Click here to view the photo slideshow from MSIA Events in Australia with John Morton.
DAY 10 – A Window into Life on the Road AND The Blessings Fest
Sometimes when we MSIA staff travel, there are themes that seem to wend their way through our conversations, our meals, our voyaging from one city to the other. The theme for this trip is “Conscious Eating”. We dub Vincent Dupont as our sensei (Japanese for “teacher”) as who better (he is French after all — and you know how the French are with their food!!) to lead us in taking time and being more conscientious, appreciative and savoring of our food and time with each other. He starts us off gently with showing us how to place our hands on the table (no elbows or crossed hands please!) and the knife across the top of the plate in between each bite. Just those little steps created major pattern interrupts for each of us and had us in fits of laughter. Nearby eaters watching us with tears in our eyes trying to catch our breath from laughing, asked us “What we were having?” — right out of the “When Harry Met Sally” movie, and one kind lady asked us as we started to move towards departing, “Please don’t leave” she said, because we were such a fun way for her to wake up with at breakfast. More on this to come.
Though it seemed we had taken the whole day to “consciously eat” eat breakfast, a full day is still ahead of us. There are services to do — all at our hotel this time. We also have the whole audio/video for the Conference events to set up and then to finish off the day we meet at the American Club for a Blessings Fest. The American Club is high atop the Hudson Building near the Sydney Harbor and overlooks the Governor’s House and the gardens. The Blessing Fest is in the Thomas Jefferson room and three tables are decorated handsomely under the approving eyes of Thomas Jefferson’s portrait. Sumi Menon (dressed in a beautiful sari-like outfit) is our hostess for the evening (and the point person for this event). She introduces John Morton. John starts off the evening by having all the participants put their names in a container that almost looks like a top hat and as Cleora drew each name, John designated their seat for the evening. The menu was delicious with such offerings as a frothy Pea Cappuccino, an Asparagus Risotto, Chocolate Fondant just to name a few. The format for the Blessings Fest fundraiser has the participants writing out what blessings they would like, and John Morton addresses each request before and after each course. It is so amazing to receive not only my individual blessing, but also to partake in all the other blessings. The evening ends perfectly with coffee/tea and chocolates and with many blessings bestowed. We leave shortly thereafter for tomorrow the Sydney events move into full steam.
DAY 11 – The Gathering Begins
Today is a Gathering day. MSIAers from all over Australia, New Zealand, and at least one from the U.S. (Ezra Mack) are checking into the Stamford and running in and out of meetings or MSIA Services. Cleora and I do Services for the Brisbaners and New Zealanders. Paul and Vincent start off the day with meeting with the Australia Corporate Board. Then John joins them and key Australia volunteers/reps for a Q&A session. I managed to run in and catch a few sharings that remind me once again how important it is to hold the loving, caring and focusing on the Spirit at the heart of what we do and then go forward into the “tasking” or jobs. John blessed us and invited us to be part of anchoring in this blessing as it radiates out to all who participate in service.
This evening we have a brand new event co-sponsored by MSIA Australia and Insight Australia. The purpose of the evening is to introduce MSIA to Insight graduates and to introduce Insight to the MSIA community. This event was also open to friends and family of both MSIA students and Insight participants. Erika Yeates introduced Candace Semigran (CEO of Insight) and John Morton (Spiritual Director of MSIA and active Insight facilitator), the facilitators of this special evening. Candace shared with the group how she had met John-Roger, the founder of MSIA and Insight, when she was 14 and John-Roger was her English teacher. She continued to work closely with J-R first as one of the original MSIA staff and then as part of the early Insight staff. John shared about his early experiences with MSIA and Insight — how he was the original “floater” in Insight (a term given to facilitators-in-training in their first stage of learning the trainings). John and Candace took questions from the group. At one point a guest asked of John “What is Soul Transcendence?” and a beautiful seminar unfolded for all of us. At the end of the event, guests were invited to sign up for MSIA Discourses and the Momentum workshop, and also for the Insight Trainings that would be happening. We enjoyed time with each other and tea and a light supper that had been prepared. We heard the next day from many of the participants that they really liked the joint MSIA/Insight evening and hoped we would do more around the world. I agreed and we’ll see what can be planned in conjunction with our coming trips.
