needing to fix, suppress, or feed it. The practice also invites us to recognize our capacity for freedom: the possibility of knowing difficult experience without being completely bound by it. This meditation supports non-grasping, emotional presence, nervous system settling, and small moments of inner release. Prompt: No Prompt :/ Sitting segment following with a guide for walking meditation Group Date: 6/23/2026

In this third talk of Wild Heart Detroit’s June series, The Freedom of Non-Grasping , Andrew explores the teaching of “attending to the Deathless” through the story of Anuruddha and Sāriputta from The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. This talk looks at how even sincere spiritual practice, healing work, identity, community, and service can become places where the mind creates “me” and “mine.” Rather than rejecting practice, the invitation is to see when the path itself becomes another identity project, and to gently turn toward a deeper freedom that is not dependent on becoming, achievement, or self-improvement. Prompt: What is an identity you find yourself “stuck” to? Being a peace-maker? Being the reliable one? Talk segment that complements the sit portion on The Freedom of Non-Grasping Group Date: 6/16/2026

In this third talk of Wild Heart Detroit’s June series, The Freedom of Non-Grasping , Andrew explores the teaching of “attending to the Deathless” through the story of Anuruddha and Sāriputta from The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro. This talk looks at how even sincere spiritual practice, healing work, identity, community, and service can become places where the mind creates “me” and “mine.” Rather than rejecting practice, the invitation is to see when the path itself becomes another identity project, and to gently turn toward a deeper freedom that is not dependent on becoming, achievement, or self-improvement. Prompt: What is an identity you find yourself “stuck” to? Being a peace-maker? Being the reliable one? Sitting segment that complements the talk portion on The Freedom of Non-Grasping Group Date: 6/16/2026

In this second talk of our Nibbāna series, we explore a powerful image from the Buddha’s teachings: an island in the midst of a flood. Through reflections on refuge, belonging, and letting go, we consider where true safety can be found when life feels uncertain and overwhelming. Prompt: When it feels like you’re drowning in life, what is your life raft? Talk segment that complements the sit portion on the Island Within Group Date: 6/9/2026

In this second talk of our Nibbāna series, we explore a powerful image from the Buddha’s teachings: an island in the midst of a flood. Through reflections on refuge, belonging, and letting go, we consider where true safety can be found when life feels uncertain and overwhelming. Prompt: When it feels like you’re drowning in life, what is your life raft? Sitting segment that complements the talk portion on the Island Within Group Date: 6/9/2026

In this opening talk of Wild Heart Detroit’s June series, The Freedom of Non-Grasping, Andrew explores Nibbāna through one of its most practical images: the cooling of the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion. Drawing from The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, this talk looks at how those fires show up in everyday life as craving, resistance, anxiety, comparison, control, and self-judgment, and how freedom begins when we learn to see grasping clearly without adding more fuel. Cooling is not numbness or indifference, but the possibility of caring, responding, and living without being consumed. Prompt: What movie scene represents grasping in your mind? Talk segment that complements the sit portion on Cooling the Fires Group Date: 6/2/2026

In this opening talk of Wild Heart Detroit’s June series, The Freedom of Non-Grasping, Andrew explores Nibbāna through one of its most practical images: the cooling of the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion. Drawing from The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, this talk looks at how those fires show up in everyday life as craving, resistance, anxiety, comparison, control, and self-judgment, and how freedom begins when we learn to see grasping clearly without adding more fuel. Cooling is not numbness or indifference, but the possibility of caring, responding, and living without being consumed. Prompt: What movie scene represents grasping in your mind? Sitting segment that complements the talk portion on Cooling the Fires Group Date: 6/2/2026

This week Olivia explores how relationships can stir up fear, control, people pleasing, and self-abandonment — and how mindfulness helps us stay connected to ourselves through it all. Together we’ll reflect on boundaries, compassion, and what it means to loosen our grip instead of holding on so tightly. Prompt: Is there anything in your life that you say yes to, when you want to say no? If so, what is it? Talk segment that complements the sit portion on Relationships, Boundaries, Letting Go Group Date: 5/26/2026

