There have been many expressions of gratitude for the AUM, and I must include my own. For me as for others, it was an incredible experience; one reason was that so many people added to the richness and integrality of the event.
It was marvelous to see the outpouring of contributions, from the “Rocky Mountain Hi” postcards, gift packets, printed aphorisms, photo gallery, and blog entries to the tie-dye blankets and twinkly lights decorating the Rink, percussion instruments appearing as if from nowhere, altars, amazing fruit mandala, financial donations, and many other spontaneous offerings.
To the cheerful volunteers: your help was invaluable in driving vans, greeting people the first day, preparing tea, leading basketball and volleyball games, assisting with book sales, coordinating the dorms, setting up equipment, overseeing the fire pit, ferrying passengers to Rocky Mountain National Park, organizing sack lunches, and cleaning up and packing on the last day.
All this, along with art and energy workshops, movement activities, group discussions, slide shows, heart-to-heart conversations about life and yoga, collaboration on the collage and Matrimandir jigsaw puzzle … plus numerous meditations and Savitri readings, mountain hikes, videos, campfire singing, an AUM choir, a kirtan, a square dance, blues/jazz guitar and hip-hop performances, a drum circle, a spiral closing dance –
All this, as I say, brought forth an inexhaustible multiplicity of creativity and delight.
Moreover, it was wonderful to see so many new faces. To those for whom this AUM was the first, your presence was deeply appreciated. You brought fresh insight and energy to us all.
Finally, on behalf of the entire AUM body, I’d like to offer infinite thanks and appreciation to Dave Hutchinson. Paula Murphy and I both worked with him on the vision and implementation of AUM, but Dave labored tirelessly as AUM project manager, and over the course of the past year did the work of 10 individuals.
Needless to say, each person who attended provided an essential component to the AUM complexity, fueling the aspiration and goodwill that turned the gathering into a communion. Toward midnight on the last night I heard one individual say, “This AUM manifested a new kind of collaborative spirituality and collective consciousness.” The thought made me shiver: a new possibility seemed to be emerging.
Each AUM is different, and each AUM gives new understanding. For me, this AUM seemed to rain (snow?) down the most complete experience of integrality in sadhana I’ve had to date. It brought receptivity into the vital/physical parts of my nature and a stronger emergence of the inmost being. This, in turn, has resulted in a bright, dancing hope for the future, a faith in divine guidance, and a new sense of yogic purpose.
At any rate, to bring this long note to a close … thank you again, everyone and all, for an extraordinary week of harmony, unity, and mutuality.
