This is an account from Jim Szpajcher in Canada when he took Bruce's workshop. I thought it so interesting that maybe others would like to read it. ;-)

Love, Mairlyn
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The big thing about Bruce Moen's workshops is that in a 2 day period, he has
participants cruising from F-27 to F-23 (and F-24/25/26) and back to F-27
with Helpers, doing retrievals.

So what's the big deal about retrievals?, one might ask, and what does this
have to do with the Belief System Territories?

These are great questions. And here is the short answer: by interacting with
Helpers and folks who are ready to move on from where ever they have spent
some amount of "time", to their next "stop", one comes to KNOW that there is
a reality out there which one can experience BEFORE crossing over. Then,
when our time comes to "move on", we don't have to face an "unknown"
situation, which may result in feelings of fear.

Of course, few of us can be so assured with only one or two experiences, but
the idea is that once we know how to do retrievals, we can do this again and
again, until we KNOW that moving from C-1 to which ever Belief System
Territory we feel most comfortable with, is a matter of merely shifting from
the physical to a conscious non-physical state at the end of our physical
lives.

The Belief System Territories tend to be composed of landscapes which are
very "malleable" or "changeable", and Helpers move through them all the
time, assisting those who have questions or need some help in any sort of
way. One graphic Hollywood film, which portrayed them much as I've
experienced them is "What Dreams May Come", with Robin Williams. The book
was written by Richard Matheson, and very well researched, and I highly
recommend it (barring some issues with his own "beliefs", which do not
really affect the story).

The Helpers and the Guides are the real heroes in the Belief System
Territories, as I see it.

At the risk of prolonging this post to excessive lengths (and seeming
excessively vain in the process), I'm re-posting an excerpt from one of my
series of posts to VML from September, 2002, while taking Bruce's workshop,
which illustrates how one might experience the Belief System Territories
during a "retrieval". This particular experience had a profound effect on me
with its gentleness and dignity.

Those who feel this has gone on long enough are welcome to stop here.

As a note of explanation, Rex and Cowboy are friends who frequently travel
with me in the F-Zones. Those who have been subjected to my posts before
will remember their names.

Jim Szpajcher
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject: VML Bruce Moen Workshop - #4 - Frank and Cindy
Date: Sunday, September 29, 2002 10:56 PM

After a break for lunch, Bruce led the group into our next exercise in
exploring the Afterlife. The theme that we were directed to was to conduct a
retrieval in the Belief System Territories.

One significant observation that Bruce discussed is our need to recognize
that non-physical reality is "plastic". He emphasized that the shapes and
forms that we sense and experience can vary. Within that context, Bruce
stressed, again, that these types of retrievals can be a valid vehicle for
gathering information about the after-life.

While engaged in "Retrieval-Based Exploration", we can ask questions about
our own journey through life:

1) Where was I before I was here?
2) What am I doing here?
3) Where am I going from here?

He mentioned that just as those in Focus 23 may not be aware of anyone else,
or any other reality, that those in the areas Focus 24 - 26 often have
limiting beliefs: While they realize that they have shed their physical
body, they are in their version of "heaven". After some period of time, they
may become uncertain that they are in the "right" place, and start to doubt
some of their beliefs. When this happens, they become candidates for a
"retrieval exercise", and we can enlist helpers as a way of assisting these
folks in moving to Focus 27 - the area where there seems to be free access
to all levels, and movement and interactions for all persons there.

With this introduction, he reminded us to get comfortable in our chairs, and
start our relaxation breathing.
The time was 1:45 PM.

Bruce's program for entering focused states of consciousness is deceptively
simple, but startlingly effective.

While part-way through the relaxation process, I went so deep that I clicked
out, sitting in my chair.

My next awareness was of Bruce's voice talking about meeting a Helper in the
Park. I looked around and found myself at my cabin in F-27, with Rex and
Cowboy in front of me. As Bruce recited a request to helpers for assistance,
Cowboy, Rex and I walked out onto a quiet, wide, suburban  boulevard, lined
by what appeared to be huge Oak trees in full green foliage, that had
appeared by my cabin.

