MSIA travel staff is currently in Europe, providing MSIA Services (Innerphasings, Polarity Balances & Aura Balances) as well as MSIA events and screenings of the movie Spiritual Warriors. Staff member, Angel Gibson, provides this update from the trip:
DAY 9 — LONDON
It’s Saturday and the Spiritual Warrior workshop with John Morton at the helm is underway. Andrewjohn Clarke, our MC for the day, welcomes the participants, goes over logistics, calls us into the Light and introduces John. Our Team Captains, Ginny Fraser and Stacey Medalyer, have beautifully prepared the assisting team and the space at the Columbia Hotel at Lancaster Gate. Carrie McHale, the MSIA Rep, is out in the registration room overseeing the final registration details. And we have lift-off as John brings the group forward into the realms of the Spiritual Warrior.
For the first hours we examine what it is to be a Spiritual Warrior. We do exercises that have us practicing certain techniques and tools of the Spiritual Warrior. Then the day is crowned by a sharing with both John-Roger and John Morton, quintessential role-models for the Spiritual Warrior. Over and over again participants express their gratitude for J-R’s presence with us; John seconds, thirds and fourths these sentiments too. We have a short dinner break which I spend going back to our hotel to get a back-up piece of recording equipment. I search in vain for a coffee place on the way, and finally surrender to enjoying water–not quite the same but probably better for me this evening.
The Seminar for Discourse Subscribers with John Morton this evening takes right off from where we left off this afternoon as John continues with Questions and Answers. Amazing how I get answers to questions I didn’t even know I had. The seminar ends and, as grace would have it, a taxi pulls up just as John exits so he has a smooth departure. Our day has been so full. We thank the wonderful assisting team and the team captain, Bibi Barnes, for this evening. We have been well blessed and now it’s time to head back to our hotel, do some emails and go to sleep for tomorrow is even fuller.
DAY 10 — LONDON
How exciting! We’re up early to eat breakfast and then taxi over to the Curzon Theatre for the London premiere screening of Dr. John-Roger’s and Jsu Garcia’s Spiritual Warriors movie. We arrive just as J-R, Jsu, John and the whole group traveling with them arrive. Hugs all around and then we’re bustled into the theatre which is a beautiful theatre. Jsu also premieres today his “Me and My Daddy” starring Jsu and Daniel Hayes. The technical aspect of the screening seems superb to me–at least picture wise. The theatre is filled with our European MSIA family, friends and newcomers…and there’s a buzz as the light dims.
“Me and My Daddy” is a sweet poignant movie short that gives a little glimpse into Jsu’s life early on as he accompanies his Dad. This turns out to be a perfect opener for the Spiritual Warriors movie. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen this movie. Though they swear that nothing has changed, I find repeatedly that I’m seeing and hearing things in every showing that I never saw before. This time tears just roll down my cheeks as I feel a deep and tender lifting happening to me. The special effects are some of the best, and the message goes deep to my heart and Soul. After a short Q&A with Jsu and Leigh Taylor-Young, who is a main actor in the film, I come outside feeling like I’m in an altered state.
Then it’s off to a little lunch and do a recording for the Wigan’s baby blessing. This little baby laughs his way through the blessing gifting us all with delight. Then it’s back to the Columbia hotel for the final event of the weekend — a Q&A with Ministers with John up front and J-R holding in the back. Again there are the tender words of gratitude expressed by those present for having J-R and John in our midst. The room is full of Spirit and gladness. At the end of the event as J-R and John start to depart, the whole room of participants bid them thanks and good-bye. All of us who are assisting with packing up the equipment are giddy and truly feeling out of our bodies. We laugh as we try hard to figure out by looking at the pictures what equipment goes into which case…it gets funnier as the hours go by. Our heartfelt thanks go to Ezra Mack, Colin Bean, David Sand, AndrewJohn Clarke, Clive messenger and Carrie McHale, who helped us almost all to the very end of our pack up. And we decided that Ezra gets the Roadie of the year award for helping Vincent set up until 1am on Friday evening and staying with us to the end of pack up! Lesley, Vincent and I still need to drop off cases at the right hotel. With the able assistance of our cabbie, we fit all the sound cases and our three bodies into the taxi — gotta love these London taxis — and make the drop off in record time. Then we speed off to our hotel which looks so good. We are very thankful that MSIA Services will start tomorrow at 12noon — a little extra sleep is much needed tonight, as we close our eyes grateful for the huge blessings that have come to us over this weekend.
DAY 11 — LONDON
We are very full today with Services and we are joined by Mary Ann Somerville who is in training. Robert Latham is our host, and soon we are all at our Services rooms. Our day flies by today and tonight Vincent, Lesley and I have our little staff final dinner together. Tomorrow evening is another Spiritual Warriors screening and then they’ll be leaving for Paris on Wednesday. We enjoy a mouth-watering memorable risotto at Cafe Des Amis right across from a mecca for ballet dancers, the Royal Ballet School. Our dinner is leisure but we know a mound of emails await us on our return to our rooms so we enjoy this precious “let our hair down” time and then it’s back to our hotel to get a few deadline emails accomplished. Some nights I’m grateful and amazed at a special energy that seems to abound for us when there are emails that need to be done at midnight. Somehow the sleep we do get is sufficient, and grace seems to provide a few extra hours when we really need the sleep.
