Flourish: Cultivating wisdom & clarity
Deepening your relationship with meditation
If you've developed a steady practice and you're curious about deepening it – with community, study, and extended retreat – you're in the right place.
And as our practice journey deepens we open to our innate capacity to rest in an awareness that is open-hearted, clear, honest and deeply restorative. Join us to continue to nourish this well-spring inside you, so that together we can act in the world with more care and generosity.
If you're newer to practice, MBSR is the best foundation. You can return to Flourish when you're ready. Begin with MBSR.
Transformative changes in life and relating
Someone told Steve that MBSR would be about having more spaciousness and intimacy. He really didn't understand how mindfulness could lead to that. Here he talks about what those words came to mean many years later - listening to music differently, deeply looking at a painting, being truly present with people he loves.
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I realised: my purpose was to build solid ground on which people can stand to do amazing things. At work, when issues come up, I ask: what's the solid ground they need? With my kids coming and going, I want to create an emotionally solid home for them to thrive in.
—Mike
Keeping practice alive
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Monthly half-day retreat format
The Meditation Lab
Coming SoonReady to dive deeper? The Lab offers extended time for real exploration of meditation practice.
Each half-day retreat will dive deep into a playpen of practice experiments for living, and will be grounded in understandings from the wisdom traditions, philosophy, science and literature. While each session stands alone, together they weave a pragmatic journey of growth and understanding.
What you'll gain: Monthly immersion in experimental practice and philosophical exploration. -
Care & continuity in company
Meditation Circles
Coming SoonYou've finished MBSR and had that feeling – "But I want this to go on!" – this is what comes next.
How do we sustain our mindfulness meditation practice so it becomes an ongoing enrichment of our inner and outer lives? In this small practice group, we will meet over time to build confidence in our embodied knowing and grow trust in incremental change that comes with practice.
What you'll gain: Weekly touchstone for sustained practice within a committed community. -
Wisdom & study
Bookclub 2026
Coming SoonLove learning through reading and conversation? This gathers people exploring contemplative wisdom traditions and meditation philosophy together.
There is a feast of wisdom in this world. Join a community of learners who want to explore what the wisdom traditions and contemplative practice can offer – in creating well-being and connection within, and also in the wider communities in which we move.
What you'll gain: Structured exploration of contemplative texts with fellow practitioners. -
Wisdom & study
Thoughts Worth Having
Read BlogIf you value reflections that inspire and gently provoke deeper thinking, you'll find plenty here.
Short musings and reflections to inspire, encourage and mystify you in a good way – from the most recent writings to other topics found by search.
What you'll find: Essays and teachings from mindfulness teachers Tim Goddard and other voices.
Growing relational capacity
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A path to emotional resilience
Understanding Your Emotions
Coming SoonIf developing a healthier, wiser relationship with your feelings matters to you, this work will help.
Our emotions carry vital information, yet many of us have learned to avoid or become overwhelmed by our feelings. This course offers a compassionate, practical approach to developing emotional literacy and resilience. We will strengthen our capacity to feel, accept and communicate our feelings in ways that support wellbeing and connection.
What you'll gain: Powerful methods for emotional awareness and skilful response. -
Growing wisdom and compassion in relationships
Wired for Connection
Coming SoonIf staying open-hearted in challenging moments feels important but difficult, this work will resonate.
In the world we live in, the only sane response is perhaps to deepen our capacity for recognition, tenderness and compassion – for ourselves and others. Drawing on neuroscience, biology, and non-dual mindfulness and compassion practices we will grow relational skills even in "hot" situations. Come along to build strengths in staying open-hearted, setting boundaries and honouring difference.
What you'll gain: Advanced relational skills grounded in neuroscience and contemplative wisdom.
Diving deeper
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Diving deeper
Retreats
Explore RetreatsWhen you're ready to truly step away from the daily demands for a real reset, a retreat offers that space.
Practicing intensively in community brings a deep sense of support and shared purpose as we explore our inner and outer lives. Create the dedicated time and space to refine and deepen your practice, with teachings and teachers to guide you in the journey.
What you'll gain: Extended immersion with structured guidance for deepening insight. -
Diving deeper
Retreats Beyond OpenGround
Coming SoonIf your practice has you wanting to explore different orientations and communities, we've gathered some recommendations here.
When your curiosity about the teachings and the practice is on fire, you may become interested in other orientations and communities of practice. We have provided some links here to teachers and groups available in Australia, that we value.
