community gatherings
LIVE & virtual
For Established Clients only!
Svādhyāya Circle
a circle of dedicated study of Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra
Svādhyāya (Self study through sacred text) is the study of the Self through the mirror of scripture. In the Yoga tradition it is one of the niyamas (the inner observances), and it asks for more than reading: it asks that a teaching be turned over, lived with, and recognised in one's own experience.
The Svādhyāya Circle gathers every other week to study Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra: one of the foundational texts of Rāja Yoga, the royal path of dhyāna (meditation). Guided by Jess Marie 🌻, the circle moves through the text slowly enough that each sūtra can be understood & embodied. A single sūtra may hold a whole session.
Over the coming years, the circle will travel through all four pādas (chapters) of the text, from the first word, atha ("now"), to the final teaching on kaivalya: the liberation of the Self.
who the circle is for ::
The Svādhyāya Circle is open to all: prospective, new, established clients, newsletter subscribers, and anyone drawn to the study of Yoga philosophy. No prior study of the Yoga Sūtra or Sanskrit is needed. Curiosity, sincerity, and a willingness to sit with a teaching are the only requirements.
what one can expect ::
Each gathering lasts sixty minutes.
Opening. Short greeting.
The thread so far. A short recap, so that anyone joining for the first time can find their place.
Teaching. Jess Marie reads the sūtra aloud and offers her commentary, drawing on Vedic Psychology, Vedānta, and the living practice of Yoga.
Discussion. An open conversation, drawn from each participant's pre-reading & reflection.
Closing. One contemplation to carry until the next session.
pre-reading ::
One week before each session, a pre-reading assignment is sent with the sūtra verses for the upcoming session. Arriving with the reading in mind allows the discussion to go deeper. *Those who could not read ahead are always welcome, for there will always be a session opening & the recap.
one may join at any time ::
Each session stands on its own, and the recap at the opening of each gathering offers the thread so far. One may begin with the circle wherever it’s in the text, and continue for as long as the study serves.
how the circle meets ::
The Svādhyāya Circle gathers online, through the meraki method’s online client portal so that seekers in every time zone may study together.
Once one registers through the Practice Better client portal, the link to join arrives by email, along with each session’s pre-reading assignment one week before the session.
All one needs is ::
a quiet place to sit
a device with a reliable internet connection
the pre-reading close at hand
One may join with camera on or off; a journal & writing tool are wonderful companions as well.
when the circle meets ::
Every other Thursday | 12pm to 1pm PT
The circle begins on Thursday, December 10th, 2026.
Join the circle
$25 Donation
Registration is held through the meraki method’s Practice Better client portal. Before one's first gathering, each participant completes a short participation form affirming the circle's agreements.
sādhana & sharing circle
a circle of practice, Self inquiry, & sharing
Sādhana (spiritual practice) is the steady, devoted work through which one comes home to the Self. The Sādhana & Sharing Circle offers a place to practice together: a small circle of kindred seekers who gather to meditate, to inquire inwardly, and to share what is moving within them.
Guided by Jess Marie🌻, each gathering weaves dhyāna (meditation), ātma-vicāra (Self inquiry), and journaling with a sharing circle held in confidence & care. The circle meets four times each month, so one may return to it as a rhythm rather than a single event.
two expressions of the circle ::
I. Sādhana & Sharing :: Every other Tuesday | 6pm PT
Each month carries a theme drawn from the questions clients have brought to their work: grounding, meeting the shadow, thresholds, dharma, the opening of the heart, and so much more.
II. Lunar Sādhana & Sharing :: Every other Saturday | 6pm PT
Rooted in the most recent lunar reflection. Jess Marie writes a reflection for each New & Full Moon, sent three days before the moon, and this gathering draws its dhyāna (meditation) & inquiry from that reflection and the moon's nakṣatra (lunar mansion).
The waxing half of the month invites saṅkalpa (heartfelt intention) & beginnings.
The waning half invites illumination, release & integration.
who the circle is for ::
The standard circle is only open to established clients.
The Lunar circle is only open to subscribers of the lunar reflections & established clients.
These circles are held for those drawn to practice as a way of life: those seeking grounding in a season of change, a deeper relationship with the Self, and the quiet strength that comes from practicing alongside others on a similar path.
Each gathering welcomes up to eight participants, so that every voice has room to be heard.
what one can expect ::
Each gathering lasts sixty minutes.
Arrival. A brief greeting.
The thread. A few lines from the month's theme or the current lunar reflection.
Guided dhyāna (meditation), shaped to the thread & the hour.
Ātma-vicāra (Self inquiry). One inquiry, held in silence.
Journaling. A single prompt, so the insight has somewhere to land.
Sharing circle. One round of sharing, then open sharing as time allows. Sharing is always invitational; silence is equally welcome.
Closing. A word or intention from each Being, and a brief gratitude closing.
how the circle meets ::
The Sādhana & Sharing Circles gathers online, through the meraki method’s online client portal so that kindred seekers across the world may practice together.
