Here Now ~ mini Meditation Retreat
When I asked the lovely people who met on my Bodhi Khaya Retreat if they would like to deepen their meditation practice, Tracey immediately offered her gorgeous space in Camps Bay.
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| A very tender circle of healing (thank you for the photo Susana Esteban Photography) |
So once again we met on the Full Moon to explore being here now.
This was the soundtrack to our unfolding.
I extended the invitation to previous retreatants and it was really touching to see the separate streams of many retreats past -- at Blue Butterfly, Hearth and Soul, Temenos & elsewhere -- flowing together.
“The only illusion is division.” ― Wald
Wassermann
The spiral way was so beautifully illustrated by the opercula that I'd gathered from Kommetjie Beach still holding on by the most fragile of golden threads to some who had first fastened them as a reminder of our endless becoming last full moon at Bodhi Khaya.
We arrived by breathing and practicing some shaking, tapping, Qi Gong & movement medicine to Alexia Chellun's The Power is Here Now under the heavens between the 12 Apostle mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Feeling into the elemental nature of our being.
Our 40 min japa meditation was this beautiful articulation of the truth of non-duality:
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Om Purnamadah Purnamidam |
Om, That is Wholeness, This Wholeness
From Wholeness comes Wholeness
Though this Wholeness is taken from that Wholeness
This Wholeness remains Whole
Om Peace, peace, peace
To say that the power of the mantra was transformative, would be putting it mildly.
I'm still vibrating!
One of our Holy Trinity of Tracey's and Michelle had prepared the most delicious vegan lunch of red lentil soup for us. We had a merry time in the beautiful garden sharing our stories.
“They who have gone beyond the duality of pain and pleasure have nothing to escape or chase.” ― Mokokoma Mokhonoana
After lunch we practiced some walking meditation and used Caroline Myss's Archetype Cards to lead us into a discussion of the Chakras as Archetypes, drawing from the work of Ambika Wauters and Anodea Judith.
“Wisdom tells me I am nothing, love tells me I am everything. Between the two, my life flows.” ― Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
For those who want to explore the chakra realm more deeply, here is an excellent resource:
https://www.myss.com/chakras/
“Relationships only work in a spiritual sense when you and I really see that we are one.”
― Ram Dass, Polishing the Mirror: How to Live from Your Spiritual Heart
We paired up and practiced the art of Deep Listening.
When we allow the controlling ego to simmer down, the Word presents itself from the ether and we are simply the vessel.
Just as the breath does not belong to us, but flows through us, so can all the manifestations of life -- language being one -- move effortlessly through us.
“I am Not, but the Universe is my Self.”― Shih-t'ou
Some heart opening Qi Gong led to our Prana Mudra practice and the group was feeling our profound processing at a very deep level, so yoga nidra allowed for the restorative rest we were needing.
Ram Dass's "I am Loving Awareness" reminded us once again of the truth of our being.
“True freedom is when all the stories, all the insights, all the realizations, concepts, beliefs and positions dissolve. What remains is what you are; a vast, conscious, luminous space simply resting in itself, not knowing a thing, at the point where all things are possible.”
― Enza Vita
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| O I Love You |
“All the mind-streams eventually flow into the one ocean beingness, there are many pathways for the mind, there are no paths for the heart, for the heart is infinite and fills everything.” –Mooji
While driving home the full moon popped around the corner of Chapman's Peak Drive illuminating everything and I found myself crying as I gazed into the face of the Divine Beloved.
“Words do not contain the truth, they only point us to it.” –Nirmala
The next morning was the last Sunday of the month, when Kagyu Samye Dzong offers a beautiful simple and powerful opportunity to spend the morning in silent meditation.
There was a rainbow around the sun, a halo and my soul is at peace. Completely content to be Here Now.
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