You knew I had to blog about this (Originally published on June 25, 2007)

Earth, fire, air, water
Space and time
Night and day
Love and life
Joy

A year ago, an old man drove to Artemas, PA and was overpowered. He was awakened from a dream.

Over the past year he has grown younger. The walls he had built began to collapse. He began a journey to an unknown destination. 4 days ago he returned to the sacred place. He looked different; he felt different; and, I like to think, he was different in his core. The place seemed very different. At first he thought that the event had changed; that organizational changes, the weather, or recycling were having dramatic effects. These things did have an effect. The organizers, staff, and community at large, had put together a beautiful, well thought out event. But, the fundamental change was in the observer. The energy that was palpable had been there the years before. Now, he was able to feel it. He can still feel it. Tingling his every fiber. Causing his eyes to tear up from the pure joy of it.

He had to leave in time. Such places can not be visited for too long. The joy, the knowledge, the love needs time to bear fruit within the psyche. He let the hesitation, self doubt, and fear within him pour into the Earth. She absorbed all that he gave. For 3 days, she took him in and let him heal. She taught him so much that it will take time to absorb it. The journey continues. He still has much to learn.

There's far too much to write now. I found paradise. I am not certain how much of it I'm allowed to keep. It wasn't about the yoga, the dancing, the music, the deco, the food, the vistas, the senses... It was the people, the energy, the love, the joy, the beauty. Hundreds of people who showed me only kindness. Hugs, conversations, sharing...

I thank you all. I hope sincerely that I was able to reflect some of the light you gave off. I love you all.

I'm still there... (Originally published on June 30, 2007)

Over the past week, I've looked at photos, read reviews (Thanks Dave), watched video, scanned blogs...

One thing becomes clear. Nothing is ever going to be the same. Something clicked in a little space outside the world. I spent a weekend not knowing if I had poison ivy. Objective reality became less objective.

The border line between the two worlds blurred. The reflection in the mirror shattered. I came back to work and didn't care. I wanted simply to communicate to reach out to those I know and those I love. I could not focus. I put in my time, but my heart wasn't in it.

I was trying to unlock a puzzle. A question that an old part of me would not leave unanswered. Was it real? Was it temporary? Had I simply taken a vacation from reality? At first, I negated the question. The cynic that asked it was in his death throes. I would simply let him die with the question on his lips.

But, to leave a question unanswered is to give it another kind of power. I split the difference. I let time answer for me. The short term results are in. If it was a dream, I have not awoken from it. Artemas, PA exists in the "real world". The costume, strings, yarn, and ribbon are still here. My clothes are still stained. I still own the drum I purchased.

But most of all, my heart is still open. Maybe I did leave my chakras open when I was in a small clearing underneath a dream catcher. I love that chakras is considered misspelled by my browser. It somehow seems so indicative of the world I thought I knew. I do apologize if I did misspell it. I'm very young.

If the tingle that is flowing through me right now is a dream, so be it. If it is something beyond my comprehension, so be it. I know I had only felt it once before during the first 30 years of my life and now it grabs hold of me randomly and fills me to bursting.

I think it's love. Love for everything that I see, everything that I know. Joy wanting to pour forth from every fiber of my being.

Words do not have the power to express what I need to. I wish there was a way to simply hug all of you over the wires. To imbue these 1s and 0s with the energy coursing through me and send it out.

First draft... what do you think? (Originally published on July 6, 2007)

My sister has asked me to read at her wedding. I couldn't possibly borrow someone else's words. Here's what I've come up with so far.

Reflections of another time
Five children seated, laughing
Pure joy
Dozens of chair
Two people standing hand in hand
A sparkle in their eyes
Pure joy
Many roads have brought us here
To witness a beginning
The are well prepared
The road well worn yet new
I look upon them now
The light of the sun at dawn
Full of promise
Powerful yet kind
Love surrounds them
Love pours from them
To simply witness this
Pure joy
I do not know the road
I can offer them no aid
I look into their eyes
They do not need my help
It has been said "two become one"
But I say look upon them
Between them such light
A thousand new beginnings
The two become many
Pure joy
May the world be kind
My time temper this bond
May you ever know
Pure joy