Momentarily confused, I decided to go with the flow, and see what happened.

We strolled on down this beautiful street, aware that there were houses that
were spaced in wide intervals, nearly hidden in the trees and bushes that
grew everywhere. Half way down the street, we moved off the street, and up a
slope about 6 or 8 feet above street level, where a wooden bench was set
alongside the raised sidewalk.

The light was indirect, as if there was a layer of heavy cloud above us.

I sat down, and looked around, and saw behind the bench a huge
European-sized cathedral, but in an American brick-stone style, nearly
white, as if painted, set on this quiet, lovely street. As I turned my gaze
back towards the street, I realized that I had a companion on the bench. To
my left, a slim, fit-appearing man wearing a grey-green suit, with a darker
fedora-style hat was leaning back and had his legs crossed, with his right
arm resting on the back of the bench. He was smiling, relaxed, clean-shaven,
and appeared to be in his mid-30's.

I sensed that he was 38, and that this was a form of "Lutheran Heaven". I
wondered if he had come from the church behind us.

When I wondered what he was doing beside me, he reached into his suit
jacket, and brought out a sheet of standard letter sized paper, folded
neatly in 3 segments. Unfolding the paper, he showed me a letter from his
sister, inviting him to visit her. The text appeared in a calligraphic
script.in blue ink, and there looked to be a red logo or header on the upper
right. He was eagerly waiting on the bench for a bus to take him to where
she was. Apparently, she had given directions in the letter, telling him how
to get to where she was.

I looked at the bench again, and realized that I appeared to be at a bus
stop, and I momentarily felt embarrassed that I was sitting in a place that
I should not be. Bruce, all during this time, kept up a dialogue, posing
questions for us to query those we found ourselves with. When Bruce
suggested that we find out what information was available from those we were
with, I found a wave of knowledge wash into my mind about the man I was
interacting with.

His name was Frank Micheals, a Doctor from Nebraska, who had died in 1958
from a heart attack. I got the sense that he was an American veteran of
World War 2, and I got an image of a shoulder patch with an Eagle on it -
the Screaming Eagle of the 101st Airborne.

He was very excited to be going to see his sister, as he hadn't seen her for
years. When Bruce asked about recreational activities, I got an image of
Frank, teeing off, on a magnificent golf course, with 100 ft tall
trees surrounding the greens, with a group of friends and acquaintances.

I wondered if he was going alone, and got the message that his wife was
staying behind, that this was HIS journey, and that she understood, but was
not ready to come along. She had apparently joined him in 1978.

He was very relaxed, mellow and excited, and he was enthusiastically sharing
his warm, friendly energy while we made small talk. Out of the corner of my
eye, I saw a city bus driving towards us. It appeared to be a 1950's style,
with a yellow body and bright red trim around the windows. I became aware
that a Helper was driving.

It pulled up in front of us, and as Frank eagerly walked down the slope, I
followed along - accompanied by Cowboy and Rex. Frank dropped some coins in
the box by the driver, and I nodded to the driver as I climbed up the steps.
He was dressed in a blue bus driver's uniform, with a cap that had a small
brim on it, he winked at me, and then grinned as Cowboy and Rex trooped up
the steps behind me. (I felt mildly criminal at the idea that we were not
paying our fares, but felt an answering wave of humor from the driver/
helper - as if he understood we were only visitors.)

We were the only ones on the bus, and I wondered if we would make any other
stops. I sat on the same seat as Frank, and Cowboy and Rex sat on a seat
behind us. Looking out the windows, I watched the scenery pass by, and
became aware that it was changing from a pastoral suburb setting to an older
urban neighborhood. I was surprised by this, as I did not expect the scenery
to be that of a crowded city, obviously older, and bearing signs of age.

We pulled over and stopped, and I saw across the street (to the left), a
huge
church, similar to the one that we had left in the suburbs, set in amongst
1930's style brick apartment buildings. The church looked darkened from age
and soot, but there was a dignity around it that spoke of peace and solace.
I was confused as to where we had actually arrived, and had a hard time
taking my eyes off the church through the bus window.

