Well, I have to admit, I had lost count. I just went over our records, and, since my first Introductory Workshop in August, 2006, I have attended a total of 26 Intro workshops.  That doesn't include the Advanced Workshops or the Retreats.

And, before you conclude that I must be a VERY slow learner, let me hasten to assure you that most of those workshops were attended under the guise of "Mary's Hope employee"!

However, while I am scurrying around getting people registered, setting up snacks, praying for participants, fetching props and selling resources, I am also listening to the presentation and the discussions.

"Why?", you may ask.  "Haven't you got it memorized by now???"

Well, the truth is, this spiritual healing journey is ongoing, and  each step I take brings me to a place where I am ready to hear something I was unable to hear before.

One time, early on, I told Diane and Sherry that their presentation on the workings of the brain didn't make sense to me, and they ought to revise it.  They nodded.

Some time later, I attended another workshop, and, as we were driving home, I remarked, "I really like what you did to that brain part.  It was much more understandable."

Sherry and Diane looked at each other, then replied, "We didn't change a thing."

Huh.

I guess I had progressed a little further along the path, and was finally ready to understand that part of the presentation.

Another time, in 2010, during the discussion of tools for healing...someone mentioned bodywork...including massage. For the first time ever at these workshops, I had a visceral response to the discussion of this tool. I wanted to stand on the table and scream, "SHUT UP!!!!!"  (I restrained myself...)

Now, I know that we talk about bodywork at every workshop, so why this reaction, this time? I had apparently not been ready to deal with this tool previously, so I had conveniently blocked it out.  This time, I was ready to start dealing with the possibility of working on my physical dissociation issues ~ but my inner child wasn't thrilled about the concept, hence her not-so-grown-up response!

It took me about a year to screw up the courage to actually go get a massage, but it did happen, and now I go twice a month, and as a result, much healing has occurred...

These are just two examples of why I still listen in workshops....and why I encourage you to consider coming again if you have already attended one workshop....or coming this time if you haven't.

Sherry says our spiritual healing is the hardest work we'll ever do.

I agree, and add,  "AND IT IS SOOOOO WORTH IT!!!!