Northeast
Profound Journey Dialog©
Report
March 6-7, 2009
CYO Retreat Center, NYC Metro, Kearny, NJ
a four-session dialog about our profound journeys
Session 1: Friday evening – Way Life Is
… dialog about real life and our relationship to mystery at its heart
Session 2: Saturday morning – Transforming Events and Story
… dialog about life-changing events and an empowering story to live by
... luncheon solitary reflection with a Daily Spirit Journal volume
Session 3: Saturday afternoon – Responsible Freedom
… dialog about responsible decision-making
Session 4: Saturday evening – Big Context of Care
… dialog about living on behalf of
Personal, small-group, and total group dialog will happen throughout the four sessions, using multiple methods. Dialoging about the deep dimensions of our journeys can be exhilarating, intense, transforming, and celebrative.Flow of Each Session
Meal dialog … journey conversations
Foundation talk … each with a journey symbol
Wisdom page … for reflection and dialog
Profound exercise … physical exercise with a plus
Personal grounding … written personal experiences
Huddle dialog … with 5-6 (voted key by participants)
Group musing … sharing the wisdom of the huddles
Secular ritual … celebrating the profound journey
Participant Endorsements
The NE PJD exceeded my expectations! I intend to attend another. While each may be the same in some ways, the huddle groups insure that every event is also unique.... I feel empowered to become more pro-active. After this event I know I can make a difference immediately. ~Elizabeth Engleman, First Unitarian Church, Pittsburgh, PA
Today, hopeful and deep conversations about the profound journey are both practical, possible, and sorely needed. I can imagine using this particular seminar throughout our network – local, national and global. ~Lisel Burns (NY) National Congress of Neighborhood Women; National Leaders Council American Ethical Union
Great job on reworking this material. Well thought through and user friendly. The weekend went like a breeze and brought fresh air into the consciousness of all. Regardless of creed, these are profound understandings we need to hold in our awareness on this journey of care. ~Robert True, M.D., NJ
I spent half my time thinking of friends in Appalachia that would find so much encouragement and energy for their work if they were here. I hope we can set up a PJD there. It is important to have clarity on the way we contribute to the movements of today. This event will carry me many a mile. ~Marie Cirillo, TN
Yes, the life dynamics and the symbols of four sections of RS1 are there - come to life in a new way at this time of new crises, new movemental stirrings.... I want to help as needed, because I feel this event is a profound gift to the future.... I was addressed by ... the life I saw coming from/through everyone there.... The PJD gave me the possibility of direction for changes I have been mulling for some time.... And now you are building a team – count me in. ~Janice Ulangca, faith/justice volunteer, NY
The profound journey of late is a walk I have been walking, stumbling, sleeping through. These 28 hours have reawakened me to get on to the end of this century (mine, that is). Humankind needs this event. ~Robert Griffin, MA
I’ve had a real enlightenment during this event and realize I’m on a profound journey. Grace is running through this group. ~Angela Simmons, writer, NY
A gift of empowerment. You helped me to look at the life-changing events of my life and how my choices in response have been led by a deep and profound grace that I can trust now and into the future. I am energized! ~Susan Davis, UMC minister, NY
In these times, a very special way to rehearse the way life is. How do I now expend my life in a meaningful way to rebuild our collective future? …We all put all we had into setting up this PJD and bringing it off. As always, life nurtures us. Thank you for continuing to make the bold decision to lead these events.
~Sandra True, coordinator, ICA-USA VP, NJ
If you are at a questioning period in your life journey, this is the place to be. Review, resolve, rejoice – step up and step out. ~Amy Fleming, social justice minister, NY
In just over 24 hours, you can give yourself the gift of re-experiencing and reflecting on your profound journey. ~anonymous
This journey was a relief for me. At the PJD I found out I am no longer alone -- before I came, I felt I did not have a group that had my same thoughts and feelings. I am accepted. ~Sonya Flynn, teacher, PA
The weekend has re-connected and refreshed me in so many ways. I felt like I was back home again; can a grace experience last 24 hours? Absolutely. When we launched our 35th training group on Monday, I felt my heritage and my colleagues more closely with me than ever before. ~Susan Craver, Training Futures, VA
The importance for me was activity, participation and dialog. The skillful format and methods enabled me to envision a journey to care for the earth community. ~anonymous
A great opportunity to get my bearings and be in touch again with the essence of life. ~Lois Saboe, consultant, PA
The group accepted and affirmed me in ways that surprised me. I am grateful! Namaste! ~Tasha Paley, NY
This weekend has been a clarification of many questions I have been struggling with. It truly has been a grace event for me. ~anonymous
You have a gift of deepening one’s understanding and motivating us to use our gift responsibly as a social pioneer at this time. ~Muriel Griffin, MA
In such a short time together there is the contextual framework for a lifetime of significant living and the basis for profound self-care. ~anonymous
Sundry Comments
•Addressed by the packaging of profundity.
Addressed by the packaging of profundity.•Experienced the feeling of being connected.
Experienced the feeling of being connected.•Appreciated the scope from the cosmic to the personal.
Appreciated the scope from the cosmic to the personal.•Poetry writing and sharing with total group was delightful.
Poetry writing and sharing with total group was delightful.•The huddle groups the highlight for me.
The huddle groups the highlight for me.•The four sessions’ wall banners were a powerful presence.
The four sessions’ wall banners were a powerful presence.•It was food for the soul.
It was food for the soul.•The noontime solitary time with John’s book of reflections was just right.
The noontime solitary time with John’s book of reflections was just right. Surprised reading the quote on my birth date.•About consciously deciding what my life will be spent for.
About consciously deciding what my life will be spent for.•Finally found someone who's talking about the questions I have.