DAY 12 – Letting Love Lead
Anticipation and excitement are in the air as 108 participants and 10 assistants fill the Stamford’s conference room. Already there is quite a playful and light-heartedness in the room. Bob Zapf, an American immigrant and MC for the workshop, steps up to welcome us and review the logistics of the next few days. Bob’s relaxed and loving manner set the tenor for the day. Of course when Paul Kaye, (aka Lord Tithington, Sir Seedingham, Paolo, and channeler of Bob Hope, Jack Benny and other lustrous comedians) ascends the stage to begin the Momentum Workshop we know we’re in for a treat. Like an accomplished orchestra leader, Paul surrounds and highlights the Momentum “practices” with sacred quotes, outrageous and colorful stories, and just plain funny and slapstick shticks that have us in gales of laughter. Well, they say you know the presence of Spirit by the joy that’s present — and there was lots of it.
Paul warms up the crowd and John comes in to powershift us to another level. He reminds us that in choosing to say “I love this” we are taking responsibility for ourselves. We can put our “Loving filter” up, we can ask ourselves “Is that loving?” before we take action or respond. All too soon its time for lunch. We glide outside to the veranda overlooking the waterfall and the lagoon for a buffet lunch “al fresco” — it is perfect temperature outside, not too hot, not too cold. Meanwhile we’re continuing our “Conscious Eating” practice (which is a challenge, mind you, when there’s a buffet — the urge to eat lots and fast so one can eat more is ever present). Chew slowly and only use your fork and a piece of bread to move food onto the fork. We think we’re making great headway in our learning until we hit dessert and then there was major backsliding as Paul devours his 2/3 of a large plate of chocolate mousse. Ah, grasshopper, back to square one!
The momentum of loving carries the afternoon as we practice watching our breath and see how we are perfectly positioned for our future right now in this moment. Paul, using everything for his learning, growth and upliftment, masterfully demonstrates how we create philosophies and stories to support what we are doing or want to do in our life. You should have heard the story of how his eating all that chocolate mousse brought him clarity! John visited the class again. He held over and over again as each person who shared had the opportunity to experience a greater loving and blessing for themselves. He reminded us that when any of us are blessed, we all are increased.
After this rich day of learning, stories and sharings, we travel staff do a little staff dinner with John at a restaurant in an area called Wooloomooloo. This area has old piers and wharves and very good restaurants. There has been a little rain so the temperature is balmy — I’m loving the humidity and the fellowshipping we’re doing. On the way home we do a little Light work through the Kings Cross area of town. Somehow traveling from the wharf through Kings Cross I can imagine men of old in their striped sailor shirts hanging out around the bars, enjoying the comforting and services offered by the colorful ladies of the evening that frequented the area. Some things have changed and some haven’t and it’s all colorful and part of the vibrant fabric of this city.
DAY 13 – The Momentum continues — We Go to the Essence
We’re a little tired at breakfast, but after sipping a “long black” (Aussie for “double espresso”) and cappuccino’s and ingesting bite by bite our omelets and beans, we’re ready to go. The participants are lively and give Paul a standing ovation this morning as he takes the stage. The Momentum continues as Paul describes the Letting Go and Letting God practice. “Acknowledging what we are hanging onto” is the first step in letting go. Then John continues to assist us throughout the sharings to let go and to let love lead the way in our lives. We are sooo grateful for the loving that pulsates through the room.
It’s time for another luncheon on the veranda. On the way to lunch we pass a little birthday party celebration. A small group of girls are getting their instructions from the party clown on how to do a sack race. As John walks through the door onto the veranda the young girls are lined up in front of him with feet already in their sacks. John asks: “Where is my sack?” Not missing a beat, the clown says “Here it is!” and much to his surprise and delight John finds himself enthusiastically welcomed and smack in the middle of this line up of young beauties, all looking at him with smiles. The clown does the “Start” and all the lasses and John gamely are off to a hopping start. Everyone — John too — wins a prize for participating. I do my best to capture the race on camera though I’m still a rookie when it comes to doing action shots. Once again the lunch is well done and there are lots of good choices. Alas, no chocolate mousse, but the strawberry mousse was a good substitute. To his credit Paul comported himself a tad slower as he gently finished off his plate of strawberry mousse and he’s promoted to the second grade in our Conscious Eating study group. At one point Steve Dumbrell brings his little cockatoo to John. This friendly little bird seems to love being brushed and massaged by John’s hands, as well as Vincent’s and Paul’s.
