Centres Gathering: Final Days

I can’t believe that the Gathering is over for another year. We have spent the last two days in intense discussions on topics such as fundraising, marketing, difficulties and delights. I also squeezed in the most amazing Esalen style massage in a beautiful room overlooking the ocean with the waves crashing against the shore. It’s a tough job and someone has to do it. Representatives from more than 20 centres are now on their way home. This year the majority of the centres were from the US, many from California. I didn’t realise quite how many retreat centres there are in this one state. We will be meeting again next year … AT THE HAVEN!!!! We are once again hosting the Gathering and I am looking forward to welcoming the Gathering to The Haven and Gabriola Island. I am staying on for the weekend, co-facilitating a new workshop called ‘A Peek Behind the Scenes’ for people wanting to start their own centre. I am very happy to be working with Tom and Peter from Breitenbush Hot Springs; Cheryl from Esalen; Ralph from the New York Open Center; Christine from Findhorn Foundation. Between us, we calculated that we have over 100 years of personal experience in managing centres, and the centres we represent have been around for more than 200 years! We got off to a good start this evening and I am looking forward to more tomorrow.