Hello my dear Openhand friends...I want to share a profound experience I had on our last day of retreat. Of course the retreat was, as always, a blessed combination of sacred nurturing and fiery invitation to balance on the blade-edge. New Year's eve was spectacular, both profoundly uplifting..literally...thanks to Penny magic and figuratively. When I finally dozed off to sleep that night I was awakened to a spectacular fireworks display directly outside my bedroom window at Avalon Rising. It was a precursor to what I would experience New Year's Day. I had been feeling a build up of energy during our 4 days together and while others left for some free wheelin' I had a strong pull to ask Penny if she would facilitate. I want to share some of what Open reckons was a kundalini activation. Details are spotty as I was witnessing it but not "making" any of it happen...five minutes into working with Penny I found myself deep into a karmic process...my body moved of its own accord...it felt like I had to release something from within...almost a giving birth to something....I had a felt sense that I wanted someone to hold my hand and instantaneously someone was...I didn't know it at the time but Open was the one that had taken my hand. He talked me through my experience helping release immense suffering I had been carrying. At one point I knew angels were with us...I began to sing Alleluia. I was consumed by the pain of Mother Earth and held in the arms of Grace as a little bird outside brought my attention to the beauty in life. Open and Penny held the space for me while I sobbed...a deep healing happened that day. A pain I have had in my shoulder as long as I can remember is no longer there. I rested, grateful, soothed, loved...sat up and sang a song I wrote called Little Bird before I found myself flying with the angels. When I stood up a little while later I had a glimpse into what being the Seer is all about. I felt too big to be in such a small body and I wasn't sure I knew how to use it. I felt deep peace, profound awareness that all is as it needs to be. Almost immediately afterwards I heard Ego say something like "you can't be that big" and that evening and next day I wondered if the whole thing actually happened...the Doubter has been a very strong identity in my life. Those that witnessed it reassured me it did...of course I really know it happened...I was blessed to stay on at Avalon Rising under the loving care of Fiona and Ben to integrate... Home now for about 10 days I am happy to say peace and trust have stayed with me....I can truly say, there is only one game in town and that is self-realization. I found myself a couple of times trying to get back to that experience and each time I remind myself not to force anything...to follow the pull...to ask constantly "show me" and be ever present to all that is. Once again...deep love and respect to All on this miraculous journey we call life. Joann