News & Updates

LISTENING FROM OUR HEARTS

This year’s theme of World Mental Health Day (October 10) was “Lived Experiences Heard. Real Voices, Real Change. It reminded me that sometimes pausing to really listen can shift how someone sees themselves.

In one of the early Soul Seeds’ sessions with youth experiencing homelessness, a tall young woman strode into the room – black hair, five-inch heel boots, expertly applied purple and black eye makeup. As I greeted her – I’ll call her Jess – she responded with an eye roll and said, “I don’t know why I’m here, nobody ever gets me.” I asked her to say more. “I’ve always been called a freak because I feel things – like I can sense other people’s emotions.” I nodded, gesturing to Nancy. “We can sense that too.” She stared in disbelief; I assured her it was true. In that moment, I felt a subtle shift. Although she was still reluctant to join in, I noticed her face relax as I encouraged her to give the meditation a try.

Afterwards, Jess said, “Inside I always feel crazy chaotic and usually it’s really bad when I close my eyes. I’m totally stressed 24/7. This was the first time in my 19 years I actually felt really calm inside — like maybe there’s hope for me.” Jess smirked, saying she was slightly more optimistic about getting a housing placement soon – and some sleep. Now, I’d like to tell you that Jess got an apartment and a steady job, but I simply don’t know. We never saw Jess at the Center again. I’d like to believe she has a home and is living her best life. What I know for sure is, in those moments of honest conversation — and through the meditation — Jess was able to tap into a part of herself she hadn’t felt before.

As with Jess, connecting through lived experiences can begin by asking one real question and listening to the answer. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Meaningful Engagement of People with Lived Experience has principles in support of a person’s mental health and well-being.

WHO principle: Engagement must be safe, respectful, and supportive. “How can I make it easier for you to share what you’re experiencing or what you’ve experienced?”

WHO principle: Care should be person‑centered and responsive to individual needs. “What kind of support feels most helpful to you right now?”

WHO principle: Lived experience should be heard, valued, and used to reduce stigma. “Is there anything about your experience that you wish others understood better?”

Simon Sinek defines the art of listening — “Not the act of hearing the words spoken, it is the art of understanding the meaning behind those words … the art is in creating an environment where the other person feels heard.” One aspect of the art is “replacing judgement with curiosity.” How might that shift conversations – with those we know well; with those we don’t agree; with those we’d like to know better? Listening from the heart presents an opportunity to uncover the quiet moments of their lives … and an opportunity to share our own.

At the start of this month’s Healing with Humanity™ Global Meditation, our founder, Nancy Rebecca reminded us, “We are not powerless observers.” Attentive listening to our own hearts and to our inner guidance is a path to healing that extends out to others. It was remarkable to meditate with more than 400 people on Zoom and another 211 who registered. Feeling into the theme of “Rising Above and Radiating Beyond” together – grounded in peace and shining our light into the world.

Please make plans to join our next Global Meditation on Friday, November 13. Register here

I’ll end with one of my favorite Marianne Williamson quotes. “In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.” We are not powerless! Let’s rise above the noise to find the beauty in shared compassion, deepening connections, and appreciation of our shared humanity.

Melanie
Melanie Davis-Jones
Board Member

In Case You Missed It
Video: November 2026 Frequency Forecast – A Rise in Heart Centered Leadership? Can We Trust It? | Nancy Rebecca

Registration Form: November 13 Healing with Humanity™ Global Meditation | 8:00 PST/11:00 am EST/16:00 (GMT+0). Approximately 90 minutes. Your $10 donation helps support the work of Soul Seeds. If you’re unable to donate at this time, please email info@soulseeds.org to request a link to join us.

Audio: Global Meditations from July, September, and October. Scroll to bottom of the page.

Our Online Store! Wear your support of Healing with Humanity with Soul Seeds t-shirts and hoodies; international shipping available. soulseeds.org/merch

Resources
October is National Bullying Prevention Month to “prevent childhood bullying and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.” PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center actively leads social change to prevent childhood bullying so that all youth are safe and supported in their schools, communities, and online. FAQs

The Sunday Letter Project: a global letter-writing initiative started in September 2025 “invites people to take a free pledge to write one handwritten letter every Sunday to their friends, loved ones, strangers or themselves.”

Quote of the Month
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Mother Teresa

TOGETHER, WE CAN DO HARD THINGS

[We’re sharing resources related to suicide prevention this month. If this topic is difficult for you, please honor your needs and engage only in the way that feels right.]