DAY 12 — LONDON
Mary Ann and I get an early jump on the day today by going for a fast walk in Regent park. The air is cool by Los Angeles standards and encourages us to keep a brisk pace. We grab breakfast out and enjoy a few moments of sight-seeing and then head back to be greeted by our hostess for the day, Carrie McHale, and friends coming for their Services. With a tube strike today some of our Services start late, but somehow by the end of the day we are on schedule and have a little break time before walking over to Leicester (pronounced “Les-ter) Square to the Prince Charles Theatre for another screening of Spiritual Warriors.
I love the walk down busy Oxford street. We get a little lost and end up circling Trafalgar Square before finding where to turn off for Leicester. But we find our way and get settled into our seats just as the lights are coming down. This time the theater is even more filled and by show of hands does seem like there are quite a few new people. Once again I find myself completely engaged in the movie with tears again rolling down my cheeks, grateful to be watching this profoundly moving film. Afterwards Jsu and Leigh take questions and answers and I am struck by the authentic way in which Jsu and Leigh handle the questions, giving the audience even more. The audience is appreciative and stays on for even more Q&A time, but finally Jsu senses the group is full to the brim and thanks them. Our thanks to Nathalie Franks, Gregory Parry, Carrie McHale, Paul Hunting, Ezra Mack, Zoe Golightly and many others who worked together to underwrite and support these screenings taking place in London. As you may imagine there is quite a lot that goes into setting up the logistics of a screening, and these people held this intention brilliantly. We continue to ask for Light and support to get this movie distributed widely so that many more people may have the experience of having their prayers and questions answered, their Spirits lifted and transformed as many viewers have had to date. And tonight is pack night for Lesley and Vincent who will make their way to Paris a la Chunnel tomorrow morning. More to come.
DAY 13 — LONDON
How sweet our last day in London is. I go out for an early espresso this morning and just walk around my neighborhood a bit, drinking in the architecture that is so distinctive here. Right near by is a building that houses some of the offices of the Prince of Wales (hmm, I fantasize saying “Hi” to good ol’ Prince Charles as he strides up the stairs). Ah my little fantasy walk comes to an end back at the hotel with the beautiful reality of doing initiations right off the bat. But first, it’s goodbye hugs time to Vincent and Lesley who are catching a taxi for Waterloo station and the Chunnel. Au revoir London! Bon jour, Paris for them today.
Mary Ann Somerville is learning with me today and we take an extra hour break for “tea time” with Nathalie and Carrie at the Landmark hotel in the Conservatory. Yes, this is the life. Live flute and piano music float down around us as we sit under palm trees having first the most delicately done fish and chips, and then at last, scones. I’ve waited the whole time in London to have my scones this day and I’m not disappointed. Ooooh, that clotted cream and preserves — you just have to go there and taste it! We walk back to our hotel — thank goodness for the exercise — to finish our Services. At the end of the day we are blessed to participate in the Wallace baby blessing – Octavia. She settles into our arms smiling peacefully as Spirit’s blessing is placed. Thank you, Octavia. I check in with Jsu, John and the group to see if we can catch up with them at dinner. Yes…we’re so tickled…but later, so I grab the opportunity to do some email and start packing. Good thing I started because our fun dinner together to cap our trip to London went until 11ish and after loving goodbyes all around I was finally back at my hotel by just before midnight with lots to do before catching a wink or two of sleep. Light to everything being ready by the time I need to leave tomorrow, and thank you, God and Traveler, for all the blessings of these last few days in London.
DAY 14 – GOOD BYE, LONDON and HELLO STOCKHOLM
This morning we head to London Heathrow – each to their own Terminal. Today mine is British Air and I must say they took good care of me, courtesy of my gallant escort, Greg Parry, who not only drove me to Heathrow, but made sure I got to the head of the line to get through security in plenty of time. I felt like a veritable princess as the security people ushered me right through. Now that I think of it I wonder what Greg told them such that I was whisked ahead of that huge long line…ok, I’ll win in my fantasy…and assume something fun…like a movie star…or Lady. Anyway thank you, Greg. In the meantime I get a text message from Jsu and all seems fine on their end. I’m assuming they made it home safe and sound, but I’ll keep you posted. I like Heathrow because there are so many shops to visit while I wait for my gate to be posted.
Shortly I’m settled into my airplane seat and as the plane soars into the sky, I have a little tea and biscuit (think cookie) and then I’m off into the inner skies for awhile. In what seems like minutes, we’re landing in Stockholm. As I de-plane immediately I notice the difference in language and style. Hmm, ya just gotta love these Swedes — tall and twinkling! Agneta Lindhe is waiting for me — she had been in London for the workshop and the Sunday screening — and lovingly escorted me into the car. Soon we are driving down the highways towards downtown Stockholm turning off into a suburb called Sollentuna that is by the bay (see little slips with boats anchored around). All is very country with hints of colors as the trees are just whispering the change of season here. The air is like early east coast Fall. We stop by her daughter-in-law to see the new twins. Now you grandmothers know how it is that if you’re within 25 miles of your first grandchildren, you just gotta see ’em. Being a grandmother too I’m in full support. So we stop by to play with Amanda and Mathilde for a few minutes. Then as I’m starting to fade, Agneta brings me to my business hotel which is austere but not severe. A softening feature is that my window looks out on a beautiful Douglas fir and trees that are showing their golds; my window is letting in the cool afternoon air. Life is good. It’s time for dinner and perhaps a few more emails and then I’m going for sleep. Tomorrow is another full day. Keep the Light coming to all of us here in Stockholm and to Vincent and Lesley who are in Paris. We so thank you!
Click here to read Days 1 through 4 with Angel Gibson.
