Recently, MSIA Next Gen unveiled its first event entitled “Blessed Food, Blessed Body” at Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens. Some of the MSIA community have heard about MSIA Next Gen but most don’t necessarily know what it is.

MSIA Next Gen was originally the brainchild of Zoe Golightly and was established as a support network of younger members of the Movement community. Next Gen was created from an understanding that if we, as a younger generation of initiates and ministers in MSIA, would like the Movement to perpetuate indefinitely as a vehicle to share the teachings of the Traveler, we need to get involved. So, our intention is to be a support network for young people in the Movement, to create events that we want to go to, to have fun, and to participate in making the teachings available to as many people as possible.

For our first event, we wanted to create something that would exemplify what we are all about. “Blessed Food, Blessed Body” was a joyful tribute to fine organic dining and simultaneously a powerful experience in blessings, nurturing, and self-love.

The evening began with a presentation by Paul Kaye, D.S.S., on the concept of time, how it has shifted throughout history, and how we often forget to slow down and be present with what we are doing, especially in relation to food.

Then the entire group listened to the “Body-Balance Meditation” from the compilation Health From the Inside Out. After the group gradually got back into their bodies, we moved to the Foyer to begin the first course of a wonderful three course feast.

Everyone sat down to eat at long banquet tables we set up just for the event. John Morton gave a blessing and everyone began to eat. Participants were encouraged to bless every bite and to observe the experience.

For our feast we were blessed to have the services of Thea Dixon, a truly gifted private organic chef. Thea has had the opportunity to learn cooking in some truly exotic places. Thus, when she presented to the group, she suggested everyone eat with their hands because, as she put it, “according to tantric yogic teachings, eating with fork and knife is like making love through a middle man.” The food itself was truly magical: an elegant homage to Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. One assistant even told me “Look, I am not a food person by any measure, but this food is a work of art. It is absolutely exquisite.” Needless to say, the room was buzzing with joyful blessings, dirty fingers, captivated taste buds, and constant conversation.

During dessert we had open sharing. It was really amazing to hear about the participants’ experience with the event and with food in general. More than anything else, I think it was wonderful to feel like we had participated in creating a powerful experience that people actually benefitted from while having a blast. John closed out the event with a few words, expressions of his support, and another wonderful blessing. We were left asking “Wait…How did all of that work out so well?”

The truth is that we did not really have a handle on what the final event would look like until it happened. Because of registration hick-ups, last minute logistical changes, and other bumps in the road, we didn’t even have the venue figured out until the day of the event. But the best part of the event was that it didn’t really feel as though we were doing it and therefore there was no need to have it completely figured out. We trusted that Spirit would create the event and that all we had to do was show up and be present in service. It was bizarre. Throughout the day, people just joined together and got things done. Then, throughout the event, people always seemed to be exactly where they needed to be and the night moved smoothly.

All in all, the event was a great success and we look forward to many other events where we can gather as a community and find more and more ways to joyfully live the teachings together.

MSIA Next Gen’s next event “Be Your Own Valentine” is scheduled for February 25, 2012, and will feature the J-R seminar of the same name. We hope to see you everyone there!