Living Beautifully!

 Living Beautifully!

In the Flow of Grace, Gift & Gratitude
 
Lotus Light ~ Natura Sanat
Wellness Retreat
Spring 2014
An Amethyst Foundation Event
Friday, May 9 - Sunday, May 11, 2014
 
We gathered on a cool, cloudy Friday evening at Nara, the Amethyst Spiritual Retreat House for our second annual Lotus Light/INatura Sanat Spring Wellness Retreat.  Most of the 22 total participants for the weekend were there as we worked together to serve a Vegetarian Buffet Supper.  Marykaye was in charge of meals for the entire weekend coordinating recipes, shopping lists, cooks and servers. Good food and good company as usual!  After supper and cleanup we gathered together for Conversations for Awakening Mind - Abundance through a Gift Economy and the Flow of Giving and Receiving.  The dharma talk and discussion were led by Karen.  It is fair to say that the entire weekend was a living experience of this abundance and flow, and by the end of the event cash contributions and in-kind donations of goods totaled close to $2000. More important were the rich variety of gifts of service, friendship, and talent coming from the heart.  Our evening ended peacefully around a bonfire with Sterling sharing his talent on the Digeridoo, Native American Flute, and Drums.
 

On Saturday, we began the day outside with Michael Klinger leading us in Tai Chi Chih. The planned dharma talk was skipped as people lingered over breakfast outside on the porch overlooking the east meadow.  The conversations seemed more important to the weekend than sticking with the program.  After breakfast, our kitchen crew went to work on the special lunch presentation with Marykaye and Liz, Why Gluten Free?  Besides much practical information there was a meal proving that that Gluten Free can also be delicious.   

Our afternoon began with all of us relaxing in the main room for a meditative reading of poetry from the book, Loves Poem from God, Twelve Voices from East and West read by Don.  The reading of these mystical poems was enhanced by an afternoon thunderstorm that lifted the experience into a mindful and refreshed presence.  This was followed by an open period for a choice of individual healing therapies including a Future Self guided mediation, as well as time for conversation, rest and relaxation.  At 5 we gathered together again for a Really Happy Hour.  After warming up with group dancing to Pharrel Williams' Happy song, Mary Liz led us in Belly Dancing, a beginners lesson for most of us!  Some were quite amused to see a doctor and a lawyer belly dancing together, and we all enjoyed such joyful freedom in self-expression. 

After preparing and enjoying another wonderful meal the rain kept us inside for a time of music and singing together.  There's a lot of musical talent among us.  As we did the previous night, about 11 people slept over at Nara. 
 

Sunday dawned a beautiful sunny day.  People joined breakfast on the porch in stages over much of the morning as we again chose lingering in friendly conversation over sticking with the program.  This is what "flow" is all about!  For the rest of the morning Lara Vracarich led us in The Healing Power of Movement, Sound, & Nature.  Once again we experienced a freedom of movement which reawakened our spirits and recharged our energy.  We ended the retreat with a wonderful, creative lunch of leftovers.  Many lingered long into the afternoon, and we parted, all grateful for a wonderful experience of healing, loving, spiritual community, the flow of giving and receiving, and the beauty of living in a gift economy.