This year I took leap of faith and after a magical week, I wrote about it here and booked myself on to a Sikhi camp. It just felt right, after all I learn a lot from home and don’t have a sangat of people locally so it seemed the most logical thing to do anyway!
I drove the furthest I have ever (think 180 miles) to Wales alone and turned up ready to learn and have an experience at Khalsa Camp. Which I did – totally! I had an incredible time and the conversations and connections made were completely priceless.
I was one of a few that had been practicing Sikhi for a mostly short time and surrounded by people who had grown up as Sikh and/or have received Amrit and it was such a blessing and wonderful time. If you had told me that before I would have been really nervous (I was even at the thought of hundreds of people being there) but everyone was peaceful, compassionate and welcoming.
Here are some highlights:
Morning Divan started 2.30am onwards, an Amrit Vela like I’ve never experienced! The organisers showed me how to to Chop Sahib and hold the Nishan – a beautiful experience! I’ve since been learning Jaap Sahib as I really connected to it.
After a generous helping of Prasad we walked out to see the sun rising, sometimes I was full of wonder, vibrating Kirtan, other times I was very tired.
There were many free rooms throughout, sometimes used for workshops we had twice daily. In the mornings however there was just enough time to do a yoga Kriya as I was half way through 40 days of Surya Kriya!
I really appreciated the nature all around us and the sea view, I wanted to take it all in as I knew it wouldn’t be long before I’d be back to views of towns and motorways.
There were activities each day and the one I enjoyed most was the costal walk, which happened to be on the brightest day!
A large group of us walked down to the beach and I got chatting to people I hadn’t connected with yet and made new friends!
The main hall where we had a talk by a speaker once a day and a discussion panel. It’s lovely that at the start we were a little unsure and shy and by the end everyone was joking with each other and tearing up at the final speech.
There was a bonfire one evening, I really like the values printed on this hoodie (they sold these and other things at camp) and this night I went for a walk around with a room mate I really got on well with!
Seeing sun rise and sun set was just beautiful, the days were long but joyous.
Our accommodation was basic and do able for a few nights, cosy and cheery as bunk beds are with three of us sharing a space. I also liked that everything was in really close walking distance between the Langar hall, workshops, Divan and main hall.
Thank you to the Khalsa Foundation for putting on a wonderful camp, I had the most incredible experience and one I will repeat whether at a Khalsa camp or another- a worthwhile experience for sure.
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