Our flagship event is Meditation and Beer. It’s a weekly gathering where we meditate then socialize. Research has shown that the practice of daily meditation helps us navigate the complexities of our lives. We recommend the use of an anchor word or a mantra to still ourselves through the 20 minutes of silence.
We also have pop-up events, such as mindfulness walks and trips to the Royal Botanical Garden. We have also hosted silent day retreats and will do so again soon. To keep apprised of our events, you can join our Meetup.com page or check the Google calendar on the Events Calendar page on this website.
Hamilton’s Well is lovingly led by Susie (left), Matthew (middle), and Nicole (right).
Matthew started meditating in 2002 when he was working in downtown Toronto for a major landlord company and feeling burnt out. Having realized that his values were not aligned with the business sector he had allowed himself to enter, he left the field. He called 211, and they suggested that he look into a MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) course that St. Joseph’s Health Centre provided.
Matthew appreciated especially that the instructor of the course said up front that meditation is not for everyone, but that they should finish the course before they decide whether it is. After that eight-week program, he began exploring Buddhism and continued exploring meditation with different groups in Lindsay, ON, London, ON, and finally in Hamilton ON, where he moved in 2023. He helped organize weekly gatherings, day trips, and international trips with such groups. He worked with Mindfulness Hamilton on their promotional materials and website as well.
Nicole started practicing yoga and meditation in her 20s. For 30 years she has participated in and led a variety of meditation groups. She has also led Taizé, a form of meditative singing.
Susie founded Hamilton’s Well in November of 2023 as a response to her love of the city and its people. She’s supposed to have had a meditation practice since 2009 but it hasn’t always gone very well or consistently. She knows she hasn’t achieved enlightenment because when she misses a day of meditating and the Insight Timer app asks her the next day when she opens it whether she practiced, she is always tempted to lie to the app to keep her streak.
She is an enthusiastic fan of yarn, stationery, books, movement, and silence. She is supported by the Anglican Diocese of Niagara and Handknit Yarn Studio. Sometimes you can also find her at Last Supper Books.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at hamiltonswell[at]gmail.com or by using the contact form below.
Hamilton's well: community, wellness, exploration 