Saturday, May 19, 2012

Kalikalos Spring workcamp Day 2

Here we are 11 folk from 7 countries, gathered together to get the Kalikalos Centre ready for its 9th season of workshops, retreats and seminars. We’ve all come here for different reasons; or perhaps the same, really.

This year the theme so far seems to be the year of transit—passage to somewhere, place unknown. We have quite a few people who are feeling ‘homeless.’ They are changing jobs, partners, locations and contemplating what’s next for them. So, the theme emerges.

Julia from Berlin came here with 18 month Sonja to seek a life where she could work, learn how to build a yurt and have support with Sonja. Vicar Geoff, 66 years old, is in the process of retiring from a life as a minster. He’s not sure what’s next. But he brings good cheer and his face lights up when he talks about the garden and when he’s digging in the soil.

Sophia is in transition, parting from her marriage and starting a new adventure—her path is unclear just now. With her background being French, Egyptian, Armenian and Greek, Sophia is our storyteller, her beautiful French accent telling us about her past, the history of Greece and so much more. 

Each person has a beautiful role. Ting from Taiwan sometimes doens't feel like she contributes anything, yet to the rest of us she is the one who sees what needs to be done, and quietly lends a hand, cleaning, cooking and picking up the loose ends, an invaluable role.

Tonight as we finished dinner Florian, from Toulouse, played the guitar and sang softly, music drifting gracefully under this lovely Greek sky high in the mountains. Florian is our musician and leader on hikes to the waterfall and around the Pelion. Meanwhile, we are enchanted as Sonja danced to his music, her movements in perfect harmony to the beat. This reminded us that a lot of things babies know naturally and we are trying to relearn!

Gary is from South Africa, soon to turn fifty, and thinking he might be ready to settle down after a lifetime of wandering and searching. He’s here for the month of May to work, and through that he discovers things about himself. Gary's engaging in the natural self-awareness that happens inevitably when one is consciously in community. At our first meeting he spoke about how we see ourselves mirrored in those around us. Just by the act of being together, we learn. Our irritations are our teachers he says and he’s here to learn!

Johnny from Wyoming gets so excited by the new people he’s just meant and already loves, he’s spent these first two days jumping in excitement.

At least three people looking for a new home, a feel of permanence, a sense of place. We all came here because we wanted more, more self possession, awareness and more connection.

The second day in and most of us may not be able to exactly articulate what we want. We are here to trust the process. We are dedicated to trusting that the result will be what we need, even if we don’t yet know what it is.

Today at the sea the water was all embracing. We look for community to surround us like the sea. The sea which teaches us by just being what it is; we all came here to be who we are, yet surrounded by others. We look for the community to surround us like the sea, to teach us, to show us our resistance, our beauty, our shadow, to support us and heal us.

We come with our own issues, concerns, questions and longings. But deep down we will leave transformed. How will that look and feel? It’s only the second day—give us some time. The community changes us, we can already feel it or maybe it brings out more of who we are already, both shadow and light. Kalikalos brings this to us, this transformation, and tons of natural beauty along with it.

A sunrise and sunset overlooking the sea, sure we’ve got it. Lush tree covered mountains, a waterfall, a natural spring. It’s here and we are here blessed to be a part of such a wonderful project. We'll look forward to letting you know how it all unfolds.

Karrie K, Iowa, USA

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