The driver opened the bus door, and called out to Frank that this was his
stop, so Frank jumped out of his seat and headed for the door, which opened
next to a worn sidewalk. I focused my eyes down, watching my step, and
Cowboy and Rex followed, and once off, I turned to look at the huge,
towering spire of the church, again. I was trying to make this image fit in
with how this could be Focus 27, when I heard a woman's shriek of joy, and
turned to look along the street.

A vivacious, lovely young woman, in a light colored pattern, knee-length,
dress (similar to the 1930's/ 1940's), ran into Frank's arms and laughing
and crying a bit, exclaiming how wonderful it was to see him, I understood
that this was Cindy - Frank's sister, who had died in 1938, from polio, at
age 14.

Frank and Cindy started across the road towards the church, and I worried
that there might be traffic which would pose a danger on any urban street.

I was still puzzling about where exactly we were, and trying to sort out the
concept of such a large church, and what it might mean, when I realized that
Cindy had taken Frank by the elbow, having turned, was leading him off the
street, away from the church. Surprised, I turned to see where they were
going - and found myself facing a huge urban park, filled with tall, old Oak
trees, scattered widely, and filled with families sharing picnic lunches on
blankets scattered here and there throughout the whole area.

A wave of emotion welled up in me as I understood how smoothly and
sensitively the journey of Frank Micheals had been handled by the Helpers.

Rex and Cowboy and I followed about 50 feet behind Frank and Cindy as they
strolled arm in arm through the trees, and it was obvious that Cindy was
directing Frank to a particlar area of the park. A group of young soldiers
approached walking quickly side-by-side, moving toward Frank and Cindy from
the left. I could see 4 or 5, in dress greens, with rows of ribbons across
the left breast of their uniforms. One of them held his hands up to his
mouth, as they got close to Frank, and yelled out: "HEY, SLACKER!", meaning
someone who took the easy way in any task.

Frank looked towards them and stopped, with a look of amazement on his face.
Then, breaking away from Cindy, who had also stopped, and was smiling, he
ran with his arms wide open and, charged into the group of young men, then
all of them were talking and laughing. I got a very clear percept that these
men were fellow soldiers with Frank during the war, and that there was a
very deep bond between them. I also was clear that these men had died in
combat, and Frank had not ever expected to see them again.

While Cowboy, Rex and I watched, Cindy strolled up to the group, and
listened to their laughter and exclamations, then she took Frank by the arm.
She promised that Frank could continue his visit with the young men, but
first she wanted to introduce him to the minister of their church, who was
with the whole group in the park.

The men waved as they moved off, promising to be back in touch, and Cindy
led Frank up to a tall, distinguished man in a collar, who warmly greeted
Frank and welcomed him to the group. His warmth, and dignity radiated
strength and joy, and I got the message that this minister was a Helper who
met new arrivals in this area.

As Cindy and Frank stood chatting with the tall figure of the minister, I
got the sense that our role was over, so, turning towards the street,
Cowboy, Rex and I moved away from the group.  There was a sensation of a
shift, and I returned to present consciousness, finding myself sitting in
the chair I had started this journey in.

This was a very warm experience, and - again - I felt gifted with such a
pleasant, gentle way of experiencing a journey through the afterlife.

I did not note the time that I finished the retrieval, but I estimate that
about 40 minutes had passed.

My general feelings after this experience, was of comfort, contentment, and
satisfaction - like I was wrapped in a warm blanket in front of a fire,
cosy - with a mug of hot chocolate late in the evening, and preparing to
retire after a productive, useful day.

Dear Mairlyn,

That is so touching me. I hope on day I can see this as well.

I hope I will find someone to share this direct experience, just like you do during Bruces workshops.

I start feeling more and more sorry as I have the feeling I might never attempt one of those. When I will have the CD's, I am not sure I want to start all alone.

With love,

Wanderer

Hi Wanderer,

I'm glad you enjoyed reading this.

Doing retrievals is so much easier than you think. Intent is everything. By placing your Intent to do a retrieval, you will.  Have patience and don't be afraid to try it on your own. Remember to release your fear and replace it with LOVE. All things are possible with LOVE in your heart center. ;-)

With Love, Mairlyn ;-)