My Silent Place
Where inspiration begins
a practical application of mindfulness in daily life
with Jane Negrych
About Jane
I have been teaching compassion based mindfulness for 15 years. Intially, I taught for the Mindfulness Association UK and I am currently teaching at the Sanctuary in Dublin, Ireland. Through teaching meditation, I have discovered that silence can be a doorway to creativity and to connection: connection to myself, to my environment and connection to healing.
Upcoming Courses
Responding with Compassion online
September 1, 2026
This course is a follow on from the Being Present In-depth Mindfulness training and starts with building self-compassion into basic mindfulness practice. Through compassionate imagery and mindful self-compassion, we cultivate positive emotions as a way of building up an inner resource; from which we can approach the difficulties that are part and parcel of being alive.
We then approach the self-critic: that persistent inner voice that is harsh and condemning, and always finding fault in what we do. What it would be like to cultivate an inner voice that is kind and supportive, and to live life from this place, rather than from a place of destructive self-criticism?
In the course of the journey we move from self-compassion towards compassion for others. Exploring practices which help us find balance and perspective beyond our narrow preferences.
Nature and Healing Autumn cohort
September 19, 2026
One of the key benefits of nature-based interventions is their ability to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Spending time in natural environments has been found to lower levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, and increase feelings of calm and relaxation. This can have a significant impact on mental health, as chronic stress has been linked to a variety of negative health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular disease.
In addition to reducing stress, nature-based interventions have also been shown to improve mood and emotional well-being. Research has found that spending time in nature can increase feelings of happiness and contentment, as well as reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. This may be due in part to the restorative effects of nature, which can help to replenish cognitive resources and improve mood regulation.
The programme is designed to be delivered in the Sanctuary’s biodiversity field and the garden room. It employs a combination of experiential training in mindfulness and self-compassion, engaging with nature through horticulture and regular reflective dialogue. There is some engagement with the process of creative artwork
This blog started with a return to the Sanctuary with my weekly Tuesday morning (10am) mindfulness sessions. The blog acts as an extra resource and a space to access a written mindfulness musing with audio recording of the sessions.
“Accept what comes from silence.
Make the best you can of it.
Of the little words that come
out of the silence, like prayers
prayed back to the one who prays,
make a poem that does not disturb
the silence from which it came.”
Wendell Berry
From the blog
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Forest lessons…
As part of my working day, I have been taking my coffee breaks outside. And while I am currently at my cabin in Canada, this means that I have been sitting and watching the forest. Only, I am not the only one doing the watching. There is a wee squirrel who has been slowly moving…
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Are you listening?
One of the things that I love best about summer is sleeping with my windows open. When I am home in Ireland, I don’t always feel that I can do this, as I live in a town and in a single story house. I mean, who knows what marauders are out there at night? Things…
My Silent Place 