Journal of the Experiment with Light Network Issue 20 2016 2.50 Opening Editorial & News Roundup Susie Tombs & Helen Meads 2 Rusty Hinges Anon 3 5 Voices from America: Experiment with Light at the 2016 Gathering in Minnesota Roxanne Ianovich 4 Lois Yellowthunder; Terry Hokenson 5 Diane Barrett; Jaimie & Dan Mudd 6 An American Friend s Journey with the Experiment Diane Barrett 7 Introducing Experiment with Light at a Residential Weekend Margarete Briggs 10 Journeys to the Light Within 12 Retreat into the Light Sasha Bosbeer 13 Letter from America Rex Ambler 14 How does Quaker faith & practice speak to you? 18 Resources; Funding; Subscriptions 20
Editorial Susie Tombs & Helen Meads As the time came near for assembling this issue, Susie began to see the pieces submitted as tracing a journey or perhaps a pilgrimage is a better term - for it is one that illustrates the characteristic combination of personal and shared development that the Quaker way nurtures. So the sequence of articles reflects this in their order, from a very personal experience at the start of using this practice, shared anonymously; to an account from the States, where five voices describe the first time a group met together, at the Friends General Conference Gathering; to hearing from Diane Barrett as she inquires more deeply into the practice in her own studies and life; to an experience from Margarete Briggs of introducing the practice to others at an Area Meeting event (with some useful pointers about the unexpected); to Sasha Bosbeer s account of deepening her individual practice on a retreat. The pilgrimage theme concludes in this issue with a lovely Letter from America by Rex Ambler, which is more than a report, rather a reflection on his life s work and ministry with the Experiment. Finally, as our shared pilgrimage continues, we hope to start a conversation about Experiment with Light in Quaker faith and practice, by following the Reading Quaker faith and practice programme. Some of the pictures in this issue were taken by Kirsten Ebsen, a Canadian Friend attending the Gathering. Others are by Alexandra Bosbeer and the editors. But, before the pilgrimage, we begin with News roundup. News Roundup Workshops continue in Britain Yearly Meeting and we welcome news of a Light group meeting for the first time this month in Swindon. Huddersfield Light group started last month and is hosting an Experment with Light Retreat day on 3 September. Swarthmoor Hall is hosting an introductory Experiment with Light day as part of its Quaker Week programme possibly not the first (nor the last) time Experiment with Light serves Quaker outreach. We heard there is a Light group in Blackheath Meeting, but have no contact for Friends there, so would love to hear more. Pontefract Light group have recently started meeting weekly instead of monthly and we d love to hear more about that, too. We are encouraged to see the swell of interest in the United States following the Gathering at Minnesota. Experiment with Light was also a part of Baltimore Yearly Meeting. We look forward to hearing more from the States, as a Network supporting Light groups gets established there. 2
Rusty Hinges Anon Sometimes when I practice Experiment with Light, consideration of the meaning of a single phrase of the short title of one of the steps - is so intense that I don t complete the series in one sitting. This may be something which many newbies go through, but I wanted to write about it because it has brought such depth to my spiritual life. My goal in practising EwL is not to come to some outcome or decision. Rather, I find the immediate awareness of God that arises in response to the direction to mind the Light an amazing way to enter worship. I use short phrases from the titles of the steps as cues. And I understand a different meaning through the process of meditating on them. It s a bit like doing a yoga stretch and feeling the muscles release after a few seconds in the pose. So, a few weeks ago, I was considering the phrase mind the light and it struck me how utterly terrifying that is - and should be. My internal image was one of a prison escapee who has been on the run in a night-time landscape, now pinned by the strong beam of a huge searchlight from above. Terrifying! Imagine: it seems impossible to hide from this strong spotlight, pinned down by its power. The bright beam is harsh and clear, highlighting every feature - and blemish. A plethora of half-remembered Bible quotes swirl in my mind, about God seeing us in our weaknesses, hidden or ignored, and still loving us. But the metaphor is more than a metaphor I am describing my experience, feeling the terror of the certainty of being seen, and in such a bright light that everything mistakes, good decisions, faults, strengths all are visible. I am most horrified by the light outlining the faults I am aware of in myself but hope are invisible to others. I was recently at a Christian mediation day during which a speaker mused aloud on the meaning of the verb mind and how the Irish today and the English in the past, perhaps use it to mean take care of. Mind yourself, one hears often in Ireland. I understand it as meaning take care of yourself and also take responsibility for taking care of yourself. Mind the Light to me, it was not only about paying attention to the Inward Light but also about taking responsibility for the choice to see and focus on the Light. 3
On another day, the phrase open your heart evoked an internal perception of the creak and groan of a hinge, rusty and old, straining against being opened. I could feel how difficult it was to open this gate which protects my heart from gratuitous injury by others. Like most people, sometimes during life I ve felt hurt, and, over time, have lost the eagerness to engage that I had when I was young. The gate has been closed for a long time. It seems very risky to open my heart, as I know more hurt will come. I don t think it is possible to really be open to the Light and yet not be open to people: we are living in a world of people, even when focused on the deeper level, the level of the Light. Five Voices from America: Experiment with Light at the 2016 Gathering in Minnesota Roxanne Ianovich, Eagan, Minnesota A late afternoon last day session So much more than expected We keep bringing in more chairs to a large classroom. We open the patio windows for more air circulation. We listen attentively as Rex Ambler explains more about the Experiment with Light meditation process. We split into two rooms for more room and the meditation begins. We have time to reflect, process and record our experience. We lose a few people, but so many more stayed. We reassembled and the sharing began. More and more heartfelt, profound and meaningful insights were shared. The reaction from Rex, who was deeply moved, was warm and encouraging. We all received so much more the quiet, the contemplation, the togetherness was so much more than I expected. Thank You All. 4
Lois Yellowthunder, St Paul, Minnesota It was the next to the last day of the FGC (Friends General Conference) Gathering at the College of St. Benedict, known affectionately by the students as St. Bens. The college is located about 100 miles north of the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The day was warm with a slight breeze. People kept coming into the room where Rex was to give a brief history of the Experiment with Light and lead the group in a practice. People kept coming and coming at first 30, 40, 50, and finally 80 people crowded into the room. Most had heard Rex give the plenary presentation, Living in Dark Times in which he described early Quaker practices in seeking the Light. People came with a wide variety of experience some had never heard of the Experiment until Monday night, others were members of Light groups or were practicing by themselves. Despite the warmth of the room and crowding, people stayed to listen to Rex. After a brief break, over 50 people returned to participate in the practice. It was amazing the depth and thoughtfulness of what people shared with the group after being together for only a short time. After the event people reflected on the Experiment and their experience: Terry Hokenson, Minneapolis, Minnesota I was deeply moved and impressed with the Experiment, with the structure of the meditation and its historical roots. One reason for this impact is the realization that Quakers were going through a time of severe crisis and the concerns that they invited into their consciousness during the meditation must have been no small matters. 5
So through the Experiment, their crisis response empowers ours in this time of climatic, personal and political extremes. I am further moved by the universality of the Experiment, how it easily communicates with all spiritual traditions, whether Abrahamic, Buddhist, Indigenous, or other. It emphasizes my unity with all peoples, especially the oppressed. Diane Barrett, Minneapolis, Minnesota I really appreciated hearing Rex s more detailed comments about the Experiment with Light process in the practice session and then experiencing the meditation in the group setting, was extremely meaningful to me. Although I have been practicing on my own for over a year, experiencing the meditation with others was very powerful and the images that came to me, most vivid and telling. I have continued to work with these images and am amazed at how they have clarified an inner conflict I have been grappling with and pointed to a resolution. How healing it can be to call in the Light, wait with an open heart, and accept what comes. Jaimie & Dan Mudd, Tucson, Arizona Rex lives what he teaches. At the Gathering, out on a mid-western prairie, we were part of standing room only crowd who came to experience firsthand what the Experiment with Light is all about. In his gentle, clear, yet strong and direct manner he spoke of his conviction that the Experiment with Light enables the individual to experience Something that, in some way personal to them, offers them insights into some aspect of themselves or their lives. We were then guided through the meditation. Dan and I felt the Gathering of Spirit in a room filled both with people who had been practicing for years and people for whom this was a new experience. During the time for 6
sharing experiences we were deeply moved, as we have been when we have led Light workshops, to hear from individuals who had expected very little from the Experiment yet had found themselves in the heart of the mystery and filled with gratitude for having a personal encounter with the Light. It was wonderful practicing the Experiment with Friends from all over North America. An American Friend s Journey with the Experiment Diane Barrett I became interested in the Experiment with Light meditative process ten years ago when I first read Rex Ambler s book, Light to Live By. I was very excited by what I was reading. This is what I had been searching for. I had been a Friend for ten years and had been puzzling over what Friends did in the Silence. I came to Quakerism with significant experience in meditative practice and in depth psychology and was wondering if there might be a focused process within the Quaker tradition that could help lead me more deeply within. So, when I read that Rex Ambler had been wondering this as well and had found within early Friends journals what seemed to be a more structured (although openended) meditative process, I was intrigued. Subsequently, on a couple of occasions at Adult Program Hour, I shared what I was learning with other Friends at Minneapolis Friends Meeting. However, my involvement did not go any further as I was already a committed member of a meditation group based upon the visionary experiences of Jacob Boehme, who preceded George Fox by 50 years and whose writings, some have speculated, were known to Fox. I experienced the meditation being practiced in the Boehme group as similar to, and quite compatible with that put forth by Rex Ambler. I actually introduced Light to Live By to the group members, who were also impressed with what Rex had discovered, noting the overlap in process and essence. And so it went until about a year and a half ago when I decided to apply for The Elizabeth Ann Bogert Grant for the Study of Christian Mysticism administered by Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas. What I settled on for a proposal was an exploration of the spontaneous imagery that often seems to arise for individuals practicing the Experiment. This idea came as I was reading Experimenters first-hand accounts as described in the Network newsletters. I should note here that I am a psychologist who practices a type of depth psychology that utilizes imagery for 7
psychological and spiritual growth. I also teach this process to graduate psychology students both at a university in Minneapolis and in Galway, Ireland. The versatility and healing power of the image became apparent to me over the years, first as a teacher of literature early in my professional life and then as my second career in psychology evolved. Personally, I have utilized imagery for my own healing journey, beginning in my early 20s as I was making my way through a painful grief process precipitated by the deaths of my parents and maternal grandparents within the span of just a few years. I had the good fortune to receive help from a therapist who incorporated Psychosynthesis imagery procedures in our work together. (Psychosynthesis is a psychotherapeutic approach established by Roberto Assagioli combining Eastern and Western therapeutic modalities.) I will be forever grateful to Marie, my therapist, for introducing me to this intuitive approach, which helps in the letting go of over-thinking, fostering instead deep listening to the promptings of mind, body, and Spirit. This process was not only tremendously helpful in negotiating through a very difficult time (I found hope and reassurance in my connection to the deeper parts of my self and to Life), but also moved me to pivot to a new life path professionally, which has felt absolutely right. Psychosynthesis, and Jungian Depth Psychology, with its focus on facilitating an exploration of the unconscious, where not only the Shadow is encountered but also the riches of Life s wisdom often emerging through symbol and image, have been key to my own psychological and spiritual development. This now brings me back to the Experiment and to the Bogert Grant. Realizing that the Experiment with Light process has remarkable parallels with the work that I do in my psychotherapy practice and in my own self-exploration, and being interested in exploring this more, I decided to apply for the Bogert Grant. I am pleased to say that I was one of the recipients chosen to receive a monetary gift for further study. I felt very encouraged by this acknowledgment of my interest in understanding further the spontaneous imagery arising during the Light meditation. My work on this project over the past year has deepened my understanding of, and appreciation for, the process itself and for the expanding network of Friends practicing it. I have interviewed a number of individuals involved in Light groups about their imagery and have had very helpful dialogues with Rex Ambler and other Friends on the Steering Group. I have continued to read, listen to CDs, and equally as important, continued a committed practice of the Experiment myself. All of this has reinforced for me what C.G. 8
Jung said about the modern person having forgotten the age-old fact that God speaks chiefly through dreams and visions. I would say that this study is very much in process and that more of the particular nuances of the spontaneous imagery generated may not become clearer until after more interviews are conducted and a concentrated period of reflection and writing is undertaken. However, I would say at this point that several things are emerging: spontaneous imagery does indeed seem to be generated quite often (but not all the time nor with all individuals); the imagery varies widely with regard to type (visual, auditory, somatic, etc.); the imagery appears to crystallize particular problems/solutions and can be referred back to, often helping the resolution process move forward; the understanding of the message seems to deepen with further work though artistic activities often conducted after the formal meditation; individuals can have meaningful and deep experiences with the absence of any imagery. Also, I would like to add that approaching human development in this way is holistic and transformative. Calling in the Light, waiting with open heart to the truth of one s life, and ultimately submitting to what is revealed, can lead to a transcendence of the psychological blocks that we all experience as part of the condition of being human, blocks impeding connection on all levels, to self, others, and the Divine. In the coming months I am planning to interview more Experimenters, and, of course, continue to practice regularly myself both individually and in a Light group currently being organized at my Meeting. My intent also is to write a lengthier piece about what I am learning. Finally, I would like to say that if anyone in the Experiment with Light Network would like to share their imagery experiences with me, I would be most appreciative, and, you can be assured that they will be received with the greatest respect as the precious offering that they are. I can be contacted at: dianebarrett@rivertoseacounseling.com Thank you and many good wishes as you continue to Experiment in the Light. Note: I would like to acknowledge the work done by Helen Meads in her 2011 Ph.D. thesis at the University of Birmingham, Experiment with Light in Britain: The Heterotopican Nature of a Contemporary Quaker Spiritual Practice. Helen s thesis contains a rich section on the imagery experiences of the participants in her study, which has been very valuable in my own exploration. 1 I also would like to thank Angela Greenwood for suggesting that I read Experiment in Depth: A Study of the Work of Jung, Eliot and Toynbee by P.W. Martin. 2 This book has been extremely illuminating as I ponder the parallels between Jungian Depth Psychology and the Experiment. 1 Available from: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/3076/1/meads11phd.pdf. 2 See Angela s article pp14-19 of Journal number 17: http://www.experiment-with-light.org.uk/ewlnl17.pdf 9
Introducing Experiment with Light at a Residential Weekend Margarete Briggs Towards the end of April, our AM (North East Thames Area Meeting) held its yearly family conference at High Leigh in Hertfordshire. The family conference weekend is a yearly event and dates back at least two generations if not more. We have an alternating pattern of a DIY weekend or one with a speaker usually on Quaker values or history. This year it was DIY. Angela Greenwood and I offered to hold a session on Experiment with Light, which included the guided meditation and the sharing afterwards, as well as touching on the Experiment s history. Since we were not sure how many Friends or Attenders were familiar with the practice we chose to give some background. It is always interesting to hear how Rex Ambler studied what the early Quakers did in the silence and how from this he developed Experiment with Light. Both Angela and I had introduced Light groups into our own Meetings many years ago. We also led groups together in the past, so we were happy to work together. We planned the sessions very carefully, meeting for a day to plan before the conference to consider particularly the timings, space requirements and how we might fit into the particular setting. We chose to read the Light Meditation adapted from one by Susie Tombs and Diana Lampen. We would allow time for questions. However, the group members had their own plans. We had booked two time slots, one straight after breakfast until the coffee break, the other from coffee break to lunch. We had carefully explained in our outline that the two sessions belonged together. For us this was very important. At the starting time, the room was full with about 16 participants. Little did we know that not all of them had read the leaflet outlining the two joint sessions. The plan was to have the introduction and the practice before the break. After the coffee break people were to go straight into time alone, writing or drawing or just reflecting and absorbing the experience. We would then go into sharing groups and end with a plenary. Imagine our surprise when some Friends told us they could not come back for the second part as they had booked or were involved in running another activity. An even greater surprise was that others wanted to join the group after the break, not realizing that the actual Experiment with Light meditation had taken place in the earlier session, which they had not attended. We did not feel joining just the second session was an option, as it followed on from the meditation experience, but we couldn t stop those committed to other sessions from 10
missing the second part. This was disappointing to us as we felt they hadn t had the whole experience. The other difficulty was that we discovered that the rooms we had been allocated for the sharing groups were also allocated to other groups so we had to make last minute adjustments. This certainly interfered with the calm confident running of the Experiment! What have we learned from this experience? People pack into a residential weekend as many different activities as possible. On reflection I feel we should just keep to one time slot and not overrun; although Angela feels we should just be clearer in our liaison with the conference leaders and in our introduction as one session is really not long enough to do the Experiment justice. One advantage of offering such a session in our annual family conference is that in such a situation there will always be newcomers to the practice. On this occasion a number of people came who would not normally have been open to such a practice, and their response was (sometimes surprisingly!) open minded and certainly not negative. Newcomers always appreciate background information and opportunity for discussion afterwards, so that needs to be borne in mind. Another spin-off is that everyone knows the Light sessions are happening even if other conference commitments prevent them from coming. Two people who were keen but not able to come because of children's group responsibilities, expressed interest after the session in starting a group in their local meeting. They asked Angela if she would be willing to come and introduce it to them, and facilitate the first few sessions on a Sunday after meeting. Others expressed appreciation of the experience which reignited their interest from a past experience. We certainly learnt how important it is to be flexible and work with what participants bring, even if it is different from our plan. This does not mean timekeeping is not essential. A session can start even if not everyone is present. Would we do it again? We would certainly need to think carefully, and liaise more clearly with the committee. An Area Meeting introductory day would probably be preferable, but that has not been requested. Also some of those who attended and had an interesting taster would probably not have wanted to spend a day on the Experiment. But perhaps the most important thing is that Experiment with Light was experienced by a diverse group of members of our own Area Meeting as a valued and a helpful Quaker practice. (Editor s note: it is thought the phrase herding cats, to describe trying to organise those who persist in thinking independently, derives from the opening scenes of Monty Python s Life of Brian ) 11
Journeys to the Light within: 2016 had four weekend introductions to Experiment with Light with time to understand the Quaker roots of the practice, to try it for ourselves and to then reflect on our experience in a time of quiet. Only one left for this year at Swarthmoor, so here we have listed two for 2017 as well. Swarthmoor Hall Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 0JQ Tel: +44 (0) 1229 583204 Friday 11 Sunday 13 November 2016 with Angela Greenwood and Mary Pennock https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/courses.php?action=course&id=10694 Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, 1046 Bristol Road, Birmingham B29 6LJ Tel: +44 (0) 1214 725171 Friday 10 Sunday 12 February 2017 With Peter Estall, Diana Lampen, and Susie Tombs Glenthorne Quaker Centre Easedale Road, Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9QH, Tel: +44 (0) 15394 35389 Wednesday 20 Friday 22 September 2017 With Diana and John Lampen http://www.glenthorne.org/events/ Day workshops with Meetings or other groups are held around the country. For these, the expenses (travel and photocopying) of the workshop leaders are the only costs charged to the Meeting. To arrange a workshop, or to talk about a preliminary visit to start discussion of one, contact the Network members at experimentwithlight@gmail.com to book dates and facilitators to help you. 12
Retreats (New Format) Day Retreat with Experiment with Light High Flatts Meeting House, Quaker Bottom, High Flatts, Huddersfield, HD8 8XU Saturday 8 October 2016 10am to 4pm Contact Helen Meads experimentwithlight@gmail.com or Andrea Freeman 01484 301 657 Four-day Retreat with Experiment with Light: deepening the practice Swarthmoor Hall, Cumbria LA12 0JQ Tel: +44 (0) 1229 583 204 Friday 23 - Monday 26 June 2017 with Andrea Freeman, Helen Meads and Margaret Roy http://www.swarthmoorhall.co.uk/courses-events.php Retreat into the Light Sasha Bosbeer I am very curious about the life of early Friends, in particular about how they supported one another in traveling great distances to bring the Quaker message to others. The language used in that time was quite passionate: we see that in their letters, such as Margaret Fell s telling a vicar that he is a blasphemous beast ; and in the wording of the loving messages Friends sent to one another. So much is different today! Experiment with Light is attractive to me in part because I am exploring our inheritance. What might we as a religious society need to recall and implement in our lives, in order to avoid becoming a colourless shadow of what Quakerism meant in the seventeenth century? What might be challenging and also an important re-vitalisation of our spiritual life? One such challenge for me is to begin to understand the texts as intended for example, that walking cheerfully over the world does not mean with a big smile, but rather with courage; and answering that of God meaning, I believe, to look deeply at another, seeing that of God in them, and addressing that, rather than responding from our psychology: irritation with things that irk us, and pleasure with things that please us. I chose to join an Experiment with Light retreat weekend at Swarthmoor Hall, just a week into a five-month period of being a Friend in Residence there. The retreat process was a doorway into this period of service. I am not a member of a Light group but had 13
joined an introductory workshop some years ago in Ireland. One note I had jotted down during the introduction, that snags my attention today still, was a comment that early Friends wanted to know the Truth, in comparison to modern Friends wanting to know what to do. This might be part of what we ve lost: if we know the Truth, perhaps we know what to do. Is it that our world today is one in which the silence of Meeting for Worship is often described as giving Friends time to think, to hear their internal still small voice? My still small voice is my conscience: the Holy Spirit is bigger, more glorious, more demanding in terms of out of the box thinking and action, and definitely much more terrifying. I joined the Experiment with Light retreat because I thought the creative response to the exercises might suit me. I am someone who is oriented to visual thinking. And it did suit me: we often heard the meditation in the Great Hall in the historic part of Swarthmoor Hall, and then walked for a few minutes - in silence - past flowering hedgerows to the Swarthmoor Meeting House where papers and inks and tissue paper were laid out. For me, surprising additions came from deep in my mind directly out onto the paper bypassing the verbal process which can force concepts into a different shape. More gifts came in the time after the silence was ended, listening to other participants explain their often beautiful creations in a sharing session. The retreat is only one part of a process, as making and drawing, meditating and sharing, are elements I am making more and more a part of life, to experience the Light every day. Letter from America Rex Ambler Dear Friends, I want to tell you something of my experience in America this summer. It has some significance for Experiment with Light as well as my wider work with Quakers. I was not initially asked to talk about the Experiment or to do a practical workshop. I was asked to give a more general talk on Quaker spirituality. The request came from Friends General Conference (FGC), which brings together some 18 yearly meetings of North America, mostly of the 'liberal' tradition, and meets annually for mutual support and edification, much like 14
our own Yearly Meeting Gathering. It was held this year at St. Benedict College in Minnesota, some hundred miles north of St Paul. They asked me to give the key-note address on their theme for 2016, 'Be humble, be faithful, be bold,' and it was explained to me by the clerk of the Gathering, Paul Landskroener, that they had in mind our response as Quakers to situations of crisis. They had me in mind for the talk, I believe, because of what I had written in my recent book, The Quaker Way: a rediscovery. It was something of a challenge even so, and I had to think a lot and meditate a lot over the months beforehand and consult with Friends in America to get a clear sense of what was needed and what I had to say. What came to me was that I had to address the political crisis we were all facing at the present time, especially, as it happens, in Britain and America, with two big decisions that might take us in a dangerous direction. I called my talk Living in Dark Times it was a theme I had approached briefly and uncertainly in our International Light Gathering some three years ago. 3 I suggested that these were indeed 'dark times', and likely to get darker, because forces were now at work that we could not understand or effectively counter. Our normal liberal response of rationally analysing situations and mounting a campaign was no longer adequate. We had to dig deeper. So I drew on early Friends and William Penn in particular to say how we could do this, and how, from that depth, we could find a response that was creative and powerful, if not always successful in worldly terms. I drew on the Experiment at this point my own 'meditations on the world' and the experience of other Friends who had brought the Light to bear on difficult situations they faced. I spoke at great length it concerned me a bit that I was asking too much of this large and patient audience but I felt they were with me and that I was moved to say what I did. The warm response afterwards confirmed for me that I was right. A number of Friends said 3 The photograph on this page is taken in a James Turrell Ganzfeld. For the link with Experiment with Light, see http://goinsidetogreetthelight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/helen-meads-quaker-meaning-of- Light-_-JT-work_.pdf. 15
that I had spoken to their condition. The talk was recorded and live-streamed and is now in fact available on the internet [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mt2_swatq0]. I think I will have to revise what I had written in the light of what I actually said much more came to me in the talk, which was given extemporarily, than I had written down beforehand and try to get it published as a pamphlet. As a follow-up to the talk I spoke at a special author event at the FGC Bookstore, when some 50 people came and plied me with questions and challenges about The Quaker Way book, as well as about the talk. There was interest in the fact that I was trying to find a new language to describe our Quaker vision and experience, that made them more accessible to modern, secular people. They were particularly