{"id":112889,"date":"2026-07-08T16:46:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T23:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/?p=112889"},"modified":"2026-07-08T16:46:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T23:46:16","slug":"the-conference-of-divine-silence-no-more-questions-its-time-to-listen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/archives\/112889-the-conference-of-divine-silence-no-more-questions-its-time-to-listen","title":{"rendered":"The Conference of Divine Silence: No More Questions, It\u2019s Time to Listen!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When I first heard about the theme for our MSIA Conference of 2026, well, let\u2019s just say I had a lot of questions.<\/p>\n<p>Divine Silence? Can\u2019t I just shut myself in a room and plug my ears for divine silence on my own?<\/p>\n<p>Divine Silence? Are we going to be allowed to talk on the breaks? Or will they all be silent breaks with people suddenly discovering past lives as mimes to communicate?<\/p>\n<p>Divine Silence? Didn\u2019t we have a conference on that theme a few years ago? Oh wait, that was Divine Presence! Ok, so what\u2019s the difference?<\/p>\n<p>By the end of the Conference, I had no more questions. I was joining the usual chorus of lit up Light-bearers exclaiming about how this was the best conference ever! And it really was. Because it always is. The theme of Divine Silence was just the icing on the cake.<\/p>\n<p>It started with a moving PTS graduation ceremony. Besides the courageous group of graduates taking the stage to receive their diploma and hug from the Traveler, a special posthumous degree was awarded to our beloved Penelope Bright. At John Morton\u2019s urging, Laren Bright knelt to be hooded and receive a hug on his wife\u2019s behalf. She had made her transition into Spirit before completing the writing of her Practical Treatise, but the presence of Spirit was so palpable during her recognition that to me it felt like she was right there in the room, shining brilliantly in her Christ-Self and about to make some witty remark about it never being too late to put on a show.<\/p>\n<h4>View the Photos by David Sand from PTS Graduation at the Conference of Divine Silence, June 2026<\/h4>\n<div style=\"max-width: 640px; height: 400px\" class=\"fshow-wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/fshow_orbit_568f69558d682?photosetid=72177720334574114&user_id=71628367%40N07&gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F71628367%40N07%2Fsets%2F72177720334574114%2F\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 400px\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"true\" mozallowfullscreen=\"true\" border=\"0\">\n<\/iframe>\n<noscript>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHBqjCYwRh\" target=\"_blank\">Click to View<\/a><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n\n<blockquote><p>The work in us that we started in perfection will be finished by the Christ. All we really have to do is just get on with our state of being perfect and not have a concern of whether we are perfect here or we are doing perfect here. We are to work towards that. And when we leave this field of consciousness, that work will continue in perfection. The perfection is not descending energy. It is ascending energy, and we will perfectly arise into the heart of God.<br \/>\nJohn-Roger, DSS<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Next was an IIWP-spectacular hosted by David Whitaker and Makeda Bullock-Floyd. The two embodied the principles of peace that they shared. Peace was present, and so were many more qualities blessed by the Traveler in what was formerly Adopt a Quality and now renamed Peace Blessings Program.<\/p>\n<p>The beautiful journals given to donors in the new program along with a host of delicious and rustic products in the MSIA Store made for a fun shopping experience after the workshop was over. Windermere brought its goods to the Conference, and people loved them!<\/p>\n<p>But my favorite part was the name-that-chicken contest in which donors could contribute in exchange for naming one of twenty-three new egg-laying chickens making their home at Windermere Ranch. Name-that-chicken! I feel more peaceful just saying those words.<\/p>\n<h4>View the Photos by David Sand from The Gathering of Peacemakers at the Conference of Divine Silence, June 2026<\/h4>\n<div style=\"max-width: 640px; height: 400px\" class=\"fshow-wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/fshow_orbit_568f69558d682?photosetid=72177720334549572&user_id=71628367%40N07&gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F71628367%40N07%2Fsets%2F72177720334549572%2F\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 400px\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"true\" mozallowfullscreen=\"true\" border=\"0\">\n<\/iframe>\n<noscript>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHBqjCYpy9\" target=\"_blank\">Click to View<\/a><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n\n<blockquote><p>We each have an individual choice toward peace. That&#8217;s where it begins. We really don&#8217;t have to be worried about solving the world&#8217;s problems or the issues that we find about peace. It&#8217;s much more important to begin with ourselves. We find our own peace by being aware of the peace that is present. Then, as we have that awareness, it allows us to do peaceful things, to come in peace and to be at peace with what is present.<br \/>\nJohn Morton, DSS<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Thursday brought a parade of powerful offerings &#8211; Heartfelt, Insight, and USM all took a turn in the spotlight to present their unique and valuable expressions of the Spiritual Heart. I attended everything and marveled at the myriad of ways John-Roger brought forward to experience living love.