by Michael Storm Jensen

Through the grace of God was I allowed to participate in the Vira Camp 2009.

I had received exciting reports from the participants from last year’s Vira Camp. And I was anticipating this year’s program with excitement as well. What would be the activities we were going to do?

When I arrived there were a lot of hopeful new faces, like me. When the program for the camp was presented to me, I received it with a bit of skepticism. There had to be an error somewhere? But no it was true. Next morning we started very early with some yoga practice followed by some meditation.
Later there were activities for building the male character. I chose to participate as much as possible, but if you wanted to survey the procedures the staff allowed that also (not without a remark though!)

I found it a superior way to start the day as outlined in the program, spiritual discipline and tasty vegetarian food. The dynamism that is accomplished when a large group of people join their focused efforts in unison is very special. The fact that we where to do work with the attitude of sacredness and dedication to being present made the work even more special, it was like we were functioning in a higher consciousness and our actions were orchestrated from a higher place.

I did a lot of the work on the roof where we build a terrace. There was a large chestnut tree shading us from the sun and also it was starting to unfold its leaves and sprout its buds. I used the chestnut tree as a metaphor for the unfoldment of my inner vira throughout the camp. At first it was painful to go up and down the stairs 20 times a day, but the next day it was less so. By the end of the camp I could have walked up and down all day and I would not have been tired. I was surprised to see the increase in my vitality. I also felt the rewards of challenging my limitations and taking steps towards the unknown. I achieved great results in spite of my ego\s warnings. One of the things I achieved was to sleep a lot less than normal and still be able to function at top performance.
In my everyday life the scenario would have been different. I would probably have been too tired to do yoga after work, and most likely would have watched a movie instead of meditating. But getting an opportunity to do yoga instead filled me with new energy and inspiration. A lot of the things I learned in the camp are still clinging to me two weeks after and I have the feeling that it is going to stick.

That leads my thoughts back to the chestnut tree. All the leaves were almost unfolded the last day of the camp. I felt the same way: a newly hatched vira, maybe not fully developed but I had tasted the wine of the warrior. There was a very special energy that only one who was there could recognize.
I also recall the brotherhood I experienced in the camp. New friendships emerged and the feeling of having left something behind was great. It did not take long to drop the formalities and get down to the real essence of things.

The meeting of vira’s and shakti’s were remarkable. I cannot recall being in a room with that many beautiful women before. There was a new dimension of mystery and enticement from all those shakti’s that I wish everyone should experience at least once in their life. The closeness and my surrender to the now, the surrender to the presence of the goddess triggered a contact to a new dimension in my soul. Those experiences would not have been available to me normally but the preparation of the Vira Camp and all the hard work made it possible.
The energy and inspiration that I got from that camp is still a boost for doing my daily practice.

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