I’m not closed anymore. A creative weekend in an ecological village

Ever since I can remember I have been defined as creative. My objective father and mother started with it, then the teachers, the friends continued, it intensified a lot during the military service and in my adulthood I was probably convinced that I was like that and even chose to engage in the fields that “require” creativity. I didn’t understand where the ideas come from, why I reject some of them Immediately, most of them while realizing them, and focusing on realizing the “safe” ideas. I didn’t understand why it wasn’t easy for me and when it wasn’t easy it got really hard. And why if I received such a gift I suffer both when I don’t succeed and when I succeed. And what is success anyway and what is failure And who do they belong to. Lots of questions that I didn’t really investigate. I was sure that’s how it is…

the workshopI will attach it“Leading and guiding the couple together, Tal Menks and Laura Sofia both like very similar things but approach them in different ways. Laura likes to explore through the body. Tal likes to explore through the head. They join forces and complement each other.

Tal Manx and Laura Sophia. They told me about their retreat “Yitzerfia” and the magic worked. (Photo by Rafi Kalmer)

Full Disclosure: Tal Menks’ parents have been friends of mine for decades, I saw Tal for the first time a week after he was born, at his circumcision. It was also the last time. About a year ago I heard about a special, different and original show “What is the energy in space now”. I was intrigued, checked and found out that the creator of the show is the same Tal Manx that I haven’t seen since he was born. The relationship was renewed and I was blown away by his charm and the charm of his partner Laura.

What are you doing there? Telling, listening, researching, delving, discovering, laughing, getting excited, dancing, observing, observing (meditating), creating, writing, playing, singing, playing, drinking a lot of water, tea, infusions and some coffee, eating vegan. Sound crowded? So it’s not.

I arrived at one of the most beautiful places in Israel, the ecological art village in Kibbutz Netiv Hala

Tal and light

Tel Manx At the age of 24 he started working in an advertising agency where he learned how to write, think differently and have anxiety attacks. After two years he resigned and discovered meditation.
Today he studies and teaches about the combination and connection between creativity and our mental state.
And so little by little, things like the performances “What is the energy in space now”, “Milot”, long creative courses, creative weekends and all kinds of other independent projects, such as the performance “What is the energy in space now” (talmenkes.com)

Laura Sophia She is a dance theater artist, movement facilitator and psychosomatic therapist, creator of a projectreal beauty” – directs and produces a personal independent dance theater work called “viewty”.

They told me about their retreat “Yitzerfia” and the magic worked. I signed up when I don’t exactly know why but I feel. I came to one of the most beautiful places in Israel, to the ecological art village in Kibbutz Netiv Hala – a meeting place between art and the environment, an excellent choice, both mine and theirs.

the weekend Started at noon Thursday. The road there is beautiful and is a kind of funnel towards the intriguing retreat, the funnel that makes sure that I flow into the retreat gently, that I will separate from the noise and everyday matters and arrive ready to receive. The road is less busy and already narrower. The houses, the towers, the power lines, the noise, the smoke and the soot disappear and their place is taken by the green hills and carpets of anemones, silence.

Tal greeted me with a huge smile, as if only I was waiting. This is how he also received those who came after me. After I was treated to the multitude of delicacies and herbal infusions, Laura gave me a tour of the place. I chose to settle in the spacious hall where mattresses were spread out. There are also private rooms for singles and couples for those who prefer.

Little by little, the other participants with whom I am going to spend the weekend arrived. The chemistry was immediate, the air and atmosphere there is apparently particularly friendly.

The chemistry was immediate, the air and atmosphere there is apparently particularly friendly

creativity

After a short introduction the retreat began. Three fascinating days, full of insights.

Laura opens the mornings with meditation and movement. You don’t stop dancing to the music, at first with your eyes closed and then you open them and lo and behold, even I, who used to be thought to be having an epileptic attack when I dance, doesn’t stop dancing like there’s no tomorrow.

