11/11/11 GATHERING

Our 3-day Gathering, which started on November 10th, was very special. There were twenty of us – some old friends and others who I met when they arrived - from Argentina, England, France, Germany, New Zealand, Viet Nam and the USA. The first morning we introduced ourselves, as we set our central altar. We agreed to themes for each day: 1. Release, 2. Open our hearts, 3. Be the change. Nothing else was planned. We did a forty minute silent meditation, after which we shared our thoughts and feelings for a time together.

It wasn't so much what we did in those three days that made the Gathering so significant. It was the way we decided what to do, how we flowed together as a group and how we processed our experiences with each other. We shared healing sessions, danced, meditated, laughed, cried and even disagreed.  In fact, the most amazing process we went through together was a “dispute” over how and where we would spend 11/11/11. On the 10th we had all decided to stay at Paz y Luz, doing a meditation in Christer's heart at 11am on the 11th. But that morning a few people in the group decided they would rather go to a larger event in Cusco at Sacsaywaman that some other guests at Paz y Luz were attending.

We sat in a circle to discuss what we should do, each person sharing, one at a time around the circle. Some thought we should keep the previous day's agreement, some thought the people who wanted to go should go and the rest of us stay. Some thought that the group should find a way to stay together. It was beautiful to see the shifts and changes and how willing everyone was to find a group consensus. The initial trauma of the group “splitting” was replaced by respect and concern for all the individuals as well as the group as a whole. It was a heart-opening process, which was the theme of the day.

Even though four people from the group went to Sacsaywaman while the rest stayed at Paz y Luz, it was a transformational day for everyone, enabling our group to come into deeper intimacy – so many personal shifts and openings. The third day we rose at 5a.m. to see the sunrise up on the sacred mountain and created a communal work of art. Perhaps the photos capture some of the love and joy we felt, even as we said good-bye. Hugging my dear friend Alberto at the closing, I felt the spirit of Christer enter Alberto's body to embrace me. I'm sure he had been present with us the whole time and pleased with our process.  We were able to be the change that we want to see in the world which was very special.

  For the great photos go to: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150377036944160.361612.664829159&type=3