MSIA travel staff recently completed a trip in the Northeast with John Morton, providing MSIA Services (Innerphasings, Polarity Balances & Aura Balances) as well as MSIA events. Staff member, Angel Gibson, provided this final update from the trip:
Click here to view photos by Ezra Mack from the Capitol visit with John Morton in Washington DC
DAY 19 — PHILADELPHIA / NEW JERSEY to WASHINGTON, DC (Bethesda too)
Cleora and I are up very early this morning to finish packing, get a rental car and drive to Karen Faherty’s in New Jersey for our second day there for Services. The rest of the crew will have a more natural rising as they’ll be the advance team to the Washington, D.C. area. Cleora and I bid farewell to Philly as we drive over the Ben Franklin bridge and head to the Jersey shore. It’s another beautiful albeit cool day there. This time Elsa Hill, the New Jersey MSIA Rep, joins Karen in hosting us. Though we’re a little sleepy our spirits are strong and our day of Services gracefully completes. Thank you, Karen and family, for making your house available for Services this year.
Then Cleora and I get into our car putting in the new Bethesda, Maryland address. Maggie, as we affectionately call our Neverlost voice, comes into harmony with our written directions and we are underway. We stop briefly to get a little Starbuck’s refresher and then it’s full speed down the coast. We are amazed at how fast and effortless the trip is. We credit this to our EZpass, Maggie, good conversation and tunes, and most of all to all the Light and Traveler support we received along the way. We arrive at our hotel at 9:40pm. We check in and find out the rest of the gang is happily settled in. We are very happy to shower and crawl into bed, for tomorrow is a big day.
DAY 20 – WASHINGTON and BETHESDA
It’s another early day for Cleora and me as we jump into our car and head to Hertz rental to return the car. Happily the metro station is nearby and the Starbuck’s nearer. We’re both in sore need of a warm wake-up. We text the rest of the gang who are by now on the metro from the hotel. We are about to converge from our metro lines to Union station and then to the Capitol for a Light placing tour. It takes us a little figuring out before we find the rest of the group at the Visitors complex. Finally Ezra Mack leads us to where Alicia Landa and group await us with our badges. We line up to watch the movie, “Out of Many, One” otherwise known as E Pluribus Unum. This is our history lesson on the making of the capitol. I love watching how Abraham Lincoln held for getting the dome finished and the statue of Freedom put atop the dome. We are guided into the Capitol standing under the dome looking all around at this historic space. It is beautiful and grand. Roger, our guide, shares his wisdoms with humor and dramatic touches. We see where the originally House of Representatives and the Senate used to meet. Roger shows us how in the whispering gallery we could hear him whisper from way over across the room. We wend our way upstairs and find ourselves under the dome. There is sooo much to see and our hour tour ends having felt like only 15 minutes. As we walk around we imagine huge columns of Light coming from God’s heart through us and anchoring into the core of the earth. Once our official tour is done we go back to the visitor’s complex and walk around the museum area viewing parts of the Constitution, and many other pieces of history connected to the Capitol, and the House of Representatives and the Senate.
We rendezvous as a group and decide how we will travel to our next destination – the Lincoln Memorial. Many of us choose walking and we head off to walk down the mall. We notice buildings along both sides of the mall, such as the Natural History museum and many of the Smithsonian museum buildings. We see the Washington monument getting closer and finally we’re there looking up at this stark obelisk. We walk around this monument and see down the slight hill the World War 2 monument in the form of a lovely fountain. Looking through the fountain we see the reflection pool and the Lincoln memorial at the end of the pool. It is so awesomely beautiful. As I approach the Lincoln memorial I notice a swirl of clouds right over its top and I think of the lovely angel that must stand over this temple-like building. Walking towards the entrance I see the majestic seated figure of Abraham Lincoln. Such peace and stillness radiates from this marble representation even amidst the crowd that is there with us. The eyes of this serene face follow us all around the room no matter where we walk. After posing many times for pictures with us, John Morton leads a blessing that expands on the one placed many years before by J-R. As he prays, I remember as a child being able to put my hand on the foot of this Abraham Lincoln. I am grateful that we have all come together this day to participate in this Light planting and to receive of the grace that seems to be here too.
We staff bid a hasty goodbye as we must make our way back to our hotel for a quick lunch and then head off to do Services (les girls) and do set up for tonight’s open seminar (les boys). The rest of this morning’s group headed up by Alicia includes people from Philly, southern Virginia, DC, Maryland and even further afield like the Segals from Los Angeles are taking advantage of their time to see some more of the sights.
