MSIA travel staff recently completed a trip in the Southwest, providing MSIA Services (Innerphasings, Polarity Balances & Aura Balances) as well as MSIA events. Staff member, Angel Gibson, provided this update from the trip:
Day 11 – Austin to Dallas
Today is a combo kind of day. We have the Q&A Brunch for Ministers and Initiates with John Morton and then we drive to Dallas. Last night’s workshop room has been transformed into a room full of tables with center pieces of golden orange roses. We are at the Austin Four Seasons by the river and it is a lovely setting. I do love Four Seasons hotels. We begin with an ordination and then Carol Beau and Candy Spitzer are our MC’s and they warmly welcome us and call us forward into the Light. Then we have the pleasure of Robert McCreight’s very creative rendering of Bubba Hubba Bunny, and William Kohlberg’s extemporaneous sharing. Then John takes the stage and we go to the essence as the Traveler responds to questions posed by the Initiates and Ministers. These sharings are priceless. It seems just as I ask my question inwardly an answer is bestowed. I am grateful. John ends with a beautiful blessing, and then we all partake in a delicious buffet. My favorite is the homemade granola and turkey sausage patties. The food just keeps disappearing so I know I’m not the only one that has favorites. We have plenty of help packing up the equipment and the cars and then “Wagons Ho” and we head off to 35N and Dallas.
The drive is easy. Celia and I chat away in one car and Vincent and Lesley are in the other. John will meet up with us tonight. The time just flies by and I enjoy seeing the Dallas skyline come into view. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Dallas. Once at our hotel we decide to do room service and enjoy a movie and quiet time in our rooms. We choose Freedom Fighters and I for one am very touched by many of the scenes in that movie. All too soon I’m ready for bed. Tomorrow is another full, full day.
Day 12 — Dallas
We have a full day of Services today at Carol Barger’s home. The house is buzzing with activity when Lesley, Celia and I arrive. Kate and Yolanda are in the kitchen already preparing food for lunch. Carol and Bill greet us with a warm hug and a great Texas drawl. We find our rooms-each of which is beautifully decorated-and our day begins. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Dallas so I’m enjoying catching up with old friends and meeting new ones. I do chuckle to myself as I think–whenever I am in Dallas, I find myself looking for the cowboys–I still have this old-time movie idea of cowboys, horses, cattle. Turns out that Carol and Bill have a ranch with horses, so I’m looking forward to visiting them sometime soon. At lunch Yolanda and Kate have put together a feast with a mouth-watering chicken salad which we quickly get into. Then our afternoon Services start. During the afternoon the winds start howling and with some loud booms a full-on thunderstorm announces itself. We love the show. Afterwards the rain pours giving the air a very thick moist quality.
Later we drive back to our hotel, change and go downstairs to help Vincent do the last touches on preparing the room for the Loving Relationships workshop that John Morton is facilitating. We look around at who is here and lo and behold we see Rosie and Carol from Austin who’ve made the drive–we so enjoy having groupies with us. Carol Barger is our gracious MC for the evening and she welcomes our group. This is an open workshop tonight and there are a number of people here who are new to MSIA. John takes the stage and is downright down-home bringing warmth and humor as he guides us to looking at loving no matter what, especially with ourselves. The kindness and friendliness of this community has created a special space for the Traveler to share tonight. At the end of the evening Lesley, Vincent and I finish the pack up in record time. We are thankful for we need to pack, do some more email and catch a few winks for tomorrow is a busy Services and travel day. Thank you to all in the Dallas community who made us feel so welcomed and comfortable during our stay there.
Day 13 – Austin to El Paso
Vincent joins Celia, Lesley and I for Services today, so we have a full house. Carol and Bill are on hand to welcome us again before they take off for their ranch. Kate is already in the kitchen preparing a special lunch for us of steaks and veggies-yum! We have four hours of Services to do and then it’s lunchtime. The steaks were indeed yummie, and there’s even a little of the chicken salad left from yesterday. John arrives to share in our lunch feast. Thanks, again, Katie, you were great!