And then the dew of trust on the head speaks of creativity. Who creates? What creates? How to create? When is it created? Each lecture opens up a new angle, which gives tools to deal with the lecture and the exercises that follow it. For example, the lecture on the first day explains from the basics our fear of opening up and failing in front of people.
About two hours later I found myself standing in front of everyone and sharing things that even my best friends didn’t know about me. The truth is that I’m not sure I even knew about myself. Something tickles the awareness, from an honest and healthy place I release a work that is honest and healthy it turns out.

In between Dekla the chef lovingly cooks us vegan food that I never thought could be so delicious.

In the process, I understand. I, who thought I already knew everything, realize that we are actually only talking about the mental state we are in. That the creation is not necessarily something that comes out of me, it is actually me and me laughing and getting excited and opening up and telling and listening and writing and creating and hugging and meeting new charming and exciting friends and Saturday comes and it’s already noon and we start folding. And we all go home with brave and personal missions that we have chosen for ourselves.
It’s hard to say goodbye. So we stay, another herbal infusion and another fig… and pull a little more, one more last hug and that’s it. And already in the parking lot I feel that I miss everyone, or more correctly who I was in the last few days and longing and insights remain.
And on the drive back to the soot and the noise, new ideas are already starting to flood me, because now I’m less afraid and understand more, that I am a conduit through which the universe transmits its ideas and this conduit must be open. I’m not closed.

After the workshop: this is what the creators say

• As someone who is busy doing business, it is essential for me to stop for a moment to connect with myself, my sources of inspiration and new sources of inspiration and that is exactly what I got at the retreat – and much more!
• The retreat came to me at a crazy time and I still haven’t landed. The experience was very profound and life-changing. I met deep, interesting, beaten and real people in a rare state of zero ego and masks and for that alone it was worth coming. The day is long and full and the combination of body and mind exercises really give real work and complement each other.
• Beyond the fact that it was pleasant, and fun to be with you and experience your love, you taught me a huge lesson in how much magic a simple truth has. A spotlight will be turned on the gap between the critical and perfectionist life I live, and that magical simplicity that I so long for. And the truth is that I still have to digest the experience, feel that I am still in the process of digestion.
• I came back a different person. Like I took mushrooms but without.
• As Tal often says about the experiences he creates for his audience, it is difficult to describe in words what happens there on this journey. And if we try anyway, we will imagine Shatel and Ora taking us to a protected space and allowing all participants to connect with themselves and from the attentive connection to bring the voice of the creation, to crack the hard shell that protects us, to peel back a layer, and to be who we are with the works that pass through us into the world. “A three-day journey that is everything from everything. Simple as that. Exciting, empowering, bringing you closer, challenging, scary, educational, intriguing, funny until your stomach hurts, raises questions and overflows with answers. Thank you.”
• The experience was very powerful for me. It touched me and moved things in me that it turned out I was very busy with to know that I was busy with them.
• I came with many open ends and questions that I am busy with on a day-to-day basis. How to do things, how to open up, how to take care of myself, how to take myself less seriously – I felt that it really gave me tools that I can (try to) apply on a daily basis.
• I really liked the diversity of the people who made up the group. Statuses and ages and styles. It creates a lot of interest and perspectives and in general everyone ends up feeling the same and thinks they are something special. its relaxing.
• Really thanks for the opportunity! It was an experience that I’m glad continues to be relevant and practical and not just a memory or an experience that belongs to the past.
• I got to put cynicism aside and say goodbye to judgment for three days. It was a relaxing and satisfying experience. People who were strangers to me gradually became really loved, it thrilled me that this could happen. Much thanks to the special and unifying energy that flowed from the presence of the wonderful Tal and Ora, I felt that they see each one of us and watch over us.

Drink a lot of water, tea, infusions and some coffee, eat vegan. Sound crowded? So it’s not

More details here

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Rafi Kalmer (67), journalist, tour guide, lecturer, facilitator, actor, father, grandfather and above all lucky.