Later in the afternoon John returns for a little more sharing and a blessing for all. It is now time for a light supper and to prepare the room for the Seminar for Discourse Subscribers that John Morton would be doing. From the beginning of the seminar program we know we’re in for a special evening. Lovely Tamsin Rothschild joyfully welcomes the group and calls us forward into the Light. Louise Davidson reads her heartfelt poem. The latest in study materials are shown on video, The Australia MSIA choirs does a joy-filled and tuneful rendition of “Whistle a Traveler’s Tune” to the melody of “Whistle a Happy Tune” from the “King and I” musical. We all like this so much, they do it again for us. Ezra Mack introduced the IIWP Adopt A Horse video and then we see the lovely Japan trip video created by Paul Kaye from last October’s trip to Kyoto and Nagasaki. This video has gorgeous moments of beauty for the eyes and ears as the music transports us past Japan into higher places, and prepares us for the Traveler, John Morton, to be with us.
As soon as John stands on stage, he thanks the MSIA choir and invites them to sing at MSIA’s Conference in Los Angeles. All around me I could see the beaming faces of the choir participants. John speaks to many silent questions. He talks about those who have left MSIA, those who choose in and out. He speaks about how we’re coming home – that we are safe here. John tells us about his experience of singing at last year’s conference. How he didn’t want to rehearse, but to just do it. He speaks of “he wins who endures to the end” and of Herman Hesse’s book “Journey to the East”; how we are asked to have dedication and to keep on going no matter what. Then John calls us into the Light, we chant and pray silently. The silence is exquisite and in it we are blessed once again.
DAY 14 – God Is Behind the Curtain
All the events culminate in the Australia MSIA Ministers and Initiates meeting with the Traveler. It is the final event of this Australian conference. We begin with ordinations, and then Mark Morris, our MC, welcomes us, calls us into the Light and we have a much appreciated chanting time — out loud and then silently. Joyful and grateful tears are pouring from my eyes as we chant. We hear from the Australian MSIA board — John Kikkert, Wendy Bennett and Erika Yeates. They take time to explain the ins and outs of the workings of the corporate board, in 10 minutes no less. Next Paul Kaye delivers a fun and meaty Presidential update highlighting the progress of renovations at PRANA and PRANA West, this year’s coming events, and much more. Vincent and Paul present service awards to Keith and Dorothy Parrish (from Melbourne) and to Richard Price. We all stand in grateful appreciation for the loving service these three have given to the Traveler and to us over many years. More fun and laughter erupt as we staff and John are presented with individually designed gifts of thanks. We oooh and ahhh and hug our thanks right back. Pauline Walsh then takes us to the higher reaches with her song from Handel’s Messiah. And then it is time with the Traveler. As John is introduced, we rise with a grand ovation. On reaching the stage, John begins by saying that finally we’re going to see “what is behind the curtains” that have framed the wall behind the stage. Perhaps it is the face of God. As he pulls the drapes aside, the back wall is revealed with a telephone. John playfully uses the phone for moment to speak with God. John reaches into many nooks and crannies throughout this seminar. Several times he speaks to chapters from the bible. In one instance he quotes Genesis 4:8 and asks our group: “What did God reply when Cain asked: ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?'” John asks at one point “What is our keeping?” “What is our responsibility with respect to taking care of ourselves?” He speaks about initiation as a seeding, and as a sacred partnership. And he addresses the ministers by asking how many here are “Active” ministers, are actively participating in their ministry. With a prayer and blessing for each one of us, John Morton loves us and moves on to what is next – a flight back to Los Angeles. Though he has left the room, warmth and fellowshipping palpably fill the room. Happily we have eager and able assistance to help with packing up all the sound equipment. In a few hours the pack up is complete and we staff have an evening to just “be”. Tomorrow we travel back to Los Angeles. We are full to overflowing and ready to bring with us all the blessings and loving we’ve received to our MSIA family in the States.
A loving thank you to each friend, old and new, that we met, played and spoke with in Australia. You lit our way with your smiles, hugs, your loving, caring, and open hearts. We love you.
