Last weekend, two of us from Elevated Existence attended the Omega NYC conference at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Times Square. The event kicked off Friday night with talks by Elizabeth Lesser, co-founder of The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, N.Y., and author of the book “Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow,” and Byron Katie, founder of The Work and author of a number of books, including “Loving What Is.”
The theme of the event – A Time for Renewal – ran throughout the weekend, no matter what workshop a person decided to attend. In addition to a track on “The Gifts of Buddhism and Western Psychology” with Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach and Mark Epstien, attendees could chose from a one and a half day workshop with Byron Katie; Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt; Donna Eden and David Feinstein; Michael Bernard Beckwith and Rickie Byars Beckwitch; Sonia Choquette; or Debbie Ford.
But Friday night was for everyone, and on Saturday night, attendees got a treat with a one-hour event (which stretched a little longer because everyone was having such a good time) with Michael Beckwith and the music of Rickie Byars Beckwith.
Lesser spoke first on Friday evening, addressing the audience about renewal and change, and explaining the importance of “the phoenix process,” which she wrote about in her book “Broken Open,” and how it is important to say “yes” to change.
“We spend so much of our life force resisting change,” she said. “We don’t want our relationships to change … we don’t want to grow old … but at the same time, we long for change.”
Lesser explained the entire world seems to be going through a Phoenix Process right now, and what she has learned is to ask, “What do you want to teach me?” It’s the uncomfortable, sometimes painful feelings, that have things to teach us, she said, explaining how she asked this question when she found herself facing divorce in her early 30s – and learned some of the greatest lessons of her life from it.
She joked that what “cynical types call big crappy experiences, we spiritual types call growth experiences,” but although we know in our hearts we all go through them, we still hide from one another and then end up feeling alone.
Following Lesser, Byron Katie took the stage, and explained to the audience the process she teaches to end suffering – it’s called The Work, and consists of a number of questions to ask ourselves about the thoughts we think and the beliefs we hold. The goal is to realize who we would be without our stories – the one’s we tell others about ourselves and the pain and suffering we’ve endured.
“I haven’t met a thought I haven’t loved in 20 years,” said Katie. “If you want the world to change, question what you are believing, and boom, the world changes.”
Katie took a woman from the audience and went through the process with her – the woman felt betrayed, angry and hurt by a business partner who she blamed for bankrupting their business. The audience watched as Katie walked the woman through The Work process, questioning. Eventually, Katie brought her to peace by making her realize once she took responsibility for the issue, she could resolve it. However, if she waited for the person she believed was at fault to admit it, resolve it or make her feel better, she would probably be waiting a long time.
“If I look to [someone else] as the problem, it isn’t ever going to be solved. I have to start with myself,” said Katie, as she brought the woman to the realization that she was not betrayed by this man – that she, in fact, betrayed herself.
“I knew he exaggerated figures, and I didn’t like him from the beginning,” the woman admitted.
Katie explained she was the one who did the betraying – by betraying herself and her instincts, and not speaking up. He just did what she expected of him from the start.
On Saturday, I attended Sonia Choquette’s workshop – “The Answer is Simple: Love Yourself, Love Your Spirit,” and our editor T Love attended Debbie Ford’s workshop — “Loving Your Shadow.” Read her initial reaction to the conference here.
By the end of the weekend, we were both sad it was over! We learned so much, and can’t wait to share it with you all – but you have to wait for our June 2010 Issue of Elevated Existence! It’s our 2nd Anniversary Issue!
Stay tuned!
Tammy Mastroberte
Founder, Publisher & Editorial Director
Elevated Existence Magazine
www.elevatedexistence.com
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