Can you tell a little about your first VR experience?
My first VR experience was actually in EvolVR. It was in a Mindfulness Monday Meditation with Keoki. I actually had just gotten my headset a couple days before and was hesitating using it. It was so not my thing!!! I had gotten a headset because of Ryan, another session leader, who I had been studying with and meditating in groups with outside of VR. I was ready to add a new level to my meditation practice and knew he had sessions in VR so I figured it was the next thing for me. I was hooked immediately!
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What makes VR meditation different from traditional meditation?
VR meditation is amazing! It’s amazing because energy flows. There is no distance too great for energy. I had meditated in groups before and there’s a sense of interconnectedness. You can even feel waves of energy as members connect to their inner being and all that is. VR is no different. It’s so awesome that we can do this multiple times daily together in VR with such an amazing community that is located all over the world. I also think that for people who may struggle with doing things in groups, that VR makes the transition to meditating in a group smooth.
What motivates you to lead sessions with EvolVR?
Wow! Being an avid meditator before joining VR, and then an avid meditator in VR with the amazing EvolVR community, it led me to feel like I was just where I belonged. It was like finding long lost family. So, after finishing my schooling to be a certified meditation teacher, it just made sense to offer my sessions in VR as well. The team of session leaders welcomed me with open arms and the community members have been just extraordinary participants.
How would you describe the sessions you lead?
The sessions I lead have a mindfulness meditation base to them. The skeleton you could say is mindfulness practices that can relate to absolutely any human regardless of background, beliefs, or experience. I like that anyone can connect and that connection can connect us all. My sessions sometimes focus on one mindfulness practice or a mix of a few. I also do some deeper practices mixed in and even choose a variety of contemplation focuses to include in sessions that seem to relate to patterns seen in the community. There are way too many teachers and influences to even begin naming them all!
What is your hope for the future of VR meditation?
I would hope that VR/ Social Meditation begins to be practiced by more and more people world wide. Greater numbers in sessions, greater energy, more sessions available, and really always having the community there.
What’s your favourite thing to do in VR, besides meditate or do yoga?
Many know this, but all I use my headset for is meditation lol. I am in VR at least once a day every day of the week and it’s 99% of the time EvolVR group meditations. If for some reason I’m on and not in meditation, it’s usually because I’m hanging out with other EvolVR members in a space that doesn’t have motion. Motion isn’t my friend in VR, but we get along better now than we did.
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Does your avatar look like you?
Yes, it absolutely does!
Do you have one piece of advice for someone new to meditation?
If I had to choose one, I would say not to be discouraged by your thoughts. It’s totally normal to be interrupted by thought even hundreds of times. Meditation is just bringing ourselves back to the present moment when the thoughts or sounds or sensations come in. Over and over and over. So, if you’re interrupted by thought, you’re meditating because you noticed it.
Where can we find more of your work and offerings?
I lead at least 2 meditations with EvolVR weekly. Currently, I’m leading Tuesdays at 9PM ET and Wednesdays at 5PM ET. I also often sub for other amazing sessions leaders. You can also catch me as a participant at other session leader events. I offer group meditation and spiritual coaching on Zoom as well. You can find my happenings on my Facebook page: Keep Calm & Be Courageous Meditation & Wellness. I also have a YouTube channel with the same name. I am also part of a podcast located on YouTube and Spotify: Mindset: Teaching Outside the Box which has a Facebook page as well.
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Anything else you’d like to share?
Grateful for the entire EvolVR community!
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Find links to Eileen’s EvolVR sessions in AltspaceVR.
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