Small groups are a great way to get to know people, as you come together over several weeks to explore a specific topic or activity together. This winter, several Common Street Spiritual Center members are facilitating small groups for the community between late January and late March. Here is the full list:
Expressive Arts Therapy with Jason Karol
Sundays 1/26, 3/2, and 3/23 from 1:00-3:30 pm at the spiritual center
Folk/Irish Tunes with Keri Crawford
Sundays 2/2, 2/9, 3/2, and 3/9 from 7:00-8:30 pm at the spiritual center
Your Artist’s Way with Amanda LaRose
Mondays 2/3, 2/17, 3/3, and 3/17 from 6:30-8:00 pm at the spiritual center
Raise Your Frequency, Transform Your Life with Selina Maitreya
Mondays 1/27, 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/17, and 3/31 from 7:00-9:00 pm in Arlington
Writing Your Heart Out with Dan Dangler
Tuesdays 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, and 3/11 from 7:00-8:30 in Wayland
Creative Integration with Amber Joy White-Feather
Tuesdays 1/28, 2/4, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, and 3/18 from 7:00-9:00 pm at the spiritual center
The Black Church with Deborah Mitchell
Wednesdays 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, and 3/19 from 5-6 pm in Natick
The Wisdom of Ram Dass with Noah Kowaloff
Wednesdays 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, and 3/5 from 7:00-8:30 pm at the spiritual center
Soulful Solopreneurs with Diana Phillips
Thursdays 1/30, 2/13, 2/27, 3/6, and 3/13 from 6:30-8:30 pm at the spiritual center
The Power of Play with Amanda Short and Amber Joy White-Feather
Thursdays 2/6, 2/20, 3/6, and 3/20 from 6:30-9:00 pm at the spiritual center, plus two Saturday afternoon field trips on 1/25 and 2/22
Attend our Small Group Info Session!
Wednesday, January 8th from 7:30-8:30 pm over Zoom
Meet the facilitators, hear about each group, and ask any questions you have.
Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82130061949?pwd=zb2KvPPSbPNeOsnm4bGPHKpPQ1Ozjw.1
Answers to Common Questions
- Registration closes the day before each group’s first meeting, or when the group is full (whichever comes first). Register now for your preferred group.
- These are not intended to be drop-in groups. Before you register, please mark the dates on your calendar and make sure you will be able to attend regularly.
- You do not have to be a member of Common Street Spiritual Center to participate. But we encourage you to consider it! Learn more about membership here.
- Small group facilitators are not paid, nor do we charge you money to participate in a small group. But if you are inclined to make a donation, we will be grateful and put it to good use. Make a donation now.
- Spring 2025 small groups are likely to run April 27 – June 21.
Additional questions? Contact Anne Lafleur at 857-891-3006 or aranzie@gmail.com
Full descriptions for each small group can be found below.
Expressive Arts Therapy
Day & Time: Sundays from 1:00-3:30pm
Location: Fellowship Hall at Common Street Spiritual Center
Specific Dates: 1/26, 3/2, 3/23
Desired group size: 5-20
What to expect: In this group, we will explore how art can be used to better understand ourselves, others, and heal in body, mind, and spirit. We will explore sound/song bath and group singing as a form of healing, somatic movement and yoga, dance, music connection games and exercises, and have time to show and share our artistic interests and talents. Please bring your suggestions, ideas, and interests to this group. My hope is that it will be a flowing and co-creative experience.
Please feel free to bring healthy snacks and drinks (juice/water/tea) for social snack share time at the end of each meeting.
About the Facilitator: Jason Karol is a spiritual seeker who loves art, Spirit, and the human psyche. So, he thought, ‘why not combine them into a group that could be fun, healing, and informative?’
Jason loves learning and has many interests, but music is at the forefront. Jason hosts ecstatic dance, sound bath, drum circle, and other music events, as well as writing and producing audio and video. He loves telling stories, has a penchant for the way sci-fi and fantasy are a modern mythology that can tell us deep truths about our journeys, and has a novel series in the works. Long term project… stay tuned!
When not art-ing, dancing, music making, or creating images and words on the page, Jason has a deep affinity for time spent with cats, especially his magical, heterochromia-eyed familiar of a companion, Morgan.
