I have been sitting here today reflecting on the last seven years. It has been a crazy and amazing journey. So many different people have come through our doors. Some have journeyed with us for years, some for a few months, and some just came and left. Each in their own left a mark on me and this ministry. To all of you who have been a part of our journey and evolution, thank you!
I remember when I first started talking to someone about this vision and she said just start it and they will come. What has fascinated me most the last seven years is the messages and emails from people around the world. I was not expecting that my writing would resonate with people from just about every continent in the world. It has allowed me to build relationships with people from places such as the Czech Republic, Liberia, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, India, Jamaica, Russia, and Ireland. There is something about knowing that there is a language that resonates with people globally. There is a blessing in knowing that people can come together and feel the presence of the Ultimate. It is a different kind of unity then I have been thinking about all month.
To all those who gave of their time, talent, and resources so that the vision I had been given of our prayer and meditation garden could come to be, thank you. When I sit in our garden I think about the various groups that have gathered there to drum, eat, socialize, release burdens, give thanks, and celebrate the earth, air, fire and water. We have experienced African drumming and Native American Shamanic traditions. Both of which have reminded us of the commonalities which unite us as human beings.
We have gathered around the table with diverse groups of people. There are those who have come here not feeling like they had any other place to go. We have dined with those society has called the least of thee, yet what we have experienced is the universal experience of the Divine in everyone.
We have watched movies, read books, done healings, readings, run meditation groups, had discussions, and so much more. Yet at the core of it all has been our desire to come together in one space and love and support each other unconditionally, regardless of the path we are on. It has been so empowering to discuss spiritual issues and our own spiritual journeys with those who identify in a diversity of ways including Christian, Jewish, Hindi, Buddhist, Agnostic, Pagan and even the few Aetheists who come seeking to be more in tune with themselves, who is their higher power.
Each year Zoe and I normally host a party to gather with those who are important to us in this area. However, this year, we realized that we have a greater community of people in our lives who do not live in this area, then those who do. So this year, we want to take time to thank you for being a part of our journey this last seven years. We have no idea what is in store for us the next seven years. What we do know is that we are prepared for the journey. If the Ultimate has used us in some way the last seven years we are grateful. If we have made a difference in your life somehow, through our offerings, writings, or newsletter then we are grateful.
The one thing we are clear on is that this will be the space where all are welcome and loved unconditionally. No one will ever be turned away because of their inability to afford our offerings. We hold fast to the commitment to raise the Gross National Happiness level and not the Gross Domestic Product. If you feel led to help us continue to do so, we invite you to plant a seed.
Recently, someone asked me what makes us unique. My answer was what you will find on our website.
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE?
At Inspiritual, we start with your story
Each of our lives is a story. Your story is about you, about what you believe, about the world you live in, about all that you have experienced and all that is yet to come. It is a story about what you know and what you have yet to understand.
At Inspiritual, we seek the spiritual in everyday life
Each day is filled with the opportunities for teachable moments. Together we will journey together learning from the arts, film, prose, poetry, meditations, and everyday experiences.
At Inspiritual, we fuse traditions and beliefs
At Inspiritual, we see spiritual formation as a fusion of the esoteric wisdom of the world's ancient spiritual traditions, with innovative writings and wisdoms of today. Through the movement beyond artificial boundaries, we grow in our understanding of ourselves, of the Infinite, and of the world in which we live.
Our Approach
· To listen to and honor individual, communal and spiritual stories.
· To recognize that one's entire life is an ongoing revelation of the Infinite Presence
· To honor and value the process. It is all about the journey, not how long it takes to get there.
· To blend ancient and modern spiritual wisdoms.
· To draw upon the expressive and creative arts to grow in our understanding of the Infinite.
· To move towards a way of being in the world which is about love, grace, and compassion.
The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention."
—Rachel Naomi Remen\