Vaals, Netherlands. Summer solstice, 21st June 2009. The Vaals Summer Festival. As I sat at the back of the room for the closing meditation, I felt grateful. I was grateful that my teacher, Guru Dharam could attend. I felt grateful that some of my SKY sangut could meet up and be together. I was grateful that I had in some small way helped to create this wonderful space, along with everyone else who attended. I was grateful to be sufficiently aware of my awareness to feel and notice the energetic interplay in the room over the weekend. I was grateful that I could share this journey with others.
Summer Solstice is a time of letting go of the past, old identities that no longer serve us, old relationships that don’t work, old habits, old ways of thinking. Like a high tide about to turn, the summer solstice this year was a wonderful time to work through these old issues and let them go. I knew it was building for the last few weeks, and while I recognize that this could as easily be a projection of my own psyche as it is a perception of the outside, in either case, it is a time for cutting chords, for clearing and letting go. This year is a particularly good time to do this, as we also have a new moon to accompany this years summers solstice.
Back in the room after a “challenging but not difficult” set (Guru’s words, not mine); We closed with a Laya meditation, followed by chanting Wahey Guru for what felt like 22 minutes, although in a space where time stands still it may have been longer or shorter that this. We have chanted this mantra a thousand times before, but this time, there was something very different. It felt like every spirit and soul within a thirty kilometer range had joined us and wanted to rejoice in the joy and heart centered feeling of oneness that was present in the room. Like a symphony of voices it swept over us like the ebb and flow of the high tide, clearing, purifying and healing. In mid-chant, I though for a moment for a word to describe the experience, but no words came: In midst of a crescendo of choral voices, “speechless” is a shameful substitute. But it was beautiful.
I contemplated the past 2 days. BenJahmin and I has opened the festival with our “Flow..” session. As Sonja was introducing us, I remember thinking to myself. There is only 2 ways a workshop called “Flow..” can go: It can either flow or not flow. And if it doesn’t flow, then we should probably start thinking of alternative careers and themes of exploration.
The workshop & whole festival flowed beautifully. From the Kundalini Yoga kriyas, mantras and music, to beautiful singing bowls, great food, deep meditative relaxation; exploring crystal skulls; the kirtan evening and an amazing lesson on Shiatsu massage (more please!) to the closing kriya and meditation from Guru. Everything thing seems to build on the previous experience to deepen my appreciation and gratitude for the moment.
After we finished and had tuned-out, I sat silently for a moment. “Thank you”, I said. But it was not directed at anyone in the room.
As I slept on the EuroStar on the way back to london, I was smiling. Imaging what it would be like to do this every day…..