Questions? Contact Jason at MetalionMusicOfficial@gmail.com
Register now for Expressive Arts Therapy
Music: Connecting and Playing – Folk/Irish Tunes
Day & Time: Sundays from 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Common Street Spiritual Center
Specific Dates: 2/2, 2/9, 3/2, 3/9
Desired group size: 2-12
What to expect: Music brings about a chance to unplug and feel pure joy. Let’s spend time together enjoying each other with music as our common bond. We will listen, play and learn music and connect with each other. Our focus is folk and Irish tune genres, with an option to perform at a local assisted living home for the St. Patrick’s holiday (details TBD).
You are a good fit if you want to be around people and music. Bring your instrument or just hum and clap along. Bring a pair of spoons and tap a rhythm, for example. The instructor will play strings but welcomes all instruments. From folks trying to dust off their instrument, to a professional looking for some easy going practice and in-person connection, we’d love to have you. All ages and abilities welcome.
Our goal will be to learn by ear at least one song (or more!) per week. We start by ear, no need to read music, but print outs/notes and recordings will be provided. We will review the melody and the bass line in order to welcome a variety of playing, such as backing chords. This will be similar to a slow “jam session” and you can make it as challenging or as laid back as you’d like.
About the Facilitator: Keri Crawford lives in Natick with her husband and two children. She has taught violin for over 20 years with students of all ages. Her love for music and connection with learners of all types fuels her passion for teaching and playing. She enjoys learning by ear and playing almost any genre of music.
Questions? Contact Keri at kerimoos@gmail.com
Register now for Folk/Irish Tunes
Explore a New Way for 2025: Your Artist’s Way
Day & Time: Mondays from 6:30-8:00 pm
Location: Meeting Room at Common Street Spiritual Center
Specific Dates: 2/3, 2/17, 3/3, 3/17
Desired group size: 2 or more
What to expect: Start the new year with clarity and creativity in our Small Group community inspired by Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way*. This collaborative program guides participants through foundational tools and practices like Morning Pages and Artist Dates to unlock creativity, set meaningful intentions, and establish habits for a fulfilling year ahead. Through bi-weekly guided discussions, creative exercises, and group support, you’ll discover fresh ways to approach challenges, spark inspiration, and nurture your inner artist. You’ll gain clarity, confidence, and the momentum to make 2025 your most inspired year yet.
*Note: While we will be loosely following the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron it is not required to have a copy.
About the Facilitator: Amanda LaRose, a Natick resident and mother of three, is a spiritual enthusiast with years of study in meditation, dharma, tarot, intuition, and diverse spiritual practices.
Questions? Contact Amanda at laroseamanda@gmail.com
Register now for Your Artist’s Way
Raise Your Frequency, Transform Your Life
Day & Time: Mondays from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: Selina’s home on Hamilton Rd in Arlington
Specific Dates: 1/27, 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/17, 3/31
Desired group size: 3-6
What to expect: This is a group for people who don’t just want to think/talk/read about spirituality, but actually want to embody their spiritual beliefs 24/7. Each week I will share a teaching around a key topic and a practice that aligns with the weekly teaching. You will then use the material shared in your daily life between classes. When we come back together each week, you will discuss what you discovered, and then we will move on to a new topic.
The Benefits of the Work Include:
- You’ll experience an increase in daily ease and peace, more awareness and presence, as you work and commune with others.
- You’ll find yourself more patient and tolerant, more open and receptive to new ideas.
- You will build a deeper connection to the Divine within.
- You will discover how to respond to any life irritation, difficulty or tragedy from one of the many faces of love.
- You leave with 6 new teachings and 6 new practices to use long after the group ends.
Week 1: Who Are YOU?
Practice: 5 Minutes to Peace
Week 2: Awareness is Your Special Magic!
Practice: Night time Review
Week 3: Do you need to be right? Or do you want peace?
Practice: Tehora He Meditation
Week 4: The Power of The Pause
Practice: Going to Active Gratitude
Week 5: How to replace your worry with peace
Practice: Experience Loss through Joy Meditation
Week 6: Leave Judge Judy behind and move forward in grace
Practice: Isn’t that curious and wouldn’t that be nice
Find a full course overview here.