After lunch we caravan to the airport. Dallas has one BIGGG airport and not only do we need to know the correct terminal, but we also need to know which gate we’re flying from. Luckily I’d called ahead and gotten the information so we’re set. The other thing I like about this airport is that there is a gas station conveniently located near the rental car return–that is a blessing. So we’re flying American airlines today. I go with John to the Admirals Club which is such a treat–it’s like a little place of peace amidst the hubbub and noises of the airport. While John works on his computer, I indulge in sipping a ginger ale, munching on celery and carrots and reading a People-type magazine that someone has generously left behind. Ah, the simple pleasures of life. Meanwhile Lesley and Vincent are off exploring. We rendezvous with them on the plane and soon are in the air flying towards El Paso. The flight passes quickly and I find I’m mixing my SE’s with SZ’s today. We arrive in El Paso around 6:30pm and it’s still in the 90’s. Yikes! We’ve gone from the steam bath to the sauna. But the coloring of the desert and the mountains silhouetted against a soft pastel colored sky make up for the temperature change. I check in with Lucia Parga-Navarro, our El Paso MSIA rep, who has thoughtfully provided lots of water for us and our Services schedules and supplies. These are waiting for us as we check in. All is set for Services tomorrow. Meanwhile Lesley has been researching restaurants for us for dinner tonight and has come up with two possibilities-both of which sound great-Cafe Central and The Dome. Our appetites are building and our expectations; however, it’s Sunday and neither of these fine restaurants are open. Hmm, what to do! Why room service of course…and watch the Cavs play the Spurs. Yes, flexibility is the name of the game and what makes it all fun.
Day 14 – El Paso
Rise and shine early today because I need some exercise. Down to the perfectly equipped for me health room (which means it has an elliptical and running machines, a TV, a clock and mirrors). I get a quick 20 minutes in and feel oh so good. Then it’s breakfast en group with our traveling Traveler, John, with us–it’s like a huddle before we each go to our separate tracks for the day. Lesley and I do Services today at our hotel, Vincent will do set up at the Hawthorne Suites across the parking lot, and it seems that John is off to do a little el Paso exploring of his own. You just never know where a Traveler might venture to! Jake and Carol Meyer are on hand to help Vincent set up along with a small posse of other helpers. Ina Cristina Carbajal, an ex-el Paso-ite, is on-hand to sit in on Services as she continues her training, and to translate for both events here. Lesley and I visit with friends that come in from Las Cruces, Alamogordo and points north, south, east and west of El Paso. As the day progresses, I notice that the winds have really picked up and the skies are graying. What is this, I see, something new and different for me–RAIN–in El Paso. Wow! never have I experienced being in rain in June in El Paso. By the time Services are done, and I walk over to the workshop location with John, the air has cooled considerably. John points out the unique smell of sage that is enhanced by the moisture.
When we arrive at the workshop location, there is a definite buzz and excitement going. So many are so happy to see John. There are quite a few new faces too. I see Michael and Susan Shyne, Prior Nunn, Maria de Jesus Navarette, Connie Rincon, Sandi Browne, Rebecca and Jim Danby and many other old-timers. Our room is practically filled as Jake Meyer, our MC, steps up front to welcome the group and introduce Lucia who calls us forward into the Light. Tonight we have J-R, via a special Moment of Peace from Madrid, leading us in the Ani Hu’s. Then John ascends the stage with Ina to translate and we’re off and flying as we “Explore Spirit in our Everyday Lives”. This workshop brings us a toolbox equipped with special tools that we can use everyday to attune ourselves to Spirit, and John weaves his caring and humor through the presentation. He even takes time to do some Q&A with the group too. Sweetness is the word for this evening and loving as this community embraces John and each of us so warmly. Their gratitude is expressed over and over. I walk John back over to our hotel and then hightail it back to help with packing up the equipment. Tomorrow is an early day for Vincent and Lesley as they will do the set up for the BlessingsFest at the home of Maria de Jesus Navarette. Now it’s a little more room service while we catch a bit of Austin Power’s 2, email and then sweet dreams.
