What happens when you put 15 strangers from 10 different countries together in one place for a week? Very different backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles. A few have experience in community living, the majority are brand new to the concept but want to try it. When the question “what attracted you to this gathering?” was asked, the answers were all over the map. Yet, one common thread kept coming up for all of us: “I followed my gut feeling/intuition/heart/flow. There was a strong pull and I felt a total Yes! in my body”.
We had been working on the logistics for a few months and got to meet each other online. When we physically got together, there was a sense of familiarity and celebration. We were all connected through Charles Eisenstein’s “Sanity Project”; ready to shed old paradigms of separation, fear and scarcity, seeking “the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible“
The initiators of the whole effort made it clear from day 1 that they’re not in charge and it was to be a co-creation. Moving from old habits of power over, leader/follower, victimhood, blame and looking for answers outside of ourselves to co-creation, power with, co-leadership, owning our agency and speaking our truth. Simple, yes? Nope! It wasn’t easy. We had to work against lifelong habits and cultural programming. Yet each one of us stepped up to the challenge. As we relaxed more and more into the field of trust, it was heartwarming to see people blossom into their power and authenticity. There were tears, laughter, release, contraction, play, vulnerability, movement, coming together, separation and transformation. Costa Rica’s powerful Nature; volcanoes, waterfalls, animals, birds, insects, rivers, ocean, mountains and valleys… were the most beautiful and most potent catalyst for transformation. Nature explorations were some of the most blissful moments; hiking, swimming in waterfall pools, boat trip, snorkeling, playing with the bioluminescent plankton, sunsets…etc.
Everyone shared their hearts, talents and gifts. From preparing delicious meals to objects of beauty to workshops on a multitude of diverse subjects; Bitcoin, sacred Economics, how to turn our triggers into teachers, how to make coconut milk, Costa Rica landscapes, Bhutto, Bellydance and more. All 5 languages of Love* were fully expressed, shared and multiplied.
One of the highlights of our gathering was meeting up with Charles Eisenstein and his wife Stella Osorojos Eisenstein who happened to be in Costa Rica at the time. Charles led us in a silent meditative hike and swim in the nearby river, followed by a powerful practice of stepping into our inner guru! Who knew we all have an inner guru?!? Insightful!
15 “Old Culture” strangers met in Arenal, 8 days later, 15 “New Culture” friends bid their “hasta luego”** in the Osa península in Costa Rica. Proving to themselves and others that a more beautiful world is, indeed possible and, indeed, very beautiful! That was just the beginning. The journey has just started. Worth every tear, fear and shedding what doesn’t serve Life. What a crazy wonderful journey it is!
* The 5 languages of Love are: Words of affirmation. Quality time. Gifts. Acts of service. Physical touch.
** Spanish for “till later”.
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Unconditional Love 