VI Encounter for the New Horizon
A Video Report

Community of Fortaleza
Capixaba, Acre, Brazil
Dec 30, 2006 to Jan 9, 2007


My time at the Fortaleza festival and with the Luiz Mendes family in Acre was very special. Brazilians have a great saying that they use when they discover a deep connection -- the say, "I found my beach." Yes, that's how it was for me -- I found my beach, for sure!


THE BEST PARTY EVER!

The night of January 3 - 4 was a long and difficult one for me. It was my fourth intense spiritual work in as many days. The occasion was joyous -- celebrating the 67th birthday of Master-Counselor Luiz Mendes. But, truthfully, I was struggling to hold my place. The sacrament was very strong, as were the humidity, the heat, the bugs and my skin allergies. The spiritual work was long, an all-night affair of singing and dancing hymns of the doctrine. For me, this "yoga of love" is hard work and in the morning I was exhausted. I sort of dragged myself back to the campground hoping to get a few hours sleep before it got too hot to stay in the tent.

As I was about to get into the tent, my friend Beatriz came running and calling,

"Hurry Lou.
Come to the commons.
Bring your camera.
This is the best party,

EVERRRRRRRRRRR!"

When I got there, the forró had already started.



I looked at the scene with disbelief. The spiritual work had begun with prayers early the previous evening. It was now 15 hours later. No one had gotten any sleep. And yet, the energy here was incredible and I suddenly felt all of my own tiredness vanish. I thought, "How confusing, how can this be?" And then the music moved on to singing and dancing some hymns from Padrinho Sebastião's New Jerusalem.


The first hymn is

#24 - I AM HERE

I'm here because my Father sent me
I'm here because I'm the Savior
I am bottled, I always live embottled
And the people are very excited
Seeking their worth.

I'm here because my Father sent me
I'm here because I'm the Savior
The Master says, the Master sings,
the Master speaks
And the people get confused
In the line of love



... and I thought,

"Oh I get it. This is what it is like to live inside the Doctrine of Mestre Irineu. This is what it is like to be one with God. This is the New Jerusalem. When we are in union with each other in the present, we become the One who we have been waiting for."

It was as if we had worked all night to clean, to polish, to perfect, to achieve a union and now we were receiving the harvest, the sweet fruits of these efforts. The love came pouring forth and flowed in all directions.

Young Sebastião Gabrish gave a special present of song to Padrinho Luiz and sang, in duet with Saturnino, the well known and much loved Brazilian classic,

"As my Love For You is Great."



Then came the birthday songs for Vovô Luiz Mendes and Junaída and Janaína. All Brazilian songs of congratulations say, Parabéns, Parabéns, Parabéns.



There are many special moments in the tradition of the Santo Daime. One time that has great personal significance and emotion is when individuals decide to make a commitment to the path, becoming a member of the crew rather simply being a passenger in the boat. The initiation, which was both solemn and sweet, took place during the interval in the ceremony celebrating the Day of the Holy Kings.



The festivities included an incredibly spirited and joyful singing of the Entertainments of Master Irineu.



MORE TRAVELS

After the Fortaleza festival we continued along the trail of love and joy to the family center in Bujari, near Rio Branco, to celebrate the festival of Saint Sebastian.



I'm back in Brasilia right now using the fast Internet connection of Murilo's house to prepare these posts but I'll soon be on the road again, meeting up with the comitiva for more Daime celebrations during Carnaval time at Santa Luzia, Matutu and São Paulo. I feel incredibly grateful -- as my North American Indian friends might say -- to be walking on the path of beauty.


FUTURE PLANS

There is now some talk going on about bringing the Luiz Mendes comitiva to the United States, perhaps next September or October. The comitiva travels regularly to many spiritual centers in Brazil and has visited Europe and Canada to present ceremonies but they have never been to the US. I know that they would like to.

Saturnino says, "it will happen if and when the Master wants." But I confess to a childish impatience. I can't help imagining walking among the Redwoods and hiking to Bald Mountain with him.

Wouldn't it be wonderful!

You can keep up with the latest news at this blog and at the Luiz Mendes Web Site.

VI Encounter for the New Horizon
Photo Report #1
GETTING TO FORTALEZA

Our trip began in the central market of Rio Branco,



the capital of the State of Acre and the regional center of commerce. After spending a day visiting the market and getting provisions we boarded a bus packed with family, friends and stuff for the festival.