Day 15 – El Paso
What a gorgeous day today! The air is clean and cool; the sun is shining. Vincent and Lesley head off early this morning to begin the sound set up for the Blessingsfest. I elect to go later with John and take it easy this morning because after the Blessingsfest I’m on to do five hours of Services. Vincent and Lesley will have the late afternoon and evening off. I drive and John does email–neither rain, sleet, snow or travel keep the Traveler from his correspondence. When we arrive at the home of Maria de Jesus the finishing touches and warming is being attended to for the meal. The participants are relaxing on the back terrace and John sits down to visit with them. I go to join the espresso machine and Lesley coaches me on making espressos. I’m very grateful that espressos can be had and I offer to be the barista for the day. The orders start coming in and soon I’ve got a rhythm going. The food is ready, the sound is ready and the group is gathered around a long table laid out with royal blue Blessings cards and pens, and deep indigo irises stand at the end of the table. Lucia calls us into the Light and leads our Ani Hu’s, then she asks John to take the helm of our Blessingsfest ship. John begins directing us in the Blessings process which includes visiting the delicious brunch buffet and writing out on our cards what blessings we would like to receive. Though it is a smaller group, John pours forth with the blessings for almost 5 hours. Ina is there to translate and does a mighty job of staying right with John. One of my favorite lines from the afternoon was something like: “The Soul is the Kingdom and Earth is a camping trip. (It’s fun to camp and we’re happy to go home).” Soon we are expanded and flooded with such richness you can’t imagine. We are partaking of all the blessings that are asked for and then some. There were some I didn’t even know to ask for until I heard them spoken. If you’ve not given yourself this gift of attending a BlessingsFest this year, there’s one happening on Monday, July 3 at Prana in Los Angeles. So much is lifted and given –you have only to ask and be present to receive. Afterwards I must do a few E’s chanting to get myself enough in my body to chauffeur our Traveler safely back to the hotel. I hug John goodbye with much gratitude beyond any words for his continuous giving during this trip. He’s off to pack and return to Los Angeles (Light to his journey), and my day is only half done as I now have 5 services to do.
Taking a breath I get my room ready and come downstairs to greet the first person for Services today. I’m aware that I’m being buoyed by Spirit–no tiredness around. In the meantime Lesley and Vincent are packing up the equipment and taking their time to enjoy a rare evening off in downtown El Paso at Cafe Central. Services fly by as most of the people receiving Services today were also at the BlessingsFest–all they say over and over is “thank you, thank you.” As Services end my body and I come together and I find I’m really hungry. Room service ordered, it’s time to pack and do email before catching a little sleep. I’m paid a little visit by Lesley and Vincent who’ve returned happily delighted by their dinner and come bearing a gift of chocolate covered strawberries–these are decadently wonderful and I indulge righteously. Midnight comes and goes and I must lay this head down for my wake-up call comes at 5am. Thank you, Lucia, Maria de Jesus and Ina for a beautiful BlessingsFest and a beautiful day!
DAY 16 -El Paso
That old alarm jolts me out of a peaceful rest but definitely gets me going. Soon I find myself on the hotel shuttle to the airport, and then into the smiling faces and hands of the Southwest Airline employees. I do manage to grab a little breakfast burrito and then it’s onto the plane. I have most interesting seatmates. In the middle is Jose-an Army reservist in uniform, and Valerie who is on her way to UCLA for an internship this summer. For 3/4 of our flight Jose, a staff sergeant, takes time to explain to us with great caring, joy and clarity all about the history of his uniform and what all the badges represent. This gentle and fun man takes out his manuals and shares with us about his training. We are fascinated. Setting aside any views I may have about the war, I listen and take in the dedication this man has to his work, which is at this point part-time. Still there is something very noble in his talking as he describes the ways that he, as a sergeant, is trained to teach, drill and counsel his men. Both he and Valerie want to know what I do and where I do it. So I take a little time to tell them about my ministry and show them the Introduction to Soul Transcendence brochure. Well, I thought this was going to be a time for me to do some computer work, but God brought another kind of gift to me today. Thinking about Jose, who has seen action, and Valerie who is traveling for the first time on her own, I ask that you send Light to both of them and all they interact with. The three of us acknowledged how there are so many good people in the world that are sitting right next to us and have gifts for us, if we’re open to receive.
Meanwhile Lesley and Vincent are doing services in El Paso later this morning and early afternoon. Afterwards they too will be flying back to Los Angeles. Light to their journey back to us. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone in El Paso and Southern New Mexico who reached out to us and assisted with our visit. What a beautiful way to end our Southwest trip! And thanks to all of you who have sent us Light along the way. We deeply appreciate your participation with us too. ‘Til we fly again!
