Do you remember cloudy Saturdays when you were a kid? Those were often some of the best days, spent quietly under blankets, cuddled up, resting, and spending more time inside than out, literally and figuratively.
That was the kind of day it was this past Saturday: overcast, and a wee bit chilly (by Los Angeles standards, that is). It was a perfect day to come to Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens and cuddle with God.
A small, intimate group of folks gathered together for this month’s Spa Day. Each one was drawn in their own way to the focus for this month: Inner Worlds of Meditation.
We were blessed to have Glenn Barnett with us to facilitate the workshop for the day, and he did so with his usual genteel and gracious manner. Glenn’s easygoing style instantly puts people at ease, and his voice has a storyteller’s cadence that just makes you want to listen, and listen, and listen. And you’ll have a smile on your face (and in your heart) the whole time.
Our Spa Day was a day of spiritual exercises, or SE’s, and the format for the day flowed along a trajectory moving from the inside out. The morning program consisted of inward-focused meditations, followed by an amazing brunch to bring awareness back into the outer world. The afternoon program was more outward-oriented, including a meditation while walking the beautiful labyrinth on the property.
Glenn gave us a wonderful demonstration of inviting the Traveler’s presence to be with us at the start of the workshop. He shared how he has observed that John Morton always invites John-Roger to be present with us at webcasts, seminars, or workshops. Glenn, too, began our day inviting both Travelers to be with him and with us in whatever way worked for them for the highest good.
We began with some conscious breathing, a lovely spiritual exercise in itself. Just taking some time to be aware of our breathing brought a sacred energy into the room, and it was a lovely segue into calling in the Light and inviting Spirit’s presence to fill us up with loving.
After calling in the Light, Glenn noted that we tend to think about meditation and spiritual exercises as a time when we are moving closer to Spirit. In our time together, we would look at meditation and SE’s from another perspective: That Spirit is also moving closer to us when we do these exercises. Glenn invited us to consider that Spirit is meeting us halfway, coming into our world and our personal lives to promote greater loving, peace, and blessings.
Each of the day’s meditations was designed to support us in our daily lives, and assist us in growing in awareness of Spirit. We participated with the So Hawng meditation with John-Roger and the Meditation of the Color Rays of Light with John Morton.*
As we listened to the meditations, the energy in the room was one of a deep, beautiful silence and a complete resting. It was the kind of energy where everything falls away, where there is the deepest letting go, with nothing to do, just letting be, and enjoying God’s presence. You could almost see God’s signature of love and peace moving through the room over people’s bodies and faces, as bodies fully relaxed and faces grew soft and serene.
After this lovely meditation time came brunch. The brunch was as it always is for Prana events: Spectacular! A fluffy egg and veggie casserole-quiche, amazing sauces in three shades of spicy (mild, moderate, and picante), chicken sausages, beautiful salads, and the talk of the brunch: yucca cakes! A touch of Costa Rican cuisine came to the buffet, made with yucca root. The cakes were a cross between a biscuit and a croissant, and totally yummy. Top everything off with some banana bread, fresh tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, papaya, oh my!) and freshly brewed organic Urth Caffe coffees and teas, and that was enough to set everyone purring with contentment.
After such a feast, the afternoon format was perfect: a walking meditation at Prana’s exquisite labyrinth. Walking the labyrinth is an exquisite experience, and if you ever have the opportunity please go for it. We listened to a beautiful accompanying meditation including spoken sections with John-Roger and John Morton interspersed with musical interludes, and that set a perfect tempo to move outdoors and walk the actual labyrinth. This is always an open-ended time in the spa days, leaving plenty of room for people to be with Spirit and to enjoy the meditation gardens after their labyrinth walk. The gardens are never the same twice, as there are always new things coming into bloom and flourishing.
Once everyone had completed their walk, we reconvened indoors and Glenn invited people to share from their experience. There was warmth and gratitude for the day as we called in the Light to complete, and each person moved on with the riches they had received.
It was one of the sweetest of days here at the home of the Travelers. Many thanks to Glenn, to the entire assisting team for the event, to our incredible kitchen staff, and especially to God and the Travelers. Many thanks to you as well, for sending your loving and Light, and please consider yourself invited to our next Spa Day adventure: “Opening to Grace through Forgiveness,” facilitated by Rev. Mary Ann Somerville, on Saturday, April 26, 2008. Register now at registrar@peacelabyrinth.org or call Marina Van Wormer, Registrar, at 323.737.4055 ext 1137.
We love you, God bless you, and all God’s blessings to your inner worlds and outer worlds. We hope to see you soon!
* The meditations we listened to during Spa Day are available on the CD set, Inner Worlds of Meditation. The Inner Worlds set also includes a number of other great meditations, including breathing meditations, a flame meditation, and much more. The labyrinth meditation is also available on CD as the Peace Awareness Labyrinth Meditationn. Both of these items are available online in the MSIA online store. If you would like more information about these items or the next Spa Day, please contact us at 323.737.4055. Thank you!
I want my eyes to be open