Brigid Lowry has been a Buddhist for over forty years. She spent six years at Wat Buddha Dharma as part of the lay community, helping to run retreats for many teachers, including Ayya Khema, Phra Khantipalo and Joseph Goldstein. She has been a Zen student for many years and is also a Vipassana practitioner. Brigid has an MA in Creative Writing and is the author of many prize-winning YA books. Her adult titles are Still Life With Teapot: On Zen, Writing and Creativity and A Year of Loving Kindness to Myself and Other Essays. The later was chosen by Apple books to be Best Book of the Month in April 2021. Fremantle Press will publish her new title in February 2026 – A Time of Living Graciously: Essays on Ageing. Brigid believes in op shops, coloured pencils and floral frocks, and in fostering joy and creativity in herself and others. While the monks and nuns are away, we will have some interesting guest speakers coming in to give the Friday Night talk.HEAVENLY MESSENGERS 2024 (Rains Retreat Speakers' Series 2024)The BSWA is now using Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa) for donations. Please join us on Ko-fi and cancel your donations via Patreon. Thanks for your ongoing support!