I work in the Dining Room. People from all over the world come here; they have three meals a day in this beautiful room and they come with a positive attitude - a desire to grow, to learn and to find Spirit. All this energy accumulates in this room. You feel it, it’s a magical place and I love to be in it.


My days are filled with beauty here. Ordinary things - flowers on the tables, sunlight splashing on the dining room floor, the delight of breathing, of moving, the mind dancing with the trees.


When I was a member in 1994 I came determined to get as much out of the experience as possible in terms of personal development. Now I’m here to contribute and to give what I can. And I discovered there aren’t any jobs anymore that I dislike! Amazing!


Living here with my fellow members I learned to let go of my compulsive need to compete with others. I feel accepted as I am, no need to prove myself anymore. Such a blessing! And I love working with the guests - to touch and be touched by other people and discover how we fundamentally share the same desires, fears, and... dysfunctions.


When I quit working for the Belgian Railway (I hated every single day of it) it was freedom I was after. To measure my freedom I had two goals: One, to live with the attitude of a cat - sovereign, effortless, graceful, purring. Two, to live without needing insurance policies, for it would mean that fear would no longer be institutionalised in my life.


Now here in Cluny I have no house, no car, no personal belongings that need to be insured, and no health insurance cover.


I’m still working on mastering the cat’s way...


Will