Monthly Sacred Space Gathering

The Heart of Freedom

The inspiration for our July Sacred Space comes from Taoist wisdom, “The freedom of enlightenment is impossible to describe. We can only notice how it appears in action.”

What does embodied liberation look like in the world, in action? How does individual freedom serve our local and global communities? Our program is a heart-felt offering and expression of our longing for freedom and a celebration of the possibility of freedom for all people.

Our Insight speakers for this month are two Common Ground community members.

As a man of faith in this world, Joachim Francis has spent several years walking through life as a modern mystic. He a Reiki practitioner and guided spirit. He is also an experimental musician, a poet, a father and a husband.

Michelle Renee Johnson, CEC, ACC is a Certified Empowerment Coach and Spiritual Teacher & Mentor. Michelle supports those on the spiritual path in learning how to use the Law of Attraction to Consciously Create their lives through the Truth of their Authentic Selves instead of by default through the fear-based beliefs of their Ego. Michelle’s message is described as a blend of Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie and Abraham-Hicks with a fresh angle that is uniquely her own. To learn more, go to expandingjoycoaching.com.

Also, we will be graced with the poetry of Naila Francis, who is a journalist, poet and ordained interfaith minister. She has also written about New Age music for Mystic Pop magazine, women in music for venuszine online, and the arts and creativity for TheSpiritedWoman.com. Among Naila’s greatest joys is her work performing ceremonies as an officiant with the nondenominational ceremonial ministry Journeys of the Heart. She is the author of a poetry gift book, “The Night She Met God,” a collaboration with British illustrator Lynda Mangoro, and is also working on her first poetry chapter book, as well as a program to bring poetry to underprivileged children in Africa as a means of healing and hope.

We welcome guest musician Sharon Katz, who made history in 1992 when she formed a 500 voice multicultrual childrens choir to help to break down the barriers of Apartheid in South Africa and usher in South Africa's first democratic elections. Sharon has been traveling the world as Nelson Mandela's Cultural Ambassador with a message of peace ever since. She is known for her music therapy work in uniting divided communities around America, South Africa and the Middle East and is often described as "converting gang members into band members". Enjoy the unstoppable beat of Sharon Katz & The Peace Train!

Also, dancer Lara Vracarich will share her interpretation of freedom through movement. Lara facilitates Spirit Dancing throughout the Philadelphia metropolitan area. She is often the featured dancer at Common Ground and performed during the Michael Beckwith event last year at Tendley Temple.