MA and IAM read a list of agreements concerning time, confidentially, hand signals, bathroom breaks, and non-prescription drugs. All the rules were designed to keep everyone in their own experience, on time, supportive and willing to agree. During the rules a pattern developed. Whichever participant had a ‘wobble’, something out of agreement or not in integrity with the group, they would rise to the surface like a bubble and tell their story.
“The course is the Ancient Wisdom Experience, not the Ancient Wisdom Stories. What is the difference between an experience and a story?” IAM said.
Hands went up. IAM called on each one.
“A story is made up.”
“An experience is something that happens to me.”
“Someone else tells a story. I have an experience.”
“A story is how I justify my experience.”
“Well, my experience can be both a story and an experience. Like, you know, how it is when you meet someone and they lay a trip on you?”
“When who meets someone?” MA said.
“Huh?”
“In the rules, we agreed to speak from I, not you,” asserted MA. There was some laughter.
"Oh yea, I get it. An experience is what I feel, and a story is what I make up about it.”
IAM moved forward on the stage and made eye or telepathic contact with the AWE staff sitting in the back of the room. IAM became animated, more vivid. “How many of you have eaten ice cream?”
Most of the hands in the room went up.
"How many of you have sky dived?”
“The course is the Ancient Wisdom Experience, not the Ancient Wisdom Stories. What is the difference between an experience and a story?” IAM said.
Hands went up. IAM called on each one.
“A story is made up.”
“An experience is something that happens to me.”
“Someone else tells a story. I have an experience.”
“A story is how I justify my experience.”
“Well, my experience can be both a story and an experience. Like, you know, how it is when you meet someone and they lay a trip on you?”
“When who meets someone?” MA said.
“Huh?”
“In the rules, we agreed to speak from I, not you,” asserted MA. There was some laughter.
"Oh yea, I get it. An experience is what I feel, and a story is what I make up about it.”
IAM moved forward on the stage and made eye or telepathic contact with the AWE staff sitting in the back of the room. IAM became animated, more vivid. “How many of you have eaten ice cream?”
Most of the hands in the room went up.
"How many of you have sky dived?”
MA, an assistant, and two participants raised their hands.
“What can any of you say about sky diving?”
A neophyte’s hand went up. “It’s like flying. It’s so cool and so scary. I couldn’t believe I did it.”
MA stepped beside IAM. “It’s beyond words.”
A neophyte’s hand went up. “It’s like flying. It’s so cool and so scary. I couldn’t believe I did it.”
MA stepped beside IAM. “It’s beyond words.”
“And so is experience.” IAM walked to the small round cocktail table on stage that held a fishbowl, a kinetic sculpture, and a blue dictionary that he picked up, and read aloud.
“Funk & Wagnall Standard College Dictionary… an experience is observable and or is a personal involvement. It happens in present time. A verb.”
“Funk & Wagnall Standard College Dictionary… an experience is observable and or is a personal involvement. It happens in present time. A verb.”
“So are my stories or history or memories unimportant?” said the Jewish naturopath.
“Let’s have an experience and find out,” IAM said. He clasped his hands together like old time boxing champions and looked to MA and the chalkboard on stage.
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