Once one registers through the Practice Better client portal, the link to join arrives by email, along with each session’s pre-reading assignment one week before the session.
To honor the confidentiality of the circle, one is asked to join from a quiet, private space where others cannot overhear, with headphones if others are nearby.
A journal & pen are helpful for the journaling practice.
Cameras on are warmly encouraged during the sharing circle, so that each person can be seen as well as heard; one may turn the camera off at any time one needs to.
how the circle is held ::
The circle rests on a few simple agreements, affirmed by each participant before their first gathering ::
Confidentiality. What is shared in the circle stays in the circle.
Listening. Each person shares without interruption, and the circle listens without advising or fixing.
No recording. No audio, video, screenshots, or notes of another Being’s sharing.
Choice. One may share, pass, or simply be present.
Care. The circle offers spiritual support, complementing one's individual sessions and any clinical care.
when the circle meets ::
I. Sādhana & Sharing :: Every other Tuesday | 6pm to 7pm PT
II. Lunar Sādhana & Sharing :: Every other Saturday | 6pm to 7pm PT
Join the circle
$25 Donation
Registration is held through the meraki method’s Practice Better client portal. Before one's first gathering, each participant completes a short participation form affirming the circle's agreements.
reserve your spot
FAQ
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Svādhyāya is Self-study through sacred text, one of the niyamas (inner observances) of Yoga. It is the practice of studying a teaching so closely that one begins to recognise it in one's own experience.
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The Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali is a classical text of Rāja Yoga, the royal path of dhyāna (meditation). In four chapters (pādas), it describes the nature of the mind, the obstacles on the path, the practices that steady awareness, and the liberation of the Self.
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No prior study is needed. Each verse is read in English, and key terms are explained as the study unfolds.
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Yes.
Each session stands on its own, and each opens with a short recap of the thread so far. One may begin wherever the circle is in the text.
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One week before each session, participants receive the specific sūtra verses for that session, with reading to prepare. Arriving with the reading in mind deepens the discussion, and those who could not read ahead are always welcome.
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The circle moves at the pace each sūtra asks for, so the full text will unfold over several years. One may take part for a season or for the whole journey.
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Every gathering begins at ::
12:00 PM Pacific
1:00 PM Mountain
3:00 PM Eastern
8:00 PM in London (GMT)
10:00 PM in Cape Town (SAST)
6:00 AM the following day in Brisbane (AEST)
When daylight time begins on March 14th ::
Cape Town & Brisbane times move one hour earlier, to 9:00 PM & 5:00 AM, since those places keep their clocks steady.
London moves one hour earlier, to 7:00 PM, until its own clocks change on March 28th, when it returns to 8:00 PM.
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The Sādhana & Sharing follows the month's set theme.
The Lunar Sādhana & Sharing is rooted in the most recent New or Full Moon lunar reflection.
Both share the same flow and the same agreements.
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Sādhana is spiritual practice: the steady, devoted work through which one returns, again & again, to the Self. In these circles, practice takes the form of dhyāna (meditation), ātma-vicāra (Self inquiry), and journaling.
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The Svādhyāya Circle is open to all!
The Sādhana & Sharing is open to established clients only.
The Lunar Sādhana & Sharing is open to both subscribers of the lunar reflections and established clients only.
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Every gathering begins at ::
6:00 PM Pacific
7:00 PM Mountain
9:00 PM Eastern
2:00 AM the following morning in London (GMT)
4:00 AM the following morning in Cape Town (SAST)
6:00 AM the following morning in the Gulf (GST)
12:00 PM the following day in Brisbane (AEST)
When daylight time begins on March 14th ::
Cape Town, Gulf, and Brisbane times move one hour earlier, since those places keep their clocks steady.
London moves one hour earlier, to 1:00 AM, until its own clocks change on March 28th, when it returns to 2:00 AM.
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Sharing is always invitational. One may share, pass, or simply listen. Presence is a full form of participation.
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Never.
Each participant agrees to make no audio, video, screenshots, or notes of another person's sharing, to ensure everything spoken is held in trust.
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The circle welcomes all levels of experience. Each practice is guided, and one is invited to rest in whatever depth feels true that day.
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Each gathering welcomes up to eight participants, so that every voice has room to be heard.
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The donation rate is $25 per gathering. The meraki method is a donation-based nonprofit.
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The circle offers spiritual support, rooted in Vedic Counseling and contemplative practice. It complements one's individual sessions and any clinical care one receives. Anything that calls for more individual attention is warmly welcomed into one's own one-on-one session with Jess Marie.
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Registration is held through the meraki method’s client portal, hosted by Practice Better EHR.
Before one's first gathering, one completes a short participation form affirming the Community Gathering agreements.
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All gatherings are held LIVE online so that one may join from anywhere in the world. Each session’s join link arrives by email once one has registered through the Practice Better client portal.
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A device with a reliable internet connection, a quiet place to sit, and a journal & pen.
For the Sādhana & Sharing Circle :: a private space where others cannot overhear the circle is also asked of each participant, to protect the confidentiality of everyone’s sharing.