Spiritual Forum

Last week we ran our first Spiritual Forum.  We had no idea what it would be like, or how many people would turn up.  Would it be worth doing?  Would anyone turn up?  Would the evening flow?  Should we have a structure?

We decided to form this group as a means for like-minded people to get together to talk, share and learn.  We were aware that one or two people would really love this kind of thing, but to make it beneficial it would need a good group of people willing to share.

We decided not to worry too much about it and just let it be and see what happened.

Eleven people turned up for our first get-together, a range of ages and all at different places on their spiritual journey.

We spent the first 20-minutes or so on introductions and what each person wanted to get from the group.  Everyone talked well but as introductions came to an end I wondered where to go from there and, I will admit, a moment of panic set in and I quietly said “help”.

Shouldn’t have worried at all because someone asked if we could look at Wisdom Cards and the other angel cards that we had.  And so the evening progressed – working with the oracle cards flowed into work with crystals and before we knew where we were the evening had come to an end.

Nobody wanted to leave, and the main comment was how fantastic it was to spend time with other like-minded people and to be able to talk freely about spiritual things.

I, too, love being with people who understand where I’m coming from and actually get me.   It’s often very hard to explain some concepts to people without sounding so wacky or off the planet.  Not everyone can accept what you’re saying, which is absolutely fine, but if you’re with like-minded people they at least understand the concept and are open-minded.

And so another journey begins.  Sometimes, some of the nicest times are often the most simple.  So for us, just being together, talking, sharing, learning and having fun is a simple joy.

The WI

Just over a year ago I was invited to give a talk on Reiki at a local Women’s Institute meeting.  I accepted, although at that time I had never really spoken in public.  I figured that it was over a year away, a lot could happen in a year and anyway, I could always cancel nearer the time.  I put it out of my mind.

A week ago the lady who made the booking phoned to make sure everything was ok!!  Oh yes, everything’s fine, I told her and then went into panic.

I put together a presentation, wrote some prompt cards and gathered my equipment together.  By yesterday afternoon I had everything I needed to do the talk.

The talk was last night.  I still hadn’t given a public presentation as such although I had said a few words at the opening of our Como Centre for Enlightenment.  I set off for the venue and I will admit to butterflies floating around in a haphazard fashion.  By the time I was introduced I was feeling quite sick and wondering why on earth had I agreed to do this.

I asked my “people” to help, made it through the first few slides and prompt cards and then I found myself digressing – oh, still about Reiki but making it a little more personal and adding my own little stories.  My audience were beginning to get quite involved, they ooed and arred and they laughed.

And then I had finished!  Phew, I’d got through it and then I spent a further 15-minutes answering questions.  We finally stopped because time was running out but as I packed away, the ladies started to come up one by one, with even more questions.

I’m sure I floated back home last night, I was on such a high.  Not only had I pushed myself a little more out of my comfort zone, but I had given loads of information on Reiki to an audience who were really interested, who had been made aware of something they previously knew nothing about and who realised that Reiki was so completely user-friendly that they could do it if they wished.

Many said they would contact me, time will tell whether or not they will, but it doesn’t matter.  I had made a group of ladies aware of Reiki and all its benefits.  I had achieved what I set out to.