Here is some of the feedback we received from participants of the recent workshop:

 "Dare I Dream?... Yes!"
Palm Springs, California
February 23 & 24, 2008

Newcomers' Feedback
General Feedback

From Newcomers

The workshop had a special significance to me. I had experienced an extreme emotional change in life and was feeling energetically at a standstill. I couldn't move on to a more productive level of consciousness-maybe because of an extreme sense of sadness or the feeling of emptiness with the shattering of old dreams or the lack of courage to start anew once again. Or maybe all of the above mentioned. I was wanting and needing to let go and move on. I was in the disheartened mode and with difficulty to transform the experience and follow a new path, a new dream.

I will need time to assimilate all, as it was very intense for me as a beginner. I felt I gained a few tools to work on dreaming the new dream. The workshop was a moment to stop and dig into myself and have the time for it, without feeling guilty: guilty of thinking and working for… me. I was in an almost meditative state of mind, a really good place to be. It helped me put feelings into perspective and extend them forward. At first I did have difficulty in separating my dreams with that of dreaming loved ones forward-the moment I decided I could dream us all together, I let go and as my witness said : I lit up. But in order for me to be good for others and with others, I have to be good to myself-definitely, a Yes moment.

I loved the tribal mood to the magical passes, it helped me get into a type of primal form of performance and it felt good. The breathing exercises were vital to get into that mode. I was lucky to have a great witness. I found so much of myself in him, we were able to understand each other and connect very fast. Going back into my past and digging out long-ago events that affected me both in the 'no' and 'yes' moments were revealing and relevant in dreaming forward: the process of trying to get down to the essence of my being. The shedding of the old skin was intense-getting it out felt light and renewing. The "acknowledging of my energetic essence", which is what attracted me to the workshop, can happen only in a daily practice, and with a lot of discipline. When I wake up every day, I feel I have to start it all over again.

On my long journey home yesterday, I started reading Tolle's A New Earth where he says: "Even a stone…could show you the way back to God, to The source, to yourself…let it be without imposing a mental label…a sense of awe, of wonder arises within you. Its essence silently communicates itself to you and reflects your own essence back to you." There are many ways to go after our energetic essence, but a great beginning is the awareness of it all…and that is where the workshop came in: opening my conscience and giving me tools to believe in my new dreams.

It is hard to underestimate how much of an impact Castaneda's later work has had on me. It has been years since I first wanted to attend one of your seminars, so I was rather in awe of the whole thing. I found the anecdotes about your earlier experiences inspiring and your talks on recapitulation and dreaming to be enlightening. I said I wanted immersion in the magical passes and I must admit it was more in depth than I would have imagined with the mixture of passes, visualizations, and interaction.

Overall, the event had a feeling of a fun get-together with people I grew to enjoy even though I didn't even meet most of them. Since I got home I've been rather fascinated at how easy and invigorating the passes are to practice now. Generally speaking though, I missed the seminar as soon as I walked out the door and have rather been wishing it had gone on longer. Anyways, I want to go to the next seminar in Colorado and plan to stand by as if I'm bidding at auction to reserve my place.

In response to the five most important things on my list of "What do I dream, long for, and my hearts desire"

Because this has to do with dreaming instead of nightmaring, my response is
1.) To experience the true meaning of the word love.
2.) To experience the mystery of life for what life was intended for.
3.) To obtain a means for survival
4.) To experience what a true sense of purpose really means.
5.) To become healthy financially, with nature, with my human life force so that I may act impeccably.

My excuses are related to my nightmares, The body position is head down, slouched posture, basic clumsiness.

A brief summary from my past as to origination: I was taking dance lessons from a trained ballerina from a family of beautiful women up the street when I was not yet ten. Denise charged me a quarter a lesson. One day after only a few lessons, my mother said I could no longer have a quarter-she could not afford it. Denise went on to play with the other successful dance kids, my leg went bad, and that was the end of it.

I cross my leg to hide it. I now sit with both feet on the ground. I fear discomfort. I calm the scene and breath. My feet are cold-I lift my chin-relax shoulders. I recap windsurfing on a lagoon holding the sail for the wind and enjoying the moment.
Brief summary mixture. Past and current moments of Yes
1.) I got a hula skirt and a kimono to perform in third grade dances. I glided with tensegrity. I like to move to the rhythm. It feels good to try and dance with others after all these years.
2.) When I was a teen before the movement of the eighties took a huge stronghold, I was interested in nutrition. I get introduced to (some vitamin) supplements for work. I say "what is the difference between a scam and a real job anyway? And although they all look scrubbed in a funny way to me with their windsor ties, who is to say there is not something to learn? I actually think I like the products. I forgot to drink coffee this morning. Its the first time in virtually years. Well I think I might like it. I check my body position for any amped up or untightness. I feel clearheaded and no longer want to sleep my life away.
3.) Different groups of people don't want me around. I droop and fall to despondency-my deepest wound origins-I accept my fate-I accept to let go where I do not want and where others do not want. For once I feel curiosity in a new way. I proceed with self healing practices like acupunture to assist in accessing the memories of patterns. I practise relaxing my shoulders and my breathing exercises.

Common line or theme: In order to know others I must know myself.

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