Barbara J Hunt offers her experience

Thinking and ApplicationPosted by on

Overall – my expectations for the day didn’t match my experience, even though I had read Gary’s careful preparation materials, which were thorough, authentic and open.

I was expecting to be learning more about constructing/developing a better Integral Life Practice for myself, by doing some practices (I imagined meditation, some subtle and gross body “1 minute” practices, etc.) and picking up some tips and hearing from others about their experience and exploring more about how to keep motivated and balanced in one’s own practice etc.

What I experienced in the workshop was much less specific, but unexpectedly profound and revealing as experiential work always is.

I most appreciated Gary’s authentic leadership, the breadth of his “reach” –  expressly including all four quadrants – in how we were invited to care for the space we were in as well as being mindful of the interrelationships between us and our own interiors as well as our physical bodies.

I felt as if he was holding space for whatever arose in all quadrants and with an eye on as many levels, lines, states etc. as were evident in the room.

It seemed as if the context and space held for the day made it possible for me to be honest with myself about my relationship with the group and to notice what was arising for me during the workshop, which included, for example, revelatory physical experience of contraction and discomfort during the “abandoned/egoic” self exercise.

I also appreciated the opportunity to “play” and have fun whilst still being open to realizations like my preference was during the dancing in pairs and fours with the “pinny bands” that the relationships only felt “real” when there was tension present in the band!!

The whole day seemed to have a natural/coherent flow and this was because of Gary’s presence and response to what was emerging throughout the workshop.  I was inspired by his passion for the material and his enthusiasm and commitment to modelling an Integral approach.

Given that normally one of the “shadows” of the integral philosophy is often that engagement happens primarily through the intellect, it was delightful and satisfying to be able to have an embodied experience of the “theory”.

Thanks you for coming down to the South West, Gary and for so generously giving us your time and wealth of experience.   It was great to meet you and have the opportunity to participate in an experiential integral workshop.

Barbara J Hunt