Thursday, December 17, 2009 We sat in the airport lounge facing each other - my beautiful three children, radiating love, innocence, wisdom, strength, vulnerability, playfulness and joy - grown up and independent yet for ever always I will be their mum.


I am in awe of their beauty and deeply grateful for their presence in my life. Now here they are … the roles reversed from the many times before when we have farewelled them at the airport …saying goodbye to us.

For each of their travels I had embroidered them a badge that they have sewn into their backpacks and my eldest daughter presented us with one each that she had made.  I cried and I laughed.

How did we decide to leave on this journey? What is it all about? Neither Roger nor myself can really remember how it came about. An idea? A conversation that has led us to take a journey for a year visiting family and friends for a year. All of the usual routines gone except of course those that we take with us – our daily yoga practice and looking after ourselves. We have dedicated this year to our spiritual practice which hold with great reverence and joy.

FAREWELL CEREMONY

Before we left Coffs Harbour we held a beautiful gathering of friends – 28 lovely beings including my three children and Roger’s son who was visiting from England. We shared a sumptuous potluck meal brought by everyone and afterwards gathered in the now empty yoga studio downstairs.

We sat in a large circle, some on chairs and the rest sitting on cushions on the floor. One of our friends played the didgeroo, a rich and deep vibrant sound reverberating throughout the room. Some people closed their eyes, everyone quietly listening.  The silence in the room when the music stops is palpable and Roger thanked everyone for coming and for being a great community of friends in all aspects of our lives. He spoke about how we are all on a journey- wherever we are in our lives  - and offered an invitation for us to think about the strengths or qualities we have on this journey, that we embody and hold… and then to contemplate on what quality we may like more of in our journey.  Roger asked that we think of a word for each that we would share in the circle after I have spoken. We sat quietly for a moment to reflect upon this idea.

After the time for reflection I then spoke of our preparation  for this journey – the letting go of all that was familiar and entering into an unknown territory, the surrender, the fear, the uncertainty, the lack of trust, the ease, the comfort….

So much going on … a journey to get to the journey.

I read the poem Ithaka by CP Cavafy and then shared that my greatest quality is the willingness to say yes, and the one I would like to see more in my life is trust. The sharing in the circle was powerful and everyone was deeply moved. There were people aged from 18 to 78 all sharing from their hearts – their strengths and what they wished to see more of in their lives.

One of our friends then invited people to speak what they loved about us – Roger and Wendy – and what they wished for us on our journey. It was heartwarming and affirming. We then closed the ceremony with a song. We had the words printed on a songsheet that we could had out and Dave played the lead on the guitar. We have such a beautiful community of friends – which extends beyond just those that were invited to this evening.  We feel very blessed to be stepping out with such love and support under our wings.

Then upstairs for the sweets from heaven! Roasted peaches and cream!