interested that I and other Experimenters were talking of the experience itself as the basis of our faith and life, and that this could be discovered by anyone who was willing to put their minds to it. Some of the Friends there seemed to find my description too secular, when they wanted more talk of God and Christ, but I think they appreciated that in the more secular, European context this made good sense. An interest group was assembled on another evening to discuss the possibility of setting up a network for the Experiment with Light in North America. This was not my initiative. It came from Lois Yellowthunder, from St Paul, Minnesota; she had first mooted the idea, as I recall, at the International Light Gathering in 2013. Tim Bartoo, from Vancouver, had also shown interest. There now seemed to be enough practitioners in America to make it viable. And, indeed, 34 people turned up at the interest group. Not all were experienced in the practice, but they were all very interested, and they signed a sheet with contact details which would then become the basis of a Network. Lois conducted the meeting in such a way as to draw out people's interests and needs: How might they benefit from a Network? What would they like it to do? 4 Who would like to take part? I didn't say much. I was the UK consultant', I suggested, and offered advice when asked. There was in fact great curiosity in what we had done with the Network in Britain the website, the Journal, 4 The butterfly in this photograph has come to rest. To one of our editors (and maybe also others working with the Experiment back in 1999, when the butterfly was in flight), the butterfly resonates with the idea of disseminating the Experiment. [For the reference, see http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/3076/1/meads11phd.pdf, p16] 16
the Steering Group, the teams of 'sowers and nurturers' but they were confident in setting up their own and designing it to meet North American needs. On the afternoon of the last full day we held an introductory workshop. A room for 50 had been booked and 80 turned up, and the engagement, I would say, was intense, almost tangibly. Friends were welcomed by Lois; I gave a talk on the meditation itself; Beth Keiser, one of my two elders for the week, read the meditation guide; and Tim Bartoo organized the groups by commandeering another room in the building to cope with the numbers. The feedback in plenary confirmed what we were already feeling, that many Friends were undergoing a profound experience and recognised that this might be the beginning of something new, not only for them but for Friends in America. I had the sense of a mission fulfilled. I had been coming to the States for this work since 2003, starting with a full 'weeklong' introduction to the Experiment with Diana Lampen. It was then all rather new and surprising for American Friends. I now had the feeling, as many Friends actually said, that the Experiment had been tried and tested here and was now cherished as part of their practice. That was deeply satisfying for me. It was combined with a sense of joy I have rarely had, which seemed to arise from a feeling that I had done what I had been called to do, that my own life had somehow been brought together, against all my self-doubt and resistance, to carry this work through and see it established. It is still with me. I would describe it as a dark joy, because it is entwined with a memory of Catherine, who had shared so much of this work with me, and would have been so happy to come on this trip to the States. But my feeling of deep loss with her sudden death has also opened me up, inwardly, to feelings and understandings that I didn't feel I was capable of, and it was those, more than anything, that inspired me to say what I did in Minnesota about living in dark times. One extra meeting, which I hadn't anticipated, was held with the Clerks and General Secretary of FGC. I had lunch with them one day and we talked about the implications of what I had said in the plenary talk for the conduct of Quaker business. I told them of a few experiments that I and others had made during the course of a difficult decisionmaking process. We had found that when we got stuck on an issue, or when it was highly sensitive and needed our full awareness, we would do the Experiment there and then. Once the issue was explained and all relevant questions had been asked to get clarification we would then go silent for half-an-hour or so and meditate on the situation together. Afterwards, as in a Light group, we would then report on what came to us in the meditation. Inevitably we found that we had moved to a different place, that a free and harmonious discussion was now possible. The Clerks were impressed by this and asked me to write up what I had learned and send it to them. This I will do, and perhaps I will submit what I write as an article for this Journal. Frank Barch, one of the clerks, wrote the endorsement of the Travelling Minute I had 17