<\/p>\n<p>I took something precious away from each event: a warm and revealing moment with the person seated next to me, a line or two dropped by a presenter, a meditation that took me somewhere I\u2019d never been before.<\/p>\n<h4>View the Photos by David Sand from the Organizations Events at the Conference of Divine Silence, June 2026<\/h4>\n<div style=\"max-width: 640px; height: 400px\" class=\"fshow-wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/fshow_orbit_568f69558d682?photosetid=72177720334549702&user_id=71628367%40N07&gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F71628367%40N07%2Fsets%2F72177720334549702%2F\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 400px\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"true\" mozallowfullscreen=\"true\" border=\"0\">\n<\/iframe>\n<noscript>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHBqjCYpAo\" target=\"_blank\">Click to View<\/a><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>A gorgeous Traveler Sharing closed out the day. John Morton demonstrated again for me how he embodies a golden thread that weaves its way through all the Traveler\u2019s works, sometimes as a central feature, sometimes as a quiet caretaker, but always present spiritually to bring grace forward for all who are open to receive.<\/p>\n<p>Then came the Silence of God Workshop beautifully facilitated by Leigh Taylor Young Morton and David Whitaker. What stood out for me most here were the sublime pockets of silence, sometimes ten minutes, sometimes thirty minutes, in which the facilitators fell quiet and the most glorious silence filled the room, the Prana campus, and my own consciousness. Wow! All my questions were getting answers.<\/p>\n<p>And, of course, our Traveler shared generously and dynamically throughout, with that same divine silence riding on his every word. Thank you, Johnny, you brought the house down and the energy up and up and up!<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Listening is the attitude of the one who sits at the feet of the master waiting, patiently waiting, while also presenting the attitude and posture of \u201cI am open, I am willing, I am here past all challenges.\u201d Listening is breathing in and holding in the silence. The inner ear is located in the silence. Be silent as you also give your fullest attention while breathing out. In this communion you can seek to fully attend to the inner master and bring the master&#8217;s full attendance to you.<br \/>\nJohn Morton, DSS<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h4>View the Photos by David Sand from Day 1 of the Workshop at the Conference of Divine Silence, June 2026<\/h4>\n<div style=\"max-width: 640px; height: 400px\" class=\"fshow-wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/fshow_orbit_568f69558d682?photosetid=72177720334566623&user_id=71628367%40N07&gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F71628367%40N07%2Fsets%2F72177720334566623%2F\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 400px\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"true\" mozallowfullscreen=\"true\" border=\"0\">\n<\/iframe>\n<noscript>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHBqjCYuC8\" target=\"_blank\">Click to View<\/a><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The workshop breaks, as it turned out, didn\u2019t involve a lot of people discovering past lives as mimes so they could communicate as I had speculated. Instead, we had the most joyful, enthusiastic family reunion over delicious food and gorgeous surroundings. Thanks to the Prana chefs, staff, and assistants it was a smooth and graceful affair. And if anyone said our people don\u2019t eat sugar, well, many rapidly-disappearing delicious desserts offered evidence to the contrary!<\/p>\n<h4>View the Photos by David Sand from Day 2 of the Workshop at the Conference of Divine Silence, June 2026<\/h4>\n<div style=\"max-width: 640px; height: 400px\" class=\"fshow-wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/fshow_orbit_568f69558d682?photosetid=72177720334574514&user_id=71628367%40N07&gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F71628367%40N07%2Fsets%2F72177720334574514%2F\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 400px\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"true\" mozallowfullscreen=\"true\" border=\"0\">\n<\/iframe>\n<noscript>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHBqjCYwYb\" target=\"_blank\">Click to View<\/a><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Even the California climate collaborated with cool breezes and warm sun. One evening gave rise to a group of kids playing soccer on the patch of grass near Madame Butterfly. Another night after most people had gone, a couple of dogs played tag around their humans.<\/p>\n<p>The Silent Ones Party took advantage of our camaraderie and fellowship to give people a chance to share in a relaxed, informal setting. It featured music, poetry, comedy, and dance. Joshua Hayes\u2019s interpretation of Dave Mason\u2019s MSIA-anthem \u2018Mystic Traveler\u2019 kicked off the night with flair, and after the last contribution, the room burst into a Latin and gringo dance party that lasted almost past 9:30pm.<\/p>\n<h4>View the Photos by David Sand from the Silent Ones Party at the Conference of Divine Silence, June 2026<\/h4>\n<div style=\"max-width: 640px; height: 400px\" class=\"fshow-wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/fshow_orbit_568f69558d682?photosetid=72177720334547705&user_id=71628367%40N07&gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F71628367%40N07%2Fsets%2F72177720334547705%2F\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 400px\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"true\" mozallowfullscreen=\"true\" border=\"0\">\n<\/iframe>\n<noscript>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHBqjCYp1X\" target=\"_blank\">Click to View<\/a><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>It lasted almost past 9:30pm? I know, I know, but we had to get ready for the ordinations early next morning!