Ojai

Attending a gathering of Council trainers this weekend at the Ojai Foundation. Enjoying the land and the people, the place is full of loving, respectful authentic folks, Thich Nhat Hahn started his US presence here, Krishnamurti was invited to this land to become the new Messiah by Annie Bessant, president of the worldwide theosophical society for 25 years and his followers. Dr. Bessant purchased 500 acres in the Upper Ojai Valley to establish an educational center that would nurture spiritual, artistic and intellectual growth as well as physical and mental well-being. Krishnamurti refused the role of Messiah, preferring to remain a mere mortal, though during WWII he and an unusual coalition of idealists, including Robert Logan, Louis Zalk, the Rajagopals, Aldous Huxley, and Dr. Guido Ferrando gathered in Ojai. They incorporated Annie Besant’s educational concepts into the core philosophy of the Happy Valley School (now called the Besant Hill School of Happy Valley), which we are looking down on from our perch on the ridge. Gigi is one of the early founders here and it has been incredible to see her impact on this culture and the story of this incredible place.

Had a good Skype with the folks this morning. Therma rest sleeping pad popped last night, little sleep, set up tent near the Deep Kiva at Ojai, Emilia feeling a bit whelmed by California-ness of one of the facilitators replete with tie dyed body suit, dangly earings, straw hat and photosensitive glasses, the small back packer guitar pumping out vintage 60's tunes that no-one has ever heard recorded because they've been passed down the groove train, but I feel that if this is Hippie NexGen, then these are the Super Hippies, this crowd, their authenticity in love and respect outweighing the gawkyness (sometimes) of the delivery. They call themselves the '(r)evolutionaries', the professors of new science, new evolutionary spirituality, emergent processes and the notion of supervenience. the The new ED of the Ojai Foundation is young William, Southern Boy, in his position only 3-4 months, and as of 2 weeks ago the last of the Old Guard has left the land. Big transition time, the new young staff not skilled in Council, the old ones moving on with some wincing as the ways change, but 8000 school kids in LA are meeting in Council every week, incredible! Emilia just returned from the sweat lodge, a gallon of water lighter and a little shaky, but her fear is dead. A-ho.