Just so I have it somewhere in my blog history: Level 1 ("Love Is a Miracle") HAI January 26th-28th.
HAI asks that we not talk about the workshop, both to protect the confidentiality of the participants, and because out of the narrative context the exercises of the weekend might lose some of their power.
Having been through several similar workshops, including the incredibly powerful New Warrior (now ManKind Project) weekend back in the spring of 1991, I totally understand.
So what I will talk about: There's an opening hand-on heart/sufi circle exercise, and a "sit opposite a partner and do gentle face touching" exercise, both of which are done in the free intro night. I highly recommend the intro night.
And there is nudity. It's always an option, but whether or not you choose to keep your own clothes on, other people will take their clothes off.
As the weekend started out I had a bit of feeling like "okay, I know what's going on here, I'm doing this to get my ticket punched and get invited to the cool parties", and the exercises were fun, but not mind-blowing. Then, for various reasons, I kinda started feeling like I wasn't connecting with people, until on Sunday morning someone came along and blew my mind.
The tears started Monday, about mid-day. It was a good thing. The weekend was an amazing exercise in limerence and constructed love, and deconstructing that. In understanding that the feeling of being in love can be a conscious choice, and some of the tools to play with that feeling.
On February 9th through the 11th I went to the Couple's Workshop, which was similarly powerful, and has opened up all sorts of avenues for conversation and exercise.
This weekend, February 16th through the 18th, off to the Level 2 workshop.