Barcelona

Mindvalley U. in Barcelona 25.05 – 25.06.2017
(by Christa)

4 weeks of Barcelona – what an experience! I experienced Barcelona on 3 levels.

1. level was the visit of Mindvalley U in Barcelona, the original reason for going to Barcelona. This was founded by Vishen Lakhiani who had the vision to once a year bringing together students in the age of 17 till 70 and have them educated through lectures, workshops and talks by the best teachers of the world.

This is about having new experiences, to grow and to carry a new awareness into the world so mankind can grow into a new community in peace, freedom and love.

We have been about 400 students of all ages and from all over the world and in a matter of days we grew into a big family. I never before experienced that much openness, love and acceptance as in this time.

Each lecture, each workshop gave us new impulses to break out of our everyday life and to walk on new paths. “Who are you really, and what talents are dormant in you and waiting to be developed and communicated to the world?” Knowledge is only one side, feeling, joy, emotion, and happiness are on the other side. To build the inner balance on all levels of life is essential.

With 1000 new impressions, impulses, feelings of happiness and new friendships we drove back home.

2. level is life in the city. I tried to make the atmosphere of Barcelona experienceable in the poem “Barcelona …” (please see below).

To let life simply unfold without to many rules and restrictions, the cheerfulness and light-heartedness of the people and the very special architecture are simply fascinating. Then the 1000 narrow streets full of small shops, which are partly open until late night. Their owners are standing on the street and it is talked infinitely.

The city is noisy, yes, and it’s not without reason that in the evening and in the early morning already cleaning columns are on their way all over the city. But that does not bother anyone!

3. level is my relationship with Michael. We live 140 kms apart from each other and it’s only about every fortnight that we meet.

In Barcelona we stayed together for 4 weeks day and night. What has grown and blossomed between us during that time also radiated to the outside. More than ones “students” told us: “Your happiness is contagious. You radiate in the group like a bright light.” Exactly that did carry me through the four weeks, because the time was also quite exhausting. 3-4, sometimes 5, workshops each day, and all in English which I am am ba far not fluent with. Plus the long walks through the city, most of the time in high heat.

Nonetheless, we are almost always went out once more in the evening, mostly to the port, in order to catch the mood in the evening sun and later on with night lighting, to experience the flying dealers on the bridge and simply to be there.

Barcelona, Mindvalley and Michael – thank you, that the time was so beautiful and still lives in me.
You changed my life!

Barcelona – you touched me deeply

Barcelona – do you know that?
It vibrates all around you
Voices from everywhere –
transforming into foreign sounds.
Words you do not understand
but feel, as if they were for you.
Smells that deceive you
and fuse with your breath.

We walk along the Gracia like stunned
the sun is burning, flickering over the pavement
the walls seem to glow
and the warmth swells out of every stone chink.
Our hands are moist,
the eyes are blinded by the light
and yet attentive
admiring the beauty of the architecture,
the wells and the slightly dressed girls …

In waves, flutter beside us the engines
of cars, motorcycles, mopeds …
then a moment of silence – the traffic lights are red –
and the people are pouring
across the street
like clenched together cloud thrusts,
the children between the legs
sometimes a dog
and spread out again on the wide boulevards.

Right and left next to us
booths with newspapers
fruit stands with overripe cherries, melons, apricots …
and small cafes –
always busy at all times of the day
filled with laughter, joy, liveliness
as if there were only this moment.

Life is now – pure devotion
and it feels so light,
untroubled and in love.