For Services we go to Tim Fiocchi and Myrtle Sutphin’s home. A large group has gathered post-capitol tour for some noshing and to get their Services. Linda Mathieu, the new DC area MSIA Rep has been coordinating the Services details. Jan Rovecamp and Chip Conley have prepared delicious foods. We share stories and catch up in between Services. it seems like we’ve barely gotten there when it’s time to head over for the booksigning and seminar tonight at the Cedar Lane Unitarian church.
This is quite a nice location. As I look out the stained glass windows I see the trees giving me a feel of being in a tree house or forest. Vincent, Roger and Ezra have the sound and video set up. More foods are set up near registration and we take time to grab more snacks and chat. John and Leigh arrive to start the booksigning. Soon all the Blessings books are bought and signed.
Don Cook, tonight’s MC, steps up to the stage to call us all into our seats. Don welcomes the group and introduces MSIA and calling in the Light and the Ani Hu. Pearl Boyd reads her poems accompanied by Alex Beau on the harp. She sends chills up our spines with the beauty of her reading. Alex moves onto the piano for a reprise of a song he wrote called Blessings. As the notes fade away, we listen into the silence. Then Don introduces John who leads us through the journey of What is MSIA and what is loving all ways, always. Though I can barely keep my eyes open I follow John through this journey so happy for my MSIA family that has gathered once again to be with the Traveler. As he bids Baruch Bashan, I reflect that our last formal MSIA event has come to an end. It has been about 3 weeks and there has been such richness constantly coming to us of the spiritual vein. I’m grateful for all the assistance we’ve gotten here in D.C. from Alex Beau, Linda Mathieu, Tim and Myrtle, Margrett, Kerry, Judy, Sue and many more people who have given and helped out. Thank you.
After loading up, we drive back to the hotel. Even as I finish writing this day’s report my eyes are starting to close on me and I’m ready to join my fellow crew and surrender into the arms of the angels for the night. Thank you all for the Light you’ve continually sent our way. Tomorrow is another day and there more Services and miles to go before we end this wonderful voyage with the Traveler.
DAY 21 – WASHINGTON,D.C.
Wow! What a day yesterday was! We travel staff are a little bleary-eyed this morning as we start breakfast…boy, that double espresso gets one of my eyes open. While Alicia Landa and Sue Dolan lead a Light planting group around the White House’s perimeter, we staff grab a little breakfast before heading over to Myrtle and Tim’s house for more Services. Roger and Sindy head back to L.A. with the sound gear and we give hugs before we load up into our van. Services begin in a flurry and we break for a tasty lunch and short walk in a cool breeze smelling the spring flowers and the hint of rain in the air as we go. The afternoon disappears and we find ourselves heading back to our hotel soon to meet up with John, Leigh and the Segal family for a fun dinner at a neighborhood restaurant. It rains while we dine but the rain lets up so that our walk back to our hotel is easy and not too wet. We say our goodnights and after a few emails on my side of the room and some Sudoku on Cleora’s side, we surrender to catching the Soul Train.
Day 22-WASHINGTON, D.C.
We gather for breakfast this morning to catch up with our good friends, Michael and Brooke Thompson. John, Leigh, and Nick Segal join us too. We have lots of rousing laughs and swap some good stories about our PAT IV adventures. Then it’s time to say goodbye’s to John and Leigh who fly back to LA today. Nick and family are heading off to visit Mt. Vernon, beautiful home of George Washington, Michael and Brooke are driving back to Virginia Beach, and we have our last day of Services for our northeast trip. As each hour goes by I’m aware how grateful I am for the richness of this trip. I’m grateful to be doing the Services; I’m grateful for all of the love and appreciation and caring that comes our way from all who prepare the copious detailed logistics for Services and the events. We break for lunch and are treated to a plethora of sublime tastes as newly-dubbed chef, Don Cook, has prepared orange/goat cheese/pecan stuffed endive, tomato soup, chicken/turkey/beef, salad and to-go-to-heaven-for chocolate chip cookies…and that’s just for starters. One taste of the endive and one sip of the soup had me praising God. I think Don has a new ministry. Taking our little stuffed bodies outside we enjoyed another walk in the neighborhood before completing our final stretch of Services. The day culminates with Vincent doing a baby blessing that brought sweetness and sacredness together. What a great way to end our trip! After many hugs and thanks, our arms filled with goodies, we drive back to our hotel. Cleora and I grab a movie with the Segals, Vincent and Lesley go for the quieter route. Eventually all roads lead to packing and sleep for everyone.
DAY 23 – From D.C. to L.A.
Today is the long goodbye. Starting with Cleora who heads off at the crack of dawn. Then Vincent and Lesley depart a bit later. I have the opportunity to spend time with my family here before heading back to L.A. on Monday. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you for keeping the Light around us and all we meet along our way. It has been a long and blessed trip. Our next trip is just around the corner. Until then, love and Light to each of you too!
