Dearest Chris

I really don't think I can put into words what the weekend has meant to me however, I think you may have a sense of it anyway. Liberated; alive; drained; a sense of belonging etc etc etc. I could go on endlessly but I don't wish to bore you. I just want to thank you, from the bottom, the top and the inner most workings of my heart for having had the courage, against what must have been very difficult times for you, to listen to your heart and your messages and for making the conscious decision to share it with us. You are truly an angel.

I did get a sense of very deep connection and I felt as if you truly saw into my soul. I didn't feel afraid or vulnerable in exposing myself to you. My soul felt fully awake; I felt safe and protected and I'm beginning to see that it can be okay to give again.

I ask of you. Do we choose a carnation of suffering for a reason, a sort of testing? Do some beings get tested more than others? Are their lights dimmed for so long as if by a test of endurance or a test of true devotion? Once they recognise their light is still within, and they're fortunate enough to embark on their journey through divine guidance, does it mean that their lights can shine stronger, eternally?

In your words: from my heart to yours.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Thanks so much for your wonderful words - i'm so pleased the course resonated with you so deeply.

In answer to your question, just contemplate for a moment everything that has gone on in our past human story. All of the violence and bloodshed - the pain and the suffering. Also the way we've exploited mother earth and her natural resources. This is all our karma and its something we'll each have to process - to experience it and release our attachment to it. That means as we relive it, its going to be quite difficult. The reason you had the resistance to the arrow break was karmic - a past life experience that happened during a battle where you were leading a group of soldiers - in that time, you didn't listen to your soul which was asking you not to do something - not to go into battle. I believe you followed orders instead and naturally there were consequences. So you recreated the experience and are beginning to process it in this lifetime. It will likely come up again - the key is to find the place of completeness where you can just be you and follow your soul - whatever the apparent personal cost - whatever anyone else thinks or says.

So it will feel uncomfortable at times - yes downright painful! But there is a great benevolence through all this - taking us by the hand and helping us. The only way out is through...

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff
they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
Psalm 23 The Bible

Much love!

Chris

Hi Chris

First thank you so much for a wonderful, turbulent few days - bit of an emotional roller coaster but what an experience! It was so comforting to be in the company of so many souls with so much love, very hard to leave and face 'the world' again, but hey a trip !!to Sainsburys soon sorted that, with a check in to that other 'reality'

Mindful of the synchronicities as I made my breakfast this morning a beautiful song on a CD by Il Divo I was playing broke into my thought processes which I would like to share the lyrics with you

Lyrics to I Believe In You (Je Crois En Toi) :
"Lonely
The path you have chosen
A restless road
No turning back
One day you
Will find your light again
Don't you know
Don't let go
Be strong

Follow you heart
Let your love lead through the darkness
Back to a place you once knew
I believe, I believe, I believe
In you

Follow your dreams
Be yourself, an angel of kindness
There's nothing that you can not do
I believe, I believe, I believe
In you."

How about that then ?????

love and light

Denise xx

Now there's synchronicity if I've ever seen it!
Thanks so much for the kind words.

Much love

Chris

Thanks Chris,
It was a wonderful few days. What you said about everyone having a light inside them whether they were aware of it or not resonated with me and will help me in my day to day encounters.

As I was driving home for some reason,, I missed the first turning to the motorway and ended up driving through Bridgewater which meant I got to see a wonderful statue at the end of the motorway of a very tall naked person with their arms wide open. Then during the journey I saw birds hovering in the air and just as I got to my junction in Sheffield a hawk like bird popped up and then in an instant swooped down and was gone.

Magical

Liz
X

sounds like your Souls are speaking to you guys!

and I've found that the more you're willing to listen and be open, to those beautiful synchronisties, thoughts, feelings etc the more you will notice them - I don't believe that they weren't there before, its just that perhaps you weren't paying as much attention! When you start noticing them more and more it seems to help if you trust that they're there to show you something (rather than immediately discounting them!) - and maybe start to ask how it makes you feel inside, what it means to you, and if it feels right to follow what you're being invited to do. I don't feel that synchronisities are always inviting you to take action, sometimes they're acting as a mirror to how you're being or confirming something or simply a means of saying hello! - letting you know you're not alone.

