Silence really is Golden

My time here at Omega really is flying by and we are all feeling it and trying to hang-on to every moment!  I will be heading out on Monday, October 8 to Virginia Beach to visit my brother and look forward to that.

I know most of you won't believe this, but I spent 3-1/2 days in total silence - not speaking or being spoken to!  Adyashanti was here for a 7-day silent retreat and his was the only retreat going on during that time so they had asked that the Omega staff be very quiet during that time period to help the participants have a much fuller experience.  I decided that I would join them for as many days as I could with my work schedule.  It was quite an experience and I so enjoyed the quiet and peacefulness of the campus.  There were over 500 people on campus when combining staff and participants and no one spoke.  It made our beautiful grounds even more beautiful without noise and mindless chatter.

Meal times were really fun to watch as people walked in silently,  got their food, ate and left without a  sound.  I so wanted to have a video camera on the ceiling so we could watch it again.  With my job in Reception I got to talk with many people on their way home and hear about their experience.  It was all very positive.  You really learn a lot about yourself.  If you would like to know more about Adyashanti you can checkout his website at www.adyashanti.org.  

Now we are back to normal and realize how much we missed the sound of laughter!  Breakfast continues to be my favorite meal here, not just because of the food, but the conversation.  We are such an eclectic group and it is wonderful to hear the interesting conversations that flow first thing each day.  I usually get there first and stay as long as I can.  This morning I was late because it was raining quite hard and I had the day off so thought I would eat later in the cafe.  Instead, I did make it there in the final half hour and they wondered what had happened to me and were trying to decide who was going to my tent to make sure I was O.K.   That is what is special about living in a community!

Once in a Blue Moon!

Sorry for the long delay in my updates.  Life has a funny way of catching us unaware.  I was on a good exercise program here with my long walks around the lake and climbing all the hills, plus yoga & strength training down by the lake.  It really felt good and I was glad to have finally worked off all the bread, cheese & wine that I consumed in France.  One moment I was reading & relaxing in a hammock down by the lake and the next moment I was crashing to the ground.  I'm fine with the exception of a bone fracture in my foot, which has prevented me from continuing my fitness program.  Life is full of surprises!  It has taught me to enjoy the downtime while icing my foot.  Also, how to accept the kindness of my fellow "Omegans".


It is such a delight to be here in this third work period (August 13-October 7).  The workshops are quite different with the Ecstatic Chant weekend and then Adyashanti's 7-night silent retreat among many others.  I'm loving the changing weather with the cooler nights & lovely sunny warm days.  As always, I continue to learn more about things I had never heard of before finding Omega.  Went to my first Kirtan, which is a musical chant that we can participate in or not.  We had a week long workshop with Bobby McFerrin of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" fame.  The participants who came for this workshop were some of the most delightful that I have had the pleasure of meeting.  I hope to someday attend this workshop.  They did a concert for the whole campus and we were all thrilled to be there.


On my day off the end of August I went into NYC with my friend, Judy.  She had never been there so it was fun for me to play tour guide.  We took the metro into Grand Central and then explored Chelsea, Greenwich Village, & South Street Seaport before stopping at Fraunces' Tavern for a cocktail.  Then to Oyster Bar for some clam chowder before catching the train back.  It was a fun-packed day and we can't wait to go again.  Next time we will explore the more northern neighborhoods.


Kim & John finally found time to come for a visit and that was wonderful and relaxing for all.  I was even able to get a cabin for them so they didn't have the "tent" experience.  Our weather was perfect and the moon was almost full by the time they left.  Speaking of this 8/31 full moon - I'm sure you all know this was a Blue Moon!  (Two full moons in the same month)  August was the only month this occurred in 2012 and it won't happen again until 2015!