About the Facilitator: Selina Maitreya is a lecturer, author, and spiritual teacher who specializes in Practical Spirituality — a spiritual philosophy that helps people use their daily challenges to access deeper peace. Her new book, Raise Your Frequency, Transform Your Life, was published in June 2024 and forms the foundation of this course. Selina lives in Arlington, MA and is excited for this opportunity to connect with the Common Street community. Learn more at www.practicalspiritualitywithselina.com/
Questions? Contact Selina at selina@selinamaitreya.com
Register now for Raise Your Frequency, Transform Your Life
Imagine This: Writing Your Heart Out
Day & Time: Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Dan’s cozy, lakefront living room in Wayland (12 minutes from Common Street)
Specific Dates: 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11
Desired group size: 5-8
What to expect: Have you ever wanted to share something you wrote but it feels too vulnerable to do so? This group will offer a safe, fun and low pressure way to explore your writing proclivities. We’ll pick a topic, a prompt or a sentence stem and you’ll have the week to write anything in response to that sentence stem. For example, you could write a poem, a haiku, a short story or a longer story to any of the prompts below:
- “it’s so much fun to….” Or
- “I first discovered how much I love to…” Or
- “the thing I remember most about being a child is…”
- Or we pick a topic: joy, grief, exploration, failure, childhood…etc.
We’ll share what we wrote with the group and get some thoughts and feelings in response. And, if you have writer’s block, take the week off and just listen to all of the wonderful sharing from the others in the group. The purpose is simply to explore our writing creativity in a low pressure, fun and supportive way. No prior writing experience necessary.
To create a warm, cozy, fun hour and a half, we’ll rotate bringing post-dinner food and drinks. Wine and beer as well as non-alcoholic drinks are welcome.
About the Facilitator: Dan Dangler lives in Wayland, MA and has been attending Common Street for the past 1-2 years. Both professionally and personally, he has nurtured a practice of guidance in leadership, spiritual, and relationship growth. Dan leads a team of leadership development professionals at Beth Israel Lahey Health. He has also been writing poetry for years but so far has kept it fairly underground. As a coach, guide and change agent, Dan has used his writing to help himself and others to discover self-acceptance and inner wisdom while accessing their vast imagination to rediscover their true original, joyful selves. He loves dogs, nature and loves to laugh through this wonderfully hard adventure called life.
Questions? Contact Dan at ddangler@bilh.org
Register now for Writing Your Heart Out
Creative Integration: Embracing Wholeness
Day & Time: Tuesdays from 7:00-9:00 pm
Location: Moon Room at Common Street Spiritual Center
Specific Dates: 1/28, 2/4, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, and 3/18
Desired group size: 10-15
What to expect: Participants will experience a mindfulness-based journey of creative self-discovery as we engage in a variety of activities that include meditation, yoga, authentic movement, writing and visual art. Together we will create a sacred container where mindfulness meets creativity, shadow meets light, and individual exploration meets community support. Through artistic expression, mindful awareness, and compassionate connection we will explore, express, and embrace the many facets of our inner worlds. No artistic experience needed – only open curiosity and a willingness to participate.
A sketchbook and/or journal would be beneficial to support you in this journey.
About the Facilitator: Amber Joy White-Feather has studied Holistic Psychology and Expressive Arts Therapy at Lesley University and is currently doing an internship at Common Street Spiritual Center.
Questions? Contact Amber at whitefeatherhealing44@gmail.com
Register now for Creative Integration
Black History Month Series: The Black Church
Day & Time: Wednesdays from 5:00-6:00 pm
Location: Cedar Gardens Community Center in Natick
Specific Dates: 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, and 3/19
Desired group size: 1-5
What to expect: We will learn about the Black Church and how it intersects with justice movements. Each participant will need a copy of Psalms for Black Lives (currently $6.99 on Amazon). You can hear some readings and commentary from the book in this YouTube video.
About the Facilitator: Deborah Younger-Mitchell is a graduate of Tufts University. She has written three children’s books, including Poppin Beans. She has been teaching a Psalms For Black Lives group over Zoom for the Common Street community and is excited to offer this in-person opportunity for Black History Month.
