MSIA travel staff are currently on the East Coast, providing MSIA Services (Innerphasings, Polarity Balances & Aura Balances) as well as MSIA events. Staff member, Angel Gibson, provides this update from the trip:
DAY 4 — From Boston to Phoenicia
It’s a travel day, and better still we get to drive and take in the scenery all the way from Boston to Phoenicia, NY. To see the trees budding a delicate spring green interspersed with Japanese weeping cherry blossoms and pink and white blooming magnolias, and bright yellow forsythias and daffodils, nourishes the artist in each of us. We chat, do email and, after settling into our rooms, take a little walk along the river. Then we cap the day with delicious food at a nearby restaurant. I think I fall asleep even as my head hits the pillow.
DAY 5 — Phoenicia
We are up and at it early this morning, grabbing a quick walk before heading over to Sweet Sue’s restaurant in Phoenicia. Now this has become a tradition for us staffers. We tank up on huge buttermilk and four grain pancakes, eggs, coffees, and fresh maple syrup. We know we’re going to need lots of fuel as we meet the assisting team and begin setting up the room for the Coming Home retreat that starts tonight with dinner.
Cleora and I meet with the team captain, Leigh Hamel, who is a veteran par excellence, and go over the basic logistics. We leave the rest of the set up with Leigh and the enthusiastic team comprised of Lisa Boone on products, Wayde Binder, Charlie Lee, Maryellen Butke, Beth Strimple, Lesley Freeman, and Leslie Fabian. Of course, Vincent and Roger are no strangers to this retreat location and skillfully begin mapping out the layout for the audio/video equipment. Cleora and I take time to go over who will facilitate what for the retreat and take in a bit of a rest before heading back to the retreat grounds. This MENLA retreat area looks like one big Japanese landscape. There is the waterfall, the sitting Buddha sculpture surrounded by yellow daffodils, the walks through the forests, the trees, and the trees and the river by the trees, and did I mention the smell of real fresh mountain air and the trees! Yes, a slice of heaven, and the people here are there to serve too. The food is fresh and we’re ready for dinner when 6PM comes.
The retreat begins at 7:00pm. We come together — 73 participants plus assistants — call ourselves forward into the Light and our journey towards Coming Home begins with some humor as our retreat site manager, Vanessa, tells us about the deer and bears to be aware of on the premises. Bears?! Bears!? Yikes, we city slickers start conjuring up all sorts of images of bears standing on their hind legs in front of us defending their little cubs. Not to worry, we are assured. Just pray, and for heaven’s sake, don’t run. Well, I know we learned more about what to do if we encounter those bears, but those are the keys I remembered, and all the laughing, as what started off as a simple announcement got funnier and funnier, and gave us plenty of material to use as we started the processes of the retreat.
DAY 6 — Phoenicia
It’s early–my bed loves me this morning but it’s rise and shine, or at least start to glimmer. By the time we get to breakfast I’m awake and ready. The coffee tastes especially good and I’m loving the cozy feeling of being surrounded by my fellow staff and assistants as we look out the windows onto the lovely panorama. No bears sighted yet, but we’re still chuckling over the masterful way Vanessa steered us towards being mindful of taking care of the property while we’re here. Our day moves seamlessly as we continue our journey together. There is laughter, sweetness, tears as we let go and release what we don’t need, expanding more and more our experience of who we truly are.
DAY 7 — Phoenicia and on to New York City
Today the Traveler, John Morton, is with us. We’ve done much to prepare the place inwardly and outwardly, and John is welcomed to the family we are, given a treasured seat among us. He shares with us some of the adventures he’s recently been up to and then shares in our adventures stretching our perspectives in the highest ways. His blessing at the end is sublime, and for many of us, eating some food is the only way to guarantee we will be somewhat grounded enough to drive home. With much appreciated support from Ezra Mack, Alex Beau, Rebecca, Jan Rovecamp, Chip, Renee and others we pack up in record time and just make it for our last meal at Sweet Sue’s for this year before we head down to New York. Ah, this drive is beautiful too. The lighting is magical and the green is becoming more and more lush. As we get closer to the city, the traffic becomes more crowded and we begin to feel that special buzzing energy that seems to go with New York City which will be home for the next 5 days. I love coming into this city. It’s so alive and pulsing with activity. There’s something to look at no matter where I look. We’re all pretty tired by the time we get situated. Cleora and I venture out for a little eating and then it’s back to our room. The other staff have turned in early. Light to all of us, this New York City and all the events, friends and adventures that are in store for us this week. Special blessings to John as he too will be with us. Keep that Light coming! We sure appreciate it.
Click here to read Days 1 through 3 with Angel Gibson.
Click here to read Days 8 through 12 with Angel Gibson.
