Just a reminder to everyone from something that arose one the course...keep breaking that shell!!!

"The true self is encased in an egg shell
tap tap tap
Sometimes you have to put the egg in water and heat it,
tap tap tap
sometimes the egg is already boiling and you have to pour cold water on it,
tap tap tap
sometimes you have drop it on hard stone and smash it,
tap tap tap.
For each there is a way,
some are hard boiled, some are easy-over
but for each of us, the shell has to break
before we can taste the fullness of the egg inside
tap tap tap!
Openhand

Well here are just a few reminders of an awesome week. Many more photos to follow so please stay tuned...

Is that Jamie meditating or downloading new poetry? Whichever, it looks blissful!

and here's Jamie again in a more energetic pose...

Is this Openhand deep consciousness bodywork or tug-o-war. Well it certainly felt like riding into battle to me Clive!

Openhand's Spinning Spider, Native American pow wow or both? Only you can know Lesley...

Ah, now I understand, you just can't keep the Shaman quiet...

Speaking of Shaman's, here's Marilyn and Pam definitely looking like they'd be more at home on the Reservation...

Openhander or Shaman? Whatever, you're certainly a lady of the light Marilyn...

Tonia - elegant blissfulness...

and Liz too...

Mark and Chris - Fire starters - preparing to burn it all away...

And it couldn't of all happened without the quiet man behind the scenes. Thanks a bundle Dave...

After the fire, Mel and Marilyn, two budding Openhanders!

Remember the forgiveness meditation? Finding it easier now to let go and forgive both yourself and others? Here's that great song that we played just to remind you. Everything we do, we do it for you...

Chris

What an absolutely mind blowing week. Chris, you have the most amazing gift of attuning to higher consciousness whilst taking the group meditation and experiential work to ever more expansive depths. It's a life changing experience.

It was a blessing to connect with so many beautiful souls amidst a wonderful sense of family and togetherness. THANK YOU ALL!

you guys are awesome! thankyou for all that you do. It was a truly inspiring week, not least to be witness to the journeys and unfoldings of everyone in the group. I saw big changes in people even in that relatively short space of time that it seemed have the potential to be life changing - if they're not already, and observing people's commitment and development I found pretty inspiring. The energy of the place is awesome too and the work is profound. It feels a blessing to be a part of it.

Since the course there hasn't been much respite, and once again the roller coaster of experience is riding merrily along the rails - sometimes leading to tightness, indecision and struggle and at others to joy and expansion etc. A couple of the 'high notes' since the course - 'wild swimming' in a lake was pretty challening to the old identities and once in a beautiful experience. Receiving beautiful messages through music and signs, and climbing a beautiful welsh mountain. On the mountain I was offered a great metaphor for walking the path - as I proceeded higher I found the view was somewhat obscured by a bank of cloud. Pretty soon I could only see about 5 meters in front of me. I didn't have a map with me and the path was not clearly marked, but I felt that I was being invited to continue climbing. As I got higher I realsied I was being given just enough information to stay headed in the right direction - the path wasn't defined in places but a cairn would appear just ahead or out of the mist would loom the flickering silhouette of a fellow walker. I had no idea how far the summit was or if I was definitely on the right track, but realised I was being invited to be more in the present, less focussed on the illusory goal ahead and keep open to the signs that marked the path. I really had no idea how far the summit was, but felt to keep walking. At one point I came to a part of the path which was lined with what appeared to be a steep drop down one side, a cliff edge. I felt to edge closer (admittedly on hands and knees!) and peered into the chasm filled with pure misty nothingness. Eventually I reached the top and the sun began to make itself known through the fog. I stopped for lunch, and soon after the fog cleared and I got to see an incredible view of the valleys, lakes and hills around! Fantastic. I saw it all as a metaphor for walking the path - its not always clear where we might be headed (in fact it maybe doesn't matter), but perhaps its more about the way we're being while walking rather than where we're heading, and being open to the signs and syncronisities and appreciating the joy of being in the moment more and more. and once in a while we might just glimpse a view that takes our breath away!

Thanks again to all involved in making the course and the work so special!

with much love

Ben

I have dedicated a thread to photo's from the Transfiguration 2009. I'll be updating over the next few days.
Click on this link to go there...

http://www.openhandweb.org/the_transfiguration_2009_photos

Thank you Trin and Chris for an amazing and powerful week, the energies
are definitely flowing still and lots of changes are taking place or
about too! I have also had lots of synchronicities involving Africa
which is where I was thinking of heading first...so watch this space!

I have to admit I didn't find some parts easy but I made it through and
am very happy that I did. I couldn't have done it without everyones support. Such a wonderful group of people so a big thank you to you all.

Interestingly the artificialness of the office I work in has made me feel a bit sick this week. What got me through though was watching people scurrying around looking extremely important/angry which seemed highly entertaining and reminded me of the story Chris mentioned about his cup of tea!

Thanks for all the great photos too.

Melx

thankyou for the photos to remind me of the week with you all at the Transfiguration 2009. What special people you are, making a significant impact on my life. Chris and Trinity preparing a week that would both challenge and support us in the wonderful setting in Cae Mabon. With the hard work and extra support from Dave, Lesley and Ben and friendship from everyone on their own journeys. The week was a roller-coaster but I gained many new insites into myself.
In the last week I was thrown in at the deep end of returning to the 'normal' world and have had some interesting experiences. Being the observer in these situations meant I was able to understand my reactions to what was going on and how I would act.
I continue to modify my life in areas such as food [I had a lovely cottage pie ala Trin and Dave with the potato, sweet potato and coconut topping last night!],and removing things that do not serve me.
Many layers on the oinon to peel away and the some major tapping on the shell still needed, but thanks to everyone for a positive week. Mark.

Thank you to all your beautiful souls for everything.

It seems that miracles do exist.

Jamie

Love and gratitude appear to have been my words during and since the Transfiguration Week and I am truly grateful to each and every one for their contribution to my experience.

My highlights from the transfiguration include (in no particular order) listening to others share their stories, bliss lying by stream after sweat lodge, experiencing sun through the clouds and bats in the sky at 4 in the morning, hugging - trees and people, singing aums in the woods, "bilberry heaven", dancing, eggshells under my feet, connections, wonderful food, experiencng love and appreciation, sharing and so much more.

It took me a week and a half to return to Edinburgh, had a wonderful, magical adventure along the way including more dancing and a visit to Mal Cop at midnight, pretty magical!

I am truly blessed and my heart is full of love and gratitude x o x

Deep sharing, deep caring
Deep peace, Inner Temple

To surrender, to meditate
To recreate, to appreciate

The stream, the grass,
The lake, the log,

The bats, the bees,
The twig, the leaves,

The shells, the hugs,
The tea in mugs

The food, the tree,
The chat, the we

The One Source
we all must be

Ah Fiona!
I just melted.
Thank you sweet angel :angel: