New Members Gather After London Induction

September 25, 2010

Fourth Induction Ceremony

Sanctuary of the Companions (a House of OUnI)

Sedona, Arizona

On September 25, 2010 the Community of The Mystic Heart gathered as part of the combined ceremonies of the Order of Universal Interfaith and the founding of integral Spirituality Nexus at a newly dedicated house of the Order of Universal Interfaith, the Sanctuary of the Companions, located in the beautiful valley of Sedona, Arizona. 

Hosted by Sanctuary host Dr. Julie Williams, and gifted by words from Sedona interfaith leaders Rev. Richard Hooper and Rev. Barbara Mayer, along with visiting interfaith leaders Rabbi Rami Shapiro and Robert Perry, twenty-seven new members joined our community and celebrated the founding of the Sanctuary and "integral Spirituality Nexus" (a new Participating Community of OUnI centering on the Integral teachings of philsopher Ken Wilber).

Rev. Tim Miner OUnI CMH described the event in these words which appeared in CMH's newsletter of that same month:

As the sun finally set in a Southwestern sky in Sedona, Arizona, on Saturday, September 25^th, the closing ceremony ended to complete the welcome of new clergy and lay members to the ‘OUnI family’ including the Community of The Mystic Heart.   New CMH members traveled from both coasts, from as far away as California, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C., to take the nine vows in person.  Five new members were from the Sedona community.  At that time new members who entered the CMH in abstentia were participating in their own self-ceremonies located in places as far away as New York, Florida, California and Toronto, Canada.  All together twenty-six new members said the nine vows for the first time that day.  

The ceremonies took place at the “Sanctuary of the Companions,” a new “House of the Order,” which was a former Tibetian Buddhist lamastry and is now consecrated to service to the Order of Universal Interfaith and its communities.  It is located in shadow of Thunder Mountain and massive sandstone formations that surround the city.  Appropriately, all ceremonies began with a leading of the blessings to the four directions by a representative of the Navajo tribe, Vida Khow.  She then smudged all who wished to participate with a smoldering sage and feather wand for purity before their rites of initiation.  The CMH ceremony began with read words from its Administrator, Dr. Kurt Johnson, and Robert Perry, a leader from the “Course in Miracles” tradition.  Three speakers than gave short talks on InterSpirituality.  First was Rev. (Rabbi) Rami Shapiro OUnI who described his experiences with Brother Wayne Teasdale as a teacher and mentor.  Second was Rev. Barbara Mayer, distinguished local author from Sedona, who talked from her book, Beyond Religion.   The third speaker was Rev. Richard Hooper, OUnI, who is well known for his publication of spiritual books and as an early pioneer in interfaith work.  Finally, after the reading of the nine vows by the celebrant leader, all who traveled to become part of The Community joined locals answering their hearts at the moment to become members as well.   It was a spiritual moment when together all recited the vows and tied the cord binding them to their words. 

Sedona has a reputation as one of America’s most “sacred sites.”  While the Native Americans considered this valley amongst the tall standing sandstone formations a sacred place, it was only in the 1950’s that the “vortex energy” became associated with the small town of orchards and vacationing Hollywood residents.  With the fading of the sun and the call of coyotes in the background, the Community of The Mystic Heart added its own stamp of sacredness to the place and those there were forever changed in heart and spirit.

Sedona Ceremony