I offer guidance on mindfulness & meditation. Founder of Mindfulness Works. Over 40,000 people have completed my Introduction to Mindfulness & Meditation course.
🦺 Feeling safe enough to awaken
Feeling Safe Enough to Awaken"When we experience stress, the nervous system tries to control things. Part of waking up is discovering what we are beyond that controlling organism." — Tara BrachDear Reader The Power of a Regulated Nervous SystemI am convinced that those times in our life where we feel open-hearted, spacious, grounded and have a sense of presence are simply the result of a regulated nervous system. What may mysteriously be described as "enlightenment" or in modern psychological terms "self-actualisation", what we refer to as a peak experience is a deep state of true relaxation and regulation— where we feel no threat at all. At these times our relationship with our self, our mind and our experience drastically shifts. Instead of being slightly (or a lot) on guard, instead of needing to work things out, change things—ourselves or others, or make things happen—we sit back into a sense of openness. The State of No ProblemVery simply, we feel our feet on the ground, the gentle breeze against our skin. We notice the sound of the birds, the heat of the sun. In our belly and in our body, we feel an inner, dynamic warmth. In our mind or awareness there is settledness, clarity and expansiveness. Nothing feels like a problem and there is nowhere to go, nothing to sort out and nothing to fix. The Covering Up of Our Natural StateIt as though the everyday stress 'doing' has covered up our capacity to be and to feel. When this is interrupted and we have a chance to breathe, we deepen. As we deepen into this relaxation, insights, wisdom and healing occur. What was hidden is revealed, what was hurting is felt. We receive new and fresh information from our body, from our psyche, from our experience and from life itself. The Emergence of Inner WisdomThe wisdom that is within us, that still silent voice within makes itself known and heard. The holding space that is created with this regulation—the connected, intimate and expansive mind and heart—creates room for everything. This allows the insights to be realised, the wisdom to emerge and the healing to take place. I feel this is why so many spiritual traditions refer to enlightenment or awakening as being entirely natural to us. That it is our birthright; that there is nothing you need to do to get it and that it's not in any way special or related to being worthy or good enough. Our Inherent Capacity for ConnectionIn modern terms we could say that being truly relaxed and regulated is natural to us. We are built that way. To feel deeply, to be connected, to experience an intimate love with ourselves and our environment and experience is hardwired into us. We just need to feel safe enough, without threat long enough, for it to emerge. The Role of Patience, Practice and RetreatsThis emergence always occurs if we are patient enough. Retreat environments provide the perfect opportunity for this. The structure, practice, context and setting have been proven over 2,500 years to provide a deeply safe environment for our natural self-regulation to occur, for us to open up, deepen and connect to our immediate experience. The Invitation to FreedomMindfulness meditation really is a ticket to freedom, a journey of authentic connection and love. Be patient with yourself, trust your experience. If you feel drawn to experience a deeper feeling of regulation and relaxation—to open the door to insight, wisdom and healing—I invite you to consider attending a silent meditation retreat. Either one offered by Mindfulness Works or other teachers you feel aligned with. Trusting Your True NatureYour true nature—your capacity for openness, connection, love and regulation will not let you down. It's right there waiting for you, for when you are ready to allow it to emerge. This Week's Mindfulness Plus Online and Live Workshops​Wired Differently: Mindfulness for Neurodivergent Minds: Wednesday, 5 March 6.30pm AEDTEmbrace a mindfulness practice that honours and reflects your unique way of experiencing the world. Facilitator: Sabina Click "BOOK NOW" to see all details and book any workshop.
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​Awakening to Self-Love 6 Day Silent Meditation Retreat, Healesville: Fri 3 Oct – Wed 8 Oct 2025​
This silent meditation retreat, led by two of Australasia’s leading meditation and mindfulness teachers, focuses on our inherent ability to experience self-love and inner healing.
Allow the beautiful and serene natural retreat environment and meditation sessions to support your wellbeing, as you are invited into a simple schedule that includes regular guided sitting and walking mindfulness meditations, instruction periods and check-ins with the teachers.
Price: $1,899 (all inclusive)
​Teachers: Stephen Archer and Karl Baker
​Dares: Fri 3 Oct. – Wed 8 Oct.
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​The Ease of Being — 3 Day Luxury Meditation Retreat, Noosa North Shore:
Friday, 18 July – Sunday, 20 July 2025​
Life moves fast—too fast. The constant demands, the pressure to perform, and the relentless pace can leave us feeling depleted, disconnected, and exhausted.
When was the last time you truly stopped, breathed, and let yourself simply be?
This exclusive, premium 3-day meditation retreat offers a rare opportunity to step away from the noise and into a world of effortless relaxation, deep presence, and quiet luxury.
Set against the pristine beauty of Noosa North Shore, you’ll experience:
✨ 5-star accommodation in a breathtaking natural setting
✨ Exquisite, chef-prepared vegetarian cuisine to nourish body and mind
✨ A curated meditation program, designed to reconnect you with your inherent ease and OKness
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​Price: $899 - $999 (all inclusive)
​Teacher: Karl Baker
​Dares: Friday, 18 July – Sunday, 20 July
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In-Person Intro to Mindfulness Courses and Workshops
Reduce anxiety, improve sleep and increase self-acceptance with mindfulness.
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These Intro to Mindfulness and Meditation courses and workshops are designed for absolute beginners and are offered by certified Mindfulness Works mindfulness teachers.
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Victoria
​Ballarat – 19 March​
​Seabrook – 1 March​
​Shepparton – 1 March​
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Queensland
​Kalinga – 7 May​
​Yeronga – 18 March​
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Karl Baker - Mindfulness Works
I offer guidance on mindfulness & meditation. Founder of Mindfulness Works. Over 40,000 people have completed my Introduction to Mindfulness & Meditation course.
🕊️ Finding Peace in The Pause, Not The Plan When thinking fails to bring peace, something deeper calls. This is the turning point. “I think and think and think, I've thought myself out of happiness one million times, but never once into it.” — Jonathan Safran Foer Dear Reader There is a saying in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), that “your best thinking got you here”. It means that despite your efforts with thinking and intellect, ultimately none of it has worked and so you find yourself in an AA...
Mindful Healing Through Internal Family Systems (IFS) How IFS deepens self-awareness, softens inner conflict, and brings compassion to every part of you. “There are no bad parts, only parts needing healing.” — Richard C. Schwartz, No Bad Parts Dear Reader If you’ve ever sat down to meditate and found yourself hijacked by a cascade of self-criticism, restlessness, or unexpected emotion—congratulations. You’ve met your internal system. Internal Family Systems (IFS), developed by Dr. Richard...
5 Practical Ways to Stop Judging Yourself and Others "Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in." — Isaac Asimov Dear Reader A common definition of mindfulness is "being present on a moment-to-moment basis, without judgment." But what does non-judgment truly mean? How do we practise it and what are its benefits? What Is Non-Judgment? Non-judgment is an attitude of openness, acceptance and compassion. As human beings, we...