I am just landing from my visit to Esalen where I attended the third Yoga, Meditation and Recovery Conference. While I was there relaxing in the hot tubs several of us gazed skyward to see a string of over 30 brown pelicans flying along the Bug Sur coast. They hugged the ragged cliffs adjusting and adapting their path and flapping as needed as they stayed in line, sometimes drafting off of one another, all looking for their afternoon meal. Flying, coasting, moving in and out of line in a single direction. It was similar to the week at the conference. Finding unity, finding self, drafting in the wake of someone and sometimes flying on one’s own. This is an amazing conference; each visit is unique, the terrain beautiful, the food delicious and the company supportive and reassuring. The experience is new each time. This conference had moments that were more tender and sometimes more raw than ever before. Nearly a half of the attendees have returned from prior years. We are getting to know one another, our struggles and our successes, our bravery and challenges. Many share their new forms of play (Slack-line? How brave and centered! Hoola hooping – harder than it looks. Music that cracks the heart wide open. Thank you all.) There were new people, folks just figuring this sobriety thing out, and people who were investigating yet deeper layers of awakening. The leaders (Tommy, Rolf, Heidi and Nikki) were right there, holding space, giving what ever was needed to help us all find our edges and be safe. The yoga practices were phenomenal and the discourse was enlightening and helpful. I leave there once again in awe of my fellow travelers. As I return home I am investigating once again where I am in the “great scheme of things”, both in my life and my direction and as it relates to my work with others. I feel like a salad tossed aloft then returning to the bowl,the ingredients in a different order. Nikki Myers talks about the idea of maintaining true flight, secure direction and steady path. She suggests that the appearance of being on a sure path trajectory is an illusion. In fact we are constantly making adjustments. As the pilot on a plane is constantly readjusting the path of the plane as it heads to a specific destination, the path is not set. Wind, weather, other aircraft in the sky all have an influence on the path. So adjustments must be made. Some microscopic and others more grand. I, too, and aware of the adjustments I am now making as I incorporate the experiences of the last week into my evolving future.