I was contemplating this concept last night while sitting around a lakeside campfire at the exquisite Grail Springs Retreat Center in Bancroft, Ontario, Canada. I was invited to come up here a few months ago as a presenter/vendor/participant and eagerly planted seeds to make it so. It occurred to me that 6 months earlier, my then ‘current self’ had no idea that this place even existed and yet it did, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the daily lives of folks world wide, it held space as a haven where they could go to renew, refresh and restore, taking the magic back out with them. One thing I am certain of is that my ‘future self’, that wise, all-knowing, tapped-into -spirit aspect already KNEW that I would be there. It had made a ‘date with destiny’, beckoning me into an opportunity to heal my weary heart, mind, body and soul, that I had been denying for far too long even was an issue.
A mutual friend of the visionary director Madeleine Marentette, named Shayne Traviss had introduced us and suggested that I speak at the Grail Lady Faire which is a 5 day retreat that brings into the mix, healing on all of those aforementioned levels. I was honored to be included in the line up that includes powerful women from the realms of wellbeing, spirituality, sustainability, music, art, yoga, dance, shamanism and humor. As I explored the website and spoke with this tireless advocate for healing, peace and social justice, I could feel myself being inexorably pulled in by the tickle-me-with-delight cosmic coincidences. I had long been fascinated with the Grail Legends; having watched Camelot and in college, Monty Python was an irreverent romp into the exploits of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It was when I discovered the epic 1983 novel written by Marion Zimmer Bradley, called The Mists of Avalon, that I was beckoned in indefinitely, so powerfully could I relate to the allure of the Goddess theme, the sense of connection to the land, the heart magic that it exuded. Perhaps it was past life connection at play, since it felt so REAL. I must have read the book a dozen times in the interceding years. Perhaps it too was preparing me for this present day adventure.
Two of my favorite heart healing musicians are Deva Premal and Miten whose music found me while listening to Echoes on WXPN and embraced me with the Gayatri Mantra. One of the lovely touches I found on the bedside CD player at the retreat was their CD called Dakshina. Perhaps that too was offering clues. It’s that ever so lovely Hansel and Gretel Breadcrumb trail that leads us one hop, step and leap into our new lives. When one lives in that way, how could we ever doubt that a benign Force (call it what you will) has our Highest Good in mind? In times of distress and ‘how come, it’s not fair, that sucks’ petulance, I open up the treasure chest that is my existence, spread out the jewels of these experiences and laugh with abandon, certain that the me that I was, the me that I am and the me that I will be are all in conspiracy to shower me with blessings. Who knows what the next incarnation of Edie will look back at from this week and smile with awe about as she recognizes the seeds that were planted?
http://youtu.be/USWBR7KZSuY Aud Guray by Deva Premal and Miten-The Grail Springs Morning Mantra
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