Mindfulness, Prayer, Contemplation, & Stress Management
It can be easy in college (or as a working professional) to neglect the inner self or the life of the spirit. Busy-ness, homesickness, overwork, familial obligations--the list goes on and on. Fortunately, there are many resources at Goucher to help students, staff, and faculty attend to their inner lives and/or to cope with stress.
Spaces on Campus
- The Chapel: Haebler Memorial Chapel is open during the day, many evenings, and on weekends. The main Chapel is available for prayer, meditation, sitting in silence, contemplation.
- Multifaith Prayer and Meditation Space: Wagner 013, in Stimson: This space is designed
for students seeking a quiet place to meditate and/or pray. The space is supplied
with Muslim prayer rugs, Qur'an and scarves; Buddhist meditation cushions and benches;
a Hindu idol; Unitarian-Universalist chalice and hymnal; Jewish prayer books and havdalah
spice box; crystals and plants for wiccan and pagan observances; Christian Bibles
and prayer books; and more.
Labyrinth: our outdoor labyrinth is always available for walking meditation or mindfulness. - Meditation space at ACE: The Academic Center for Excellence (Julia Rogers 2nd floor) has a meditation space available for student use; a sign up sheet is provided.
Pastoral Support
The staff who work in Religious and Spiritual Life are all available for conversation and support.
- Chaplain Maeba Jones meets with students all the time, in her office in the basement of the Chapel. Stop by, email her at chaplain@goucher.edu, or call her at 410-337-6048.
- Rabbi Josh Snyder: Director, Goucher Hillel, 410-337-6404 or josh.snyder@goucher.edu
- Rachel Plotkin: Associate Director, Goucher Hillel, 410-337-6545 or rachel.plotkin@mail.goucher.edu.
- Juliana Ottomano: Staff, Goucher Christian Fellowship, juliana.ottomano@goucher.edu
Yoga
Student Counseling Center & Student Health Center
Goucher has many resources for wellness in body and mind. The Goucher Counseling Center offers short-term counseling, couples counseling, support gropus, consultation, and external referrals. The Student Health Center provides medical care; in addition, there are complementary medicine offerings, including acupuncture.
Peer Listening
Talk to a peer who knows what it means to listen. Trained students are on call nightly, 7 p.m. - 2 a.m., during the semester. Call (443) 632-7799. More information is available at the Peer Listening webpage.
Virtual Resources
Through a simple search, you can find many online resources for guided meditation (visual and non-visual), learning to meditate and more. Here are a few sites to try. Please share if you find other sites you think would helpful to others in the Goucher Community.
- Free Guided Meditations (from UCLA Mindfulness Awareness Research Center)
- Chopra Center guided meditations
- Meditation Oasis: learn to meditate, get support about meditation, many resources