What you'll find: Recommended teachers and retreat centres we trust and respect. -
Become a teacher
Teacher Training with Openground and MTI
Learn About TrainingConsidering becoming a mindfulness teacher? MTI offers comprehensive training for people seriously committed to this work.
If you have been personally touched by this precious work and want to make it part of your professional life, then contact MTI – our sister organisation – to see what the pathway might look like for you. It will provide a solid base on which to bring secular mindfulness practice in your professional context in a way which is skilful, ethical and relevant – whether you want to teach MBSR or simply develop your leadership capacities.
What's involved: Comprehensive training pathway through the Mindfulness Training Institute.
What participants are saying...
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Building confidence steadily
Betty, Retreats participantStarting with a silent weekend in the Southern Highlands, Betty gradually built up to five and seven-day retreats. She talks about the quiet courage it takes to be with yourself...
Building confidence steadily
Starting with a silent weekend in the Southern Highlands, Betty gradually built up to five and seven-day retreats. She talks about the quiet courage it takes to be with yourself...
Betty, Retreats participantHear More -
Reset with a retreat
Alex, Retreats ParticipantFrom the intimidation of a Day of Silence to then attending multiple longer retreats, Alex describes what it's like to arrive anxious, go quiet, and find that the fear simply...
Reset with a retreat
From the intimidation of a Day of Silence to then attending multiple longer retreats, Alex describes what it's like to arrive anxious, go quiet, and find that the fear simply...
Alex, Retreats ParticipantHear More -
Nature on Retreats
Betty, Retreats ParticipantWatch this video to hear about Betty's experience with Retreats.
Nature on Retreats
Watch this video to hear about Betty's experience with Retreats.
Betty, Retreats ParticipantHear More -
"...the most precious gift you can give to your...
Jennifer L, Living Wholeheartedly Retreat, July 2026It's like a big warm hug for the parts of you that feel not good enough! Rather than intimidating, the silence is warm and friendly. You'll be completely looked after....
"...the most precious gift you can give to yourself"
It's like a big warm hug for the parts of you that feel not good enough! Rather than intimidating, the silence is warm and friendly. You'll be completely looked after....
Jennifer L, Living Wholeheartedly Retreat, July 2026Hear More -
"...get to know your inner self more"
Anon, Deepening Insight Retreat, March 2026A unique chance to recharge and get to know your inner self more – we all need this, it is a gift to yourself and others.
"...get to know your inner self more"
A unique chance to recharge and get to know your inner self more – we all need this, it is a gift to yourself and others.
Anon, Deepening Insight Retreat, March 2026Hear More -
"...reminded of my mind body world connection"
LMC, Living Wholeheartedly Retreat, July 2025I came to the retreat looking for silence, and that was there, but there was so much more. I was reminded of my mind body world connection, where I am...
"...reminded of my mind body world connection"
I came to the retreat looking for silence, and that was there, but there was so much more. I was reminded of my mind body world connection, where I am...
LMC, Living Wholeheartedly Retreat, July 2025Hear More -
"...reset, replenish our energy"
EM, Deepening Insight Retreat, March 2025Libba's warm energy, humour and wisdom are a delight. I learned a lot and was able to bring perspective to a few things that had been troubling me in life....
"...reset, replenish our energy"
Libba's warm energy, humour and wisdom are a delight. I learned a lot and was able to bring perspective to a few things that had been troubling me in life....
EM, Deepening Insight Retreat, March 2025Hear More -
"All you need is an open mind"
Peter, Deepening Insight Retreat, March 2025By the end of the retreat, you'll gain valuable insights and a deeper connection with yourself. All you need is an open mind and a willingness to see it through....
"All you need is an open mind"
By the end of the retreat, you'll gain valuable insights and a deeper connection with yourself. All you need is an open mind and a willingness to see it through....
Peter, Deepening Insight Retreat, March 2025Hear More -
"...amazing for development & growth"
Retreats ParticipantFocused practice helps me remember how amazing the practice is for development & growth.
"...amazing for development & growth"
Focused practice helps me remember how amazing the practice is for development & growth.
Retreats ParticipantHear More -
"...regular practice bolstered & stronger for m...
Retreats ParticipantMy regular practice feels bolstered and stronger for months after a retreat. I can tune into the feeling of stillness. I remember the feeling of being with others in silence.
"...regular practice bolstered & stronger for months"
My regular practice feels bolstered and stronger for months after a retreat. I can tune into the feeling of stillness. I remember the feeling of being with others in silence.
Retreats ParticipantHear More