Retreat in Alentejo/Retiro no Alentejo
By Administrator | May 26, 2009
At the Green Gathering/Encontro Verde over Easter I led a meditation and showed a DVD called “Humanity Ascending”. Then I received an invitation from Isabel to do the same thing at a yoga retreat that she was organizing in the Serra da Mamede near Portalegre, Alentejo. I was really happy the event at the Green Gathering had sparked some more interest, so was happy to make the trip.
What has stayed with me the most about this weekend was the experience of being with these Portuguese people. A group of about 20 people of various ages and from various walks of life in Coimbra, they were all so warm, open and cheerful, it was simply a delight to be in their company! The retreat was a loosely organized affair in a rented house which nonetheless flowed seamlessly. We did meditation with a Portuguese Zen monk, Manuel, and yoga with a sweet fellow called Luis who, although I couldn’t understand what he was saying, had a wonderfully hypnotic voice as he led us through the movements. There was plenty of time for hanging out over meals and going for walks amongst the surrounding farms. It struck me that there is sweetness about the Portuguese because they are not egoically driven to “stand out” and make an impression. As a result there is an experience of simple harmony and cooperation which is probably second nature to them but struck me as quite unusual.
On Saturday night I invited everyone to take a journey into the two deepest questions in life: Who am I and why are we here? The “Humanity Ascending” film by Barbara Marx Hubbard is a powerfully visual voyage into the story of our evolutionary origins and destiny.
Charting our story from the mystery that initiated the Big Bang of cosmic creation all the way to our current unprecedented global crisis, Barbara shows how we are now getting the signal from the Life process: Evolve or Die. She presents compelling evidence that we are now on the cusp of a quantum leap in our evolution into a universal humanity IF we wake up and become conscious participants in this process.
On Sunday I was happy to hear that many had been impacted by the film. I had many conversations throughout the day that stretched my Portuguese into new directions as we explored what this leap into a deeper and higher consciousness as human beings might mean. If there is one quality I appreciate about the young Portuguese it is their innocence. I don’t mean naiveté; I mean that there is an openness and interest in new ideas that is refreshingly free from the jaded cynicism and narcissism that one tends to find in America and Northern Europe.
In the afternoon we travelled in car convoy to a nearby celtic standing stone, the oldest in Portugal dating back 6000 years. We sat in a circle around the stone and I led a meditation (amazingly in Portuguese, I dont quite know how I managed that!) which was a powerful experience of conscious communion. At the end we spontaneously joined hands and sang a long OOOMMMMM to the mystery of the universe. Then we sat back down and slices of honey bread were passed around the circle in a sacrament of smiles! Then I headed home with a smile on my face!
During the day a number of people expressed interest in showing the film and starting a regular meditation and conscious evolution group in Coimbra which is very exciting and so it will be interested to see what happens. Also I had a very strong feeling that the Project we are developing here was also for these people and others from Coimbra, and that I would love make our place available for people to do similar retreats here sometime.
So thank you Isabel and thank you Manuel, Antonio, Rita, Candida, Luis and all the other new Portuguese friends that I so enjoyed spending time with in the beautiful valley of Rodam. I look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Love Pete
Topics: Events, Awakening | No Comments »
Grupo de Meditação e Conversas Despertas
By Administrator | April 11, 2009
O Grupo de Conversas de Meditação e Consciência recomeça em 2009. Os encontros terão lugar na Casa Redonda da Quinta Cabeça do Mato, todas as Segundas-feiras, às 19h30, a partir de 31 de Março.
A intenção deste grupo é proporcionar um espaço e lugar regulares nas nossas vidas, onde possamos abandonar a nossa história pessoal e embarcar juntos numa jornada evolutiva. Juntamo-nos para abraçar a energia primordial da Vida, tanto ao nível da pacificação, como da criatividade.
Este despertar é um processo natural, mas tem como intenção um desdobrar entre nós e dentro de nós. Os únicos requisitos são uma abertura e interesse sinceros em explorar juntos novos «países» ainda por descobrir. Comprometemo-nos, assim, a viver, deixando para trás a nossa história pessoal e as nossas opiniões para que haja espaço para uma forma profunda e livre de reestruturação da consciência.
Durante a primeira parte, o grupo reúne-se em círculo, durante 45 minutos, em meditação silenciosa, experimentando-se um relaxamento profundo e a liberdade da Energia e do Ser puros, sem qualquer pré-definição. Na segunda parte, após um pequeno intervalo, em silêncio, juntamo-nos, uma vez mais, e abrimo-nos para a expressão criativa do Mistério vivo no campo criado por nós.
No espaço desconhecido, o mais importante é ouvir. Quando alguém fala, ouvimos para encontrarmos a ligação profunda com aquilo que o outro está a transmitir. Se nos sentimos motivados, respondemos à expressão que nos cativa com a maior presença e poder espiritual. Quando algo do que é partilhado por alguém nos toca profundamente, podemos exprimir esse sentimento a essa mesma pessoa ou partilhá-lo com o grupo. Ao construir um campo de audição e inquirição profundos, criamos um poderoso campo de apoio, onde cada um de nós pode entrar se assim for a sua vontade.
