|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Spiritual Retreats
with Paul Ferrini
|
|
|
|
|
Photos and Comments from Vermont Retreat Participants
|
|
|
|
Approximately 40 of us gathered at our mountaintop in Southern Vermont. For the first time, we had almost as many men as women. For all of us this was a milestone, as we continue to move toward a balance of the masculine and feminine energies in the work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Many of the men told us that this was the first time they had shared intimate details of their lives with other men. And many of the women told us that this was the first time in their lives they had felt so safe, free and authentic being in the company of men.
Participants came to the retreat from all over the US, from Australia, the Netherlands, Canada and Germany. Many new and wonderful teachers joined the teacher certification and the spiritual mastery program. It is exciting to see how the work is taking root all over the world.
|
|
|
|
|
I have now attended two of your retreats and both retreats have been a life-changing experience. During the first retreat, I was able to experience the affinity process and for the first time I was able to feel unconditional love and acceptance from others. What an unexplainable experience that was!
Since the first retreat I have grown immeasurably in so many ways. So many wonderful things have happened since the retreat. However, I have still felt that something was still missing that there was something I was still not getting. During the Vermont retreat, I had a profound healing experience. Everything that happened at the retreat was so beautiful and so perfect…my roommates…my affinity buddy…my triggers. In the final sharing at the retreat, I spoke briefly about an experience I had there at the retreat. I would like to share in more detail here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
One evening during the retreat I was triggered by a statement made in the group. When I returned to my room, I was in tears. My beautiful roomie Nsia was already in the room and when she saw me she opened her arms and said, “What’s wrong?” I have never been able to be held by anyone when I was upset…at least not for long. I have always pulled away after a few moments. For the first time in my life that I can remember, I allowed someone to hold me while I cried. As I cried, Nsia talked to me asking “little Rhonda” where the tears were coming from. I saw that occasion in the past where my father had scolded me for trying to climb into his lap while he was spending time with my baby sister. He told me to go outside and play. This happened during the final days I spent with my father before he left and I never saw him again.
|
|
|
|
|
Nsia told me to go outside and talk to little Rhonda. She said, “What would you say to little Rhonda?” I knew that she needed to know that I loved her and that I would never leave her but I couldn’t say it. I could not tell “little Rhonda” that I loved her because I knew that she wouldn’t believe me. I was so tired after the experience that I went to bed. Early that morning I woke up and I finally understood that I had not been able to “hold” myself…I had not been able to truly love myself…because I didn’t even believe “myself” when I said “I love you.” I was not really loving myself. I had been saying the words but I had not believed them.
|
|
|
|
The following morning we had another wonderful discussion about father wounds and mother wounds. Many members of our group were visibly touched by the discussion. Later that afternoon we met in our affinity groups. A member of our group was still upset because of the morning group meeting. I began to pray that Spirit would tell me what to do to help her. I prayed, “Please come through me…I don’t know how to help her.”
|
|
|
|
At that moment, I received the guidance to encircle her in my arms and hold her. We were sitting side by side and I leaned over and held her in my arms. I pulled her close and I said, “It’s ok…Everything is ok. Just let it all out.” And then I realized that as I was holding her, it felt as if I were holding myself. I was holding myself and I was able to truly say to myself, “I love you. I will always be here for you. I will never leave you.” For the first time I really experienced the “oneness.” I truly “know” now in the deepest parts of my being that what we do for ourselves we do for others. I truly understand that it is through loving myself that I can be able to offer love to others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Later that afternoon, that beautiful sister shared with me that she received a healing in that moment…that that was the first time anyone had ever held her in that way…that it was a profound moment for her as well. Thank you Spirit…Thank you for loving me and for helping me to share your love. Thanks Paul for loving us and for all that you do. Namaste, Rhonda
|
|
|
|
Thanks so much for creating the space for all of us who attended the retreat. I appreciate so much the opportunity that was given me to feel safe, loved and accepted unconditionally. It helped me to allow myself to open my own heart to my wounded self and become aware of how I was ashamed of the hurt and heartache that I hide deeply inside myself. I now see me, and have begun to love myself with a much louder "it's okay." This tiny little phrase has helped me to relax and write these words of gratitude to you right now. I am moving beyond the shame and for this I am so grateful. Karen
|
|
|
|
|
|
This was a transformative experience, not a growth experience. It saved me 7 years of psychotherapy and 15,000 dollars in psychologist fees. See what love can do! Jim
|
|
|
|
Never before have I felt so clearly the love energy with other people as at the Vermont retreat. The affinity process there had a very healing effect. I feel privileged to have participated in this retreat and to have shared with other people the healing moments of grace! It is all about giving each other the space to be who we really are, really listening to each other from heart!
Really, Paul the energy around and in your message so much resonates with me....my heart is beating with the love of life. I am looking forward to meeting again at the retreat in Florida. At the same time I realize that I have to take action to share the message. I do this already at my wonderful 'evenings of inspiration'....where I share love and light with other people!