<\/p>\n<p>And ready we were! Conference Sunday began on a high note with five new ministers receiving their ordinations. Then the energy of the Conference Ministers Meeting rocked the house, and all the houses of all the ministers tuning in from around the world.<\/p>\n<p>Inside the meeting room wild cheers and applause celebrated David Raynr and Roger Wakefield as ministers of the year. Profound acknowledgement went also to four volunteers of the year: Valerie Rambo, Claudia Steele, Ricky Valle, and David Craven. The moving acceptance speeches reminded me of the joy that fills one\u2019s life in cultivating a natural way of being of service. None of them were looking for recognition, but Spirit had other plans that day.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Loving one another relates to being of service, which in turn relates directly to ministry and moving into a divine consciousness. Loving relates directly to taking care of others. Right in the core of what is important to do with your life is to take care of yourself. As soon as you have done that, you are on to helping take care of others as both a sacred honor and responsibility. Serve well.<br \/>\nJohn Morton, DSS<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>After the ministers meeting, we shared a beautiful lunch that made marvelous use of Prana\u2019s campus by scattering over 250 people across the grounds both indoors and out. Old friends reunited with hugs and laughter as if no time had passed.<\/p>\n<p>Then, we turned our attention to the Initiates Meeting. I came 45 minutes before the start just to try and nab a seat in the main room where Johnny was speaking, and I was miraculously rewarded by a hidden gem in the corner that had somehow been missed.<\/p>\n<p>I was a fly on the wall for the magnificent occasion. Such a special meeting can only be held by a Traveler with the keys, and John Morton was the host with the most. He guided us through satsang in his beautiful, relaxed way, and then fell quiet to make room for more of that Divine Silence, this time filled with the essence of countless initiates chanting in unison.<\/p>\n<p>At one point I thought I heard John say something about us traveling in the Soul, and indeed, I am at a loss to describe what all went on in the meeting, but that it happened and that I was there continues to be a great and glorious triumph of my life. A reason to celebrate!<\/p>\n<h4>View the Photos by David Sand from the Ministers and Initiates Meetings at the Conference of Divine Silence, June 2026<\/h4>\n<div style=\"max-width: 640px; height: 400px\" class=\"fshow-wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/fshow_orbit_568f69558d682?photosetid=72177720334574949&user_id=71628367%40N07&gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F71628367%40N07%2Fsets%2F72177720334574949%2F\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 400px\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"true\" mozallowfullscreen=\"true\" border=\"0\">\n<\/iframe>\n<noscript>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/s\/aHBqjCYx6F\" target=\"_blank\">Click to View<\/a><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n\n<blockquote><p>The Traveler just shares himself with those who are his beloveds, those who are the initiates. The Traveler does not offer only an association; the Traveler offers a relationship that abides in the spiritual heart, nowhere else. It is a relationship of living love. And when the Traveler talks to you, he talks to the Soul. The Traveler speaks loving. It is love. It will lift you in love.<br \/>\nJohn-Roger, DSS<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>For me, the success of this conference continues to echo through the Divine Silence of the Traveler\u2019s fold. Thank you to everyone who made it possible! Whether you were assisting an event, cleaning the kitchen, or showing up to participate, you made a difference.<\/p>\n<p>And as the Prana Campus returns to a more relaxed atmosphere after so many have departed, I\u2019m reminded once again of the magic that we can come together in joyful fellowship for a whole host of amazing events and be blissed out and blown away by the Traveler\u2019s presence, and we can just as easily be scattered to all ends of the earth but connected spiritually. Either way, we are always together, and we are always held in the embrace of the Beloved.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Initiates of the Traveler are always being watched because the Traveler Consciousness is inside of you, and it is always watching. Always. When you go to sleep, it stays awake. When you wake up, it stays awake. When you die, it still lives. When you&#8217;re in the spiritual state and you&#8217;re watching, it&#8217;s watching you watch. For what reason? That&#8217;s just the way it does it.<br \/>\nJohn-Roger, DSS<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When I first heard about the theme for our MSIA Conference of 2026, well, let\u2019s just say I had a lot of questions. Divine Silence? Can\u2019t I just shut myself in a room and plug my ears for divine silence on my own? Divine Silence? Are we going to be allowed to talk on the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":112890,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6779,266],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conference-of-divine-silence","category-featured"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112889"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112889\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/112890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.msia.org\/newdayherald\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}