Oh hi! I’m Carol Farnum, and some of you might know me as an artist. I bet only some of you know me as an avid, advanced meditation practitioner. For everyone that doesn’t know me at all, I am both of those things!

I began my own search for mindfulness, being still, and looking for answers related to consciousness more than 30 years ago. I have studied comparative religion for as many years, and am currently doing a PhD program in Metaphysics to be finished in 2027, but I will obtain my Metaphysical Ministerial License this year and then be able to add Spiritual Counseling to my offerings here at RootDown. I am also studying Auriculotherapy, which is essentially acupressure of the ear, and hope to bring that to CU at the end of 2025. As a totally unrelated aside, I did my undergrad at UIUC in Evolutionary Ecology.

My history with meditation is long and started with Tibetan Buddhism, and while I’m no longer practicing any particular religion, this was formative in my meditation practice. I have taken Tai Chi for many semesters in college and I was fortunate to be able to meditate at Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, NY with monks trained by HH14 Dalai Lama in the 1990s. I really learned that just “to sit with it” was always the answer, no matter the question.

My general mantra every day is: “Chop wood, Carry water”, as a way to remind myself to be mindful in all things, every day.

My goal is to curate a supportive, balancing, foundational space for everyone to learn and practice meditation with no pressure, no religious underpinnings, no preconceived ideas about what you “should be doing”. I want you to feel safe, supported, encouraged, and balanced here and in turn, take peace and mindfulness out into your daily lives, hopefully stress free and able to center yourself quickly.

And because I am an artist all my life and running a professional studio for 15 years, even though I’m pseudo-retired from that profession I will continue giving private painting lessons and hosting an occasional pop up.

Stay RootDown, friends. Balance begins on the cushion.

Love,

C.

PS. This is a recent photo of me that combines my 3 big loves in life: music, painting, and consciousness & meditation. Love. Hope to see you soon!