Months of preparation bore fruit on Sunday, February 11th, 2007 with a beautiful “Grace & the Beloved” workshop with our beloved John Morton at Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens (PALG). There’s always a lot of hustle, bustle, creativity and loving care in all of the events sponsored by the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA), Peace Theological Seminary (PTS) and PALG, and this one was both no exception and unique in its own way.
PTS staff members were huddled in preparation throughout the week before, the kitchen team gelled behind a menu of world-class fare, the Products team selected a variety of study materials to support people’s studies, NOW Productions had their equipment ready to go well in advance—the list goes on.
The day itself arrived overcast and chilly, yet quickly brightened with sunshine, warmth, and lots of Light. We gathered throughout the house at 10:00am to call in the Light and begin, and from that point the workshop came flowing forward, facilitated with grace by John Morton.
The workshop was a constellation of meditations, excerpts from MSIA’s founder John-Roger, partner exercises, and Q&A sessions. John constantly drew our focus back to the purpose of the workshop, noting how every activity was an opportunity for knowing ourselves as Divine, as Beloved, as grace. He did this in such a gentle, playfully humorous, organic way—like how our lungs draw in breath and release, draw in and release. There was elegance and fluidity throughout the workshop as John constantly followed the Spirit that was present—pausing before exercises to give people the opportunity to ask questions, reflect, and go within to where the workshop was really happening, regardless of any agenda or script.
The meal prepared by the kitchen team delivered fully, with some highlights being: a dressed salad of spinach leaves with cranberries, goat cheese, and toasted pecans; baked apples for dessert. Docent extraordinaire Glen Barnett held the Light at the labyrinth for the afternoon session, giving people an orientation as needed and supporting them in their travels in awareness. Coffee bar assistants kept Urth Caffe organic coffees & teas hot and available for pauses of refreshment.
The flow of the day constantly touched into the Traveler’s teachings of loving, forgiveness, acceptance, cooperation. The energy kept lifting in a simple, ordinary way. If you are familiar with the Luxor Meditation with John-Roger, the energy reminded me of that, and then some—live, present, pulsing, quiet, and ever-so-dynamic and free. We were grateful participants in a celebration of transcendence, liberation, and honoring that which is—we are one, we are divine, we are loving; whatever the circumstance, all is well.
John reminded us that we are always at free choice. The day gave us an opportunity to practice the divine presence within ourselves and with each other; to learn, grow, release, heal, expand. Enjoy the beautiful slideshow, and energy of the day’s workshop. Enjoy whatever song your heart has to sing. Thank you for your loving and Light with this event, and joy to you as you flow on with Spirit’s love and peace.
God bless you—we love you!
Baruch Bashan
