His Holiness the Dalai Lama is never far from Wood River Valley communities' thoughts or projects. In April, Valerie Skonie, the founder of A Winter Feast for the Soul, wrote to him about the Feast and asked for an audience in Seattle while he was there for the Compassion. Shortly thereafter she received a letter.
"I am very happy to convey to you His Holiness' prayers and good wishes for the second annual Winter Feast for the Soul being held in January and February 2009," Tenzin Taklaha, a secretary to the Dalai Lama wrote.
As well, the head of the Sufi Order International, Pir Zia, endorsed the organization.
A Winter Feast for the Soul involves a 40-day commitment to spiritual practice through meditation. It was inspired by the words of Rumi, a Sufi poet and scholar: "What nine months does for the embryo, 40 early mornings will do for your growing awareness."
Founded in 2007, A Winter Feast for the Soul is a non-profit based in Hailey. Operating under the auspices of Rising Tide International, a non-profit corporation in Sarasota, Fla., the organization was originally formed in partnership with Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center.
"Based on our experience with the first feast, we have created a separate organization and expanded our outreach to a worldwide level," Skonie said. "The impulse for our work is one that came out of the stillness of a daily meditation practice. We support one another in maintaining that practice as a source of strength, wisdom and compassion."
Other news for the organization is that the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival will show a six-minute short on this year's Winter's Feast for the Soul, "it's history, how it has spread and our goals for next year," Skonie said.
As well, the Sun Valley Center for the Arts will co-sponsor the appearance of Coleman Barks, the world's most renowned translator of Rumi's poetry, at the closing celebration of the Winter Feast for the Soul on Feb. 23, along with cellist David Darling and Whirling Dervishes.
For more information, contact Valerie Skonie at 788-6373, or visit winterfeastforthesoul.com.