I’m sharing this story because September is Suicide Prevention Month, which made me recall a time I was grateful for my training in mental health first aid. My phone rang early one Sunday morning – well, 10 am is not very early, but it was for my 21-year-old client who started most days at noon. I knew something wasn’t quite right. I listened, then asked, “Are you considering suicide?” A pause. “Not right now, but yeah, I was.”  As I started to give her the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number (call or text 988), Anna said she had been on the phone with them most of the night. The counselors helped “soothe her soul.”

She took some time off from classes, but Anna graduated from college and she’s now in medical school. If I hadn’t taken a course in suicide prevention, I wouldn’t have had the courage to directly ask the question – I learned that is a critical step. According to mental health professionals, “Asking someone about suicide does not put the idea in their head or increase the risk of them taking their own life.” ( National Institute of Mental Health). It can open nonjudgmental conversations. I recognize this is a tough topic, but another thing I learned is that the more we share resources, the more people can be helped. Together, we can do hard things.

Soul Seeds’ mission, bringing the benefits of intuitive meditation to individuals who have limited mental health resources, is about increasing access to those in need – and to the people who support them – caregivers, staff members, health professionals, first responders. We are committed to creating a network of healing across communities.

Our founder, Nancy Rebecca, did a four-week program with Pierce County (WA) social workers. They were asked to assess their mental health before and after each meditation session. They consistently reported decreases in stress and anxiety. One participant summed it up for the group. “I now know how to calm myself when I’m starting to feel stressed and my family has noticed the difference.”

Our approach makes self-care practical and manageable, making it highly beneficial for individuals in underrepresented groups as well as those with secondary trauma. We are focusing on work with our Activators – community connectors – to identify opportunities to bring Soul Seeds programming to both these groups. Please email me if you are interested in getting involved (melanie@soulseeds.org)

And Soul Seeds continues to be of service to the broader community through our Healing with Humanity™ Global Meditations. I’m delighted to announce we’ve set the dates through the end of the year – October 16, November 13, and December 11. Mark your calendars or you can always find information and the registration link here on our website.

As autumn arrives, it reminds us that change can be both beautiful and invigorating. This season, may we come together with open hearts—sharing warmth, gratitude, and kindness as we strengthen the connections that enrich our lives and carry us through every season.

Melanie

Board Member

In Case You Missed It

Video: October Frequency Forecast, Learning to Know, Differently | Nancy Rebecca

Video: The Science of Oneness | presented by Millions Meditating | Explore the emerging science of meditation, coherence, consciousness, and our profound interconnectedness.

New Online Store! Soul Seeds t-shirts and hoodies, international shipping available. soulseeds.org/merch

Save the Dates

Global Meditations: October 16^th, November 13^th, and December 11^th. All Fridays, 8:00 am PT/11:00 am ET/16:00 (UTC+1). Recommended donation $10. Register for October here.

Resources

What to Say When You’re Worried About Someone, North Central Healthcare

Veterans Affairs (VA) – Suicide Prevention  for veteran‑specific prevention strategies and support resources.

National Alliance on Mental Health Teen & Young Adult HelpLine | Text FRIEND to 62640, call 1-800-950-6264, or email helpline@nami.org.

Millions Meditating Alliance exists to unite, illuminate, and amplify meditation gatherings around the world.

Quote of the Month

“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities.”  — Gloria Steinem

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

As August winds down, we can remember to hold onto its charm — the gentle reminder that happiness can come from simple pleasures – the sweetness of fresh fruit, the laughter in casual gatherings, the rhythm of unhurried nights. This year August held another gift. The planetary alignments and the solar eclipse on the twelfth served as indicators of a time for embracing new chapters. Whether it’s new routines, renewed commitments, or a deeper sense of connection, this new chapter is about moving forward with intention and imagining how you’d like to shape the coming months.

Now is also a vital time to feel the connections that link us and commit to being a healing presence. We can reach out – to family, to friends, to colleagues, to neighbors, to new acquaintances — and create a circle of care. Mental disorders have nearly doubled since 1990, now affecting 1.2 billion people worldwide. Youth (ages 15-19) and women are disproportionately affected. Anxiety and depression are the fastest growing contributors. Declining social connectedness and lingering pandemic effects are cited as two factors in the increase. Global systems are not keeping pace with the rising need because of gaps in prevention, early intervention, and coordinated policy.

