Part I

 11-16-2012

 I sat in the ballroom in one of Orlando’s fine hotels with my eyes being playfully distracted  by the rainbow of colors sparkling from the crystal chandeliers.  Seemed like this weekend would never come, and now minutes were counting down to the much anticipated event.  As I listened to those surrounding me, the words that express excitement were oozing from the lips of many.  Shirley MacLaine would be taking the stage soon, and five hundred of us seeking a better understanding of the “unseen,” the make up of the soul and our Higher Self gathered to learn from Shirley’s insights due to her in-depth and continuing  spiritual journey.

As my friend, Ruth, and I worked hard to calm our expectations, it was not an easy task. We were being carried by the wave of enthusiasm ~ a spiritual tsunami ~ that rushed through the room.  It was 1987, and the metaphysical world was spewing into the mainstream.  After locking up years of thoughts that crossed over the religious barricades, or sharing them only in small private meditation groups, today we were being freed by a big voice ~ by Shirley MacLaine.  With the release of her book “Out on a Limb” and the television mini series that followed, we who danced to a new inner song  had someone of notoriety and exposure validating our experiences, and dancing with us ~  hundreds of us.  Today, rather than sitting under my tree reading the words that sparked fireworks in my soul, or sharing with a few, I found myself surrounded by a large empowered group of like minded beings.

At this point my life had been changed and rearranged, and I had so many experiences that made my inner journey ~ my primary journey.  But, I never had the opportunity to be amongst so many who had decided to turn inward, to release the past, understand our oneness, and to have a deep personal relationship with God.  I really was not familiar with Ms. MacLaine’s stage life, but as one traveling the mystical roads, I had a strong respect for her openness to share what many criticized and joked about at the time.

Soon the music played, and a radiant ambassador to the old thought that became new again, bounced into the room with an aliveness that set the ballroom on fire.  It was Christmas in July, and the gift was the key that unlocked the door of limitations.  Shirley did not like to be called a guru, nor did she want to be put on any pedestal.  Best I could gather, she wanted to be a fellow traveler, knowing we all were teachers and students on the stage called life.  She was dressed in a pink sweat outfit, and her passion and appetite fueled us all.  Shirley’s glowing countenance, said it was time to BLAST OFF!  The adventure had just begun.

Through the first day Shirley explained the chakras, the energy centers of the bodies, and how each of the seven vibrated to different colors and tones.  She commanded the attention of all with the topics of channeling and reincarnation, and throughout the day stopped to do different meditations.  There were tissues boxes scattered all over, as some of the meditations helped participants release old patterns and painful events.  I was amazed at those who finally felt safe to face old hurts, and surrendered them.  The tears of emotional healing flowed, and the energy in the room elevated as old baggage was thrown to the curb.  I observed so much pain being transformed ~ wherever one or more are gathered ~ awe inspiring.

After the first day, everyone left the ballroom stronger in spirit, and rooted in joy.  We connected as brothers and sisters, and the feeling of oneness started to germinate.  Our ride home seemed so short as we exchanged our subtle shifts, as the larger ones were quite obvious.

Early the next morning our eagerness to reconnect with the highly charged collective energy set us on the road early.  The group meditations and just being with so many assembled with an intention of understanding our relationship to God, ourselves and with each other changed my battery.  I was ready, and unbeknownst to me at the moment was a ~ unexpected union