This page houses the talks and meditations given by Sean Oakes and Fresh “Lev” White at three workshops at East Bay Meditation Center, in Nov 2019, 2020, and 2021. In the third iteration, we were joined by Amber Field, who shared gorgeous music and reflections from their own experience of adoption.

These gatherings were for us who experienced separation from birth families at early ages to explore the heart of the Buddha’s teachings: that pain and loss are built into life and are the seeds of wisdom and liberation.

We explored our experiences of family rupture, and discussed tools for cultivating self-love, compassion, and the possibility of home in ourselves as a deep refuge. All adult adoptees, formerly foster home or system youth, and any adult who was forced/separated from their birth family at young ages was welcome.

Each day was tender and different, with intimate stories, sharing, and connection between folx with this similar experience, including some who had never been in a space with other adopted folks before. We want to thank Laura Callen, founder of the Adoption Museum Project, for encouraging us to teach this class, and we hope there will be more to come.

** Caregivers and others were not invited to these gatherings, to preserve the space as a survivor caucus, but all are welcome to listen to the recordings here.