Questions? Contact Deborah at deborahmitchell25@gmail.com
Register now for The Black Church
Satsang: Exploring the Wisdom of Ram Dass
Day & Time: Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30 pm
Location: Choir Room at the spiritual center
Specific Dates: 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5
Desired group size: 5-12
What to expect: Satsang, meaning “gathering for truth” in Sanskrit, is a space for coming together in presence, reflection, and connection. This group offers an invitation to slow down, explore the timeless wisdom of Ram Dass, and experience the teachings in a grounded, meaningful way. Each session will include a brief meditation, a lecture or reading from Ram Dass, and a group discussion about how his wisdom resonates with our daily lives. This is a space for open reflection and shared experience—no prior knowledge of Ram Dass is necessary, just an open heart and a willingness to engage with what’s alive in the moment. Come as you are.
This group is for anyone looking to explore the teachings of Ram Dass in a real, grounded way. It’s for people who are seeking connection—whether with themselves, others, or the wisdom of these teachings. If you’re open to being present, reflecting on your experiences, and engaging in meaningful conversation, you’ll fit right in.
Participants will leave each session feeling more connected to their true self and to the group, with a deeper understanding of how to integrate the teachings of Ram Dass into their lives. You’ll gain practical insights on presence, love, and mindfulness, and find a space to reflect on how these teachings can help you move through your everyday life with more awareness, compassion, and clarity.
No Homework or prep work needed.
About the Facilitator: Noah Kowaloff has spent many years exploring meditation, mindfulness, and spiritual practices. He’s worked as a coach and intuitive healer, helping others connect to their inner truth. Focusing recently on cultivating presence and stillness has brought him a deep sense of peace.
Questions? Contact Noah at noah.kowaloff@gmail.com
Register now for The Wisdom of Ram Dass
Soulful Solopreneurs
Day & Time: Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 pm
Location: Meeting Room at Common Street (except Fellowship Hall on 3/6)
Specific Dates: 1/30, 2/13, 2/27, 3/6, and 3/13
Desired group size: 4-12
What to expect: Do you financially support yourself as a solopreneur, running a business independently, managing everything on your own without a team? While this path offers freedom and flexibility, it can also feel isolating and overwhelming.
In this 5-part series, we’ll explore the journey of being a solopreneur through a spiritual lens. Together, we’ll break down the isolation of “going it alone” and create a supportive space to witness each other’s challenges, share insights, and grow both personally and professionally.
Session 1: Setting the Foundation – Discover who we are as solopreneurs. Overcome the isolation that often accompanies working solo.
Session 2: Telling Your Story (Marketing Part 1) – Craft a compelling and authentic narrative that resonates with your audience. We will explore the challenges that arise in sharing our stories in a compelling way.
Session 3: Being Visible (Marketing Part 2) – Explore the challenges and strategies of showing up consistently in your business. How do we share our gifts with the world? Does it work, are folks receptive to our messaging? What do we need to look at within ourselves to expand our reach?
Session 4: Networking – Build meaningful relationships that foster growth and collaboration. Address the emotions and resistance that can arise when reaching out to others.
Session 5: Pricing, Selling, & Closing – Learn to price your services with confidence, sell authentically, and close with ease.
This series is more than just practical skills—it’s about creating a sacred space to connect with like-minded solopreneurs, honor your journey, and step into your full potential.
About the Facilitator: Diana Phillips is a certified Rolfer with 21 years of experience running her own business. She and her husband co-own Happy Goats Farm, hosting over 60 events annually. Over the past year, Diana has focused on launching Soul 13, where she teaches Soul Activation and awakening workshops.
Questions? Contact Diana at info@soul13.net
Register now for Soulful Solopreneurs
The Power of Play
Day & Time: Thursdays from 6:30-9:00 pm, plus two Saturday afternoon field trips
Location: Sanctuary at the spiritual center
Specific Dates: 2/6, 2/20, 3/6, 3/20, with field trips on 1/25 and 2/22
Desired group size: 5-20
What to expect: The Power of Play is a group for adults who want to reconnect with their playful side, build community, and have fun in a relaxed and supportive environment. We gather to enjoy games, laughter, and camaraderie, followed by a casual meal to keep the good vibes going. It’s all about embracing joy and creating meaningful connections!
About the Facilitators: Amanda Short is a community builder. Amber Joy White-Feather is studying Expressive Art Therapy and is doing her internship at Common Street.
Questions? Contact Amanda at kitchenstudioboston@gmail.com