It’s a beautiful sunny day, and my buddy Mary Ann Delaney and I are arriving at The Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens to assist with an MSIA introductory workshop “Living In the Light” facilitated by David Bransky and Alisha Hayes. It is also being broadcast online for those who could not make it to the gardens today and for those participants who live in other areas out of town, as well as out of the
country.

As we enter the building, our team captain Thelene Scarborough is ready for us. We are directed to start room set up while waiting for the rest of our team to arrive. We circle up once the gang is all here. What an enthusiastic team it is.

An invocation of Light is brought forward for us, for the facilitators, and all the participants on their way to join us today. We all get notes and begin completing the set up for the afternoon.

After a while guests begin arriving. This is also a regular garden tour day, so many of the people on the tour are joining us to participate in the workshop. Everyone is taking their seats to begin. Debbie Roth, (the MSIA Outreach Coordinator), is our mc today, and welcomes everyone to the gardens, then introduces our facilitators.

David and Alisha go over some logistics to let people know how the afternoon will flow. We hear some information about MSIA and its Founder, John-Roger.

Then, we watch two moments of peace from John-Roger’s travels on peace tours with ministers of MSIA. One film clip was from Africa with John-Roger speaking, and another clip was from the peace tour of Egypt with MSIA Spiritual Director John Morton speaking. Both illustrate the value of being Light bearers as we go through our day.

After the video, Alisha reads a quote from John-Roger on using the Light. David and Alisha go over some basic and practical ways to use and work with the Light for the highest good, including quotes from John-Roger’s books to illustrate. They introduce the group to the Ani-Hu chant with an explanation of its ancient origin, and we all participate in a demonstration of the chant. Alisha then shows us ways of how to bring the Light through the body with small movements and reads from one of John-Roger’s books, “Manual on Using The Light.” Then we have a little fun placing things in the Light with the group visualizing a great column of Light in the middle of the room. One of my favorite exercises.

We also sent Light to everyone in the room, followed by our participation in a closed eye process listening to John-Roger take us through his “Light Attunement Meditation.” At that point I left my body. That was some of the best rest I’ve had in a very long time. After the Meditation, we do the “E” sound to ground ourselves and bring the body into balance. After this, we hear sharing from the participants – a lot of wonderful sharing about the Light.

Next the group is invited to do a trio exercise looking at areas in our lives where we could learn to use the Light for the highest good. On completion of the exercise, each trio got to share any discoveries or awareness they may have gotten from doing the exercise. The room was filled with Light, laughter, and much peace.

David and Alisha finish with some information about study materials for those individuals interested in reading John-Roger’s Discourses, with beautiful teachings of practical spirituality. Debbie Roth returns to the front of the room and thanks everyone for coming, makes a couple of announcements, and we are invited for refreshments. I am so happy I came today. My heart is full.