4 ... Gabriel Morristhe nights camped in my tent in a grove of trees across the meadow
from the retreat, where many deer gathered to graze.
I found myself in awe at being among so many spiritually focused
people gathered together at the same place. The spiritual quest was
something I had been traversing for the most part alone over the past
few years, as I became increasingly focused on inner development.
To be with a group of people, all with a similar focus was a great
reassurance. And, to top it off, the vegetarian food they served there
was delicious. It was all just what I needed at the time.
But, despite the gentle people, light work, yoga, meditation, and good
food, after a week I began to feel restless. I was ready to get on with
my adventure. The void of the great unknown lay ahead of me. And I
was ready to leap right into it. I packed up my few belongings late one
morning and was given a sweet send-off by some of the community
members. They formed a small circle around me holding hands, and as
I stood in the center, they sang their simple goodbye song:
“Go with love, may joyful blessings guide you safely on your way.
May God’s light expand within you, may we be one in that light
some day...”
I hitchhiked south down winding Highway 49 to Yosemite Na-
tional Park, spending one night in the woods along the highway. I
arrived at the park late in the evening after getting my last ride from
a park service employee, who dropped me off in front of Yosemite’s
hiker/biker campground, which was only three dollars a night per
person.
I found a site and paid for the next five nights, since the attendant
had warned me that it might fill up quickly for the coming weekend.
Then I set up my tent, unpacked my backpack, changed from my
dirty Levis into a warm pair of clean sweatpants, crawled into my
sleeping bag, and crashed.
I awoke late the next morning, my mind feeling groggy and cloud-
ed. The events of the past few months were suddenly descending on
me all at once, feeling like a whirlwind thrashing around in my mind.