This week Olivia explores how relationships can stir up fear, control, people pleasing, and self-abandonment — and how mindfulness helps us stay connected to ourselves through it all. Together we’ll reflect on boundaries, compassion, and what it means to loosen our grip instead of holding on so tightly. Prompt: Is there anything in your life that you say yes to, when you want to say no? If so, what is it? Sitting segment that complements the talk portion on Relationships, Boundaries, Letting Go Group Date: 5/26/2026

In this session of Untangling the Mind , Andrew explores the inner critic through the lens of mindfulness and early Buddhist teachings. Drawing on the Buddhist teaching of the “second arrow,” he examines self-judgment, overthinking, perfectionism, and the stories the mind creates when fear, insecurity, or inadequacy arise. Andrew discusses how suffering often deepens when criticism is added on top of an already difficult experience, and how mindfulness and compassion can help us relate differently to these patterns. Rather than trying to eliminate the inner critic, this practice invites us to meet it with greater awareness, kindness, and understanding. Prompt: What's a common phrase or message your inner critic tends to say? Talk segment that complements the sit portion on Inner Critic Group Date: 5/19/2026

In this session of Untangling the Mind , Andrew explores the inner critic through the lens of mindfulness and early Buddhist teachings. Drawing on the Buddhist teaching of the “second arrow,” he examines self-judgment, overthinking, perfectionism, and the stories the mind creates when fear, insecurity, or inadequacy arise. Andrew discusses how suffering often deepens when criticism is added on top of an already difficult experience, and how mindfulness and compassion can help us relate differently to these patterns. Rather than trying to eliminate the inner critic, this practice invites us to meet it with greater awareness, kindness, and understanding. Prompt: What's a common phrase or message your inner critic tends to say? Sitting segment that complements the talk portion on Inner Critic Group Date: 5/19/2026

In this session of Untangling the Mind, we explore the patterns of people-pleasing and ask how we can remain kind without disappearing in the process. Drawing on early Buddhist teachings around craving, clinging, and wise intention, we look at how the desire for approval, fear of conflict, and the impulse to control others' discomfort can quietly pull us away from ourselves. Together, we examine the difference between genuine compassion and what's been called "idiot compassion" — giving people what they want rather than what they need to avoid witnessing suffering — and consider how identities like "the reliable one" or "the easy one" can become subtle forms of suffering. Prompt: Which is your default? Nice (people pleaser, must be liked, socially acceptable behavior) or Kind (Aligned with self first, empathetic, genuine)? Talk segment that complements the sit portion on People Pleasing Group Date: 5/12/2026

In this session of Untangling the Mind, we explore the patterns of people-pleasing and ask how we can remain kind without disappearing in the process. Drawing on early Buddhist teachings around craving, clinging, and wise intention, we look at how the desire for approval, fear of conflict, and the impulse to control others' discomfort can quietly pull us away from ourselves. Together, we examine the difference between genuine compassion and what's been called "idiot compassion" — giving people what they want rather than what they need to avoid witnessing suffering — and consider how identities like "the reliable one" or "the easy one" can become subtle forms of suffering. Prompt: Which is your default? Nice (people pleaser, must be liked, socially acceptable behavior) or Kind (Aligned with self first, empathetic, genuine)? Sitting segment that complements the talk portion on People Pleasing Group Date: 5/12/2026

In this session of Untangling the Mind, we explore social anxiety through the lens of mindfulness and early Buddhist teachings. Together, we look at how fear of judgment, self-consciousness, craving for approval, and aversion to discomfort shape our experience, and how mindfulness and compassion can help us relate to these patterns differently. Rather than trying to eliminate anxiety, this practice invites us to meet our experience with greater awareness, acceptance, and kindness. Prompt: What scenario, event, or activity often brings anxiety out for you? Talk segment that complements the sit portion on Social Anxiety Group Date: 5/5/2026