Soul Seeds seeks to expand access to mental health resources through some of the interventions with the strongest evidence base: increasing opportunities for social connection; strengthening emotional regulation skills (like meditation and breathwork); and building a sense of community.

Our Healing with Humanity™ Global Meditation on July 29th was an exquisite example of building community and using the power of meditation to benefit the individual and the collective good. More than 335 people registered for the event and there were 182 people on the Zoom call – from 15 different countries. In comments after the meditation, many participants mentioned they “released their emotional and physical pain.” Others said the group’s “energy amplified our capacity to extend loving forgiveness to ourselves and others.”

We invite you to join our next Global Meditation via Zoom on Friday, September 18th at 8 am PDT/11 am EDT/ 16:00 (UTC+1). Register here. Take part in community-centered healing. The suggested donation is $10; however, we understand that everyone may not be able to give at this time. Simply email info@soulseeds.org to request a link. It is important to us that our work be as accessible as possible.

May we all carry some of August’s energy with us — delighting in small moments, savoring time to rest, and making time for the people and the things we love.

In Case You Missed It

Virtual Event | Next Healing with Humanity Global Meditation – Friday, September 18th at 8:00 am PDT/11:00 am EDT/ 16:00 (UTC+1). Register here

Video | Special Prayers for the Nepal-Tibet Border Region | His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Video | August Frequency Forecast – Is Your Soul Dropping into the Deep End? | Nancy Rebecca

Audio | Listen to July’s Healing with Humanity Global Meditation

Resources

The Well-Being Project – a global initiative supporting community leaders, activists, and caregivers with mental health resources.

Befrienders Worldwide – an international directory of emotional‑support helplines that helps people anywhere in the world find local, confidential emotional‑support services, including crisis helplines, listening centers, and community‑based support organizations.

Quote of the Month

 “I just think we should love one another, try to lift people up, and spread as much light as we can.” — Dolly Parton

 

Finding Joy

I had the opportunity to present at a conference last month hosted by Intuitive Mind, the founding organization of Soul Seeds. It was gratifying to share with the group of about 100 our vision for Soul Seeds and feel their enthusiasm. I asked them to consider their roles. “What seed would you like to plant and how will it start to grow?” There were many wonderful answers; the most frequent were “hope” and “joy.”

One person wrote about a seed that would share anticipatory joy practices – how the brain creates pleasure from looking forward to positive experiences. A 2020 study published in Science found that anticipation activates key reward and memory systems, often generating more joy than the moment itself. Research tells us that people who regularly anticipate positive experiences — even small ones — report higher levels of well‑being. Anticipating a friend’s visit, a new recipe, or your favorite walk — these moments create tiny bursts of joy that support resilience and keep the heart open to possibility.

Another seed was “Hope that expands to understanding your unlimited access to unlimited possibilities. [Growing by] encouragement for one heart at a time through kind words and gestures” which got me thinking about FIFA World Cup fans in the U.S. and the many joy-filled moments. Scottish fans in Boston (or “New Scotland”) parading in tartans and bagpipes, joined by locals; South African women trying Waffle House for the first time; Argentine fans sampling Kansas City barbeque.  International visitors marveling at giant portion sizes and free soda refills with Americans laughing along. Times like these demonstrate the power of coming together – forgetting differences by finding joy.

Coming together is at the core of our Healing with Humanity™ Global Meditation. In these times, many of us are looking for peace of mind and ways to be of service. On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to invite you to attend our next one on Wednesday, July 29^th at 8 am PDT/11 am EDT/4 pm BST.  Your $10 donation will support the work of Soul Seeds. And, if you cannot attend, go ahead and register; a recording of the meditation will be sent to you. We understand everyone cannot donate at this time. If that’s the case, please email info@soulseeds.org. Read more about the event, including the selection of the date on a full moon, and register here.

May you find many ways to plant many seeds of hope and joy in your life. Together, we can change the quality of consciousness with which we respond to the events unfolding in our lives and in our world. Peace and love to all.

In Case You Missed It

Listening to the Guidance Within – Guided meditation by Nancy Rebecca

The Joy, Heartbreak & Magic of the FIFA World Cup™ — for some joy, relive moments that brought fans, players, and nations together through the beautiful game.