But I will start up an affinity group too ......next week. Just before the retreat in Vermont I started reading your book 'The Ecstatic Moment (in Dutch: Volmaakt in het NU)....and in there I found the translated guidelines of the affinity process..great because I will have the guidelines in Dutch. So there is no single reason not to start up. I deeply feel committed to spread the message of healing.
As a trainer I did a training teambuilding last week with harbourlabourers of Rotterdam ( big city in the Netherlands, biggest harbour of the world)). This group of leaders, were deeply touched by the energy which came into the group while talking and sharing about love and listening to each other without judgment! It was the same energy I felt in Vermont! So great to experience! So dear Paul, I think I am on the edge of a totally new life....stepping into the room without fear, and sharing this wonderful love energy with other people. Jaap
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you for a truly extraordinary retreat. Alex and I went from Vermont and the heart-centered retreat to the frenzy of Manhattan and a Publicity Summit with top media from TV, print & radio. What a contrast! It was amazing to witness how everyone seemed to receive what they asked for at the retreat. For example, I asked to learn how to channel the loving energy of Christ consciousness more continually, and you gave me that gift. Alex asked to learn how to release judgment and the Affinity process gave him that gift. Martha asked to overcome her fear of performing in public, and the entire group gave her that gift--and she gave us the gift of her amazing musical talent.
|
|
|
|
|
You created a sacred space of love without conditions, and that quickened everyone's core issues, allowing them to be brought up to the light of consciousness and healed. At first, I was astonished to see "problems" transformed into blessings. By the end of the retreat, I expected it.
You're quite the powerful alchemist--transforming suffering into enlightenment. Thank you for being the catalyst bringing so much to so many. I look forward to seeing you again at future retreats. In the meantime, I'll be spreading the word! Love & light, Aurora
|
|
|
|
Photos and Comments from Florida Retreat Participants
|
|
|
|
Having been on my spiritual path for over 20 years, there really didn’t seem like there could be anything “new” out there. Yet I have been a follower of Paul’s books for years and since he said he was experiencing something new and wanted to share it, I wanted to be open to feeling what that might be. And oh what a feeling it is! What an incredible gift was experienced in being immersed in a heart based experience for 3 days. I went to the retreat hoping to be able to bathe in the same heart glow, extremity tingling feeling I had experienced from the newsletters and I was not disappointed. The retreat was all that and more. It was a connection to and understanding of this beautiful divine energy. It was an invitation to expand to hold the energy long past the retreat and it was an opportunity to meet and share an experience with the most amazing people I now have the pleasure to call friends. Lyn
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
When I read Paul’s first email newsletter, I felt my body was ‘burning’ from inside and sweat was pouring out of my hands. At that moment there was a knowing inside of me that said “This is a very special message!” Reading further my eyes were filled with tears and I knew I had to answer the call. So, I accepted the invitation to join the gathering in Florida in January.
Two days before our flight I got very ill. I had fever, terrible headache (every bone in my head was hurting me), I was sick in my stomach and had so much pain in my chest I had to cough constantly. But I just told myself, don’t panic, just have confidence that everything is perfect. This has to be a kind of purification. And then the night before our flight to Florida, the miracle happened. The headache and the sickening in my stomach were gone, and I felt I was able to travel now.
During our stay at the gathering I had such wonderful meetings/experiences with all of the participants. I knew and felt we were old soulmates coming now together to do our work. With some of the group I had such a profound connection that I cried for happiness.
The private sessions I had with Paul and Debbie helped me to open/soften the block that was still in my chest. Now at home I still feel the after-effects of the energy in my chest as a soft tingling/pulsing. I also feel the energy is still working in my body as it further descends and fills every cell with love and understanding. Friends meeting me after the retreat perceive a deeper knowing in me and I find a kind of wisdom coming through me that I did not know that I had. Wow! I feel so blessed. Will
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
At this point I feel that something of a miracle has occurred for me ..... I have returned to Calgary and have managed to stay completely in a state of surrender and living in my heart for going on 5 days now.... and I haven't been hiding out to maintain that either, for some reason I felt ready to jump back into life with a whole new energy I had not been feeling for awhile.
I have reconnected telepathically as I used to be, and since my return all I need to do is think about someone, ie think about calling them, and they call me before I get a chance to ...... it happened 6 times with 6 different people! I love being back in the flow! This morning I awoke early to do my communion with God breath work, followed by my yoga routine, and then a guided meditation by my yoga teacher, Rama. I was blown away that I was hearing her words with what seemed to be a whole new set of ears. I have done that meditation 100's of times, and it sounded like I was listening to an entirely different tape.
I don't know exactly how to put it into words, but it seems that for lack of a better way of saying it, that somehow I have learned to be with MYSELF in a completely different way, and with that knowingness I went into the shower and gave myself a body scrub and rather than being the usual physical body scrub, it turned into an ecstatic experience of feeling myself nurturing myself. I believe the info online suggested that the retreat could or would raise our vibrations up a couple of notches ...... it seems to me that was definitely delivered. Bernadette
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
The photos above were taken at recent retreats by Kea Maltby and Rhonda Powell.
|
|
