Mend the Mind with Meditation in New Rochelle

One bell indicates five minutes before meditation, two rings of the bell means meditation has begun.

For members of the community who want time to find their inner peace, gathering for meditation at could be the answer.

Guru Madeleine, owner and director of The Poet’s Corner, designed the program S.E.L.F.—Sane Enlightened Life Force—which guides her students through telepathic discovery. Currently the Corner also utilizes The New School of Learning, a program designed to reach the divine self.

Madeleine said her name was legally changed to Guru Madeleine. She was formerly Madeleine Peters.

The Poet’s Corner, which is located at 570 Main St., has meditation classes that occur Monday through Friday at 6:30 p.m. as well as on Saturday and Sunday at noon. The Corner also hosts readings, events, presentations and performances, including ones from local artists and musicians.

The New School of Inner Wisdom originated in Greenwich, CT, and became the New School of Learning at The Poet’s Corner in New Rochelle. Both schools attempt to achieve the telepathic seventh sense.

Michael Melenciano, a New Rochelle resident and student of daily meditation, said that it’s difficult to find the time and motivation to meditate.

“It’s not hard to wash your dishes, but you’ve got to do it,” he said.

Wendy Guagenti of New Rochelle has been in Madeleine’s classes for 25 years.

“It came to a point in life when I wanted to know if life had meaning,” she said in response to being asked why she began to attend the school of telepathy.

The disciplines of the New School of Learning are simple steps with minor sacrifices. Meditation is the key to reaching the fullest telepathic potential, according to the students.

“This is something that you will not find anywhere,” Guagenti said.

This school of thought is accessible to the entire New Rochelle community and open to all who want a new start.

The programs are financed through donations, which also helped redesign the second floor of the Corner. Originally, the floor contained small offices. Now it is a large, open space for meditation. Madeleine had a specific artist work on the structure and design of the second floor.

“Meditation leads to divine self,” she said.

This new larger designed space is open anytime for students, and new seating allows many students to meditate together.