SEABECK SMILES!!
Back row, L to R: Jim O’Halloran, Joel Weber, Adelia MacWilliams, Athena Solbeck Robel, Oswald Norton, Don Berg, Joyce O’Halloran, Maryka Ford, Liza Ramey Wolfgang, Haris Wolfgang
Second Row from Top, L to R: Lucinda O’Halloran, Connie Chiefetz, Wendy Smith, Amelia Tritz, Rosanna Herman, Melanie Branchflower, Sulfiati Waite
Third Row from Top, L to R: Akhri Cutler, Halima Taylor, Marlena Knill, Farah Hess, Lucas Hess, Marilyn Shirk, Leana McClellan, Lisa Allen, Sonya Shooshan, Sanderson Morgan, Rayma Norton
Bottom Row, L to R: Laurie Solomon, Helena Lengel, Maemunah Doran, Marston Gregory, Morris McClellan, David Lynch, Sebastian Tedrow
Not pictured: Isabel Gates (photographer), Paul Woodcock, Alexandra Boyer, Robina Page, Margarite Charney, Roosmiwati Reynolds, Dalton Allen, Andre Allen, Daniel Stralberg, Ricardo Santos, Debbie Machado Santos, Hariana Chilstrom, Samuel Czuba (Apologies to those who missed our group photo –we organized it too late!)
Some Reflections on SEABECK
PNW Kejiwaan Gathering
September 17-20, 2026
From Morris McClellan, National Helper:
The most important thing I came away with is that Awareness/Awakening testing is worth doing, and we should do it more often. It amplifies both bodily and internal/emotional spiritual awareness. It is also FUN. There were workshops available both Friday and Saturday to present it. On Friday, the women tested how to be in each of the roles: questioner, receiver, and witness before doing the Awareness testing. The men followed suit on Saturday and found it to be an important step in the process. In the role of questioner, I felt it prepared me to receive guidance while moving through the world. Feeling the process of receiving questions for another translates into calling forward that state at any moment in the rest of your life. Since returning from the PNW Fall Retreat weekend, I have felt more soul presence, you might say, than before the weekend. I am hoping to hold on to that.
I led a workshop conversation about life on Earth as being in a school, and the concept of choosing a life plan as we decide to incarnate on the planet. It was an active discussion. I offered the workshop to gather insightful material for a song I may write called “Earth School.”
My other workshop focused on singing gospel songs and preparing a couple for performance at the Saturday evening entertainment. We had fun, talked about singing techniques, harmony, and arranging songs for performance. We performed two tunes, which were well received.
Seabeck is truly a good environment for our retreat. The accommodation is comfortable, the food is acceptable, and the staff is kind and helpful. We had a workshop on how to run next year’s PNW retreat better, and we hope attendance will improve. A committee has been formed to plan it.
My final takeaway is that the Subud members in attendance expressed love for each other with ease. I am still reveling in the experience days later.
From Margarite Charney, Regional Helper
Seabeck was open; spacious for me. Not just the beautiful outdoor views overlooking the water and the deer frolicking, or the geese gathering. But also, the opportunity to do group latihans, awareness, and personal testing was uplifting; stretching for me this year as a Regional Helper on the PNW Dewan. The ride was long both ways home & back, but so very worth it. I’m very grateful!! I look forward to even more Gatherings with my Subud brothers and sisters!
From David Lynch, Regional Helper
My experiences at our kejiwaan weekend at Seabeck were quite amazing. With the awareness testing, my Latihan was opened up and reinvigorated. It has been refreshing to discover that I really know very little about the Latihan — that there is still a vast universe of the spirit awaiting my discovery. There is very much to look forward to in life and beyond!
From Rayma Norton, Regional Helper
Returning for the 2nd year to Seabeck for our regional kejiwaan gathering, I felt more relaxed and familiar with the layout and general schedule than last year. A bounty of connection and community unfolded in workshops, informal chit-chat, walks in the woods, birding, latihan latihan latihan testing, and downtime. People brought themselves to share – along with puzzles, stories, poems, songs, camaraderie, creations for the gift shop. All those riches lifted my spirit and filled me with gratitude. A few very capable organizers and a lot of work got the gathering off the ground. More volunteers helped on the spot with registration, golf cart transport, testing, leading workshops, or lending a hand wherever needed. To me, this suggests our future gatherings are poised to grow and be sustainable. Our closing circle felt like a huge “see you next year” hug!
