On Saturday, September 7, the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA) held its monthly Q&A event with John Morton in Santa Monica, California, and live worldwide on the Internet. John Morton, MSIA’s spiritual director, has been doing monthly Q&A sessions over the Internet for a year, but the Saturday broadcast marked the first time the event was held at noon pacific time. The intention was to make the live event available to more people across different time zones — particularly in Europe and Africa, where people normally need to either tune into the broadcast in the wee small hours of the morning, or listen to an archive of the webcast at a later time.

The Brentwood Ballroom at 2101 Wilshire in Santa Monica was humming with energy as people gathered for a sacred afternoon of sharing with the John Morton. There was a palpable sense of gentle joy as people greeted each other and milled together, with abundant smiles, hugs, and the ease of a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Promptly at noon, our MC for the day, Nick Segal, took to the stage and invited everyone to take their seats. After extending warm acknowledgements to MSIA, John-Roger, and John Morton for making the event possible, Nick welcomed people who were attending an MSIA event for the first time and then led us in calling in the Light.

Robert Jameson then provided some musical entertainment for us, including a sing-a-long of Love, Joy, and Light and a song he wrote with Rob Woo.

Next, John Morton took the stage, and he invited people from Europe and Africa in particular to send an email and tell us if they were participating online, and also to share about how the timing for the webcast was working for them. People from England and Cape Verde responded almost immediately, sharing their gladness to participate with the event live. After a brief geography lesson to determine that Cape Verde is off the coast of Africa, not off the coast of San Diego, John dedicated the seminar to those listening on that island.

John noted that we were blessed to gather at the 2101 Wilshire building, given how rare it is for the building to have a room available on a Saturday afternoon because the classes of the University of Santa Monica (USM) and of Peace Theological Seminary (PTS) take place at 2101 on the weekends. John mentioned that the work of USM and PTS involves exploring the good inside of human beings, and lots of good work goes on in the classes and events held at the 2101 building.

John also shared that the question and answer format of the seminars is about catching the Spirit — that if John looked at the questions people ask on paper, he couldn’t answer them. In opening up to the Spirit, the answers come out — and John has the experience of witnessing that. John shared that he loves the Q&A format, and not knowing what the questions will be, from those in the room and those on the Internet.

With that said, John opened the floor to questions in the room and on the Internet. Here are some of the questions that John answered with all of his loving, warmth, humor, and kindness:

How can I be more open to intimate relationships?

One thing we heard John say is to treasure the people who love you no matter what — they are rare.

What about fantasies?

We heard John say to always win in your fantasies. Declare victory at the end of each day, and really own that victory.

If all of the answers to our questions are inside, why do we do Question and Answer sessions?

We heard John answer that the Q&A sessions keep us involved! There is value in being involved in this way, with each other and with Spirit.

I am new to MSIA; how can I get answers to questions that I have?

Here’s a summary of the information that John shared: We welcome communication and correspondence as part of the ministry of sharing the teachings of the Traveler and the Spiritual Heart. You can call the MSIA office number (323) 737-4055 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (pacific time). You can also go to the MSIA website at www.msia.org and click on Contact MSIA. People can also send an email to letterjohnmorton@msia.org. John gave a warm acknowledgment to MSIA staff members, Betsy Alexander and Ina Carbajal, who support John-Roger and John Morton with correspondence, leading to a standing ovation for both of them and the service they provide for all of us.

How can I overcome habits that limit me?

We heard John say that a key is to place our trust beyond what the mind and emotions tell us and hold to the spiritual viewing point, that no matter what is going on, there is good present.

Why do I fall asleep when attending seminars or reading Discourses?

We heard John say to endeavor to stay awake and aware, but don’t fight when we go unconscious. Trust that Spirit is working with you.

How can we minister more fully?

We heard John say that it’s about DOING it. The most powerful way to do it is silently, leaving no traces.

How can we stay on course with the Light?

We heard John say to ask, “Is it loving? Where is the greatest loving, with the consciousness of the highest good of all concerned?”

Can you share more about this?

We heard John answer that no matter how dark we find our lives or what we have created, we can choose Light. Choosing Light translates into doing good, being positively involved, doing what works for us, doing what is uplifting — so that we are constantly going toward greater good.

In the wake of September 11, how can we keep going toward greater good?

We heard John answer that nothing is ever so dark that we can’t love it. That is who love is. Love cannot be destroyed. When you see the glory of God, there are no problems. We win because we endure, and stay vigilant.

How can we make better choices?

We heard John say to be practical. It’s not what we do so much as how we relate to it. Don’t hurt yourself, don’t hurt others. Don’t do things that are unnecessary. Do the best with what you’re working with.

John shared all of this and more, and closed the seminar with a beautiful blessing. The Traveler energy poured forth for all with all of its practical wisdom, poetry, and beauty, touching to everyone with loving, caring, sharing and the ongoing invitation to participate, to be involved, to choose love and Light again and again and again.

The blessings of the day rolled on…It was a beautiful day in the worldwide neighborhood, indeed, and as the seminar came to a close, people continued the communion of Souls, sharing laughter, love, snacks, and the simple sweet intimacy of enjoying the blessings that always are.

If you would like to watch or hear the archive of this webcast, click here.

Please come and join us for the next Q&A Seminar and Webcast with John Morton, scheduled for Tuesday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m. pacific time. The seminar will be simultaneously broadcast in audio and video via the MSIA website at www.msia.org/live. If you have any questions or would like more information about MSIA, please contact the MSIA office at (323) 737-4055 or email to Soul@msia.org. We love talking with people!