Secret sunset

I was fortunate enough to participate in an event at the recent Toastmasters conference in Cape Town that was unexpected, slightly out of my comfort zone and an absolutely mindblowing experience. A Secret Sunset (run by a company called Secret Sunrise, but ours was of necessity a sunset!). Picture the scene:

Milnerton beach. Windless in Cape Town. White-sailed yachts in the bay. Table Mountain towering on the left. Robben Island flat and free on the right. Behemoths of the sea riding anchor in the roadstead. An indigo sky. Sunset just minutes away. Two hundred and fifty people standing barefoot on the shoreline, headphones on, awaiting instructions.

The music begins. We are guided through a meditation movement as the sun sets. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out. We feel relaxed, surrounded by beauty.

My African Dream bursts into our ears, the exquisite voice of Claire Johnstone of Mango Groove. The party is on!

For nearly an hour, our obedient and enthusiastically participative crowd swayed to the rhythms of Africa, held hands, danced in circles, danced alone, formed a circle breathing in and out, touched everyone we passed and generally let go of the inhibitions society places on us, with the music in our ears and no words between us. Lots of smiles, laughter, letting go of awkwardness, reaching out without needing to say anything. Truly an experience to treasure forever and something everyone should do at least once in their lives!