At our meeting last Wednesday, each regional helper shared positive takeaways from this year’s gathering. We hope to work with more people in this region (and perhaps in Canada) to help bring to life some of the workshop ideas and testing results from this year’s gathering.
From Andre Allen, Regional Helper
Our recent Seabeck gathering was not perfect. The food was so-so. Reeser was noisier than I had remembered. People sometimes showed up late for scheduled meetings or missed them entirely, and the women Regional Helpers were overbooked for personal testing. But none of that really mattered, because the awakening/awareness testing was inspiring and fun; the small group sharing was warm and personal, the workshops were relevant and interesting, informal conversations brought us closer together, and because of Isabel and Halima’s clever idea of putting the schedule on the backs of our name tags, we always knew what was happening next. The Saturday entertainment was a joy, and winning the Susila Dharma lottery was a bonus! Sure, some people got a little annoyed now and then, but no one was ever unkind. We all share a personal and spiritual bond, and we love and care for one another deeply; that was the feeling I took away from the Seabeck gathering.
From Athena Solbeck Robel, Regional Helper
As an isolated member living in Montana, I really appreciated the six large latihans, but I was most grateful for feeling the love and connection with my PNW Subud family.
Also, many of the comments in the closing circle touched my heart, and I will quote a few of them here. They seemed to capture the spirit of the gathering better than I can express in my own words:
- Testing has been some of the best I’ve done in years.
- PNW Subud is very unique and welcoming.
- A lot of growth both inwardly and outwardly.
- I’ve had a lovely time.
- This gathering is a godsend for those of us with no group.
- I have a better attitude about my body and aging.
- This year, we have “Menucha-ized Seabeck.
- It has been an unlimited gift.
- I felt the real grace and peace of the Latihan.
- What I see is the growth this event has brought.
- Thank you for letting me be myself.
- I’m happy to be here. This was unexpected.
- I just love you all, and it’s been wonderful.
- Most powerful receivings I’ve ever had.
- I have immense respect for Isabel for making us feel so cared for.
Bapak’s Prayer (sung to Ibu Sumari on her birthday, Feb.1967)
Let us worship together,
Kneel down before Almighty God
Ask that we may receive
The grace of a pure heart.
Protect us from temptation
And bring us near to Heaven.
May we be granted wisdom,
The wisdom of the true human being
While in this world and in the next,
So that in the end we may stand before Almighty God
Submitted by Marlena Knill and read aloud together in our closing circle.
From Isabel Gates, Seabeck Event Coordinator
It has been such a pleasure to be a part of Seabeck this year! I’ve greatly enjoyed working with Halima Taylor (our lovely registrar), all of our hardworking Regional Helpers and most especially Rayma and Liza who took on the added task of managing the Financial Assistance fund, Alexandra TerHorst, whose incredible talent and ability pulled me out of many small crises, Marston Gregory, our fearless Treasurer, Oswald Norton, whose guidance and wisdom was always a phone call away, Lucas Hess and Jim O’Halloran for their steady hands on our region’s helm as we enter a new time for our region, and Melanie Branchflower for giving me oxygen and her ear when I needed it at times! I came into this weekend hoping to get to know you all better and I made some friendships that mean the world!
As for what I will remember the most, I find that poetry is what comes to mind when I bask in the memories of our weekend at Seabeck.
Treasures in My Heart
Like a fern leaf dancing enthusiastically in a breeze
I will remember this place, this time
For the tenderness it brings my now
I’ve always taken enchantment wherever I may find it
In nature, poetry, music,
But these connections, these friendships,
Our shared heartbeats
They were the touch of the extraordinary
For this I swim in gratitude
It’s easier to appreciate the exquisite taste of water upon your tongue
When you know what it is to be parched.
Please enjoy a few photos from our wonderful weekend! I hope to share more stories, poems, and photos in next week’s issue as well. If you have something for me, email me at seabeck@subudpnw.org. Thank you!
With love and smiles,
Isabel
Seabeck Photo Gallery by Isabel