One of the things I learned at our PAT I in Jacksonville, May 4-8, 2003, was the way to throw a football. Having a football toss isn’t usually part of a Peace Awareness Training. It was some extra fun thrown in for me by a friend during breaks. But it mirrored what I learned in the PAT I — that finding peace inside is all about movement.
Peace Awareness Training, like a good football throw, is about allowing the energy to come forward, lifting up, then following through and letting go with grace and ease. The more we allow Spirit to move us and the more we put our True Selves into the process, the better the release. It takes practice to improve one’s football throw, and it takes practice to raise one’s awareness of the peace inside. From our Training, I learned that practicing peace awareness with a loving and supportive team, like a friendly backyard toss, is a whole lot of fun!
Throughout the week, we took care of ourselves and helped take care of one another, making sure we were all having a good time practicing our ever-increasing awareness of the presence of Spirit. Within the safety and protection of the Traveler and the Christ, we felt free to break through unnecessary patterns and let go of what we no longer needed. At times when issues came up that made me feel uneasy, I heard that inner quarterback remind me, “This too shall pass.” And right by my side were my compassionate PAT Teammates ready and willing to ease my process with their tenderness and friendship. We shared uncontrollable giggles, occasional tears, abundant hugs, and knowing smiles. And most of all, the ever-flowing loving that grew and grew with each moment together.
My 33 precious PAT buddies and I met at the beautiful Marywood Retreat Center on the St. John’s River. We came from all over including Florida, California, Nevada, Washington, DC, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and even London. Most of us were PAT Virgins. A few of us had taken several PAT Trainings and had come back for more of the loving and learning. It didn’t matter how experienced we were. Every moment was filled with new awareness. Every moment was an awakening to our True Selves in our purity and divinity and in our Oneness with God.
We give our thanks to our wonderful facilitator, Irwin Carrasso, who came all the way from Santa Barbara to make sure that each and everyone of us was taken care of in the most special and perfect way. We thank Carol Barger, our steadfast, loving Assisting Team Captain, and her devoted Assistants — Sunny Castillo, Nydia Rey, Daniel Wysocki (our super sound man) and Vivien Young for holding the light and loving us through our learning. We thank Diane Longo along with Miriam Goldstein for holding the focus for the PAT I and helping arrange all the many details with tender loving care and finesse. Above all, we are grateful to our ever-inspiring, beloved PAT Coach John-Roger and to our Traveler, Johnny “Unite Us” Morton, for the infinite ways we knew their divine presence and felt comforted by them throughout the training.
And, I thank Nick Segal for our sweet, enlightening football tosses. I learned how to let my True Self break free of an old pattern and enjoy the beauty and power of letting Spirit move me. At home, as I practice with my son (and my daughter) my new and improved way of throwing a football and they giggle with delight, I realize that what Peace Awareness Training is all about is practicing being Home in the ever-present loving of the Son. And to giggle with delight as we know more and more who we are — God’s Most Valuable Players.
See you at Pat 2 — November 17-21, 2003, at the Marywood Retreat Center in Jacksonville, Florida. You are invited to participate. To register, contact Diane Longo at 904-824-1936 or bayfront@aug.com.
Baruch Bashan
