Welcome from Liz Edmunds

We search for happiness from infancy to old age and through all the intervening parts of our lives. This shows that we believe happiness to be a fundamental right. In our search, we look for the things which we think will bring us happiness. Most of them only give transitory happiness and in the end, we find that nothing outside us really produces the totality of joy which we know we are seeking. If we are lucky, we may find a system or a teacher which will point to the true source of happiness, which is essentially our state of inner being.
Over the last 8 years, Just this Day has provided a time to focus on stillness and the inner world as a medium for happiness and unity with ourselves and the wider world. This year, on 20 November, join us in London (programme as below) or create your own event wherever you are; we'd love to hear what plans you might make to mark this movement for stillness: info@justthisday.org. It is a day that I feel only has increasing importance in our ever-busy world.

New this year: Nikki Slade, Free the Inner Voice

We are delighted that Nikki Slade is taking part in Just this Day this year. Nikki will be helping us open morning’s session with chanting (Kirtan), a practice that opens the heart, calms the mind and help release unwanted tensions, allowing an experience of the freedom within.

More about Nikki: Nikki Slade is one of the leading pioneers in the field of voice, chanting and sound work in the UK. As founder of Free the Inner Voice and Chemistry at Work she has inspired corporate groups including MC Saatchi, Deutcshe Bank and Cisco and she is the Resident Kirtan leader at Triyoga, London. Nikki has recorded three highly acclaimed CD's: Nectarine, Monsoon, and Soundscape.

Nikki's cutting-edge approach to working with "the voice" has also been experienced at Wandsworth Prison and at The Priory Hospital in north London where she has impacted the recovery of hundreds of addicts for over a decade. Nikki has led chants with over a thousand people at 11.11.11 at the Mind Body Spirit Festival and The Hilton Metropole at the event Oneness 12.12.12 and for The Prosperity 2013 conference at The Barbican and has recently been featured in the Evening Standard about the power of chanting.

"I am passionate about vibrational harmony, there is a note within the heart of each individual which when played releases expansive joy and inner fulfilment, inspiring the highest expression of who we truly are. I devote my life to this possibility for all I have the privilege to work with."

You can read about our other participants in the programme here.

Grannies Meditate Too: Saturday 1 June

I creep out just after dawn to meditate in the summer house because Grace, aged 3, is staying and we usually meet early for Cheerios. There I sit, eyes shut, when a small voice outside calls my name: 'Granny?'. Clearly I am not in deep meditation because I know I have to respond - its quite cold outside after all. So, in she comes and asks me what I am doing.

'Meditating' I say, and she then asks me what that is. I say 'Well, I just sit very still and close my eyes and say my magic word.' 'Oh', she says and then asks if she can join me. We sit for a short time, both with our eyes shut, and I hear a small voice saying 'Abracadabra, abracadabra, abracadabra'!! I find it hard to finish meditating after that, so we go inside for Cheerios and the day gets started.
You can read more of Grannies meditate too, Liz's daily blog about her meditation practice, and follow it via blogger.