Our Meeting began with a divine aria sung by Madhuri Marelli, calling us forward into the Light of God with an exquisite “Our Song of Love.” Then 895 Initiates of the Traveler filled the Sheraton Ballroom with a glorious extended chanting of Ani Hu. As we harmonized together, over 100 Initiates connected in with us from Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Australia. The room filled with a most powerful sweetness. To me, it was Heaven on Earth!
Phil Danza, Director of NOW Productions, then introduced John Morton, Spiritual Director of MSIA, who led us in a most beautiful and profound invocation to the Beloved within. John reminded us that the Conference Initiates Meeting is the only meeting held around the world specifically for Initiates of the Traveler. It is a most sacred and special gathering as we are the ones who have chosen to turn toward the Light, to follow the Wayshower in this divine line of the Traveler.
As Initiates, we are Lightbearers and votaries who have infinite opportunities to send the Light. John encouraged us to send the Light and seed for John-Roger, Founder of MSIA and our beloved Wayshower, if we are moved to,. Although John-Roger did not join us physically for the meeting, we sent him the Light in whatever ways would serve for his health, upliftment and joy. John reminded us that the best way to help John-Roger is to do spiritual exercises, to go inside and chant our initiatory tone, which we then did silently for a good while. An even greater sweetness filled the room as we all tuned within to that place inside where we know we are One with God. What a blessing it is to share this sacred path with my fellow Initiates and our beloved Travelers!
John then shared tender, practical and inspiring stories about living a spiritual life in this physical world. From golf stories, to John’s experiences serving John-Roger personally, we were reminded that we have infinite opportunities to choose back into the loving and service that is the way of Spirit. While the world may see things as impossible or implausible, John reminded us that with God all things are possible. We are here to take from the Spirit what we can bring into this world, to ask the Spirit for guidance, and be open to what can become. John encouraged us to remember that in each moment, we can turn toward the Light and follow the Lord’s way.
John encouraged us to do things that help, to love and care for others regardless, and bring harmony through our cooperation. Our world needs compassion, kindness and caring. As the Traveler’s Initiates, we are in the perfect position to be the compassion and become the message of loving one another as God loves us.
John encouraged us to step up our dedication and devotion as Initiates and to look to John-Roger as a most profound, enduring example of dedication to Spirit. John reminded us that God does not give us anything we cannot handle and that all experiences are teaching actions for our learning, growth and upliftment. I appreciated John’s reminders that courage is in the Soul’s nature and that God does not give up on us. We can trust that everything in God’s creation is good as it has been created for us in love always in all ways.
As John concluded his seminar, he offered a few words from an Old Irish Blessing. Here is the Blessing to which John referred:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
To close the meeting, Kate Sexton-Blakeslee sang a most resounding a capella version of “Somewhere,” reminding us that there is a place for us right here and now where we are all One in the heart of God. We chanted Ani Hu aloud again for a good while, filling the room to overflowing with the powerfully unifying loving devotion that is the blessing of being the Traveler’s Initiates. Until next year’s Initiates’ Meeting, may we remember that we are held always in God’s loving hands as well as the hearts of all the Initiates of the Traveler.
