This past Friday found us near Kansas City, Missouri, at Unity Village’s Awaken Whole Life Center. Suzanne presented five separate modules as part of a three-day, weekend retreat, and Unity Village had graciously offered to host the event at their beautiful, serene campus.
Eighty-four attendees assembled from across the country for the retreat; many had heard Suzanne speak before and wanted a full weekend of Love with her. She started Friday evening with her “Getting Out of the Box” talk to set the stage for what was to follow. 
Saturday morning and afternoon Suzanne got into the details of how to connect with Higher Consciousness, including an extended lesson on meditation. All present got to experience the debut of the meditation Jim Oliver and Suzanne recently recorded together at Jim’s studio in Santa Fe. The excitement during the day was palpable, with many people saying that they had an epiphany…
On Saturday evening, Suzanne had a session with Sanaya that left everyone spellbound. Very few attendees had experienced that energy, and it was a magical evening. That was followed by her Awakened Living workshop Sunday morning with surprises for everyone. The weekend concluded with a unique event. Suzanne had asked that each person bring a twig that day (this tied in with part of the morning’s lesson), and then she led everyone along Unity Village’s labyrinth path to the center (a former Boy Scout who shall go nameless had built a fire in a fire pit), where they deposited their twigs, representing part of their ego self that they were ready to leave behind.
At the end of the twig ceremony, Suzanne shared energy with each attendee by holding hands and saying a few words. Then everyone formed a circle for the final farewell.
I have been to most of Suzanne’s presentations, but this three-day weekend retreat left even me speechless and in awe… The response from all of the attendees was so gratifying that Suzanne has already scheduled another weekend at Unity Village next summer (24-25-26 June 2016).
From Kansas City we drove to Indianapolis, Indiana, where Suzanne would be presenting her Making the Connection talk. We had dinner on Tuesday evening with Rev Bob Uhlig and Rev Carla Golden, the ministers at Unity of Indianapolis. Carla prepared a delicious meal, and we got to know each other well in a couple of hours, with many opportunities to laugh. Bob even brought out their parrot, Joey; Suzanne asked whether Joey ever had an “accident” on his shoulder; Bob smiled and said, “Well, I try to transfer him to a guest’s shoulder before that happens…” (Astute observers may recognize that Carla, Suzanne and Bob are all wearing blue shirts… as was I… with no prior coordination!)
Suzanne’s event the next night was well-received by a full house. Several attendees had driven in from Louisville, Kentucky, and Dayton, Ohio.
My old Battleship IOWA (BB-61) shipmate Master Chief Dale Hilliard and His Lovely Bride Becky also drove down from Laotto, IN, for the event. We were able to have dinner with them the next evening at St. James in Avilla, the oldest restaurant in Indiana. (I asked Suzanne how I would look with an Old Sea Dog beard like Dale’s. She thought about for a minute and said, “Ty, that would not be a good decision.”)
On a more prosaic and somewhat less spiritual note, we were driving down the Interstate, Your Humble Correspondent at the wheel and His Lovely Bride working on her computer, when I said, “Sweetheart, I’m thinking about getting a pair of cowboy boots…” Without lifting her eyes from her computer, she said, “Ty, what are you talking about? You don’t have a horse, and your riding skills are somewhat limited, as I can verify from personal observation a few years ago.” (I thought that was a bit saucy of her, but what can you do?) “Well, My Darling, I think at least I could stop at Chuck’s Boots and try on a pair just to see how they fit and look, don’t you think?” She looked up at me and then out the window and said, “Ty, you are in a world of trouble…” 
6 Comments
Anonymous
I bought my first pair of cowboy boots a few years back. Since meeting Leslie, I have learned much about horses, mules and riding. We enjoy trail riding and watching them interact from our house. I asked her once why she didn't end up with a cowboy. She replied she grew tired to retraining men who thought they knew everything about equine. We went to a western store once and I pointed out how good I would look wearing one of those big, silver belt buckles like some of the pro bull riders have. She gave me one of those looks Suzanne gives you…
Oh well, a guy can dream right?! Brad
Unknown
Oh, Ty! Unseeding the grapes! You have just melted the heart of every woman reading your blog. This is a VERY big deal for us! It's not what you say that matters the most… it's what you do. And you did GOOD!
Ty and Suzanne Giesemann
Brenda, Thanks for kind (and funny) words. I try to keep My Lovely Bride happy, and she did enjoy the grapes. But I am glad that she didn't ask for me to drop them one by one in her mouth as she was reclining on a chaise lounge like Cleopatra… 😉
Ty and Suzanne Giesemann
Brad, Sadly, I have never had a pair of cowboy boots (but the marketing manager for Chuck's has some great ideas). Having spent most of my life at sea or overseas, opportunities for riding were rare. MLB and I went on a trail ride at Bryce Canyon NP, and my horse kept leaning over the cliff edge to browse, making me worry about falling 100 feet with the beast rolling over me a few times… and then I volunteered as a sidewalker at a therapeutic riding facility for kids with cerebral palsy for two years, but retired when Clifford the Horse kicked me just above my left kneecap… Sailboats are much safer, and maybe even cheaper! I like your idea about the big belt buckle, though; they are Way Cool! Live Your Dream!
angeldust
Wow, wow, wow, Ty….what an amazing 3 day retreat! Your pictures capture the "feelings" which must have been palpable by all those attending. This is one for the archives. How high can we go!! 🙂 Lovingly, Gloria
Anonymous
Luckily Ty, she isn't really into Cowboys (or guys with big wads of chew in their mouth)! A sailboat sounds fun but for now I'll stick to my old fishing boat with outboard. Oh, she likes leather goods too – equine tack that is! You see where this could go so will stop here…