Registration for our Healing with Humanity Global Meditation on July 29^th at 8 am PDT

Resources

Article: The Overlooked Happiness of Anticipation, Shannon Sauer-Zavala Ph.D. in Psychology Today

July is BIPOC Mental Health Month to bring awareness to the unique struggles that underrepresented groups face in regard to mental health in the U.S. | Free resources in English and Spanish from Mental Health America

July is National Anti-Boredom Month. An observance that encourages people to recognize boredom and combat it with creative, active, and engaging pursuits.

Quote of the Month

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” – attributed to Nelson Mandela

 

Meeting the Needs of Our Time 

On a walk the other day I took a slightly different route and came upon the artwork pictured. A mural on the side of a building with the phrase, “joy will prevail” repeated amid the swirls and butterflies. Sometimes it is only a brief and simple expression that shifts our perspective. It reminded me of the story of World War I soldiers and the Christmas Truce. “There were still odd moments of joy and hope in the trenches of Flanders and France, and one of the most remarkable came during the first Christmas of the war, a few brief hours during which men from both sides on the Western Front laid down their arms, emerged from their trenches, and shared food, carols, games and comradeship.” [Smithsonian Magazine] It’s inconceivable and inspirational. How can we find a space of healing amid difficult times? Soul Seeds is grounded in the idea of coming together for our collective good. In fact, our first event, which highlights that intent — a Global Meditation — is this Saturday, May 30 (more information below).

It’s hard to believe so many months have passed since our last newsletter. Many thanks to all of you who stayed with us and a warm welcome to those of you who recently signed up. We are grateful for your support.

I had envisioned titling this newsletter “We’re Back!” but we never really left. We got quiet, yes. As a board, we have spent a good deal of time assessing, creating, and revamping. At its founding, the focus of Soul Seeds was on the Tacoma, Washington area. As the pandemic prompted more public discourse about mental health and well-being, it felt like the moment was right for Soul Seeds.  Attempting to do in-person programming during the pandemic and in the months that followed as things gradually began to open proved challenging. However, we saw some very promising signs both in the interest in our work – and in the results we were hearing from the people who participated in our meditations. We always believed if we could get our meditations out to individuals in need, we could make a difference. Yet it was tough getting through the bureaucracy in some places; the lack of follow-through in others (not being accusatory here, things were tough all around).

Ours is a board of seasoned meditators and together we looked at the energy of Soul Seeds as we began considering how best to be of service. This was a few years ago. The guidance was to keep going, that a time would come when it would be apparent that the need for “caring, kindness, and compassion” would resonate with more and more people.

That time is now. Just as we did in 2020, we, the board members of Soul Seeds, felt the call to service – to relaunch Soul Seeds to help meet the needs of our time. What’s different? We are developing programming that is completely online to make it more accessible. Plus, our founding organization, Intuitive Mind now has a global reach to increase our impact. We remain true to our mission to bring our specific intuitive energy techniques to underrepresented communities; we will also offer meditation packages to a wide audience to help support our work.

Research has shown that meditation-induced changes can spread across social networks, influencing not only practitioners but also those around them. This is directly tied to how families and communities navigate collective stress. At a time when many of us feel helpless, meditating for ourselves and for others can be a balm for our hearts and minds.

May you find joy in unexpected places. May we all believe that what we do matters. Let us hold a place of compassion for ourselves and for those who cannot hold it for themselves. And let us remember this, “There is within each one of us a potential for goodness beyond our imagining; for giving which seeks no reward; for listening without judgment; for loving unconditionally.” Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross  

Melanie Davis-Jones, Board Member

In Case You Missed It

HEALING WITH HUMANITY™ GLOBAL MEDITATION

Saturday, May 30 at 8 am PDT/11 am EDT [GMT-7] via Zoom | approx. 90 minutes

Our first Soul Seeds’ group meditation! Compassion is an energy that we can carry into our daily lives, into our relationships, our work, and the way we move through the world. Suggested Donation: $10 to support the work of Soul Seeds. Please give as generously as you can.  Donate here.

Resources | May is Mental Health Awareness Month

• If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
• To learn how to get support for mental health, drug, and alcohol issues, visit FindSupport.gov.
• To locate treatment facilities or providers, visit FindTreatment.gov or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).

National Alliance on Mental Health, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization

• Find your local NAMI here for information on programs and assistance.
• Guidance for Families and Caregivers: “support for those who give support,” find it here.

Quote of the Month “Just like a skill or any art, we cannot possess hope without practicing it. It is the most fundamental craft we demand of ourselves.”— Amanda Gorman