brought with me from the Experiment with Light Network. Klaus Huber, the Clerk of our Steering Group, had written in the Minute, Dear Friends, Loving greetings from Friends in the Experiment with Light Network. We commend our Friend Rex Ambler to your loving care... It has filled us with great joy to hear that Rex has been given the opportunity to talk to your Gathering and to be with you. We hold Rex in the Light during his travels and hope that his presence at you Gathering may enrich and inspire you. Frank wrote by hand on the same sheet of paper, as in the old Quaker tradition - Thank you for sharing Friend Rex with our Gathering... His plenary message, largely focused on his spiritual journey and his understanding of Wm Penn's writing, was very well received. He connected this with his Experiment with Light for those gathered Friends... His insights and teaching will inform my future service as clerk. He has spoken to my condition. Frank Barch, Presiding clerk, Friends General Conference, 7/10/2016 And loving greetings from me, Rex Ambler How does Quaker faith & practice speak to you? At the May 2011 Experiment with Light Conference held at Glenthorne, a Seasoned (if not Weighty) Friend pointed out to us that Experiment with Light is exactly what is first advised us in Quaker faith & practice: 1.02.1 Take heed, dear Friends, to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts. Trust them as the leadings of God whose Light shows us our darkness and brings us to new life. 18
We have been asked by Rhiannon Grant who is involved in Reading Quaker faith & practice to include something in the Journal about the programme. We hope that, when Quaker faith & practice is eventually revised, there will be something in it about Experiment with Light and so we are happy to include something in this edition of the Journal. We suspect the first step to revision is for us all to become familiar with the current version, so let s play our part and maybe also reflect here in the Journal on what we already find, and what we would like to see. Reading Quaker faith & practice is a national programme of reading and conversation about our Book of Discipline. There are passages throughout the book which might help to shape our approach to worship and the Light within. Penington (1661): For example, here's Isaac 26.70 Give over thine own willing, give over thy own running, give over thine own desiring to know or be anything and sink down to the seed which God sows in the heart, and let that grow in thee and be in thee and breathe in thee and act in thee; and thou shalt find by sweet experience that the Lord knows that and loves and owns that, and will lead it to the inheritance of Life, which is its portion. And here s George Fox (1648) in full flow: 26.42 Now the Lord God has opened to me by his invisible power how that every man was enlightened by the divine Light of Christ; and I saw it shine through all, and that they that believed in it came out of condemnation and came to the Light of Life, and became the children of it, but they that hated it and did not believe in it were condemned by it, though they made a profession of Christ. How do these sections of Quaker faith & practice speak to you? Why not share your responses with others by writing or talking about them (including here, in the Journal)? This would also be a perfect opportunity to engage members of your Meeting by organising a study group. There is a choice of free study resources for groups and individuals to download and print at: together.woodbrooke.org.uk For more information and the full reading calendar see: qfp.quaker.org.uk/reading or find the Reading Quaker faith and practice programme on facebook at: www.facebook.com/readingqfp 19
The Experiment with Light website has a lot of information and resources about the Experiment. Here's a link: http://www.experiment-with-light.org.uk/ We are also on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/experimentwithlight You can email us anytime on experimentwithlight@gmail.com with news, comments, articles and contributions for the next or future editions of the Journal, whether on-theme or off-theme. We're always delighted to hear from you. The editors are Helen Meads, Susie Tombs and Audrey Vaughan Articles, images and artwork in this journal are copyright the authors, makers and photographers: we thank Alexandra Bosbeer, Kirsten Ebsen, Helen Meads and Susie Tombs for this edition s images and photos. Funds and Donations: The Experiment with Light Network exists to enable people to discover the Experiment with Light practice. Our current costs come to around 2,000 per annum. (Our accounts are independently examined and are presented at the ABM.) If you are able to contribute: For BACS or Standing Order payments, bank details are: Account: Bank: Bank Sort Code: 08-92-99 Account number: 65442771 Experiment with Light Network The Co-operative Bank plc Please e-mail remittance advice to johnsenior13@phonecoop.coop Alternatively, make cheques payable to Experiment with Light Network and send to: The Treasurer, Experiment with Light Network Maesgwaelod Cottage Pant-y-Dwr Rhayader Powys LD6 5LW Subscriptions to add your name to the subscribers email distribution list, please contact experimentwithlight@gmail.com. There is no charge for email distribution. Postal Subscriptions If you wish to receive the journal by post (in colour), there is an annual charge of 10 to cover UK postage, printing and stationery (four issues per year). Write, giving your delivery postal address, to: Postal Subscriptions 21 Gardner Road, Warton, Carnforth, Lancs, LA5 9NY Overseas subscribers please enquire for postage costs. To pay for paper copies: please make your cheques payable to Experiment with Light Network (or direct transfer to bank account: details above). 20