I began the morning of Thanksgiving in my home at Prana. I woke up excited about the bustling throughout the house, the Prana café, the kitchen, the living room, the dining area, the gardens, and the labyrinth.  The house was filled with volunteers serving in the Home of the Traveler. The decorations had gone up a week prior to the upcoming Thanksgiving celebration and the house looked dazzling. I felt a deep sense of gratitude witnessing my fellow housemates joyfully creating a space to welcome all of our guests that would celebrate Thanksgiving together as families often do.

Festive reds, winter greens, deep oranges, radiant yellows, and majestic gold decorated the Foyer, the living area and the Small Seminar Room. There were a variety of colored ribbons, soaring angels, sparkling pinecones, and wreaths placed throughout the house. The feeling of gratitude and service filled the air.  Freshly picked orange and white pumpkins greeted our guests outside on the front porch.

My new MSIA (Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness) family, almost a year old now, began to arrive around 1PM and I felt the enthusiasm seep into every wall, space, heart that opened to receive the unconditional loving present. This was my first Thanksgiving at Prana and the illumination I felt anchored me. My eyes looked inside to honor what God may see in us when we relax into the divine spirit of loving and letting our hearts lead the way. I felt like an honored guest, receiving the experience of ancient knowing that every person I would meet and connect to throughout the evening was a part of an intricate fabric woven in the destiny of my heart’s desire.  I opened to my heart soaking up all the smiling faces, colorful décor, and clear blue sky greeting us to call in the Light as one song.

When all the guests arrived we met at the reflection pool and called in the Light.  I took this grand moment to slip into the love that beamed as each person listened to Rick Ojeda welcoming us to participate in the fest of loving that would unravel gracefully all day.  I experienced the Light coming present inside me as we chanted the “HU” (the sacred name of God), and paused for a moment to behold the silence.

Just then, it was time to eat.  Oh my God!  There was an abundant feast prepared. We walked past the “sugar altar” with childlike delight — pumpkin pie, chocolate cake, raw coconut cookie balls, ginger spice cookies, cup cakes;  you name it and it was there. The childlike sweet tooth was indulged.  There were sugar free, gluten free, dairy free, and the traditional treats that our basic selves like to eat.  I took in the sight and silently praised the “sugar altar” and became a 5 year old eating cake.  My inner adult got me past the “sugar altar” by clearly focusing on the yummy healthy lunch prepared for us.  Turkey wings and giant turkey legs, cranberry sauce, gravy, potatoes, stuffing, rice, salad, brussel sprouts, and lots more.  This was just the beginning of what could be devoured.

As if all of this was not enough, there was more.  We had amazing entertainment and talent that gave me the gift of laughing until water streamed down my face like a soft rain.  I love cosmic humor.  I really believe God is very funny.  David Georgio did a very funny impression of an Italian singer lost in his own world as he showcased his greatest hit performance, while two women stood at his side, one throwing a robe at his feet and walking off in a tiff.  Then there was 8 year old Joshua Hayes playing the guitar like a rock star, bringing many of us back to the days of blues and juke joints. I am delighting in the family I have chosen.  I looked around to remember that I had asked for a family just like this to reflect to me God in me breathing me, close to me, loving me no matter what things looked like on the outside.  Clara Jaramillo sang until her heart opened as free as the sky. I clapped like a child proud of a sister rocking out the Soul in a moment.  Millicent sang a beautiful song that appeared to connect directly to J-R’s heart.  He sat up with a big smile and perched his body as close to the song as possible.  I felt gifted to witness J-R tickled and Millicent timeless in her joy.

My favorite moment of the evening was when we shared in groups of four what we are grateful for. I am grateful to be living at Prana for a year now and to be working on staff, and expanding deeper into the experience of gratitude and loving service. I am grateful everyday that many moments moving through me are loving and expanding me into the consciousness of the Traveler inside me participating in God’s creation.  I received on this Thanksgiving a family I know inside myself as sacred.