Epiphany Central
By Julie Jordan Scott

Ideas flow when we tend to our personal lives. Time of personal retreat with close, like minded friends can bring incredible growth in creativity.

It happened. While looking out a big picture window at the glory of Pike's Peak, I saw such magnificence. I was literally propelled into that magical experience called "Flow".

Ideas were lining up inside of me like airplanes waiting in sequence prior to take off. Not simply articles, but theories, models of all sorts. They even gave me time to write outlines, which is mostly what I did, write outlines and diagrams of my thoughts as they came forward.

I did not pause to check my email, or get concerned about the rest of my day or even think about the fact that I needed to catch an airplane in a couple of hours.

Instead, I sat on a very straight-backed chair, my feet up on the window seat, gazing out at the blue Colorado sky with the snow covered Pike's Peak on the horizon. I wrote, and wrote, and wrote, but as the words continued to flow, I realized it was not the normal "me" they were flowing from.

I would get up, grab some coffee, exchange a few intense words with my dear, wise colleague and friend (spare words, mind you, which is not my norm by any means!) and get back into my writing position.

It was the culmination of five days of interaction with people with the same vision for life. A vision of people living purposeful lives.

A vision of people being unshackled from the bondage of fear. A vision of people making real change in their lives for the benefit of the community at large.

It was amazing to feel so alive. So awake. So alert to the possibilities that could blossom from me simply expressing who I am without any masks on, being in community with people who understand me, warts and all, and who can see the possibility as well. Electricity literally crackled in the air as it became "epiphany central" (so we laughingly called the house) as we wove together a tapestry of purpose.

This must be what Joseph Campbell meant when he said People say that what we are seeking is a meaning for life. I don't think that's what we're seeking. I think what we're seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances with our own innermost being and reality where we actually feel the rapture of being alive.

The formula for this is actually fairly simple, and one that you could reach as well. Here's how I see it:

Surround yourself with people who can "speak your language" or share your vision for the world. If you are an energetic person who enjoys the collaborative partnership of a many hours long brainstorming session, choose to be around other brainstormers. If you are a person who likes spending hours in reflective quiet, then find people who are also this type who can come together and separate, check in and compare notes so to speak.

Find these people from the various circles of influence in your life. If no one fits the bill, ask people if they know anyone who might. Actually write down and define the person who would be your perfect match for your own version of "epiphany central". Singlemindedly seek out this person or people to walk along the path with you.

Then meet regularly. Weekly, or more. Meet in person and via email or ICQ or AOL-Instant Messenger. Keep the electricity crackling. Continue to blossom ideas alongside each other.

The fictitious Hawkeye Pierce of the television series M*A*S*H summed up "epiphany central" beautifully. "You can't get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you're doing. But what you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself."

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