May-June: The journey continues...

The course from 30th May to 2nd of June was all set to be cancelled. 3 days before the course we had only 5 people (3 people cancelled), and with a heavy heart I typed out an email informing everyone that the course would have to be postponed. This is something I absolutely hate doing (i.e,cancelling a course) since I know how important everyone's time is, and how much they have to rearrange their family lives in order to take 4 days out for themselves. But sometimes it has to be done. So I typed out the email, and before I clicked 'Send', I saw there was a new email waiting in my mailbox. So I decided to read that one first. It was from Veronique (who had signed in Oct which was later cancelled) and she wrote to say that she and her friend Marjorie were going to join us!! (At this point you should have seen the way Steph and I were jumping :)) And the next day, Annie called Steph to say that her son Aurelien will participate too :))

Well, what can I say...God sure loves FUN!!

(From L to R) Aurelien, Veronique, Marjorie, Catherine, Kirsten, Stephane and Sheila

Our group of 8 consisted of Aurelien, the sisters Kirsten and Catherine, Sheila, Hazel, Herve (Hazel's husband), Veronique and Marjorie. This was the quietest group we have had so far...though it had its moments. On the first day of the course, they were told that they would see or do nothing that they had expected to(no yoga, no respiration, no meditation, no stress releasing techniques) ...were they really ready to waste 4 precious days of their lives?? Herve seemed the least bit bothered. His logic..."On any other weekend too, its the same. So why should it bother me?" Talk about leaving your expectations behind:))


On Sunday as usual we took the traditional after lunch Chateau walk, though Hazel and Herve could not join us. Sheila turned out to be quite a botanist, educating us about the various species of trees in the chateau gardens. It was nice to see Kirsten, Catherine and Aurelien, all aged between 17 and 22, participating with such openness and sincerity. In the "off times" they asked questions about the humanitarian work that Art of Living is doing, and expressed a strong desire to do concrete work for the betterment of this planet.

In the English gardens

On the last day, everyone was asked to bring a gift. Stephane, "It could be something you have created, or something you might want to get rid off...:)"


Herve', "Its probably one and the same thing".


This is the last course we did in Centre Alchimie des Sens, 13 rue Guerin. The place is quite dear to us, having brought together so many different people from different walks of life, all searching for something other than a mundane everyday existence. On behalf of all these people I thank Stephanie Coudert for giving us this space, which allowed us to start this fantastic journey inward...