O nosso pensamento relaxa ao ouvir e responder desta forma e abrimos os portões de dimensões cada vez mais profundas de intuição, conhecimento e percepção despertos. Confiando no solo natural e palpável da união viva no circulo, o nosso ser enche-se com a inteligência do amor, do não saber e da inocência. Descobrimos que a nossa face original não é a identidade pessoal mas sim a própria Vida. Nessa descoberta, começamos a intuir o que significaria experimentar uma vida simples sem limites e a viver juntos para além das fronteiras das nossas identidades pessoais.
A natureza do grupo pode atingir largas variantes, desde o silêncio profundo a voos apaixonados de inspiração, da profunda seriedade e admiração à gargalhada e alegria selvagens… Em tudo isto podemos descobrir o jogo mágico da individualidade no campo da comunidade desperta. Oferecemo-nos à transformação pelo processo de cura da Vida, vitalizando energias, e experimentamos o que significa amar e ser amado pela Vida e tornarmo-nos unos com a fonte contínua da alegria, saúde e poder criativo.
A minha esperança ao iniciar este grupo é que este seja um fórum no qual os participantes podem transformar para sempre o seu sentido de separação, alienação e desmotivação num outro de ligação, comunhão e propósito cósmico.
A consciência está a chamar. Há um sentimento imperativo profundo que puxa todos os que a ele estão abertos para a psique colectiva. Acredito que se trata da chamada para o nosso destino evolutivo colectivo. Aqueles que se abrem a este chamamento são os pioneiros da evolução, os que criam e dão forma ao paradigma energético disponível para todos os que o querem seguir. Enquanto um pequeno encontro pode parecer um beacon isolado, se alimentarmos uma paixão sincera para a transformação agora, estamos a semear o futuro.
Se te identificas com estes pensamentos, junta-te a nós.
Para mais informação, por favor contacta-nos através do número 966333187.
Topics: Project News, Events, Awakening, Meditation | 2 Comments »
Meditation & Conscious Conversation Group
By Administrator | March 29, 2009
The Meditation & Conscious Conversation group is beginning again for 2009. We will gather at the Roundhouse at Quinta da Cabeca do Mato at 7.30pm on Monday evenings from the 30th March.
The intention behind this group is to provide a regular space and place in our lives where we can drop our “personal story” and embark on an evolutionary journey together. We come together to embrace the primordial energy of Life as both stillness and creativity.
This Awakening is a natural process but it must be engaged with intention to unfold within and between us. Thus the only requirements are a sincere openness and interest in exploring new and undiscovered country together. We commit to leaving our personal history and opinions behind so that there is space for a deep free-form restructuring of awareness.
For first half of the group we gather in a circle for 45mins of silent meditation, in which we experience deep relaxation and the formless freedom of pure energy and pure being. In the second half, after a short break in silence, we gather once more, and open ourselves up for the creative expression of the Mystery that is alive in the field between us.
In that unknown space, most importantly, we listen. When someone speaks, we listen for the deepest resonance in what they are saying. If we feel moved we respond to the expression that rings with the greatest spiritual presence and power. When something profound touches us in what someone else has shared, we may reflect it back to them, or to share it with the group. By building a field of deep listening and deepening inquiry, we create a powerful supportive container for each of us to step into when we speak.
As the habitual thinking self relaxes through listening and responding in this way, we open the gates of deeper and deeper dimensions of awakened intuition, knowing and perception. Trusting in the palpable natural ground of unity alive in the circle, our being fills with the intelligence of love, not knowing, and innocence. We discover that our original face is not a personal identity but is Life itself. In that discovery we begin to intuit what it would mean to experience ordinary life without limits and to live together beyond the boundaries of our personal identities.
The tone of the group may vary widely from deep silence to passionate flights of inspiration, from profound awe and seriousness to wild laughter and joy… in all this we can discover the magical play of individuality in the field of awakened community. We allow ourselves to be transformed by Life’s healing, vitalizing energies, we experience what it means to love and be loved by Life, and become one with the flowing source of joy, health and creative power.
My hope in initiating this group is that it will be a forum in which participants can transform forever their sense of separation, alienation and helplessness, into one of connection, communion and cosmic purpose.
Consciousness is calling. There is a deeply felt imperative pushing into the collective psyche for those of us who make room for it. I believe it is the call of our collective evolutionary destiny. Those who open themselves to this call are the evolutionary pioneers that create and shape the energetic paradigm that is available for all who follow. While a small gathering may feel like an isolated beacon, if we are sincere in our passion for transformation now, we are seeding the future.
If this resonates with you then please come and join us.
If you have any questions please call 966333187
Pete
Topics: Project News, Events, Awakening, Meditation | No Comments »
A Call to the Downtrodden Urban Masses and a Warning…
By Administrator | March 22, 2009
To all of you beautiful people couped up in fluorescently lit offices, in Big Cities with plastic pot plants for company, needing a bit of fresh air – I have a suggestion. Go and spend a few days with Pete and Cynthia in Europe’s forgotten lands. It did me the world of good.
Digging vegetable beds, eating fresh salad, chatting by the fire, chatting with the donkeys, walking on the land, just breathing deeply. It was so heartening to be greeted by every single person I passed in the street, and run along tracks in the hills surrounded by breathtaking scenery. It beats the Northern line at 6:30PM. But a word of advice – if your going to visit in February – take a few pairs of woolly undies – because Ibiza this is not! And beware of the 3.5 euro a gallon vinho tinto hooch those guys are drinking; it’s not for the faint-hearted! Thanks guys for a really wonderful time.
Peter Simmons
Topics: Volunteers & Visitors | No Comments »
