Worldly Wisdom For Living Mindfully - by Derek Hill

COURSE

Worldly Wisdom For Living Mindfully

With Derek Hill

Over the next 4 days of this series, we'll uncover our first 4 sources of worldly wisdom for living mindfully. We'll travel far and wide to experience traditions, myths, healthy lifestyle habits and philosophies which have inspired generations the world over. And together, through the lens of these cultural insights and lessons from mindfulness, we'll share simple prompts, meditation practices, and snippets of age-old wisdom to bring it to life. We'll visit: 1) Ireland and explore "Thin Places" for a sense of the profound and grounded connection. 2) Japan to "Join with Gold" so flaws can become symbols of healing and resilience. 3) Norway to experience "The Outdoor Life" roaming and connecting with nature. 4) Australia to practice "Inner Deep Listening", mindfully connecting within. This course is ideal: - If you're new to meditation or mindfulness and need a spark of inspiration. - If you want a fresh creative or cultural perspective and wisdom to bring to your practice. - If you are disconnected, anxious, or alone and want to calm, connecting practices to support you. We can travel together right now. To discover Worldly Wisdom for Living Mindfully.


Meet your Teacher

Derek Hill believes in creating opportunities for genuine connection, with ourselves, nature, and each other. Supporting people to look inwardly, with self-compassion - helping them uncover their inner resources for self-support and purposeful direction in life. He is a mindfulness and compassion teacher, speaker, and coach, accredited by Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB). He teaches 4 to 8-week courses, including Jon Kabat-Zinn's gold standard "Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction." He works with individuals, groups, and organizations to inspire greater happiness, health, and human connection in life and work. Derek's course ‘Waves of Wellbeing and Resilience’ was drawn from both his teaching qualifications, as well his own personal life and professional experiences. He has coached and mentored people for 20 years in high-stress corporate environments, as well as purpose-driven ‘technology for good’ organizations like JustGiving and Farewill, where he spent many wonderful years working with not-for-profit organizations. Derek is sincerely committed to helping others realize their potential, creativity, and fundamental connection to self, others, and the universe. Derek moved to London from his hometown in Dublin. His early life in Ireland colored so much of what he has learned throughout life. Having graduated in creative writing, he always found great inspiration in the books of others, whether fictional, philosophical, or those challenging conventions. Throughout his professional career, where he enjoyed the highs and lows of working abroad, growing businesses, and making a purposeful impact, there was always a pull towards the traditions and philosophies, which inspire his work today. A few life-changing events and an ever-growing personal commitment to meditation practice, finally nudged him to retrain as a mindfulness and compassion teacher, picking up a CPCAB accredited Level 4 qualification, as well as training to teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Derek then redesigned his life around a passion and purpose, so he could sustainably support his health and well-being and that of his family. He founded his company Waking Waves to make this possible and is now on his own mindful mission to share the benefits of mindfulness and compassion with others, so they can too!

read more

4 Days

315 students

4.9 stars

14 min / day

Presence

English


Lesson 1

Thin Places: Profound Connection

On Day 1, we visit Ireland to connect with a sense of the profound, immersing ourselves in one of the world's "Thin Places" Together we'll reflect on those places in the world, that hold a special kind of energy. And through a deeply calming grounding practice, find root in a place meaningful for us.

read more

Lesson 2

Joining With Gold: Healing And Resilience

On Day 2 we travel to Japan to explore the beautiful art of "Kintsugi" a wonderful mindful metaphor for healing, wisdom, and resilience. We accept that life falls apart sometimes and by "joining with" our gold, the visible scars can be symbolic of the road we traveled. We'll share the benefits of reframing failure or failing relationships. And together, we'll "join with gold" in a healing breath meditation.

read more

Lesson 3

The Open Air Life: Roam In Nature

On Day 3, we'll roam to remote places, embracing the Norwegian "Open Air Life" and learn why this outdoor lifestyle habit can benefit our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. With some prompts, we'll investigate our opportunities to enjoy this. And through a body and breath practice, go beyond any limitations or restrictions, to find our solitude and deeper connection in nature, and within.

read more

Lesson 4

Inner Deep Listening: Within, Others And Nature

On Day 4, we reach Australia to learn how the Aboriginal Australian practice and wisdom of "Dadirri" [Da-did-ee] has helped them cultivate "Inner deep listening" for generations. And together we'll explore connections with mindfulness - how we too can bring a patient, non-judgmental, and listening presence, to what arises within. To others and nature too. We'll finish with a mindful deep listening and breathing practice, sharing self-compassionate gestures in moments of difficulty.

read more


Ask your teacher

This course includes 8 community questions and 7 audio replies from Derek Hill. The community classroom and teacher audio replies are only available via the app.

8

4.9 (18)

Recent Reviews

Joan

Joan

February 2, 2026

Excellent, interesting teaching. Thank you!

Cyndi

Cyndi

February 1, 2026

Nice course, thank you!

Michelle

January 5, 2025

So informative and enlightening. Thank you!

Joanne

Joanne

October 12, 2024

Love traveling with you

🦋Christine

🦋Christine

December 31, 2023

Nice short course with plenty of thoughts from around the world on ways to connect during meditation. Nice for beginners or as a tool for more advanced meditators using the beginner’s mind.

KatieG

KatieG

December 29, 2023

the notion of thin places has resonated with me for some time, so having a course that delves into this topic is welcome! I loved the different perspectives and cultures presented, including real physical spaces (Ireland and Norway) and the arts woven into cultural traditions (Japan). I hope more “thin place” conversations are coming! 🥰🙏🏼

Kristina

December 28, 2023

Thank you

Trusted by 35 million people. It's free.

Insight Timer

Get the app