Re: You're invited . . .

[Eric Lilius]

Barry Owen wrote:
>
> You're invited . . .
>
> Growing Our Now*
> A Journey in Open Space
> Beyond Our Times
>
> The Millennium is a joke. Indeed the truly funny part is that we in the West
> take it so seriously. In fact, we (in the West) can’t even get the story
> right. January 1, 2000 does not initiate the Millennium. That actually takes
> place a year later. So why all the fuss? What’s the point?
>
> The point may well be that once again we are shooting ourselves in the
> foot – confusing OUR time with THE Time. Could it not be that OUR time is
> but one further example of our need for control and a pathetic reminder that
> we don’t have it and cannot gain it?
>
> Our time. Our space. My time. My space. Things we struggle for, and
> sometimes die for. But at the end of the day, do we really own any of it?
> Perhaps it just a figment of our imagination, powerful to be sure, and
> occasionally useful? But a figment for all of that.
>
> What we truly have – all of us in every part of the planet and all beings in
> the cosmos beyond – is Now. Time and Space divide. Now unites. Nobody owns
> it, and truthfully, Now is all there is. We are quite clear that the past is
> over and the future hasn’t happened yet. What we have is Now. And how big is
> now? Your Now, My Now. Our Now?
>
> Some of us, and probably most of us some of the time, have very skinny
> little nows. We struggle constantly to fit everything in. And the more we
> struggle the smaller now becomes. Things just don’t fit, and Time Management
> is a exercise in futility.
>
> Simplifying our lives is certainly a possibility. If only we could eliminate
> all those “must dos” – and truthfully, how many of them are really
> essential?
>
> There is an alternative. Why not grow Now?
>
> Barry and I invite you to join us, along with friends and colleagues who may
> become friends, to explore the possibilities, and maybe even realize some
> results – a growing Now. There is no magic formula, nor secret path. It is
> really all about becoming what we already are. Creatures in the now (and
> here) limited only by our willingness to expand our awareness.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Harrison and Barry Owen
>
>  THE PLAN: The Plan, like the Millennium, is a joke, for there is no plan,
> only a journey, with a beginning and an end. And perhaps there was no
> beginning nor will there be an end – but all of that will be a matter of
> discovery.
>
> The journey will start in the evening with a guided meditation created by
> Harrison and Michael Jones, a pianist who records for NARADA. If we can
> persuade Michael to come we could do it for “real,” but carrying a concert
> grand is a little much, so we will rely on the magic of the NARADA engineers
> and an exquisite CD. The title is the title of our gathering, and
> collectively we will explore our individual and collective sense of a
> growing Now.
>
> For the next two and a half days, we will be in Open Space exploring
> whatever has heart and meaning for each of us and all of us. There will be
> no featured speakers, panels or proceedings. Just us, and for sure whoever
> comes will be the right people. From the deep resources of those who gather
> a rich fabric of meaning will emerge. It always does. Please join us.
>
> PRACTICALITIES
>
> Dates: November 15-18, 1999 (reserve room for 15,16,17)
>
> Place: Twin Pines Resort & Conference Center - Just South of Birmingham,
> Alabama
> Phone: 205-672-7575   Fax: 205-672-2103   Website:
> "http://twinpinesresort.com/";
> Space is limited to the first 40 rooms only.
>
> Costs:
> Room, all meals, and all conference facilities - Single Occupancy:
> $129.91/person/night
> Double Occupancy: $116.82/person/night
>
> Conference Fee: We are asking $100 to cover expenses, but if that is more
> than you can handle, pay what you can.
>
> Reservations and Registration: Please make your reservations directly with
> the conference center (Phone: 205-672-7575). Send your conference fee and
> registration to:
> Barry Owen-The Owen Group / 5518 Kendall Drive / Nashville, TN 37209
> Phone: 615-356-2888  Fax: 615-263-4848  Email: bar...@home.com
>
> Full Participation: This gathering will not work for “drop-ins” So please
> plan to come for the whole thing. That is the only way you can receive full
> benefit of the gifts of your fellow colleagues, and for sure it is the only
> way they can benefit fully from you.
>
> Cancellations: In the event that your plans change please let Barry know as
> soon as possible. 50% of your conference fee will be refunded up 30 days
> prior to the conference.
>
>  The title of this gathering, Growing Our Now was first used (with
> modification) 4 years ago for a conference sponsored by Harrison and Anne
> Stadler. That conference was a unique, once done, and never to be repeated
> occasion. So this is not a sequel – or even the second annual. But we
> anticipate that it will be no less remarkable. Subsequent to that
> conference, Harrison published a book, Expanding Our Now
> (Berrett-Koehler\1997), and created the CD with Michael Jones. The
> similarities in titles and the fact that Harrison is involved with this
> gathering is probably not coincidental, nor is it particularly significant.
>
> ****************************************************************************
> *
> Registration Form
> Growing Our Now / November 15-18
>
> Name……………………………………………………………………………………………….
>
> Address…………………………………………………………………………………………….
>
> ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
>
> ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
>
> Telephone…………………………….Email……………………………………………………..
>
> Registration Fee ($100) (____)
> Room reservation made with Twin Pines Resort (____)
>
> SEND TO: Barry Owen / The Owen Group / 5518 Kendall Drive./ Nashville / TN /
> 37209
> Make check payable to Barry Owen-The Owen Group in US dollars and drawn on
> any US bank.
> Phone (615)356-2888   Fax (615) 263-4848   Email bar...@home.com
>
> Barry Owen
> The Owen Group
> 5518 Kendall Drive
> Nashville, TN 37209
> Phone 615-356-2888
>
> Simply living the FourFold Way in Open Space
>
> My Worldwide Open Space Web-site:
>
> "http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/9215/";

--
Eric Lilius
Box 940
Minden, Ontario, Canada
K0M 2K0
email:elil...@halhinet.on.ca
ph:     705-286-2484
fax:    705-286-1911

"It is not possible to awaken someone who is
pretending to be asleep."
                                Yagmur Denizhan