Do you miss not having a group of friends to discuss Julian Teachings with? I know there are many of you who miss attending the classes June and Julian taught, and the camaraderie that was created. And then there are others of you who are newer to the teachings, and want to discuss your questions and insights in a group setting.

A study group of like-minded individuals is easy to initiate and can provide you with lots of support on your spiritual journey. You’ll be able to discuss material you find interesting in an accepting, enjoyable setting. On-going group work offers a consistent reminder of the practical Julian teachings and tools. It encourages you to practice the teachings in your day-to-day life and share your experiences in a supportive environment. What a wonderful way to connect with others in our community, and to encourage new people to join.

There’s lots of ways to create a study group. All you need are interested people in your area for in-person groups, or anywhere on the globe for long distance groups. Long distance groups can connect at no cost through conference calls or the many options offered by the internet, such as Skype, Google+, WebEx and GoToMeeting.

You can form a group and follow the format of a book club. This can be done for in-person or long distance groups. Decide which Julian Teachings to study, either a book or workshop, read/listen to a pre-determined portion of it, take notes and discuss when the group meets.

Some groups, like Marion Bauer’s in Poughkeepsie, New York, meet in person. They listen to a recording of a workshop, or read a section of one of the JT books during the actual study group. This is then followed by discussion. Marion spoke at the 16th Gathering of how they formed their group and opened an invitation to others in her community who might like to attend. If you are interested in joining Marion’s group, or if you would like more information about how she and her group are organized, please contact me at [email protected] and I will forward Marion’s contact information to you.

How do you find people who might be interested in joining a study group? Easy! If you have internet access, just post a comment on the JulianTeachings.com website, and check back frequently for responses from interested folks. Or, use our Julian Teachings Community FaceBook page. Not savvy on the internet? No problem. Simply write out a request and submit it to the ROL. The ROL is a great way to share information.

In fact, with your input, let’s create an ongoing JulianTeachings.com website post and accompanying ROL column called Making Connections. Those of you who want to start a study group can notify the community to seek members. If you’d prefer an in-person group, let people know the area where you live and where a meeting place might be; perhaps a local library or book store. If you’d prefer on on-line study group, decide the format for communication and set a starting date and time. If you are looking for an international group, consider meeting at about 2:00 pm ET on a Sunday. This way, you can communicate at a reasonable hour with folks in just about any time zone.

If you already have a study group and are open to new members, let others know.

Once you have a group formed, write updates for the website and ROL on a regular basis to share with the community, how you’ve organized it and what you are studying. This will offer support for existing groups and encourage new groups to form.

It’s simple to stay connected with one another if we make the effort. And together we can continue to study these ever-pertinent Julian Teachings, ever learning and growing.

I look forward to hearing from you!