The road -- called the "Green Way" -- carried through widespread mono crop plantations of agricultural products and pasture land.





As is typical along roads in the Amazon region ranches and farms have replaced the forest.



Once we left the main road the scene changed into a winding path and, due to the rains, we walked the last bit to the community.





There was a welcoming committee waiting to greet us and soon there was a little party



to inaugurate the opening of the snack bar where we enjoyed juice drinks of tropical fruits.



The afternoon ended with a lovely rainbow which everyone saw as an auspicious opening of the 6th Festival of New Horizon at Fortaleza.



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VI Encounter for the New Horizon
Photo Report #2
RAIN AND SHINE

It really rained hard this year, often with very strong winds. There was a deluge our first day in camp. People said there usually is lots of rain this time of year but that it was very unusual for it to rain with such intensity.



Fortunately, our tents were "somewhat" protected by large canopies.



But Nature is bigger, so most folks just decided to have fun with it.







When the sun returned clothes were hung out to dry everywhere. My photographer's eye was caught by their shapes and colors. At times they seemed to have a special beauty.



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VI Encounter for the New Horizon
Photo Report #3
SPIRITUAL WORKS

There were many spiritual works during the festival



-- a Concentration and a Cura, and Works for the New Year, for the celebrating the birthdays of Padrinho Luiz Mendes and Junaída and Janaína, for the Day of Kings, as well as a day of works in the forest (shown separately) and a closing Work.





There was much healing. There was much joy.
And there were LOTS of fireworks.



Padrinho Luíz received a special birthday gift of an illuminated lotus.



And there were new initiates.



The love and joy and the nearness of the Master was felt throughout these wonderful ceremonies.



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VI Encounter for the New Horizon
Photo Report #4
WORKS IN AND FOR THE FOREST

One whole day (and well into the night) was set aside for spiritual works in the forest. The Luíz Mendes family has a special relationship with a spirit, called Casmerim, who is a feminine entity who guards and protects the forest. This day of spiritual works in the forest brought us to a strong connection with Casmerim.



The Fortaleza community and the forest are inseparable and the commitment protection on restoration is very deep. The new plan for expanding the community forms around the effort to protect one of the last remnants of natural forest in this region, much of which has been badly damaged by logging and burning. Fortaleza's expansion involves an area of about 100 hectares (250 acres).

Approximately 70% of the area covered by the plan is natural forest



and this core forest is ringed by logged areas that are suitable for agriculture, residences and reforestation.



Over half of the land has already been acquired.
Solon made several presentations about the plan which includes both protection of the remaining natural forest and healing of the disturbed portions of land.



The government of the State of Acre is launching many initiatives to develop the vision of bringing people and the land back together in healing and harmonious ways. The continued electoral successes of the Workers Party have reaffirmed this goal



and the legacy of Chico Mendes, who lived and organized in nearby Xapuri, has formed a consciousness favoring sustainable development and forest protection.



The State of Acre has produced many environmental leaders, including the present Federal Minister of Environment, Mariana Silva. Currently there are many initiatives to create a good balance between people and nature. The Fortaleza plan seems like part of a broader movement, an Acreano vision whose time has come.

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VI Encounter for the New Horizon
Photo Report #5
IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

In addition to the natural forest at its center,



Fortaleza is full of plantings -- fruits





and vegetables to eat,



cover crops to help restore the soil,



and flowers to bring joy and humming-birds.





The beauty of people living and working in harmony with nature is felt in many ways and especially when relaxing in the calm twilight hours at the end of the day.



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VI Encounter for the New Horizon
Photo Report #6
WORKING

Fortaleza was a very busy place



full of activity as folks cleaned,



cooked,



managed the craft shop,



hauled things around,



registered visitors,



gave massages,



and made videos.



Padrinho Luiz seemed to model the way. Generally, he was the first one up in the morning, making coffee for the household and then heading out to work on some project like stringing an electrical line to the new office



or, most often, to weed and harvest in the garden.


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VI Encounter for the New Horizon
Photo Report #7
HANGING OUT AND HAVING FUN

During the Festival most events were at night, work tended to be done in the morning. It was a busy schedule but there were many times for just hanging out,





resting,



sharing,



talking,



making music,



dancing,



learning,



clowning around



or just having fun with each other.



I would wander around with my camera capturing the scenes. Often, I would hear someone call, "Lu foto!" and there would be a group all ready to pose for a pic.



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