When I am being invited to do something (e.g. confronting a particular distortion) I often notice that 'pregnant pause' that Chris was talking about, where you are being invited to take action, and then its a question of being honest enough to admit to yourself what that action might be and to follow your Heart! Its quite likely that you won't 'get it right' every time (but perhaps it will come easier in time - I'm still working on that myself!). Although I believe things unfold how they are meant to, so even if you do appear to 'slip up' at times perhaps that's exactly what you need to experience in order to more fully appreciate your path.
This is how I see it at the moment, and how things have tended to appear for me - but as everyone has a different path, things are naturally different for everyone! What works for you may be different. From my point of view it feels important not to beat yourself up if you sometimes waver, but also to be as honest as you can with yourself and your motivations for things. If you choose to remain in a particular drama or distortion for a while longer then that's fine, but maybe try asking yourself if that's really what you want. Perhaps its time for a different way of being?

It was lovely to meet you all on the course. It felt like a really beautiful and open hearted group, and and a powerful experience. Thankyou.

with much love

B
x

It was wonderful to find these postings here this morning. I really enjoy reading about your experiences during and after 'Way of the Heart'. Chris told me that the course was magical and that he was joined by such a beautiful group of souls.

Keep flowing and checking in.

Sending Love to you all!
Trinity

Dear Chris,

Thank you (and openhand) so much for all your work to make last weekend such a wonderful few days. The course has been incredibly helpful to me, just what i needed, to help snap me back again from the hubbub and high speed of modern living, and the life i have set up for myself, take a step back and to help remind me what this is all really about. Its so easy to forget and I'm very good at filling up my time getting swept along, but perhaps not really being very present while I'm doing it.

The techniques and tools that we practised and discussed are so simple, though I know from past experience its easy to just forget and get consumed by "reality" again. But I feel inspired to be committed to really trying to make it a part of my life, to be an observer of myself and my reactions, emotions, senses, it feels right and good. I have been going for sensory walks at lunchtime and lots of things have been popping up into my consciousness - rather than me just accepting them or brushing over them, or even reacting to them, I have been amazed at how many distortions I have noticed and have been questioning - I have a lot of work ahead! It feels overwhelming sometimes but I guess the first steps are taken and I can only go forward.

It feels good to practise trying not to be identified with the outcome too, though difficult it feels liberating! I feel it does mean I need to stop planning things ahead so much, booking up my time, deciding in advance what I'm going to do, I feel I do need to try to be as spontaneous as possible when I can, even though this doesn't often go down well with people! As was discussed, I find it difficult sometimes to untangle following my heart with wanting to do it in my head because of a perceived outcome. I think this will take a lot of practise and patience but I hope it will become easier. I did worry that parts of my lifestyle and social life were not conducive to the spirtual path even though I enjoyed them, but I suppose that as I go along, the things that don't serve me or no longer feel right will slowly drop off naturally, and I don't need to force anything so I am no longer worrying!

There are many bits from the weekend and little snippets of what you said that keep popping up, and I am very glad of the notes which I have kept reading to keep fresh.

Thank you so much for sharing your own experiences, wisdom and energy to helping us, and knitting together everything in simple terms, I feel very blessed to have come across openhand community and feel like i'm facing the right direction at least!

Also the food was lovely and I have already made the no bake carob cookies...they went down a storm with all the choccy eaters at work...

I look forward to the next gathering, and extend love to Trinity in Hawaii (she was missed!)

With love, peace and gratitude,

Elly

Here are some great piccies taken at the recent "Way of the Heart" in Glastonbury...

The Mists of Avalon...You can just feel the vibe!

Morning view of the Tor...uplifting and inspirational. Awesome!

David on the Tor ... deep energies moving!

The mother of all sunrises!

And finally, the group as one!

To who ever took the pictures in Glastonbury during Way of the Heart... I am sending a huge thank-you! It is a special and highly energetic place to carry out the Openhand work, and I feel very warmed to see these pictures of the places I walk and meditate so often when I am home. I look forward to adventuring through the Avalonian mists again soon.

Beautiful sharing Elly :angel:. Sending Love to you!