Finally found someone who's talking about the questions I have.•“Can’t engineer grace but can be more intentionally attuned.”
“Can’t engineer grace but can be more intentionally attuned.”•I’m giving a scholarship to my minister to attend the Chicago PJD in April.
I’m giving a scholarship to my minister to attend the Chicago PJD in April.•Edge of Session 3 seems to be the indicative of obligation and freedom.
Edge of Session 3 seems to be the indicative of obligation and freedom. Can’t imagine yet the joy of being totally obligated.•Since I’ve not been a pioneer yet, I asked how to be one.
Since I’ve not been a pioneer yet, I asked how to be one.•The poetry readings were profound.
The poetry readings were profound.•The big dream story set off thinking about my own revelatory dreams.
The big dream story set off thinking about my own revelatory dreams.•The low fees made it possible to bring four folks from our network.
The low fees made it possible to bring four folks from our network.•Profound images and examples.
Profound images and examples.•The big context was awesome.
The big context was awesome.•A shorter, simpler, more secular design of RS-I without loss of depth.
A shorter, simpler, more secular design of RS-I without loss of depth.•Would be good training for trainers to build teams.
Would be good training for trainers to build teams.•The huge gift of yourselves (guides) made the weekend meaningful for me.
The huge gift of yourselves (guides) made the weekend meaningful for me.•Emphasis on interior change as well as social and ecological change.
Emphasis on interior change as well as social and ecological change.•I hope more young adults will attend.
I hope more young adults will attend.•Got to get my son to the Chicago PJD.
Got to get my son to the Chicago PJD.•I liked the organization, clarity of presentations, discussion and reflection.
I liked the organization, clarity of presentations, discussion and reflection.•The guides were open to our questions.
The guides were open to our questions.•Connects your own life of meaning to how you can affect the larger world.
Connects your own life of meaning to how you can affect the larger world.•Never before had been pushed to consider my real relationship to life.
Never before had been pushed to consider my real relationship to life.•The PowerPoint really worked well.
The PowerPoint really worked well.•So great to meet new colleagues on the same journey.
So great to meet new colleagues on the same journey.•Appreciated the humor throughout.
Appreciated the humor throughout.•Time design comfortable, not too fast, not too slow.
Time design comfortable, not too fast, not too slow.•PJD gives language to articulate depth spirit issues.
PJD gives language to articulate depth spirit issues.•Encouragement and courage to do what’s needed in the church.
Encouragement and courage to do what’s needed in the church.•Learning of participants’ care for the world and their deep commitment.
Learning of participants’ care for the world and their deep commitment.•The three guides and two coordinators worked well together.
The three guides and two coordinators worked well together.•Reflection on my life choices is very helpful as I am planning my future.
Reflection on my life choices is very helpful as I am planning my future.•Great to be with thinking, alive people who question and risk.
Great to be with thinking, alive people who question and risk.•A “jumpstart” for profound living … again.
A “jumpstart” for profound living … again.•Loved the singing. Wished there’d been more.
Loved the singing. Wished there’d been more.•Full participation is assumed.
Full participation is assumed.•Interlude slide shows reminded of the beauty of Earth and human richness.
Interlude slide shows reminded of the beauty of Earth and human richness.•Helps you listen to the voice within.
Helps you listen to the voice within.•I deeply appreciated knowing I’m accepted and being accepted.
I deeply appreciated knowing I’m accepted and being accepted.•Important to plumb the deeps of the mundane as well as the big stories.
Important to plumb the deeps of the mundane as well as the big stories.•Last lecture masterful combination of so much.
Last lecture masterful combination of so much.•Out of this one at least 3 more PJDs are being seriously considered.
Out of this one at least 3 more PJDs are being seriously considered.•Important to have new Pres. and V-P of ICA-USA Board here.
Important to have new Pres. and V-P of ICA-USA Board here.•You leave with a new sense of empowerment.
You leave with a new sense of empowerment.26 participants/guides from 9 States
1. Lisel Burns (NY); 2. Marie Cirillo (TN); 3. Susan Craver (VA); 4. Susan Davis (NY) 5. Elizabeth Engleman (PA); 6. Ann Ensinger (NY); 7. Amy Fleming (NY); 8. Sonya Flynn (PA); 9. Alan Gammel (WA); 10. Jo Ann Gammel (MA); 11. Muriel Griffin (MA); 12. Robert Griffin (MA); 13. Ellen Jagger (PA); 14. Tim Lush (NJ); 15. Rebecca Nichols (NJ); 16. Tasha Paley (NY); 17. Lois Saboe (PA); 18. Angela Simmons (NJ); 19. Robert True (NJ); 20. Sandra True (NJ); 21. Janice Ulangca (NY); 22. Zan White (NY); 23. Rita Wilson (NY); 24. Doug Druckenmiller (IA); 25. Lynda Cock (NC); 26. John Cock (NC)
Coordinator/Guide Comments
This is the third Profound Journey Dialog, the first held in Denver, September 2007, the second near Dubuque, September 2008. Its primary source is a seminar of the Ecumenical Institute: Chicago/Institute of Cultural Affairs, created in the 1960’s and taught to thousands globally.
Each participant worked from a printed 30-page notebook. The meeting space was intimate with five round tables, all with quotes, décor objects, and daily reflection cards; a front art form table for larger décor; an Earth hanging; interlude slides and selected music. After each session, the final slide of the PowerPoint presentation, in 5’X4’ banner form, became the wall décor – an array of images and symbols that guided the journey dialog.
A 2-hour post-PJD confab of 12 participants, guides, and coordinator considered next steps for the PJD experiment.
• Sandra True and Rebecca Nichols -- local coordinators• John and Lynda Cock and Doug Druckenmiller -- national PJD guides 
