Over the weekend of June 7, 2019,Lama Losang Samten spun his magic for the fourth year at his retreat at the Netloft on Gabriola. On Saturday he gifted us with a self healing process that was collectively felt and appreciated on a profound level. This process culminated with the Dorje Namjom Blessing which further enhanced our healing and sense of well being. The teacher, the participants, the location, the nutritious outdoor lunches, gave all of us a unique, heartfelt opportunity to rejoice. Thank you Losang, see you next year for the 21 Tara Mandala!
Always entertaining, Gary Badke appealed to the kid in all of us during his Mad Hatter Show at the Gabriola Arts Centre on May 26, 2019.
Gary wore many hats, and he changed them with each song he sang on his ukulele, mini banjo and autoharp. He took us on a musical journey that ranged from the Sunday School song, This Little Light Of Mine, to Puff, the Magic Dragon and a number of silly songs that engaged the audience in call and response. A small, but appreciative audience of children, teens and adults – sang, quacked, oinked, and barked in response to his stories. A few even jumped around and danced.
Gary ended with an invitation to close our eyes and dream about a favourite spot to sit, while he played a meditative tune on his flute.
This is a fun event that deserves a wider audience.
“Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invests.” Ludwig Van Beethoven
Submitted by Jan Moore
On April 24th, at the Golf Course, we celebrated a Passover Seder meal with about 40 members of our community. Like last year, it was facilitated by Amy Block and Paul Gellman. A special thanks to all the volunteers who came early and helped plate and heat the traditional foods, all of which were prepared at home by members of our Ecumenical Society. The Golf Course staff also kept busy serving and keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes.
For over three hours, we followed a shorter version of the Passover Haggadah (the telling). During the Seder (order), we explored how Passover customs include telling and sharing of the Story of slavery to freedom, drinking wine, eating matza, and partaking of the symbolic foods. We also learned that Seder is performed using the same ‘order’ by Jews all over the world, and might be the most commonly celebrated of all the Jewish rituals.
Maureen Wild and Ray Appel, Gerald Larson did a couple of readings to further educate participants, and also to help move the Seder forward. Throughout, Amy and Paul welcomed questions and stories that related to parts of the Haggadah. Those in attendance interpreted parts of the Exodus story in a variety of ways, including more modern contexts as they explained their particular ideas and understandings.
Two young girls were also present with their mother, and joyfully contributed by lighting the candles, handing out items to every member of the community, and finding the hidden afikoman (matzah that was broken and hidden at the beginning of the Seder). According to tradition, the Seder cannot be officially concluded until the afikoman is found. The two girls were overjoyed and excited when they found it because then everyone could have desert, (chocolate covered matzah, fresh fruit and macaroons!
All in all a very informative, personal community-building experience. Thank you to Amy and Paul and all the volunteers and staff who helped put the event together!
